Unknown Kenmore upright

[stricklybojack]

Found these pictures of an unnamed machine on Craigslist. I can make out 'Kenmore' from the pics and would have guessed as much even if I didn't.

I have never seen one of these and wonder if anyone here can fill in the blanks about this machine.

 

[petek]

It's a Kenmore Duo Power upright. I can't tell from the pic if it's the self-propelled model or not. Anyways,, grab it. They're getting very scarce. They were made by Singer/Ryobi if I'm not mistaken, I've forgotten for the moment,someone will correct me. , Matsushita then bought them out. Bags are hard to find now.. I had the green version which somehow disappeared in our move. Their weak spot is the carry handle on the backside of the machine case.. the plastic gets brittle and can crack. I always thought they had the smoothest self propelling mechanism..if it is the SP model there's a 3 speed switch on the back slow/med/fast. They were pretty feature laden for their time with an available hose and tool kit, belt indicator window, 3 speed fan, 3 speed self propelling, adjustable brushroll,, edge cleaning switch, cord reel. The cord was very short though ,, that was an annoyance because you couldn't vacuum a medium sized room without having to unplug it and move all the time.

 

[petek]

Looking at the pictures again I don't see the speed switch on the back so it's probably not the self propelled version (which also said Power Ease on the front of the handle.

As well, to attach the bags to the machine there's a bag holder clip that you first attach to the cardboard collar of the bag, then clip it into the machine.. If that is missing you won't be able to attach bags.. My sister in law borrrowed mine once and tossed the bag out with the clip attached and I had a bugger of a time getting a replacement.

 

[vacman1961]

This is a Duo Power model, I would say built sometime around 1978-79, however it was manufactured by Whirlpool not Singer. This is a non self propelled model, the Power Ease feature came out later. They were never great cleaning vacuums, it was supposed to be the Dial A Matics competitor, but it had much less suction than a Hoover and did not deep clean carpets very well. The brush roll was very similar to the brush roll used in a Kenmore Power Mate. The machine was large and a bit cumbersome to use. Still it is a very rare machine with a lot of features on it.

 

[ultralux88]

Thats a rather nice one and a model that I would someday really like to have! I'd grab that one up if the price isn't outrageous if I were you.

 

[super-sweeper]

run!!

And buy that Kenmore!!!!

 

[stricklybojack]

Unfortunately...

the price was outrageous, $100. About four times what i will spend on *any* vac these days...that is until i sell about 50 or more, then i may cut loose with a little more cash.

 

[fooseofhoove]

Hello Robert

May have been a good thing to pass on that one as bags are all but impossible to find for those vacuums. Still a neat vacuum as it was a cord-away model. The one I have doesn't have that feature.


 


It also looks like the plastic bag clip is missing, I've shown what it would look like. Maybe that one would have been different because it's a little later model, I'm not sure. I had to glue the cardboard collar off the old bag on a Eureka F& G so I could use mine.


 


I'm still looking for bags after a year . Randy

 

[sebo_fan]

Good lord, I can now see the close resemblance between that and the European Hoover Junior Deluxe I used to have.

 

[kenkart]

I WANT ONE!!

I have been after one of these for years!

 

[rugsucker]

Sears upright

I just scrapped 2 due to lack of interest in warehouse vacs.One with the 3 speed self propel switch.Pulled motors out to scrap for money and watched plastic shell go in trash truck this morning.

 

[kenkart]

I didnt see those Jimmy

When I was there last or would have gotten them...I hope to get back soon to buy a few more special things..Hans

 

[petek]

Mine was the same green color but the same design as the blue one above only self propelled. I bought it new on clearance from Sears, can't remember the year but late 70's. I bought the attachment set for it but the suction was so weak thru the hose that I returned the set and bought the little blue Kenmore Handvac which I still have.. that thing is great. You're right it was WP made.. When I lost the bag clip and went to Sears for a replacement years later it was by then listed as a Matsushita part who must have bought WP's vac biz/designs.