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Thread Number: 15705
Panasonic 40 & 50 series |
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| Post# 167200 1/25/2012 at 13:48 (4,468 days old) by turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK) | ||
So Paul has spurred me on to try and piece together some history about the Panasonic 40 and 50 series machines.
Anybody who was around in the late 80's/early 90's will remember seeing these - they were EVERYWHERE. There were at least 5 that I knew of on my street or neighbouring streets. I grew up with a white Panasonic MC-E44 from 1992. I know they're not everyone's taste, but I love them! I currently have 2 - and MC-E44 and a later MC-E47 (pictured below). 
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| Post# 167201 , Reply# 1 1/25/2012 at 13:49 (4,468 days old) by turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK) | ||
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Here is all the info I have managed to source so far:
1988 line-up: MC-E41. White, 600w (smoked clear plastic tool compartment cover) 1989 line-up: MC-E41N. White, 650w MC-E42. Light grey, 650w, variable power MC-E43. Dark grey, 650w, variable power, headlight 1992 line-up: MC-E44. White, 700w MC-E45. Light grey, 700w, variable power MC-E46. Dark grey, 700w, variable power MC-E53. White, 900w, variable power MC-E54. Light grey, 900w, variable power, cord rewind MC-E56. Dark grey, 900w, variable power, cord rewind, headlight late 1993/early 94 line-up: MC-E44. White, 700w MC-E47. Dark green, 700w, variable power | ||
| Post# 167202 , Reply# 2 1/25/2012 at 13:56 (4,468 days old) by turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK) | ||
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The first and second generation 40 series are almost identical to look at, apart from some of the writing style on the front of the cleaner around the bag full indicator.
From what I can tell, the last of the 40 series machines were still on sale as late as 1994/95, but these could possibly have been clearance stock. The 40 series was replaced by the more sleek looking MC-E450 (and subsequent higher spec 400 series machines). Performance wise, this cleaner was no different to the 40 series as it used the same 700w motor and same style beater bar. There was only 1 run of 50 series cleaners until they were superseded by the 500 series. The first 2 500 series cleaners (553 in white and 554 in dark green)were not all that different in design from the 50's. They had upped the motor to 1000w and made the hose longer. It wasn't until about 1998 when the Icon was launched that Panasonic totally redesigned the 500's. Unfortunately, I don't have any pics to show of the later style 500's. So if anyone out there has any additional info or corrections to the info above, I'd be very interested and grateful to know about it. Any catalogue or brochure scans would also be nice :). A few pics of various machines to follow. | ||
| Post# 167203 , Reply# 3 1/25/2012 at 13:58 (4,468 days old) by turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK) | ||
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| Post# 167206 , Reply# 4 1/25/2012 at 14:01 (4,468 days old) by turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK) | ||
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| Post# 167207 , Reply# 5 1/25/2012 at 14:07 (4,468 days old) by turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK) | ||
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| Post# 167208 , Reply# 6 1/25/2012 at 14:08 (4,468 days old) by turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK) | ||
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| Post# 167214 , Reply# 7 1/25/2012 at 14:55 (4,467 days old) by kirbymodel2c (Nottingham, England) | ||
Hi 
Hi Chris,
Nice collection of vacs. The 40 series Panasonics was never my fave series I always prefered the 50 series. The only 40 series I would like is the MC-E43n But I always thought/remember the 43 being more of a blue/navy colour. And when I look at my late 80s brochure it looks more dark blue/navy colour. I remember my old teacher bringing me it in to school for me to fix. I thing it was blocked up with pine needles. I think the only 50 series I would like is a MC-E54 as I have the 53 and 55. MC-E55 being my fave of the 50 series:o) James:o) | ||
| Post# 167219 , Reply# 9 1/25/2012 at 15:19 (4,467 days old) by turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK) | ||
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Hi Benny,
Thanks for the info on the early 40 series machines. I've managed to acquire the optional extension hose recently. Based on info from the manual's, I think this came as standard with the top 2nd generation top end machines but was extra to buy for the lower end. I've never actually not seen one of the models with the smoked plastic tool cover in years, so they must be getting pretty rare now. I did notice that the difference in performance between the 650w and 700w models is actually quite astonishing for only a 50w increase - was the motor totally redesigned? Regarding the end caps for the brushroll, neither my 44 or 47 have the end caps, despite being later models. Do you know when Panasonic started fitting them as standard? Thanks, Chris | ||
| Post# 167223 , Reply# 12 1/25/2012 at 15:48 (4,467 days old) by turbomaster1984 (Ripley, Derbyshire) | ||
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| Post# 167224 , Reply# 13 1/25/2012 at 15:53 (4,467 days old) by turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK) | ||
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Rob... | ||
| Post# 167225 , Reply# 14 1/25/2012 at 15:56 (4,467 days old) by turbomaster1984 (Ripley, Derbyshire) | ||
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| Post# 167226 , Reply# 15 1/25/2012 at 16:01 (4,467 days old) by turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK) | ||
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| Post# 167227 , Reply# 16 1/25/2012 at 16:08 (4,467 days old) by turbomaster1984 (Ripley, Derbyshire) | ||
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| Post# 167231 , Reply# 17 1/25/2012 at 16:16 (4,467 days old) by turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK) | ||
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are you sure? is it in the catalogue? can you point to it? | ||
| Post# 167245 , Reply# 18 1/25/2012 at 18:13 (4,467 days old) by kenkart () | ||
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I See some Kenwood! Mixers!! a rare thing around here! | ||
| Post# 167247 , Reply# 19 1/25/2012 at 18:26 (4,467 days old) by vintagerepairer (England) | ||
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Well whatever the colour, I bet it has good castors. | ||
| Post# 167289 , Reply# 22 1/26/2012 at 05:07 (4,467 days old) by jmurray01 (Scotland) | ||
On the subject of headlamps, I wish more cleaners had them!
My HOOVER Ranger U4014 has a "Hedlite", and I love it! As the saying went - "It lights where it's going, it's clean where it's gone!" I remember a Vax (I think it was) we had for a very short time (my mother sent it back after one day because she didn't like how the telescopic handle felt "loose") had a headlamp and it was very good - Brighter than the one on my Ranger. | ||
| Post# 167332 , Reply# 23 1/26/2012 at 13:31 (4,467 days old) by turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK) | ||
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I bet it has good castors
"take it away the trolley!?"
anyway, headlights, I never saw the point. Especially on the higher end Panasonic models of the 40 and 50 series, they were simply a way of sticking a bigger price tag on the machine. There is absolutely no difference in cleaning ability between the 44 and 46 and the 53 and 55 - they just come with headlights and variable power. I do remember once as a child asking my Dad why the vacuum had a light on the front, to which he responded "in case you're hoovering in a power cut". Took me years to figure out what he was on about! | ||
| Post# 167334 , Reply# 25 1/26/2012 at 13:37 (4,467 days old) by jmurray01 (Scotland) | ||
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| Post# 167337 , Reply# 26 1/26/2012 at 13:59 (4,467 days old) by turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK) | ||
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Your father was very witty Chris! | ||
| Post# 167498 , Reply# 27 1/27/2012 at 20:36 (4,465 days old) by hoover719 () | ||
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It looks very much like a Hoover TurboPower. Was this vacuum cleaner made to compete with the TurboPower? | ||
| Post# 167972 , Reply# 31 2/1/2012 at 15:36 (4,460 days old) by baglessball () | ||
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There is is a MC-E43 on eBay, grey with headlight and clear tool door.. | ||
| Post# 167973 , Reply# 32 2/1/2012 at 15:41 (4,460 days old) by baglessball () | ||
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Also completely agree about the lack of grit removal! This used to baffle me when I was a kid. I would reppeatedly vacuum the same spot and still grit would bounce out of the carpet in front of the machine no matter how many strokes I would make.. | ||
| Post# 168169 , Reply# 33 2/3/2012 at 20:26 (4,458 days old) by hoover719 () | ||
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Is the MC-E554 the same as a Miele Powerhouse S174i? | ||
| Post# 168296 , Reply# 34 2/4/2012 at 17:17 (4,457 days old) by vacu-finder () | ||
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Never seen one myself..........but I is a big fan of Panasonic. Pretty looking MC-E44 and MC-E47 machines | ||
| Post# 168316 , Reply# 35 2/4/2012 at 19:43 (4,457 days old) by sebo_fan (Scotland, UK, member AKA ukvacfan, & Nar2) | ||
Oh this takes me back! When I started out collecting someone gave me a 1989 year white MCE 41N - I loved that vacuum and then I got the green MC E53. As someone has already mentioned, I too had more problems with the MC E53 - the auto cord mechanism was quite a struggle but more to the point the motor had seen better days and the variable suction dial was next to useless. Good vacuum when it worked properly but not as eager or as compact to push as the MCE 41N.
Also, a fact that Panasonic now stipulate with their silly current bagged series is the 2 drive belt system which is a bit of a nonsense to have to remove both just to replace the drive belt. It was the same set up on my bagless uprights, MCE 4003 and MCE 4111. | ||
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