Sears-Craftsman Powermate

[jaker15]

Hey all! If you've read my last post, then you know that I found a Regina ElectrikBroom yesterday at the thrift store. I was pretty happy with it, until I decided to clean out the fan housing. I found some nasty substance caked all along the sides of the housing and inside the nozzle. I tried to clean it and the fan up the best that I could, but I didn't have much luck. After reassembly, the motor ran fine, then it began making a horrible screeching noise, and there were blue sparks flying around in the motor. I'm fairly certain that that indicated brush failure. It seems as though this machine had a hard life before I got it. So, this morning, I brought it back to the thrift store, and exchanged it for a Sears-Craftsman Powermate.

The Powermate is a little hand vac that is almost an exact copy of a Kirby Vacuette or a Douglas ReadiVac. I've heard that they're somewhat rare, so I thought why not try one out. I brought it home, cleaned it up, and it looks pretty good. The motor is a little rough, but that's probably because it sat for some time. I think a little use will improve its attitude. I do need a belt for it, as the one it came with is well worn. Does anyone know if a Dirt Devil belt would fit it? I've included a couple of pictures for your enjoyment. Oh, that last picture with the Dirt Devil? Yep, that's the elusive teal Plus model. It works very well, and is just plain awesome looking!

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Jake,

Kirby part number 467588 will work.

~Ben

 

[jaker15]

Thanks!

Ben, you are helpful as always. I will find that belt for it eventually, but, I am going to try a Dirt Devil Style 2 belt and see if it works.

Could you give me any information on this machine or the Kirby Vacuette?

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Jake,

Here's a video of a Craftsman Powermate in action (by MaxxArcade):


The Powermate and the Kirby Vacuette are more or less the same vacuum. They were both made by the Douglas-Quikut division of Scott Fetzer. Not only could you find this under the Douglas Aardvac and ReadiVac Pow'rBrush marques, as well as Oreck having sold this for its own dealers, Sears (in addition to the Craftsman Powermate) sold this same vac as the Kenmore Klean 'n Vac.

Kirby Vacuette (by twocvbloke):

(note this cleaner is black; Kirby also sold one with a maroon housing)

Some more info here: http://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?16382

~Ben

 

[super-sweeper]

yes?

Kirby sold the Vacuette at the time of the Legend II, it was a major step-up from the battery-Powered hand-held that attached to the handle of a Heritage II. I own the ReadiVac, the Craftsman and Oreck versions, the Vacuette is the only one I'm missing. I should put them all in a photo shoot when I find that Vacuette!