What $5.99 got me at a thrift store...

[hoovercelebrity]

I've never seen one of these before. And when I first saw it, I laughed and walked past it. Then I got to thinking "maybe I should..."
And I did. After all, I've certainly never seen one like it. Although I want to say I saw a powerhead just like the one on this machine in the free pile at the convention. Or am I dreaming that up?

I got it for $5.99 because when I plugged it in, the on/off switch didn't work, and the "belt was broken" - so the guy thought (the powerhead wasn't switched on).

Does anyone know anything about this machine?
The label on the bottom of it says it was manufactured by Ryobi.

I need bags for it. I don't even know what kind of bags it might think about taking - there's no, zero, zip, zilch, nada indication on the cleaner whatsoever. Any suggestions?

I also need attachments, any suggestions about what might fit in the little holder thingy?

Some before pictures.

I'll work on cleaning it up over the next few days and update if I find any bags that fit.

 

[kirbyvertibles]

OMG I remember those!!! Does it have good suction? I never got to use one but I remember seeing those in stores. Congratulations

 

[hoovercelebrity]

Suction=There's no bag in it, so I just ran it for a minute. Didn't really get to testing that yet.

When do you recall seeing these in stores? And in which stores?
I have no recollection of these machines whatsoever!

 

[williamr1248]

What $5.99 got me at the thrift store

Fred,
I remember those well. I always thought the power nozzle had a very cool look. It almost looked ahead of it's time when Singer had them in the stores. I remember a lady demonstrating one. Looks a little like the Sears canister. I was thinking this was the early 80's.Tom Brown just bought a record at the Goodwill yesterday that had the "The Donna Reed Family" on the cover of a Christmas album. I had forgotten their show advertised for the Singer Company. It's hard to imagine Donna Reed using a Singer Sewing Machine or sweeper!
Rob

 

[luxg]

Fred it does look a lot like a Sears. You might try a Sears #20-5033 or at least take a look at them and see if you think it might work. Could you show us a picture of the inside where the bag goes? Very neat looking machine!!!!!

 

[xraytech]

Fred,

Sears sold a machine like this at some point in the 80's. Maybe a month or so ago they had a powerhead like your Singer one but badged as a Sears Kenmore on ebay, so Terry is probably right about checking Sears for an appropriate bag.

 

[rugmaster37]

Singer System 90....

Hi Fred,

I did some research for you last night in the catalog stacks, and this machine was sold mainly thru catalog houses like Service Merchandise and Best along with the appropriate all plastic Twin Fan models of upright. From what I see here in my pages in front of me, this machine hails from around 1992-93, but no later than 1997 under a slightly different look.

It was also very close to being one of Ryobi's last Singer canisters that were made before dropping the "Singer Vacuum line" from the market "again". This type of canister, albeit more squared off "was" also sold to Sears during the last half of the 1980's (1986 comes to mind as their first year for doing this), but not past 1992 , under the Kenmore label.

These "Ryobi Singers" when supplied to Sears's, were part of their dubious, and (in)famous "Brand Central" modernization of their appliance departments. For those who may not know already...Sears and "Brand Central", was a response to Montgomery Wards "Electric Avenue".

The catalogs featured the powerhead your machine has on the TOL Ryobi Singer (Kenmore badged cansiter), along with the current PowerSpray deep cleaner(when used as a vacuum cleaner)sold seperately.These Ryobi-Mores all featured gaudy colors, cheap plastic wands, very flimsy looking hoses and looked really cheap and awful next to the Panasonic built Kenmroes.


This "can" you found was close to, if not their TOL. It retailed for $289.95 (thru BEst), and followed with a similar canister w. powerhead no headlight, and a few less features for $209.95, and then a straight suction model for $179.95.

I did some further reasearch this morning and as I suspected this machine was a VERY loose copy on the Eureka Express/Rally models, and according to two "parts catalogs" I have access to, plus one online here is what they say about bags for your Singer:

Bag Style- SLL-1 NLA ( that's NO suprise honestly)
Essco Part-SR-1415 N/A ( this is an essco replacement part, hence the (SR) = Singer Replacement- N/A NOT AVAILABLE- BUT will prob. be back in stock soon.

THEN, in red off to the side of the computer screen, something caught my eye. Guess what there was still light for you at the end of the tunnel.

There was another bag that will "fit" according to them and if you have read all of this it really "IS" a loose copy of the Eureka as a style V bag will work in this Singer.

So there you have it. A very uncommon machine, can use a fairly common bag. I would refrain from using a 5055 Kenmore or 50558 or any of those. Remember you've found a "uncommon" machine that today is hard to find. There wasn't too many sold the first time around either. It would be such a shame to have the motor damaged because of improper information.

If you wish to double check their number is 1-800-321-2664. They should be kind enough to inform you of what I just seen on my screen a half hour ago.


Chad

 

[williamr1248]

What $5.99 got me at the thrift store

Was this machine not sold in the Singer owned stores? We had service merchandise stores in Indianapolis. Maybe that is where I saw this machine. I was thinking I saw it in the Singer owned store. They always displayed the sewing machines in the front of the store and the vacuums in the back of the store except at Christmas time when vacuums were displayed in front windows. Does anyone remember what the time frame was when Singer still had the uprights using the neat handle with the cord rewind,mid-way carrying handle and hand grip much like their earlier 50's machines. It seems like at the end they had Sears looking handles and big clunky looking hoods.

 

[rugmaster37]

Was this machine not sold in the Singer owned stores?

Simply put? NO.

Singer Sewing Machine dropped their initial line of "Company Built" line of vacuum cleaners sometime around 1982-83. I know I was young when this occured and couldn't have been beyond kindergarten or first grade.

Our Singer store was in Frandor one of the very first "Malls" in the country. Ours was set up differently.

On the left hand side behind the plate glass window, was a forever changing display of vacuum cleaners. Behind that always were the vacuum's. Every kind that they offered. If I rememebr correctly they had a do-it yourself part area, and then behind that was the service department for both the sewing machines and the vacuum cleaners.

ON the right hand side was all the sewing machines first, tables, cases and neededles and pedals and stuff second; then fabric all the way back to the end of the building.

The last series that I rememeber the store carrying was all black and white machines with the houndstooth bags, hoods were the big klunky style with the wide and tall headlight. The last TOL upright would look like my Golden PowerMaster, but black white and chrome It would have the cord reel and the A frame handle.

Anyone remeber differently?

Singer never really stopped making vacuum cleaners, as they continued to make uprights for Sears right on thru the 1980's until 1996 or 1997 or so. They just stopped making them for themselves and concentrated on sewing machines, notions and such.

The later Singer badged series were sold thru catalog stores, department or applaince stores, but to my knowledge...never again thru the Singer Sewing Centers. I believe that is becasue Singer Company eventually sold off their vacuum cleaner arm to Ryobi products, who in turn sold the arm to Bissell, who discontinued and dismemebered it and kept the name to put on their shoddy products.

SIDEBAR- I hate Bissell to this day for that . Bissell also dropped every single part repair part for Singers, making them all extinct immeditely.

Anyone rememeber differently?

 

[williamr1248]

What $5.99 got me at the thrift store

Thanks Chad
That was great. My Aunt had a grey Singer upright and the hand cleaner and attachments from the early 50's and I thought it was so glamorous. I never got to use hers but I don't remember it being very loud. It had a cool light up front and I think it had a 2-speed motor. It seems like there was something about the brush that got louder and louder as the years passed. Hers had a cloth bag that was replaced along with the cord that went bad. Interesting note was that the cord on my mom's Singer machine (from the same time) went bad in just the same manner. They both cracked and the rubber started to just fall away from the cord. I remember my aunt telling that the Singer was not a cheap vac when it was new. I have a advertising print out from her machine and they were talking about the twin fan suction even back then.
Rob

 

[hoover1060]

First...

Nice find on the Singer p/n...a very rare machine today! Now find the similar model that had the Hoover made p/n, the same as the first Celebrity. Yes, with the metal agitator and beater bars.

Chad,
Your memory of Singer is pretty correct, I seem to remember the entire stores going away, not just the vacuums. I have a flyer for the last set of Singer made vacuums, there were three uprights, and three canisters, and the commercial twin fan upright.
Singer vacuums disappeared about 1982 or 1983, and reappeared later about 1987 or so as "The Singer System" Those models were Ryobi made. The twin fan design was made thru 1993 or so, before they were replaced by the "poweramp" Hoover Elite copies.

 

[rugmaster37]

Dear Jeff,

"I have a flyer for the last set of Singer made vacuums, there were three uprights, and three canisters, and the commercial twin fan upright".

You wouldn't by chance have a opportunity to scan and post this would you?

I got tingly and lightheaded when you said you had this flyer.

If you could it would be greatly obliged..

Thanks BTW for posting on the YouTube the Wards Cord Reel Upright. Memories of younger times for me...

And finally..You are 100% correct on the stores going away. After 1986-87' or so Frandor lost their store and many that I rememeber around the state were gone too.

Chad

 

[rugmaster37]

My Aunt had a grey Singer upright ....

Rob,

Sorry for not answering you directly. Singers definitly were expensive machines back then, in many cases just as if not more expensive than a Hoover or Eureka comparitively, which is interesting as Eureka built all of if not 95% of Singers canisters from them from about 1954 onward.

IMHO however, Singer was on the second tier of the vacuum hierarchy. This put is below Hoover,Eureka, Kirby and Electrolux. Singer therefore sat squarely with General Electric, Kenmore, Universal, Compact, Air-Way amongst others; as being second tier manufacturers at least after 1950.

Part of that was because of their price disadvantage, but mainly it was becasue they were "only" offered thru their own stores. Meaning if someone "wanted" a Singer vacuum cleaner, they had to find a local store, (if one was available) and purchase it there. If a store "wasn't" available, one wouldn't purchase a Singer product. that said, sometimes Singer lost themselves sales becasue the store wasn't convienent to one but ma be so for another...

And finally, Singers while light and powerful for that time, were loud, and did NOT clean as well as other brands namely Hoover and Eureka. It's been proven in Consumers Reports, and Consumers Union; from that time frame; not just my opinion taking over what was and is fact.

Your aunt and mothers machine sounds like she had an earlier S-3 possibly, with the prism like headlight set into the large moulded bumper. Some neat Singer features from that point were the finger trigger handle release, the pushbutton cord release and the floating brush idea.

As to their's being loud, that wasn't the brush so much as the bearings on that horizontal motor just became exceedingly loud as time went on. It happened to all of them, some were worse than others of course. Cords and bags wearing out were common problems with those machines as well as others. I do not think that the Cord Reels did the rubber coated cord from that point any favors either.

I have one, thanks to another collector on the forums here, and I love it. But It's too old to use alot so it reamins a "every now and then" machien that I run when i feel super nostalgic. LOL

Anyway what ever happened to the Singes that they had? Did you end up with either of them?

Chad

 

[kirbyvertibles]

Tha's where I remember them from was a catalog. I had forgot about that. It was the early ninties.

 

[williamr1248]

What $5.99 got me at the Thrift Store

Chad,
Thanks so much for all the information. It must have been one of the earlier canisters that I remember being demonstrated at the Singer Store.
I don't remember what happened to my Aunt's Singer upright. I know they used the little hand cleaner to death. They only had one 9x12 rug in the living room. Everything else was hardwod floors. My parents did not have a Singer vac. It was the cord on her Singer sewing machine that I was referring.
My parents always had an Air-Way (except a short 6 month time when she bought a 33 Hoover). She went right back to an Air-Way and is still using that vac 43 years later! The Singer was just one of those childhood memories. It was so different from other cleaners of the time. Now I wnat to find a Singer upright!

 

[eluxomarty]

Nice find!

Hang onto it! I have a package of Singer System bags for canisters. I will have to look at the model numbers. The tools I think were like Eureka tools in grey.

Chad and Jeff, great history on Singer. One of my favorite brands!

Marty

 

[eluxomarty]

OH!

I also remember these models being sold at Target for a time back in the day. Should have bought one back then.

Marty

 

[rugmaster37]

Sold at Target?

Really???

I guess I learned something too. I remember Meijers ( a local department/grocery store) selling them as well as Service Merchandise and Sears. But Tar-shzhay I never knew... We did not have BEst up in Lansing. Just ServMerch and Century House.

I do however clearly remember flipping thru the Sears catalog in 1986 As there were SEVERAL hot air baloons on the cover of that falls catalog, my Gram always got Sears, Monty Wards and Penney's at her house, and was agahast at what I saw. I mean these Ryobi-Mores were just pathetic, cheap looking even in the catalog, and weren't all that "cheap" in the pocketbook area.

Upon inspection at Sears my fears were confirmed. the machines were loud, and horrible. The wand on their TOL PowerNozzle machine actually bowed down under me pushing it across the rug in the vacuum department. To give you the whole scenario...Uhm I was NINE at that time in 1986. I remember being sad for Sears. One guess what I feel for it today.

THis machine seems very cool tho. Bottom line great purchase Fred. Hopefully you get some bags, and let us know what you think???

Chad

 

[hoovercelebrity]

Hey Everyone!

Wow!

Thanks Chad and everyone for the fabulous information!

I did take it into the vacuum store I'm working at (one day a week... I can't seem to get away from working in vacuum stores...).

They had some loose bags in the selection of bags they use for repairs... So I was able to get some genuine bags. I did also look on Essco's website, like you did, and discovered the Eureka V bag, which is good to know. It's a bit tighter of a fit than the Singer bag, but I'll probably get some "FilterAire" bags to use in the Singer.

Upon a quick disassembly, to take a peek "under the hood," the thing is a monster! It's put together very well, and uses seemingly specific parts. Although I did notice when it's running, and when it shuts off, it sounds surprisingly like a Hoover Dimension 1000. It's just about as heavy as one, too.

I have a whole bunch of machines awaiting repair/restoration/cleaning up... But the Singer is going to be one at the top of my list. I'll snap some pictures as I progress. Hopefully I'll be able to get to it this week.

I was able to run across my carpet, and it does suck pretty tight to the floor. It seems like a good-cleaning machine... It does have a lot of suction.

Thanks again, everyone for all of your input, information!
Stay tuned for more pictures!

Oh, I also had no idea that such a model existed with a Hoover-made powerhead... Jeff-what time frame was that produced? And was that the same powerhead that we sometimes see paired with Fairfaxes and Central Vacs?

~Fred