Why is this man smiling?

[aeoliandave]

I'm just guessing here that this is the 5th & last iteration of the R model before Loewy had his way with it and designed the S. The S1 came out in 1949.

Yes please, Singer-ites out there...What are the dates for the R1/2/3/4/5? S 1/2/3?

Picture courtesy of rugmaster37, who I think used to be Chad. ?

 

[aeoliandave]

Alan, you were so close you were absolutely right!

Another rugmaster 37 picture of the R series and S1.

Loewy kept the thick glass headlight lens, sliding two-speed switch, handle mounted cord release friction slide wheel and 'concealed' cord-winder with cord through the handle - all the good bits in a modern form.

 

[petek]

interesting how all but the R5 have forked type handles. As noticed yesterday on my berber carpet the R5 was a wee bit sticky manourverability wise possibly because of the handle design being right at the back.

 

[arh1953]

Really?

So the new toy IS a Loewy creation? Stellar!

 

[aeoliandave]

It seems Loewy did not design the R series Singers.

I googled up this book and picture from it - read the caption.

Never Leave Well Enough Alone was first published in 1951 at the height of Loewy's career. His company, Raymond Loewy Associates, served as design consultants to more than a hundred of the world's largest corporations, and products manufactured to their specifications sold in excess of $3 billion annually. Written and designed by Loewy, this profusely illustrated book is part autobiography and part design manifesto. Acclaimed for its wit, its idiosyncracies, and its insight into the Loewy aesthetic, this volume stands as a remarkable document of the American Century and a still-vital meditation upon the importance of industrial design in daily life.



http://www.raymondloewy.com/pdf/time1949.pdf

 

[aeoliandave]

Of course I had to have it apart. Surprisingly clean. Mostly cobwebs.

 

[aeoliandave]

Magic Eraser took the age schmutz off the green/gray rubber trims and Endust sparkled up the wrinkletone paint. A few white paints speckles were picked off with wood toothpicks.

 

[aeoliandave]

Found about 24" of fine twisted picture wire wound around the pulley - I wonder how many belts were snarled and torn and for how long?

This wants a round belt and I'm sure a Hoover will fit - I just don't have any right now. We put a flat Hoover belt on it and that works fine for now.

 

[aeoliandave]

"Head towards the Light, Carol Ann"

!

 

[aeoliandave]

Even standing still the R5 is in fluidized motion...

 

[aeoliandave]

Pretty Posin' Time

Just love the brown marbled tortoiseshell Bakelite wheels, handle and switch.

 

[aeoliandave]

side by side

 

[aeoliandave]

nose to nose

 

[aeoliandave]

bumpin' bags.

 

[petek]

Looks like

Napoleons hat pollinated by a horshoe crab. Priceless and true LOL

 

[arh1953]

Back to back, belly to belly

They really knew how to turn a phrase in 1949, didn't they? Clever. I love the juxtaposition of the '30s job to that delicious New For 1949 Singer Upright.

 

[aeoliandave]

I have heard back from the seller who apologized profusely for giving me the wrong phone number. He congratulated me on my resourcefulness and was most pleased I am an honest person. The house was his Mothers, she has passed and he inherited all. So he is ebaying off her contents and stuff as he finishes up Engineering school. Intends to keep the house, spruce it up and bit and live there or rent out if his career takes him away.

He was up the street 6 houses away with his fiance doing the Valentines Weekend thing but never looked outside and so didn't see my car during the hour I was there.

All's well that ends well.

a few vacuums ready for their move upstairs...

 

[aeoliandave]

Interesting thing with the Canadian Convertible 711.

The hood bolts are knobs with thin knurled edges and no screwdriver slots. Damned difficult to remove for bulb changes.

Is this common? or confoundingly Canadian?

 

[aeoliandave]

How sweet!

His & Her Convertibles.