Sears Kenmore Magicord with Powermate saved from dumpster

[lektronic]

Saved this super cool canister vacuum from the dumpster yesterday and am about to begin cleaning it up! All attached pictures are before its been given a basic wipedown, happy to post progress pictures of the clean up and (fingers crossed) tests of its functionality if anyone is interested

I've been searching and have found information on vacuums that are CLOSE to this one, but not quite it. Thought y'all might be the right people to ask!
The model number (difficult to read in the pictures) is 116.25933

I am wondering if the canister and the Powermate might be from different models due to the way "Kenmore" is written on each piece. Model number on the bottom of the Powermate is 116.25140

I included a guide of Kenmore logos I found as well- the font used on the Powermate seems to match the one only used in 1966, and the one on the canister says it was from 1966 - 1972. Ostensibly, these COULD have been sold together in the same year, but from what I can tell the models with the handle coming up from the bottom half of the canister seem more common on the 70's models (correct me if I'm wrong!)

Any info about this particular model is greatly appreciated [this post was last edited: 5/13/2022-21:58]

 

[rugsucker]

If you adore Kenmore--

--I have several from 60s-70s and attachments.While you could add or replace a Powermate later these do seem to have come together.A great reference is the original big book and sales catalogs.Sears vacs were a good choice for many and had features such as Powermate and cordwinder that others only had later or never.

 

[dysonman1]

Approximately 1975. The larger models had the new-style powermate. The more budget friendly models (like yours) had the older style powermate. I remember seeing that exact cleaner in our Sears store at that time.

 

[kirbyklekter]

These are great!

I have a few from that period. What's nice is how easy it is to access the motors for repairs or replacement.Usually by now the foam pre-motor filter has crumbled away, but you can improvise if the original can't be found. Enjoy!

 

[superocd]

I LOVE the 1972-96 Kenmore logo

I wish Sears (what's left of it) would revive it! It's so timeless, it's hard to believe that it dates all the way back to 1972. The 2010-present logo is so boring. I thought it was established in 1976 when they changed the design of the control panels of the belt-drive KM washers around that time. I bet if they revived the KM logo everyone knew back then sales would increase!

 

[texaskirbyguy]

Great save!

It looks a lot better than the similar set I had trash-picked two years ago and last month:
https://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?39887_19
Let us know how it cleans up = should be a fairly easy resto.
I am actually getting to like that color combo...

 

[lektronic]

Found it!

You were right on the money dysonman1, looks like it was made around October 1975! So cool that you remember seeing this setup displayed in the store.

I found some diagrams for this canister and attachments (with reference to the correct powermate) that have the October date on them. Also searched the catalog and although this exact model does not seem to be featured, it appears to have been produced after the Spring/Summer catalog but before the the Fall/Winter catalog of 1975.

In checked the models listed for the bag it wants and realized that the canister model number does not appear in the 1975 Spring/Summer catalog, but DOES appear in the 1975 Fall/Winter Catalog.

Also included a page from the Fall/Winter catalog below that shows a possibly identical canister to mine (also a 2.0HP)- but the model number is not quite right. The label on mine says it came with an "8-piece attachment set including the PowerMate" while the model pictured is a 7-piece set and includes a note that the "Elecrified port lets you convert to a Powermate® Unit" - I have a hunch its the same canister, but sold with a different model number without the powermate

I do love the description of the colors as "Apple green hi-impact plastic base and celery green hood"

 

[lektronic]

Filter & Logo Laments

Kirbyklekter - great tip about the filter, thank you! It looks like the foam filter is definitely gone, is there a modern equivalent that you use? Or a preferred material that I could use to make my own?

Superocd - totally agree, its funny how things come back around and the 1966 - 72 logo now looks more modern than the current one. Timeless is right though, that typeface would have fit in throughout the decades.

 

[lektronic]

Apple & Celery Green

Texaskirbyguy- I came across your post when I was initially searching for more info on mine, actually! Yours really IS a gem from the 60's right?
I like the funky color combo too, going with "apple and celery green" based on the catalog lol

Will definitely post progress pictures soon