What can you tell me about a Singer R5?

[vintagehoover]

Hi Eric - great job, it looks amazing! A few points about the R-Series history:

The original Singer R-1 was styled by Lurelle Van Arsdale Guild (who, coincidentally, also designed the Electrolux XXX, LX and Models E and G, as well as several Lux tools/polisher/powernozzle!) in 1934.

The styling work for the R-2 - R-5 was by M.S. Park in 1936. (Note the dates the designs were registered may or may not coincide with the actual production dates of the machines). Various other engineers contributed elements of its design, such as the floating nozzle, headlamp lens, hood guard, etc.

The revolutionary slimline Singer uprights which replaced these machines were designed by Raymond Loewy (NOT Henry Dreyfuss! Wouldn't make much sense to have him designing competing products for Hoover AND Singer at the same time - a clear 'conflict of interests'!)

Hope this helps!

 

[vintagehoover]

Another pic from an article concerning Loewy's work for Singer...

 

[vintagehoover]

The following two pictures were originally posted by Chad a few months ago...I hope he doesn't mind me posting them again! I've made them slightly bigger, too...

 

[vintagehoover]

A very interesting picture, showing some prototypes from the development of the slimline model. I'm not sure who the men are; neither is Loewy!

 

[normvac]

Neat thread guys, thanks
Norm

 

[rugmaster37]

Jack,

Fire away dear friend. The pics weren't mine to begin with, as I believe i found them over on that LIFE website that features different photos from over the years. And they are most appropriate here?

Incidentally, I too just got one of these monsters from Kyle K, that was originally from Rusty Andres. I love the thing. It's so smooth and quiet, nothing like competitive vacs and ABSOLUTLY NOTHING like their next offering. The screamy meeemy twin fan era.

In mine tho the rollerbrush turns backward. IIRC I heard that this was one of a few machines besides the Premier Grand and my Apex "Whichway" Upright that do this...LOL I'll be really redfaced if I just have the belt on wrong...but It works okay. I just ued it last night after seeig this post!!!


Chad

 

[vintagehoover]

Thanks, Chad, I'd love to see pictures of your Singer - which model is it?

It looks as though perhaps the R-5 was not supposed to have the backwards brush, but the earlier versions did...

The point of this feature, by the way, was to allow you to vacuum all the way to the edge of a rug, without the brushroll pulling it in to the nozzle!

Another cleaner to have this feature, aside from the Singer, Premier, and Apex, was the General Electric Model 111, styled by Allmon Fordyce:

 

[tristar]

Well the R5 certainly doesn't have the backwards brushroll. With the belt installed according to the diagram on the bottom of the cleaner, the brushroll spins forward like you'd expect it. If you try to hook it up to where it revolves backwards, the belt rides up on the pulley and rubs on the fan chamber!

 

[tazcatsdad]

Nice find, and excellent cleanup job!

Bill W.