Today I Assembled the Choir!

[opelgtkarl]

So for this weekend’s quarantine activity, I decided to call my Singers to choir! From the early platypus model to the later Golden Powermaster, they all came to performance. I will be posting more of each “set” of uprights following this first post of them all together. I do hope you all enjoy their presence tonight as they are excited to be seen!

 

[opelgtkarl]

The first machine!

First up is my Singer Model A-2. This machine was built by the company Delco for the Singer company. It was affectionately known as the platypus model for its frontal resemblance to a bill.

 

[opelgtkarl]

Next up!

From the legendary R series, we have the model R-5! This is the last model of the famous Art Deco line of Singers. This was also painted completely in the dark gray hammer tone color while the previous models had chrome on the bodies or hoods. This particular example is a little more harder to find as most of these came with a cordwinder in the handle, which this one does not have.

 

[opelgtkarl]

Next up! The S Series Sopranos!

This set are two of the possibly most over engineered vacuum cleaners ever made! These were known as the Magic Carpet uprights The first being an S-2. The S-2 had so many features and still could get under large furniture. It featured a triggered handle release, 2 speed power switch in the handle, cordwinder, lower designed headlight to get under furniture, and fancy chrome hubcaps! The second model I have, the S-5, was the last iteration of the Magic Carpet machines. It unfortunately lacked more of features of the S-2. The S-5 lacked the cordwinder and instead had a pocket built into the bag to stow the cord, it lacked the 2 speed switch and instead had a simple one speed in the handle, it lacked the fancy chrome hubcaps and just had a plain set of brown wheels, and thankfully it still featured the triggered handle release. The later model is a little harder to find as they were not nearly as popular as the S-2.

 

[opelgtkarl]

Next we have the brother and sister duet!

The next combo that we see here is the model U-42 and U-43! These machines were the predecessors to the Powermaster series. The model U-42 had less features and was the budget unit to the U-43 because it did not have a cordwinder, but instead a pocket in the back of the bag like the S-5. However, both of them had 2 speed motors. The U-43 looked a bit different with a different colored hood and a cordwinder. Both are definitely we built machines!

 

[opelgtkarl]

And finally! The Powermasters!

Lastly, I have the Powermaster trio! The lowest model of the long series of Powermasters that I have is the orange Powermaster. This model had a 3 position height adjustment, switch in the handle bale, and originally a plain white bag. This model was found with a brown floral bag that would have originally come with a Kenmore twinfan. When I saw this machine with that bag on it, i thought it matched perfectly, so I left it as is. The next machine I have is a beautiful gold model U-68 Silver Powermaster. This model is the second tier to the top of the line and had the switch up near the handle grip. The final machine in my Powermaster set us the fabulous model U-69 Golden Powermaster. This was the top of the line with an A frame handle, large headlight, boxtop bag, switch in the handle grip, and 2 speed motor. These are absolutely beautiful machines!

 

[madman]

Nice.

 

[opelgtkarl]

Thank you!

Positive comments are always appreciated!

 

[kirbyklekter]

Nice lineup!

I have the S-2 model. Do you know the years that the "S" models were produced? If I'm not mistaken, industrial designer Henry Dreyfus was commissioned for their unique appearance. The cord winder on mine is so strong,I have to stop the cord before it fully retracts or risk snapping the plug off. The "Coke Bottle" headlight lens on mine is cracked, and I'm just waiting... Do you have owners manuals to any of these?

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Nice display!

Wow! Some of those bags are very far from the handles.
Thanks for sharing.

 

[jo]

Love the one with the houndstooth bag...a timeless style!

Jon

 

[eurekaprince]

Hi Bill! The revolutionary Singer S-2 upright was designed by the famous industrial designer Raymond Loewy. I think it made its debut way back in 1950!!!

 

[gregvacs28]

That's an awesome collection. Good for you !

 

[paul]

Not knowing much about Singers, I'm unsure if it's your wit or collectors' lingo in referring to a group of them as a choir. Whichever, it's clever!

Thanks for posting an interesting thread, that includes the cleaners' model numbers. So often posters will omit details like that.

Do the letters signify descriptive or design terms such as 'S' for 'special'

 

[opelgtkarl]

Many thanks!

I just figured that being that a choir is formed of singers, that it fit to title the post as "Assembling the Choir." I don't normally get all of them together for a picture, so with having more time at home, I felt it was a perfect time. When it comes to posting the model numbers, I find it very important because for the next person that finds one of these scarce beasts. When I find a rare machine, I dive into the archives here to research originality, who has one, how many are out there, etc... So I'm really trying to do it for the future and preserve the history.

Thank you all again for the comments! They mean a lot to me as I love to display my collection as much as possible!

 

[dysonman1]

That's a very nice collection. You should be proud. The A-2 wasn't made by Delco for Singer, it was made by Stuartavant (not sure if that's the proper spelling but that's who made it). They made the A-1 with sleeve bearings and the A-2 with ball bearings. Their unique feature over the ones labeled Stuartavant was the two speed motor.