Thrift Store Singer SST-300

[ian1035nr]

Went browsing through the local Value Village and found this Singer vacuum for $19.99

The vacuum was brand new in the box, never even assembled.

 

[eurekaprince]

I love new never-used vintage vacs in the original box!!! Hope the motor runs okay. Is there a recommended way to start up such an old motor? Place the vac in a heated room for a while to get the oil warm?

 

[ian1035nr]

Really depends on how it was stored, and the bearing types. If it was stored in a damp environment, there’s a chance that the carbon brushes can fuse to the commutator. And if the motor has a sleeve style bearing, the oil-impregnated felt washers can run dry.

I popped the hood off; and the brushes were perfect. The bearings were a sealed type and the whole motor assembly turned smoothly by hand. So I tried switching it on. The motor runs well and there’s plenty of suction. sitting unused for all these years doesn’t seem to have bothered it none, which is great news for me.

 

[eurekaprince]

Thanks Ian - good to hear! Enjoy your new toy - that is a tried and true classic Singer twin-fan sideways motor design - revolutionary concept from the 1950’s!

 

[ian1035nr]

I was just taking a moment to really look into the twin fan design. I’ve never worked on one before, and it’s really cool. And it’s nice to finally work on a vacuum that isn’t full of dirt, hair and who knows what else.

 

[lesinutah]

Vintage

It looks similar to it's 50s upright. It's one of the more stylish vacuums.
Nice find.
Les

 

[luxflairguy]

And it's going to be LOUD! This is another --late example of the beloved "twin-fan" style that started in the 60's and seems to never end! Sears had em! For years! I remember them from 1965! Sunbeam had em. Didn't the end up with White
Westinghouse? Or was it Ryobi?

 

[honestjoe68]

WOW.. Congrats Ian!

I don’t know a lot about these Singer Vacuums, but if I remember correctly don’t you recline the handle to turn it on? I really liked that feature and thought more vacuums should incorporate that but I never saw another one like it.

SO glad that is works and is in mint condition.. what an awesome find and well worth $19.99

Thank you for sharing with us!

Patrick

 

[fan-of-fans]

"Didn't the end up with White Westinghouse? Or was it Ryobi?"

Ryobi bought the Singer vacuum plant in Anderson SC during the late 1980s. At some point in the mid to late 1990s Bissell bought the Singer floor care division, although I've never seen a Bissell Twin Fan, although someone here claimed they did see a green and white one with the Bissell name.

The Sears Kenmore versions were the latest I know of around 1992-93. After that I think most Singers were the Elite style front bag machines and I saw some Bissell versions too.

 

[fan-of-fans]

"I don’t know a lot about these Singer Vacuums, but if I remember correctly don’t you recline the handle to turn it on? I really liked that feature and thought more vacuums should incorporate that but I never saw another one like it."

The latest Kenmore TOL 2 speed models in 1992-93 actually had the switch on the handle, I remember hearing it was because Consumer Reports complained about the handle recline switch.

It does make a lot of sense I guess to have a handle activated switch, other than possibly using the attachments, in which case it would get awkward.

 

[panasonicvac]

That's my favorite looking Singer vacuum of all time! The colors on it just makes it look American. I didn't mind reclining the handle to turn these on but I preferred having the switch on the handle like my Kenmore Heavy Duty.

 

[fantomlightning]

There...

Is a Bissell that carried on this design by proxy you could say. I've never seen a true twin fan styled Bissell myself, but the Bissell Prolite (the older bagged version, not the newer bagless) was an 8lb Oreck competitor that used a twin fan setup. The design has been sold to Tacony, it was a Fuller Brush, though that variant has been discontinued. It's still running under the Powr Flite and Tornado brands.