Singer "magic cleaner"

[ruby461]

Hello, this is my first experience with vacuumland. I have been collecting and selling vacuums for a while now. I remember seeing this vacuum online and thinking I would never find one or own one. I got lucky and picked this up for $3. It came out of an old home/hardware store. It was stated to be a store display and put in storage for years. It looks new to me with little to no wear and tear. It does have a small break in the plastic, I think something fell on it. It also has a small tear in the outer bag and the cord rewind doesn't work. It will need a new bulb and the belt is still on and in tact but very old that it would break if I tried using it, it might be its original belt? It includes a bag that hasn't been used, as it was folded up in the outer bag. The plastics are in wonderful shape and the brush roll too, with no debris on it (looks new). I personally think it was never used other than to sit on display and maybe turned on for customers however, I am not sure.

I was wondering if anyone could tell me some information on my find? I was also wondering if anyone knew how to fix the cord rewind. I took the screws out to look inside and it looked like a old film reel. I will include some photos in my post.
Thanks!

 

[huskyvacs]

Find of a lifetime!

 

[kloveland]

I’m not terribly knowledgeable on singer. I do have an S4 upright and the little hand vac. I had the opportunity to buy the matching roll a magic from another collector last week but backed out.

Finding the brush roll for that and other parts is going to be tough. A must have vac for any collection. Because of the looks and intergraded features.

 

[ruby461]

Reply to Kloveland

Thank you for the response. I plan to hold onto it and get it in better shape. I want to fix the cord rewind and try to find compatible bags for it. I am not too worried about getting a belt or bulb, that will be a bit easier.

 

[rugsucker]

Singer

Amazing find of a rare vacuum!Hard to find with correct bag.The pic of bottom seems to confirm little use.This was the post WWII first version of the quality and expensive Singer that later evolved into a cheap plastic vac at WalMart.
Try to find a vintage or modern upright that has throw away bag,all controls(on/off,handle release,cord release)on upper handle,convenient and attractive carry handle,automatic carpet adjustment,headlight,low under furniture clearance,cordwinder with cord at top eliminating cord hooks that users rarely use or understand,years ahead style and design and more.
Use CAUTION with any cordwinder.There are springs that can cut you very quickly.The better micro filter bags for Eureka F-G would work with this.More pictures would be helpful to see overall condition and if original cord/plug.

 

[electrolux137]

This Singer vacuum cleaner was designed by Raymond Loewy of Electrolux Model XXX fame.

 

[electrolux137]

[No message]

 

[kloveland]

I didn’t see pic 6 or I didn’t click on it for some reason. Your brush roll looks new. Which is good. A Hoover convertible type 48 belt will work with this.

 

[eurekaprince]

One of the most revolutionary design developments in vacuum cleaner history…the first upright to set the motor facing sideways - allowing the motor head to be reduced in height and also inviting the next step in design evolution: the Dial a Matic bypass configuration. It also invited the European development of the lightweight Oreck style upright and the compact power nozzles for canisters….both of which use sideways motors.

 

[vacuumman]

Sideways Motor

The Air-Way DirtMaster also used a sideways motor. However, due to the way the vacuum was engineered, its head was far larger than the Singer.

 

[eurekaprince]

Ah. Interesting. I stand corrected…when did the two motor Airway with rotating brush debut? And who invented the unique design?

 

[vacuumman]

Air-Way

I believe the twin motor Air-Way Chief was released in 1935. That model used a horizontal motor to drive the brushroll and a vertical motor for the fan. The DirtMaster, released in 1937 or so, used a single horizontal motor with two belts on each side. One belt drove two fans in a case connected to the handle, while the other drove the brushroll. The path for the dirt went under the motor and terminated in two air paths, one for each fan.
The patents for the Chief and DirtMaster list the inventor as Frederick Riebel Jr.

https://patents.google.com/patent/US2064856A/en?inventor=Jr+Frederick+Riebel

 

[ruby461]

I found a new belt and I am getting the damage on the outer bag fixed and a new bulb on the way. I still need to find a set of bags that fit it and fix my cord rewind. I took off the outer bag and noticed inside it still had its spring bag holder. The belt that was on it was a Singer belt, I bet the original one too as well as the bag inside. I am going to keep each of them with it still. I am adding pictures of the belt that was with it and the inside of the cord rewind. This was a lucky find because it seems like it was never really used. I also appreciate everyone's help on my journey to fixing it up!

 

[eurekaprince]

Thank you for your reply Vacuumman! Very interesting…..

 

[kloveland]

I did find a Singer service manual online. It should be here Tuesday and I will post pics of the cord winder service section on here when it arrives. Also, Singer branded bags should not be hard to find online. I’ve attached a link.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2028510133...twpuRHwnVqZ0rkASDsBw2v6F7Bf8MYpt8jUmfGZRbELKG

 

[centralvacs1928]

I replaced the cord on one of these once, but too long ago to remember any particulars. The contact block may have unscrewed, or it may have had rivets that needed to be drilled out. If your cord is fine, you won't have to mess with that side of the winder.

Repairing/rewinding the "clock spring" should be doable, with caution. Worst case scenario is the winder still doesn't work, so you're not out anything for trying.

If you hold the center hub and pull the cord out to "wind" the spring, do you feel resistance building and does the center hub spring back when released? If so, the clock spring inside should be intact and just in need of proper pre-tensioning.

Cordwinders pretty much all work the same way, just some are easier to disassemble and others were never made to come apart. About the easiest ones to work on are the Electrolux 1205 through Ultralux style, in my opinion.

 

[eurekaprince]

Was Singer the first vacmaker to offer a cord reel in a cleaner? I read that the first patent for a cord reel was given in 1930, and I don’t think any other home appliance offered a cord reel until the 1960’s (hair dryers, blenders, irons, etc.)

 

[luxlife]

Electrolux sold theirs well before the 1960’s

The model XXX was available with a cord winder. I won’t be so bold as to list the year because I honestly don’t know, but I’m sure one of our Electrolux historians can provide the correct details. We have more than one.

 

[eurekaprince]

Yes…there was a 1940’s version of the Electrolux XXX with a cord reel. But I think Singer offered a cord reel on their scary looking upright in the 1930’s. Interesting that both vacuums were designed by the same industrial designer - I think his name was Durelle Guild or something like that….