Riccar/Panasonic

It's actually a good value for the money. $95 isn't too much for a top of line model. The hose can be REPAIRED with no expense, the cord guards are both there on the bottom of the power nozzle, the machine is clean and all the tools are there.

Tacony had this machine (and it's matching Simplicity model) made for them by Panasonic. Dealers knew they were really "Kenmore" machines - but it was at a time when Tacony was just starting U.S. production of their uprights. Plastic injection molds are VERY expensive (think about a million bucks each), so there HAS to be enough anticipated sales to warrant the expense. Canister sales have slowly been dying in the U.S. so it doesn't make a lot of sense to spend millions of dollars on injection molding when it can't be recovered quickly.

The Riccar/Simplicity "Kenmore" models were available for about three years. Making them rare - and a collector's item. Chad S. from Michigan was gracious enough to give the Vacuum Cleaner Museum a perfect Simplicity example, and I have a brand new Riccar (like the one in the auction) at the Vacuum Cleaner Museum already.


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Post# 334022 9/15/2015 at 22:17 (3,142 days old) by vac-o-matic (Saint Louis, Mo.)
Checkrate/Likes Now this is a first to me, have never seen one of these. I'm sure there's someone on the site that can shed some light on this model....I wish the seller luck on this, considering the condition. CLICK HERE TO GO TO vac-o-matic's LINK on eBay

Post# 334024 , Reply# 1 9/15/2015 at 22:27 (3,142 days old) by suckolux (Yuba City, CA)
Checkrate/Likes 1 That is different and wow he is nuts

Post# 334026 , Reply# 2 9/15/2015 at 23:04 (3,142 days old) by fantomfan57 (Central Texas)
Checkrate/Likes *Riccar/Panasonic????* Never seen one of these......early re-badge???

Post# 334069 , Reply# 3 9/16/2015 at 08:59 (3,142 days old) by dysonman1 (the county)
Checkrate/Likes 2 It's actually a good value for the money. $95 isn't too much for a top of line model. The hose can be REPAIRED with no expense, the cord guards are both there on the bottom of the power nozzle, the machine is clean and all the tools are there. Tacony had this machine (and it's matching Simplicity model) made for them by Panasonic. Dealers knew they were really "Kenmore" machines - but it was at a time when Tacony was just starting U.S. production of their uprights. Plastic injection molds are VERY expensive (think about a million bucks each), so there HAS to be enough anticipated sales to warrant the expense. Canister sales have slowly been dying in the U.S. so it doesn't make a lot of sense to spend millions of dollars on injection molding when it can't be recovered quickly. The Riccar/Simplicity "Kenmore" models were available for about three years. Making them rare - and a collector's item. Chad S. from Michigan was gracious enough to give the Vacuum Cleaner Museum a perfect Simplicity example, and I have a brand new Riccar (like the one in the auction) at the Vacuum Cleaner Museum already.

Post# 334075 , Reply# 4 9/16/2015 at 09:48 (3,142 days old) by rugsucker (Elizabethton TN)
Checkrate/Likes *Riccar-Panasonic-(Kenmore)* I've never seen this as a Riccar but as with Toms experience I feel that this $95 used vac can be running well after todays $300 plus Kenmores have the power nozzle wheels fall off,brush ends melt and the suction motor burn out.Plus you have 4 quality atts,not 3!The hose repair is relatively simple on the later hoses as seen here and will shorten the hose by 2 inches.

Post# 334078 , Reply# 5 9/16/2015 at 11:58 (3,142 days old) by human (Pines of Carolina)
Checkrate/Likes 2 *Too rich for my blood...* When you add in the $40 for shipping, the total expense to acquire that machine is pretty stiff. I saw a similar Riccar canister about six months ago at a thrift shop around here for about $20 and didn't even look twice at it, but then I'm totally not interested in plastic vacuum cleaners--canister or upright--to begin with. I wasted about $375 on a Kenmore Progressive canister about 15 years ago. It was a total piece of junk and I never want another one. It had to be repaired twice under warranty within the first year. Both times, it was a matter of cheap, flimsy plastic parts breaking. Needless to say, I left that POS behind with my ex-wife. They deserved each other. Since then I've become a total metal-head--the heavier the better--when it comes to vacuum cleaners.

Post# 334095 , Reply# 6 9/17/2015 at 00:48 (3,141 days old) by tolivac (Greenville,NC)
Checkrate/Likes 2 Keep looking you might find a similar machine at a yard-garage sale for much less.I find it hard to beleive molds for injection molding are 1 mil each-I could beleive the injection molding MACHINE would be worth that much for a larger one.There was a hand operated injection molding machine made for high school shops!