Singer R3 Restoration

[myvacsrock]

So I couldn’t find a proper Singer bag anywhere, nor could I find red fabric suitable. So I took an old generic bag and dyed a new bag! For the logo I did a mock up in photoshop and am making a patch that will be sewn on the front.

The second bag is for another special project coming up

 

[myvacsrock]

The machine restoration is to come!

 

[dysonman1]

You are so clever. And so good at what you do. It makes me so happy every time I see you restore a vintage cleaner. There are so few of us in the world who know how to work on them.

 

[huskyvacs]

Wow that must have been some strong dye to go over that dark of a color, I would have guessed you used a white colored bag as the base. I can tell you I wouldn't have done that in my bathroom, would have blood red caulking for years, lol

Does the dye have any negative impact on the bag's filtration? I read posts from decades ago on here about dying bags and everyone said not to do it because the dye product will clog up the bag pores or something?

 

[vacmadman]

can't wait!!

Myvacsrock,

I'm very much looking forward to seeing the finished product. The R3 came with two different power switches mine pictured has a slide style switch unlike the older style toggle switch.

Jim

 

[myvacsrock]

Re dye:

I completely removed the old base color (turning the bag off white) before dying in red.
This is a trick they also use on Broadway costumes to make extremely vibrant color. If you find a great costume piece in the wrong color, you remove the old dye and make it any color you want.
As far as filtration… I don’t know, nor do I care. I would rather the machine look brand new, and with my motor work, sound and feel brand new, than care about filtration. That’s what my Miele is for lol

Thank you Tom and Jim! Highest compliments from you guys. Both with gorgeous vacuums all around.
Can’t wait to dive into the machine later today!

 

[hoover300]

Interesting

Bag looks great so far! Is the R3 you’re referring to the one from eBay awhile back? The one with the dent/crack in the hood.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Kyle, I danced in 42nd Street

for 6 months, yrs ago. What have you been in? Where is your place in NY? E 89th street for me.

 

[myvacsrock]

Just before the pandemic I was going into Dear Evan Hansen. Reopening December

W 172nd/Fort Wash.
I did 42nd Street regionally back when I was 19… fun show. Ensemble never stops quick changing and moving!


Kieran: No, this was a local find. I’ll post some pictures.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Nice

I didn't know you were a singer/dancer too.

 

[myvacsrock]

Yes sir. BFA in Musical Theatre

 

[madman]

I don't think dye clogs the fabric. Sounds like bs to me.

 

[huskyvacs]

"I don’t know, nor do I care. I would rather the machine look brand new, and with my motor work, sound and feel brand new, than care about filtration."

It's not about looks. You should care about the filtration because that is the entire reason how a vacuum works. It has to be able to exhaust the air properly otherwise you will overheat, overload, and burn up the motor windings as well as the vacuum not being able to pick anything up to begin with. The old vacuums used the bag as part of the filtration system as well as the air path. Commercial vacs still do. If you never wash them and leave them to get clogged up, or they get clogged up in other ways, they lose their ability to expel and exhaust air, and what you have is the "blowing into a bottle" effect. Air is going in, but none can escape. This is still true today with bagless vacuums, if the filters get clogged and the motor cannot breathe, you notice the power cord will start heating up and growing warm as the vacuum draws more and mower power to try and run. Eventually the motor will burn up, that's why so many of them that were abused and not cared for sound terrible.

 

[myvacsrock]

You’re acting as though this vacuum is being used daily…

 

[phaeton]

Singer Vacuum Brochures

I was thinking some of you might have some interest in these Singer brochures. I was not able to keep all the pictures properly oriented. The last picture of a disassembled R3 was sold to one of the members that was famous as a Kirby restorer a few years back. The armature was burnt, however it could be rewound.

I am guessing that next project of "myvacsrock" is a Premier Grand

 

[myvacsrock]

Thanks, Pete!

Those are so fun to see!

The Premier Grand did get done, but it is another Premier product

 

[phaeton]

Nice and well polished vacuums

Kyle and Jim have some really nice vacuums as do other members.
For as many years that I have worked on vacuums I have never seen the Premier Grand nor the General Electric Model 111 or 111-A of which I believe the brush roll tuned forward and upward same as the Singer R1. I own the Singer R1, R4, R4D and R5D but never the Singer R2 series and I can not remember owning the R3 series. The nozzle of the R1 is wider then the R4 and the brush roll of the R1 in longer and of a larger diameter then the R4. It seems the R1, Grand and Model 111 all used the larger brush roll. Would that be correct thought? Remembering that I live in California and here most major Cities would of had Singer Sewing Centers as did other State would could that be why I might not have come across the Grand and model 111 vacuums? Would it also be said the Hoover out sold the machines? At the shop in the 70s the oddest I ever worked on were the early Air-Way which were so strange looking to me and the Cadillac and BeeVac. The owner of the shop stopped working on anything older the a Hoover Model 28 as parts were hard to get for the older vacuums. I had found a Model 111 last year but it was such a hassle that I gave up and decided I did not need it. I have the Hoover 700 and the Singers so all is good.
Please keep buffing, polishing and restoring those great old aluminum vacuums and others that are great and fun, Pete

 

[myvacsrock]

It’s happening!

 

[vacmadman]

Looking good!

Nice work...looking good!