So Is This Vacuum Anything Interesting?
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hoover1060
Well-known member
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- Aug 26, 2006
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Birtman Electric
is who made Robert's Kenmore. They made the majority of Sears vacuums into the 1950's.
is who made Robert's Kenmore. They made the majority of Sears vacuums into the 1950's.
magic-clean
Well-known member
The model # shown in post 18753 shows 116.9815-1. 116 was the source code prefix for Whirlpool made vacuums and now Panasonic. So as stated by Jeff above; Birtman must have been the manufacturer as Whirlpool and Birtman eventually merged years later and Sears retained the 116 code. So interesting to see the code live on today.
centralvacman
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- Nov 5, 2006
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the first 3 digits
I seen many sears producrts have 3 digits & then a pirod the Sears source list is in the internet, a example 917.4568899 the 917. is a prefix that American yard products manifactured the unit wich is electrolux now.
I seen many sears producrts have 3 digits & then a pirod the Sears source list is in the internet, a example 917.4568899 the 917. is a prefix that American yard products manifactured the unit wich is electrolux now.
kc_kirby
Well-known member
I'm the new owner.....
I attended the convention this past weekend and I won this vacuum that Robert put in the raffle. I thought it looked familiar and then I remembered I saw it on here. I think it's great and a rare model indeed as it appears most have never seen one. I thank Robert for donating it. I plan to polish it up and make it look nice and maybe I'll bring it to next year's convention.
Chad
I attended the convention this past weekend and I won this vacuum that Robert put in the raffle. I thought it looked familiar and then I remembered I saw it on here. I think it's great and a rare model indeed as it appears most have never seen one. I thank Robert for donating it. I plan to polish it up and make it look nice and maybe I'll bring it to next year's convention.
Chad
portable
Well-known member
About the numbering, etc.
I did some extensive research back in the 80s on Sears cleaners. The prefix 116. is actually a mark denoting upright vacuums (it may also be for canisters, too, I have to go back and check). Also, Marty, your machine was a successor to the BugEye Imperial. It first appeared in about '37 with the all-metal top, then variations of it with painted tops kept appearing right through WWII. A very popular machine. And, Unimatic, your model in one variation or another, was offered as the "B" line for quite awhile. The "A" versions were mostly headlight models with higher AMP motors, though none were very powerful (but seemed to work fine).
I did some extensive research back in the 80s on Sears cleaners. The prefix 116. is actually a mark denoting upright vacuums (it may also be for canisters, too, I have to go back and check). Also, Marty, your machine was a successor to the BugEye Imperial. It first appeared in about '37 with the all-metal top, then variations of it with painted tops kept appearing right through WWII. A very popular machine. And, Unimatic, your model in one variation or another, was offered as the "B" line for quite awhile. The "A" versions were mostly headlight models with higher AMP motors, though none were very powerful (but seemed to work fine).
