Singer Model SL800

[fantomfan57]

Hi folks, does anyone have a copy or can you take snaps of the User's Manual for this machine?

I understand the bags are rare, but a Eureka V bag works?

Please advise.

 

[kloveland]

My grandmother bought one new for me when I was six. I currently have two. Nice machine but loud. Yes eureka style V bags will work.

 

[maytagman1982]

Singer model SL800

Kenny, why did you tell that lie to
me on Facebook Marketplace. All I
did was ask you a question and you lied
to me saying it was no longer
available. Don't you know that God
can get you for lying?

 

[fantomfan57]

Happy to say....

I landed this one this morning. I love Singers and Sunbeams. When I posted the first time, I had not gotten the machine, but was "counting my chickens before they hatched". OR, putting it out in the universe that it would still be available when I arrived.

Seller was such a cool guy and very very nice. He said it had belonged to his mother-in-law who lived in Conroe Texas. He kept pointing out some the cool things about it. Little did he know I was already sold. I gave him double what he asked for. I asked about the manual, he said he will see if MIL has it. He said she was the kind of person who would keep things like that. If she has it, when his wife visits, she will bring it back to me.

Now, about the machine. The cord no longer retracted, and the switch stayed on. I took it all apart to discover the cord somehow had gotten tangled and was stuck. A pull out and release did the trick.
I manipulated the switch, which was encased in a plastic bag(?) I tore the bag away to expose the switch top and decided to try it. Works fine. Gave it a beauty treatment, disinfectant wipe down, vacuuming remains of the foam premotor filter, some dust and all the white scuff baseboard marks. Oh, and the tools are very clean. But I still washed them.

Taking a break, then on the power nozzle.

I am STOKED!

 

[fantomfan57]

Oh and Kenny,

Thanks for sharing that picture. Did you know you would like vacuums from that young age?

Remember, I started late with a Westinghouse canister that had been my parents. I posted a picture of its ROUGH state. It has since been really refined.

 

[paul]

Garry,

Glad you got that SL800! Hope you'll get the manual from the seller, too.

For those of us not familiar with Singer give us some more background like years of production and what 'System 90' indicates - which Electrolux Canada also used (Electrolux USA used 'Model 90').

I'm impressed at your generosity of paying double for the asking price as well as your grandma's in buying you that model when you were six (nice photo)!

 

[kloveland]

@ Fantomfan57

Yes, I remember liking vacuums early on. At first my parents and grandparents thought it was cute. I remember getting an early model Regina Housekeeper around 1989, Hoover Slimline and the pictured Singer.

I saw a burgundy colored one on Facebook marketplace a couple of weeks ago. I wasn’t even aware there was one.

 

[fantomfan57]

Paul, Kenny,

Paul,
I must admit I do not have any details about production years and such. I will do the research. I am certain there are other members who have done it and may be willing to share. As for paying double, he was only asking $5. I could not believe my fortune. He even said, "if you insist" when taking the money. Also, the picture is of Kenny, not me.

Kenny,
I have embraced vacuum collecting as a hobby and have been motivated by a desire to rescue battered and broken machines. Once I have restored them, I find I end up with a huge inventory. Given I have limited space, I am beginning to sell my collection. First the newer machines, then the vintage. I really dislike the thought of shipping, but something will present itself. It always does. As for the machines, I am fascinated by them and love how much I have learned working with them. I have other parts of my life which give me purpose, and this is just one more.

 

[fantomfan57]

Now on with the show.....

I did it again, I lost track of the wiring in the PN. I tried labeling with tape, but somehow, I mixed up. What I have is 3 wires coming in from the pigtail (white, black and red). Then, two from the headlight, two from the motor...it's as though I have some mental block when it comes to this simple task. I know that 3 of the wires were joined and a couple of others were joined together.

I have ordered a Kenmore version before I did a complete disassembly because this one was filthy. It had that kind of sludge that needs scrubbing. It was when I pulled the pigtail wire from the body, I lost my ID Taping. As for the filth, I used a purple cleaner that melted it. I quick sprayed on soak and a scrubbing and how water, did the trick. Cleaning the wooden brush roll required extra care.

The wiring should be easy as I know as one turns off and on the PN from the hose handle.

 

[fantomfan57]

Good news,

with the help of a long-time friend and mentor of sorts, we sorted out the wiring. Imagine doing this with texted pic's and talking over the phone. it was a very methodical way of determining which wire goes with which. Included: "join those 3 wires and LEAVE THEM ALONE"!
This guy had a long career in electrical work. Even working with circuit boards! He also drew and texted me a wiring diagram based on our work.

With that, I reassembled the PN, hooked it up to the motor unit and everything works.

With a Eureka V bag, a cut to fit pre-motor filter it now is a clean working machine I have wanted for ages.
I will take a picture as soon as I get it inside the house. Thanks for coming along for the ride.

 

[fantomfan57]

Finished

Here is the picture of the finished Singer.

There seems to have been some moisture that infiltrated the PN because it settled right under the motor. There was surface rusting that proved not to have damaged the motor. Wire brushing, masking and a quick spray of black paint was my solution.

Second, the Motor Unit is rather heavy. I can imagine the stress on the hose having to drag it behind the user.

Thanks again!

 

[collector2]

Hi - that was the top of the line at the time - 1991-1994 The next machine down from it was the SL-800C (which can be seen on my website - second from the bottom of the page - http://smithcollection.altervista.org/singer.html) With the differences being the hose handle and the cover on the accessory storage. My apologies for not posting the picture with this but I am not at home so don't have access to the ones saved and this doesn't seem to accept copy and paste.

 

[paul]

Congratulations, Garry! I'm glad you figured out the pn wiring with your friend. Two heads are often better than one as you've shown. I'm sure the cleaning duo will serve you well and always evoke good memories from your childhood and youth.

× × × × ×

Thanks for the details, Doug. I use your website often for such info, but it's typically Electrolux-related, so I need to remember that you have lots of other brands, too.

 

[fantomfan57]

Thank you Paul and Doug,

I am still stoked I got this.

Paul, happy to share.

Doug, Super Thanks for providing the link! I have added it to my bookmarks.