Thread Number: 19547
JC Penney "2 Two Motor Upright Vacuum"
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Post# 217170   2/1/2013 at 22:57 (4,100 days old) by gmerkt (Edmonds WA)        

This strange bird came my way recently. It's a JC Penney (model) 2880. The front of the machine says it's a "2 Two Motor Upright Vacuum." The bag inside says it's a Bissell 5890 bag, for the Bissell Models 5850 and 5900.

I suspect this machine is incomplete. The "2" in the name suggests that it might be a "Two in One" machine. Also, the floor nozzle has a detachable cord plug and a socket release at the base which makes me think that it comes off for replacement with a fixed, non-motorized attachment.

This is the first one of these I've seen, so perhaps some of you smart people have a previous exposure to one. I cannot find much about it on the internet. The parts suppliers that I checked don't have the (probably) more common Bissell models in their line-up. Bags might be a problem; I cut the bottom out of the (full) existing bag just to have a sample.


Post# 217171 , Reply# 1   2/1/2013 at 22:57 (4,100 days old) by gmerkt (Edmonds WA)        

Close-up of name area.

Post# 217172 , Reply# 2   2/1/2013 at 22:58 (4,100 days old) by gmerkt (Edmonds WA)        

Manufacturer's ID plate inside dust compartment:

Post# 217175 , Reply# 3   2/1/2013 at 23:18 (4,099 days old) by vac-o-matic (Saint Louis, Mo.)        

I have one of those with the Bissell name on it in really nice shape, and actually works pretty well. I don't even remember seeing them in the stores, and I remember all the way back to the Hoover 65/66 displays. Maybe they were a short run. I also have a commercial Bissell upright with a Big Foot power nozzle on it. It's called a CS, guessing commercial system abreviation, as seems to be heavier built than the others. The one like the above was a gift from Phillip M., and the CS series was a gift from Dan P. Thanks guys, they're the only Bissells in my collection. I did a double take recently looking on Ebay, and saw an Oreck Big Foot upright just like my CS series Bissell. So which came first, the Bissell or the Oreck versions. I know Papa Oreck bought Bissell at one point I believe but not sure on the details. I'll look and see what I have in bags for those, that is if I can find them! I'll let you know, and send some if I can.

Post# 217204 , Reply# 4   2/2/2013 at 07:35 (4,099 days old) by xraytech ()        

I have a package of 3 bags for this machine that I have no use for

Post# 217214 , Reply# 5   2/2/2013 at 08:37 (4,099 days old) by NYCWriter (New York City)        
Wow.

nycwriter's profile picture
JCPenney's corporate headquarters were once in the 10019 ZIP code??

Post# 217216 , Reply# 6   2/2/2013 at 09:19 (4,099 days old) by Blackheart (North Dakota)        
Never seen one

blackheart's profile picture
I have never seen one of those before it looks pretty strange to me. Thanks for posting this

Post# 217218 , Reply# 7   2/2/2013 at 09:26 (4,099 days old) by rugsucker (Elizabethton TN)        
JCPenney 2 mtr

I think this was in color on the back cover of about 1978 Penney big catalog.And also seen as Oreck.As above,little known,rarely seen.

Post# 217239 , Reply# 8   2/2/2013 at 12:55 (4,099 days old) by fan-of-fans (USA)        

fan-of-fans's profile picture
Never seen one of those, must be very rare. Did they have attachment hoses?

Post# 217253 , Reply# 9   2/2/2013 at 13:40 (4,099 days old) by gmerkt (Edmonds WA)        

I don't know for sure, but the floor nozzle arrangement seems to allow for quick detachment. That suggests to me that fixed attachments could then be attached to the stick and the machine might be used in a different mode.

Post# 217258 , Reply# 10   2/2/2013 at 14:22 (4,099 days old) by beko1987 (Stokenchurch, United Kingdom)        

That looks great, does it groom at all, or is it a stick vac type affair?

Post# 217281 , Reply# 11   2/2/2013 at 16:49 (4,099 days old) by gmerkt (Edmonds WA)        

It has a brushroll in the floor nozzle. It's put together a lot like an older Eureka canister nozzle in the way the brushroll is made.

Post# 217321 , Reply# 12   2/2/2013 at 23:09 (4,098 days old) by BrianKirbyClass (Eudora Kansas)        

briankirbyclass's profile picture
Back in 1983-84 when i lived in an apt., a neighbor guy that lived next door had this same one, in yellow, with the JC Penny badge. It did have a hose and cheapy plastic attachments, seems like there was a little spring loaded door on the back somwehere to attach the hose. Never used this machine, but i do remember it standing in his living room. The dude wasnt much on cleaning house, so i never heard it in action either, darn it.
Next thing i knew he moved out, so never got to know him well enough to ask to "borrow" his vac!,,and check it out futher.


Post# 217326 , Reply# 13   2/3/2013 at 01:44 (4,098 days old) by BriGuy (Wichita, Kansas)        

briguy's profile picture
Gary, that's a neat find there. I haven't seen that before, but really like the look of it. Do you have an pics of the brush roll etc...?

Post# 217458 , Reply# 14   2/3/2013 at 21:47 (4,098 days old) by gmerkt (Edmonds WA)        

Brian:

I've meant to mention that one of my grandmothers was born in Salina, KS. The rest of her siblings were born in western Iowa. We had some extended family members in Solomon, KS, near Salina. One of my grandmother's half-sisters and her issue. Could be my GM was born in KS during a family visit from Iowa; sorry to say it's too late for me to ask now.

Okay, I've taken a few more pics that show more of the floor nozzle.



Post# 217459 , Reply# 15   2/3/2013 at 21:48 (4,098 days old) by gmerkt (Edmonds WA)        

Sorry, the machine is as-found and still dirty.

Post# 217460 , Reply# 16   2/3/2013 at 21:49 (4,098 days old) by gmerkt (Edmonds WA)        

Floor nozzle detached from handle.

Post# 217461 , Reply# 17   2/3/2013 at 21:49 (4,098 days old) by gmerkt (Edmonds WA)        

Detachment, from front side.

Post# 217462 , Reply# 18   2/3/2013 at 21:50 (4,098 days old) by gmerkt (Edmonds WA)        

Wiring and plug on floor nozzle.

Post# 217474 , Reply# 19   2/4/2013 at 00:09 (4,097 days old) by BriGuy (Wichita, Kansas)        

briguy's profile picture
Gary, what small world as they say. Solomon is just east of here about 17 miles. Thanks for posting such great shots! That's such a clever lil vac. That's a nice one to have in your collection.

Post# 217593 , Reply# 20   2/4/2013 at 16:54 (4,097 days old) by gmerkt (Edmonds WA)        

It won't be going into my collection; maybe someone else's. It's not what I'm particularly interested in. Someone who pines for private-branded equipment likely will get it eventually. I've had a number of JCP and Monkey Ward items that have been re-homed to such collectors.

Post# 217748 , Reply# 21   2/5/2013 at 17:21 (4,096 days old) by vacuumman206 ()        

Looks like that vac took after Regina, not Bissell. Highly reminds me of the Regina Powerteam which had a similar brush setup, where it had a detachable motorized brush. The head comes off for attachments, as it did with the powerteam. At least I believe the Regina was first to do this. I'll bet that thing makes a lot of noise with less than adequate suction. But it does look more powerful and better built than the Reginas.

Post# 217768 , Reply# 22   2/5/2013 at 19:25 (4,096 days old) by gmerkt (Edmonds WA)        

It came with a Bissell 5890 bag in it, the bag collar of which is pretty specific to the machine in terms of how it fits to the bag dock.

Post# 217830 , Reply# 23   2/6/2013 at 01:28 (4,095 days old) by kirbyvertibles (Independence, KS)        

kirbyvertibles's profile picture
That is a pretty good little power head. I believe this power head was the very first used on the first household Thermax

Post# 217907 , Reply# 24   2/6/2013 at 13:11 (4,095 days old) by jmurray01 (Scotland)        

jmurray01's profile picture
That is an interesting wee thing!

I have never seen a vacuum with an "extra belt storage" facility before, interesting indeed.


Post# 217908 , Reply# 25   2/6/2013 at 13:18 (4,095 days old) by stricklybojack (Southern California)        
My Oreck XL 21...

stricklybojack's profile picture
has that same belt storage recess feature as well, in the same place too...

Post# 217915 , Reply# 26   2/6/2013 at 14:23 (4,095 days old) by dysondestijl (east midlands, UK)        

Yes, most if not all orecks have belt storage on them!

Post# 218031 , Reply# 27   2/7/2013 at 14:43 (4,094 days old) by gmerkt (Edmonds WA)        

A great many Kenmore uprights from mid-'90's to early 2000's have a spare belt storage area behind the lamp in the floor nozzle. These are the ones with the easily removed cover on the nozzle area.


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