Westinghouse Porta-Vac

[justjunque]

Hi all.
I picked this up for $5 today at the local Savers.
Can someone tell me what I found?
On the bottom, it's stamped:

Model T-12
Part 1384201
Volts 115 AC or DC
Cycles 25 to 60
Watts 300
Serial # 1262 JK

What you see is what I got. No hose, no attachments, no power cord.
I had to bring it home anyway. It was in such good condition, and had such a cool vintage look.
The colors are great!
I haven't even attempted to Google it yet. I thought I'd post here first and see what the experts say!

Barry

 

[hoover300]

I didn't even know that existed, but wow! It looks like a sewing machine lol.

 

[justjunque]

Kieran,

That's a beautiful cat in your profile pic.
Sorry. I'm a cat dad myself, so I have zero resistance.

I didn't know these existed either.
I did eventually Google it, and pretty much the only results that came up were older posts from this site.
Others have posted pictures of some beauties, with their cords and hoses.
It's probably not worth much of anything in its current state, but it's cool and vintage looking.
And what's there is in really good condition.
At least I only spent $5 for it.

Barry

 

[hoover300]

I'm the same way! His name is Hoover, we named him that because he literally sucks his food down like a vacuum while barely chewing lol. He is one of the laziest cats in the world, although one of the sweetest. In the pic, he is sitting on my mom's papers that she was sorting, and that was the "keep" pile! For the vacuum, I wonder if a computer, Electrolux,or Kirby cord would work (if it is removable).
~K

 

[justjunque]

It is a removable cord.
Kind of like a percolator or other small appliance would use, but the spacing of the prongs is different.

Barry

 

[hoover300]

Hmm, I wonder if the cord from one of the pre xxx Electrolux vacs would work. They are spaced further apart.

 

[justjunque]

I stand corrected

Just for the heck of it, I tried the cord from one of my percolators on the vacuum, and it fit.
Just eyeballing it, I thought the spacing was wider.
So, just for the sake of testing the motor, I'd probably be able to use one of these cords.
I'm not going to do it until I clean it up a little bit.
Plus, there's still some ancient dirt and dust bunnies in the bag that I don't want to risk blowing out all over the place.

Barry

 

[lesinutah]

Coincidence

If you look up henryvacuumcompany on eBay I'm pretty sure he has this vacuum up for auction. I do see a rather well fed cat.
Here is my baby gremlin. He's sleeping but he with is blue eyes is gorgeous.
He is pure bred Siamese.
Les

 

[lesinutah]

Coincidence

If you look up henryvacuumcompany on eBay I'm pretty sure he has this vacuum up for auction. I do see a rather well fed cat.
Here is my baby gremlin. He's sleeping but he with is blue eyes is gorgeous.
He is pure bred Siamese.
Les
I had to edit as photo didn't show up. I called his name and he woke up for his glamour shot.

 

[justjunque]

Hey Les,

I can't seem to find the eBay listing.
But...aww...kitty.

Barry

 

[hoover300]

Aww, soo cute!

 

[lesinutah]

Sold

It's not a portal vac it's like like a eureka mighty mite.
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/283673634823
Les

 

[rugsucker]

Westinghouse Porta Vac

This is about 1955 and would match the all new One Stroke upright and 1st WH canister with swivel base.It was after the GE Tidy and well before Hoover Swingette & Eureka Mighty Mite.Smaller diameter cloth hose would have an end similar to Hoover Slimline and point forward.Attachments would be reddish with plastic wands and no rug tool.
Great and rare little vac!

 

[justjunque]

Thanks, Jimmy.

Any chance you might have the correct hose and attachments tucked away in a forgotten corner of a back room?
I'm guessing no, but it doesn't hurt to ask!

Barry

 

[rugsucker]

Porta Vac

I think I still have 2 vacs but not sure if there would be hose and attachments to even complete one.Don't think I ever had original cord.Hoping to gather all WH in one area soon,then Sunbeam,Apex,Sears,GE & more & MORE.