When did Singer...

In response to the Singer questions, Singer sold out to Bissell in the late 1990's. They DID make a power nozzle canister. Let's differentiate the two "Singer" vacuum lines. Those sold in Singer Sewing Machine stores (from the 1920's through the 1980's) - as opposed to Singer vacuums sold in retail stores (like K-Mart and Wal-Mart).

The first Singer uprights (1920's) were made by Sturtevant. They were straight suction machines, with two speed motors. First model used sleeve bearings, second used Ball Bearing. Next, the 1933 R-1 Singer. Made by GE and using a Backward Revolving Brush. The next 4 "R series" machines were made by Singer themselves, with the R-4 and R-5 models having an automatic cord rewinder (Singer's claim to fame).

In the 1950's, Singer introduced the new 'lowboy' uprights with twin fans. Even though Singer claimed to have 'invented' the twin fan design, they did not. It was an Air-Way design on the twin-fan DirtMasteR model. These first twin-fan models were made for approximately 15 years until the mid 1960's. They also featured a 'floating brush' in that the brush height was not fixed, the brush roller actually 'floated' on top of the carpet. Two 'arms' held the brush roller within the nozzle, and allowed it to move up and down within the nozzle.

Eureka built the Singer canister vacuums (the S series). Different colors and features. These were Singer's first canisters, and like their first uprights, Singer had them built by someone else until sales justified the investment in tooling to make the machines themselves.

Singer then developed the Twin-Fan design of the mid 1960's, and private labeled them for Sears and Sunbeam as well as for themselves. These private labeled machines for Sears continued to be sold by Sears well into the 1990's.

Mid 1960's, Singer developed their own canisters. In the mid 1970's they private labeled their canister and uprights for K-Mart as the "flor genie". This included a power nozzle canister as well as straight suction models. For Singer's own Singer Sewing Center stores, there were many different models. One famously stored the hose inside the housing under the lid.

Once the Singer Sewing Center stores closed (very few people sew any longer), Singer continued to private label machines for Sears, and began selling their cleaners through Wal-Mart and other stores. They became known for very 'cheap' vauums, low quality machines that today we would term "plastivacs", and this was the 1980's. Singer sold to Bissell in the late 1990's, and Bissell retired the Singer name.


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Post# 297440 9/7/2014 at 16:15 (3,515 days old) by eurekastar (Amarillo, Texas)
Checkrate/Likes stop making vacuum cleaners? I know they also manufactured vacuums for Sears. Were there other companies as well? While I've never used one in person, their Twin Fan design seems quite clever. Are they easily serviced? I ask because I'm thinking of picking one up at some point in order to tinker with it. Also, I know that Singer had a line of canisters, but did they ever make a model that included a power nozzle? Thanks in advance for the responses!

Post# 297443 , Reply# 1 9/7/2014 at 16:25 (3,515 days old) by bnsd60m9200 (Akron OH)
Checkrate/Likes best i can tell the late 80's from stuff ive seen at thrift stores

Post# 297446 , Reply# 2 9/7/2014 at 17:07 (3,515 days old) by sbakerde (Millsboro, DE )
Checkrate/Likes *Their was a model about 6 years ago* Singer had the lazer storm "compact upright". I recall is being advertised on tv. It was basically a cordless vac design with a cord on it. Oreck sold the same design for years as a cordless. The design was interesting with a cord but never had the opportunity to try it. Singer did make canisters with a power nozzle many years ago. I have seen only a few.

Post# 297448 , Reply# 3 9/7/2014 at 17:25 (3,515 days old) by DesertTortoise ()
Checkrate/Likes I have a Kenmore 3.1 canister vac that is a Ryobi manufactured copy of a Singer DLC 100 or 200. It is an interesting design with a drawer that slides out the front with the bag and a peripheral discharge motor. Suction is weak, and it is cheaply made. Bags and filters are long out of production. They are floating around but it takes a lot of persistence cajoling shops and ebay sellers to take the time to dig through piles of old vacuum bags and filters to find what you need, and you are always worried that the bags you have on hand are the last ones you will ever see. For my particular model I cannot find any other bag that fits the holder that I could use as a substitute for the original bags. Parts for them are nearly impossible to find. Nothing is being made for them so whatever is floating around is all there is and all there ever will be. One ebay seller suggest to me I save the cardboard ends from the Kenmore 5042 bags as I fill them, find a similar sized bag and glue the old end on a new bag so it can be slotted into the holder. That is desperation speaking. It is an interesting vacuum to own, but I don't plan to use it much. I have 15 bags and plan to not use all of them in my lifetime. One thing, with the scarcity of parts owning one will make it a lifetime project. There will always be something to scrounge around for. Cultivate your favorite ebay sellers and maybe you will get visits from the filter and parts fairies.

Post# 297463 , Reply# 4 9/7/2014 at 19:13 (3,515 days old) by eurekastar (Amarillo, Texas)
Checkrate/Likes I glue the bag collar onto other bags all the time, especially when manufacturers don't produce a high filtration bag for older models. I'm running HEPA type bags in several older vacuums by doing that.

Post# 297468 , Reply# 5 9/7/2014 at 19:46 (3,515 days old) by DesertTortoise ()
Checkrate/Likes Interesting. Do you cut the new bags collar off first (I'm working on the assumption the new bags collar might be larger than the one for your vac)? What glue do you use? I have tried cutting collars down to fit vacuums but often find the bag is glued too close to the edge of the collar to permit much in the way of trimming without tearing the bag.

Post# 297479 , Reply# 6 9/7/2014 at 21:36 (3,515 days old) by eurekastar (Amarillo, Texas)
Checkrate/Likes It depends. Most of the time, I end up trimming the bag collar on the HEPA bag a little. Then I just superglue the new collar right on top of it. I then lay a heavy book on it to make sure the two collars are bonded well.

Post# 297516 , Reply# 7 9/8/2014 at 09:11 (3,514 days old) by DesertTortoise ()
Checkrate/Likes Very good. Thank you.

Post# 297525 , Reply# 8 9/8/2014 at 09:53 (3,514 days old) by dysonman1 (the county)
Checkrate/Likes In response to the Singer questions, Singer sold out to Bissell in the late 1990's. They DID make a power nozzle canister. Let's differentiate the two "Singer" vacuum lines. Those sold in Singer Sewing Machine stores (from the 1920's through the 1980's) - as opposed to Singer vacuums sold in retail stores (like K-Mart and Wal-Mart). The first Singer uprights (1920's) were made by Sturtevant. They were straight suction machines, with two speed motors. First model used sleeve bearings, second used Ball Bearing. Next, the 1933 R-1 Singer. Made by GE and using a Backward Revolving Brush. The next 4 "R series" machines were made by Singer themselves, with the R-4 and R-5 models having an automatic cord rewinder (Singer's claim to fame). In the 1950's, Singer introduced the new 'lowboy' uprights with twin fans. Even though Singer claimed to have 'invented' the twin fan design, they did not. It was an Air-Way design on the twin-fan DirtMasteR model. These first twin-fan models were made for approximately 15 years until the mid 1960's. They also featured a 'floating brush' in that the brush height was not fixed, the brush roller actually 'floated' on top of the carpet. Two 'arms' held the brush roller within the nozzle, and allowed it to move up and down within the nozzle. Eureka built the Singer canister vacuums (the S series). Different colors and features. These were Singer's first canisters, and like their first uprights, Singer had them built by someone else until sales justified the investment in tooling to make the machines themselves. Singer then developed the Twin-Fan design of the mid 1960's, and private labeled them for Sears and Sunbeam as well as for themselves. These private labeled machines for Sears continued to be sold by Sears well into the 1990's. Mid 1960's, Singer developed their own canisters. In the mid 1970's they private labeled their canister and uprights for K-Mart as the "flor genie". This included a power nozzle canister as well as straight suction models. For Singer's own Singer Sewing Center stores, there were many different models. One famously stored the hose inside the housing under the lid. Once the Singer Sewing Center stores closed (very few people sew any longer), Singer continued to private label machines for Sears, and began selling their cleaners through Wal-Mart and other stores. They became known for very 'cheap' vauums, low quality machines that today we would term "plastivacs", and this was the 1980's. Singer sold to Bissell in the late 1990's, and Bissell retired the Singer name.

Post# 298770 , Reply# 11 9/18/2014 at 18:36 (3,504 days old) by kirbyvertibles (Independence, KS)
Checkrate/Likes *This would be the perfect opportunity to ask this,* I some how remember, I dont know when (had to have been between 1989 and 1993), and I dont remember where, but I SWEAR I saw a Bissell twin fan upright, just like the Singer System type, but trimmed in the dark Bissell green....Any thoughts????? I thought I may have been loosing my mind, until someone pointed out a generic house brand package of Eureka F&G bags on Ebay, it was one of those paks that said "*also fits Singer, Kenmore, GE, and BISSELL!" So with that being said, maybe I am not loosing my mind...lol....so someone please help. thanks, Phillip

Post# 298793 , Reply# 13 9/18/2014 at 21:00 (3,504 days old) by super-sweeper (KSSRC Refurbishment Center)
Checkrate/Likes They sure did, but I've never seen a Bissell twin-fan!

Post# 298831 , Reply# 14 9/18/2014 at 23:58 (3,504 days old) by DesertTortoise ()
Checkrate/Likes I'm still interested to know how Ryobi fit into the history of Singer vacuums. Anyone know? Dysonman1, how about you?

Post# 297542 , Reply# 9 9/8/2014 at 11:26 (3,514 days old) by DesertTortoise ()
Checkrate/Likes I can vouch for the cheap materials and assembly of the Ryobi built Singer. How did Ryobi fit into the picture? When were they building Singer machines? Did Ryobi build Singer branded machines or only those branded for other sellers such as Kenmore? One other thing that I am curious about is why my Singer DLC derived Ryobi built Kenmore 3.1 uses a peripheral discharge motor. What advantage would there be compared to a traditional for canister vacuums through flow motor? Given equal motors I would expect a through flow design to exceed the performance of a peripheral discharge motor, but I don't engineer vacuums for a living so what do I know.

Post# 297574 , Reply# 10 9/8/2014 at 15:39 (3,514 days old) by eurekastar (Amarillo, Texas)
Checkrate/Likes *@dysonman1* Thank you very much! That's exactly the kind of information I was looking for!

Post# 298780 , Reply# 12 9/18/2014 at 19:02 (3,504 days old) by hydralique (Los Angeles)
Checkrate/Likes Didn't Bissell buy what was left of Singer's vacuum business? I seem to recall something about this but hopefully someone more knowledgeable than me will chime in.

Post# 393952 , Reply# 15 6/27/2018 at 18:28 (2,126 days old) by fan-of-fans (USA)
Checkrate/Likes I've been researching this. It seems sometime in the late 80s Singer sold their vacuum business in Anderson SC to Ryobi. From then on Ryobi was making them and just labeling them as Bissell, Kenmore, or whatever. It was Ryobi that sold the division to Bissell in '96.