Thread Number: 2890
Sears Kenmore Line ->1979-1980
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Post# 31728   2/12/2008 at 18:55 (5,888 days old) by hoover1060 ()        

After posting the little bit I did from the Sears brochure last night I got a few email requests to post the whole booklet, so here it is...
The cover


Post# 31729 , Reply# 1   2/12/2008 at 18:57 (5,888 days old) by hoover1060 ()        
Page 2...

featuring the Lady Kenmore Powermate, and one down from the TOL

Post# 31730 , Reply# 2   2/12/2008 at 18:58 (5,888 days old) by hoover1060 ()        
page 3...

More PowerMates...Sears always had a very extensive canister line.

Post# 31731 , Reply# 3   2/12/2008 at 18:59 (5,888 days old) by hoover1060 ()        
page 4

BOL Powermate and straight suction canisters

Post# 31732 , Reply# 4   2/12/2008 at 19:01 (5,888 days old) by hoover1060 ()        
page 5

Central vacuum, and Kwik Sweeps

Post# 31733 , Reply# 5   2/12/2008 at 19:03 (5,888 days old) by hoover1060 ()        
page 6

The (in)famous Duo-Power line, and one twin fan model
This would be pretty much the end of the Duo Power cleaners, they were dropped at the end of 1981.


Post# 31734 , Reply# 6   2/12/2008 at 19:06 (5,888 days old) by hoover1060 ()        
Twin-fan uprights

Sears had one of these for every budget too...
Problem was these were miserable, flimsy things that did not last very long at all.


Post# 31735 , Reply# 7   2/12/2008 at 19:08 (5,888 days old) by hoover1060 ()        
back page

misc stuff and polishers...
Thats all there is folks, enjoy!


Post# 31743 , Reply# 8   2/12/2008 at 19:35 (5,888 days old) by classiccaprice ()        

My great aunt had the 2999... that was an awesome vacuum. My grandmother saved it for me, or so I thought, until I went to get it one day and she gave it to my cousin!!! Knowing him, it's gone now. Darn it!

Post# 31753 , Reply# 9   2/12/2008 at 20:41 (5,888 days old) by petek (Ontario)        

Just went to the basement to look.. I have the 2991 only missing the ever important power nozzle though. And the greener one I have is a 2092 which is complete. I thought it was solid colored but it's two tone,, the top is lighter green than the bottom, I have the attachments and power nozzle for it..
If anyone has the power nozzle for the 2991 spare lemme know, may as well make it into a complete vacuum again.

The don't show the twin fan self propelled there. Wonder when that came out..


Post# 31760 , Reply# 10   2/12/2008 at 20:59 (5,888 days old) by danemodsandy ()        
The Only Problem...

...I used to be a Sears customer, and over the years, I worked my way up from that BOL Powermate vac to the TOL. I also had (actually, still have) that steam cleaner shown. Unfortunately, parts availability got so bad that first the vac had to be discarded, and now the steam cleaner will have to be replaced once it needs a new hose (it could already use a new nozzle). Too bad- these were very good vacs, with a ton of features. You just have a time keeping 'em going.

Post# 31773 , Reply# 11   2/12/2008 at 22:38 (5,888 days old) by alex1983 ()        
Wow, just what I've been looking for

This is great! I've been lurking on here for almost a year, hoping that someone would post the Sears line from the late '70s.

When I was growing up, my parents had a model that was very similar to the 3076. It wasn't the wooden/flower look, though. From what I remember, it was black and grey (or was it red?). It was a two speed model with a magicord. I was so bummed when they got rid of it, and I've been looking all over the internet for a picture of it (or something similar).

They were married in early Janurary of 1979, and they got it as a wedding gift. I'm thinking it was part of the 1978 lineup. Do you have a brochure from that year also?

Incidentally, if anyone has any Sears catalogs or brochures (hell, even just pictures) of Kenmore uprights from the late '70s on throughout the late '80s/early '90's, I'd love to see 'em. Thanks


Post# 31813 , Reply# 12   2/13/2008 at 09:48 (5,888 days old) by collector2 (Moose Jaw, Sk)        

collector2's profile picture
Hi Alex - is this the machine - from the 1978 Sears catalogue

Post# 31814 , Reply# 13   2/13/2008 at 09:50 (5,888 days old) by collector2 (Moose Jaw, Sk)        

collector2's profile picture
or perhaps this one from the 1979 catalogue (fall and winter) - I have a bookcase full of old catalogues for reference. Unfortunately it is very hard to scan them without breaking the spines.
Doug


Post# 31815 , Reply# 14   2/13/2008 at 10:05 (5,888 days old) by alex1983 ()        
YES!

It's the first one posted.

Thank you so much, that's exactly it! Wow, I haven't seen that vacuum in 20 years. I really appreciate it.

Now if I could only come across one on Ebay or Craigslist, I'd be set.


Post# 31816 , Reply# 15   2/13/2008 at 10:07 (5,888 days old) by hoover1060 ()        
very cool...

that '78 upright with the cord reel is really awesome, I honestly don't remember that model available here in the US.
It's very MOD looking thats for sure!!


Post# 31817 , Reply# 16   2/13/2008 at 10:15 (5,888 days old) by ian88 ()        

I mean nothing by this..but how many designs does that hard bag upright rip off? lol I can see elements of the Dial A Matic...the Panasonic uprights of the time..I'm sure there's more.

Nice design though :)


Post# 31819 , Reply# 17   2/13/2008 at 10:42 (5,888 days old) by alex1983 ()        
Not available in the US

Although I'm sure that my parents' vacuum was made in the US (as no-one in my family would've driven from PA to Canada for a vacuum), maybe they are more rare and that's why I've never come across one.

I know that people on here don't seem to regard the Twin Fan models very highly, but I've always had a thing for them. It's a shame that they aren't easier to find, though. I'd love one.


Post# 31822 , Reply# 18   2/13/2008 at 11:10 (5,888 days old) by arh1953 ( River Park, in Port St. Lucie, Florida)        

arh1953's profile picture
I found a tempting late model Kenmore with powerhead, and a kinked hose. I didn't want to deal with the kinks. I like all of these '70s models your'e posting here.

Post# 31837 , Reply# 19   2/13/2008 at 13:21 (5,888 days old) by petek (Ontario)        

Ah there's the blue two speed twin fan I found a few months ago with the flowery bag...1979 eh? It's actually a much brighter blue than what the scan shows in real life. I've got the matching yellow version as well. Not sure if it's pre or post the blue one though...me thinks pre blue.
Amazing how many variations on a theme Sears could crank out. I guess they had to so there's be something "new" for each years run of catalogs.
The only annoying thing with the cord reel versions is the cord on those models is always much shorter than the wrap around cords


Post# 31855 , Reply# 20   2/13/2008 at 17:23 (5,887 days old) by mattshaver ()        

My mom bought a Kenmore upright vacuum and it had a green handle and white face, much like the 79 model but different colors, I believe. I think she bought it in 1977 and I was only 7 years old but can remember exactly how the man demonstrated that machine.

My grandma tried to get her to go with a Kirby but sadly that vacuum died when our house burned in 1984. So much for that Kenmore. She ended up replacing it with another Kenmore but this one was a canister model.

Yet, I can remember using that green and while Kenmore upright when I was much younger.

Matt
Spfld, IL.


Post# 31860 , Reply# 21   2/13/2008 at 17:46 (5,887 days old) by hoover1060 ()        
Hard bag uprights...

Ian,
The Kenmore uprights here were really the only competition for the Hoover DAM. If I remember right, Sears dropped the Duo-Power from its line when the '82 models came out.

Pete, the blue twin fan models were 1978 in the US. Look at the model number of your cleaner. The 2nd digit will be the year.

I have two of the older -99 series powermates, a 2699 and a 2799. Both are in good shape and still work very well.


CLICK HERE TO GO TO hoover1060's LINK


Post# 31904 , Reply# 22   2/13/2008 at 22:58 (5,887 days old) by petek (Ontario)        

Yes my blue flower bag one like above is 3874C
The identical green one I have is 3660C, so 1976. The green hood on it matches your green canister power nozzle and my departed 76 ish Duo Power.

What number dates the canisters?

I have the blue canister 2994C similar to your green one in the video, almost matches anyways..magicord, hidden tools, same looking power nozzle. The difference is that your tool tray removes to reveal the bag. Mine has a lid for the hidden tools with non removeable tray.. you have to open the second lid, the whole top to get into the bag, motor filter. No light in the power nozzle. And one speed only

My light green two speed canister with magicord and power nozzle is model 29914C. Any Idea the date?

And downstairs put away I have the brownish one that's missing the power nozzle if anyone happens to have a spare for sale

I hvae some more Twin Fan uprights as well but they're shoved in a corner downstairs as well right now.




Post# 31916 , Reply# 23   2/14/2008 at 01:16 (5,887 days old) by rugmaster37 ()        
Gorgeous......

And

As usual Jeff you pulled something out of your vault of info and wowed the crowd. I still have the Brandywine Series Eureka Canister Pamphlet and the Green Round Continental hood F&G uprights pamphlet you gave me so many years ago back when you were in Richton Park.. I pulled them out after seeing this.... you truly have a one of a kind info trove.

As to the Kenmore line pictured, of course Kyle now has the two-speed 3076 that I got from e-bay a few years ago. I loved it, but I got a few Singer's from you, including my Golden PowerMaster which is in my room now, as well as the earlier S-3 which is in storage. I've since that time had several levels of Singer built Twin-Fans, and wanted badly the Premier Cord Reel, that we agreed to do a swap of that 3076 as many of you already know.

About 6 years ago, I found that 1978 Chrome Hood Kenmore with a slightly different bag, mine was all two-tone grey hounds tooth without the red middle panel. It was for sale for $50.00 at a local vac shop here in Ypsilanti. It was in perfect shape but there was something wrong with the motor sounded louder than normal, and had a very bead bearing growl to it. This was back when I worked for Hoover, and really hadn't started appreciating the Singer built machines or the Kenmore clones..

For whatever purpose of insanity I traded that plus cash to a friend of mine in Grand Ledge who traded me a 1975 Eureka Empress II which I still have. To many it may not seem so but I feel I got the far better deal.

These are excellent pictures BTW.... do you have one of the later 1984? ish series, that has the first pushbutton Kenmore canister that has the touch pad power and speed control. Not the slide power control, but the touch pad. That model I will never forgive myself for giving away. Anbother freind who promised to be "nice" to it, and trashed it also. It met it's fate after ebing used to suck out wet gravel from a fish tank.

Come to think of it, I did have a 2999 that had an all orange bumper on the PowerMate, in the same hue as the bumper that goes around the canister. That stupidly I left for an ex- who clogged it, then later threw it away without my knowledge.

Ah well, you win some you loose some... Very few people get things from me anymore.

Chad


Post# 32063 , Reply# 24   2/15/2008 at 22:13 (5,885 days old) by alex1983 ()        
Singer/Panasonic

When did Sears stop selling the Singer Twin Fan based models and begin selling the Panasonic designed cleaners? I've seen catalogs from the late '80s and it seems that Sears was still selling the Singer models until at least 1988.

What made them stop selling the Singer based cleaners?


Post# 32064 , Reply# 25   2/15/2008 at 22:14 (5,885 days old) by alex1983 ()        
Singer

Quite frankly, what did happen to Singer? The early '90s Singers seem to look exactly like the Bissels that were out at the time, and now it seems that they only make the cheap Euro-pro based vacuums.

I know they're still making sewing machines, so why did they scale back the vacuum line?


Post# 32077 , Reply# 26   2/15/2008 at 22:41 (5,885 days old) by collector2 (Moose Jaw, Sk)        

collector2's profile picture
To my knowledge Singer never actually made their own vacuum cleaners. They were always made by other companies but modified to the singer specs (eg - the Golden Glide was made by Eureka but was fancier than the standard Eureka models of the time). When Singer went away from having their own Singer Sewing Centers in favor of selling through various other shops the vacuum line seems to have died off.

Post# 32083 , Reply# 27   2/15/2008 at 22:52 (5,885 days old) by swingette ()        
What made them stop selling the Singer based cleaners?

If i had to guess, i say the twim fan models were outdated by the late 80s. The Panasonic style machines and the Regina Housekeeper and the Hoover Elite made the old twin-fan design look dated.

Singer maybe gave up on vacuums when Sears dropped them?


Post# 32084 , Reply# 28   2/15/2008 at 22:54 (5,885 days old) by alex1983 ()        
Confused

If Singer had their vacuums made by other companies, then who made the Kenmore cleaners? I always thought it was Singer, the way that Hoover made the JC Penney vacuums of the '60s-80s.

And who/what is Ryobi?

Sorry to ask so many questions, but I'm sort of new at this.


Post# 32119 , Reply# 29   2/16/2008 at 10:02 (5,885 days old) by hoover1060 ()        
Singer Vacuums

Singer mad their own vacuums from 1930 up through about 1982, when Ryobi bought them. At that point, Singer has basically been reduced to just a name, much as Hoover and Eureka are today.
The twin-fan upright was made in variations from 1949-1982 by Singer. After the Ryobi buyout, the twin-fans were called "The Singer System"
These were around into the early 90's(maybe 1994)and discontinued. They were made for Sears from the early 60's all the way to the early 90's.

As for Sears vacuums, they were made by Birtman Electric into the 1950's, then Whirlpool started making them. Westinghouse I believe also made an upright for Sears around this time as well. Whirlpool made all the powermates, and the Duo=Power uprights. Whirlpool sold off their vacuum business to Panasonic sometime in the early 90's, and since that time, Panasonic has made Sears vacuums.
Hope this clears up some of it!


Post# 32135 , Reply# 30   2/16/2008 at 11:33 (5,885 days old) by eluxomarty (Palm Springs)        
Jeff

Thanks for that explaination but i have some questions about the canisters. The Singer canisters of the late 50's through the 60's. Did Eureka make them for Singer or did Singer make them for Eureka. I fugured Whirlpool made the Silver Glides and the Compact Powers for Singer in the late 60's and the 70's. Do you also know who made the Canadian Model C7? Thats one we both have.

Thanks, Marty


Post# 32137 , Reply# 31   2/16/2008 at 11:35 (5,885 days old) by eluxomarty (Palm Springs)        
Oh!

And BTW, Thanks so much for posting the Sears Brochure. Its great to look at vacuums i actually remember seeing at Sears.

Marty


Post# 32143 , Reply# 32   2/16/2008 at 12:06 (5,885 days old) by hoover1060 ()        
Marty,

Eureka made the 1959 Golden Glide for Singer, and the little roll-a-magic cleaners, but the others(the C-6/7/8) and the compacts(E9/10/11/12) and the C series machines through the 70's were Singer made. They even made their own canister motor as well.
The Golden Glide like your Aunt had was Singer made...


Post# 32294 , Reply# 33   2/17/2008 at 08:31 (5,884 days old) by collector2 (Moose Jaw, Sk)        

collector2's profile picture
Thanks Marty - that one I had never heard either. But the later ones still used a variation on the Eureka accessories and the C8 is definately a Eureka Empress. (out sourcing for the parts perhaps?) The last machines also say made by Ryobi right on them.

Doug


Post# 248822 , Reply# 34   9/2/2013 at 18:28 (3,859 days old) by 16willth ()        

Whats this sears kenmore the helpmaate I keep hearing about. I heard it was a cansiter noozle with a bag going up to the tub and when the dirt gets to the top it drops into the bag.I want one really bad if anyone in vacuumland could help me look for it or send a pic that would be great I know somebody on youtube has one and I could not find it anywhere else. again if any one could help me that would be
great thanks Tommy
wills


Post# 248827 , Reply# 35   9/2/2013 at 19:13 (3,859 days old) by kenkart ()        
Re sears manufacturers..

In 1957 Whirlpool ,prodded by Sears,engeneered a takeover of both Birtman electric who made Sears vacuums, and most of their blenders and mixers, and Seeger refrigerator company, who made the Coldspot stuff, this put most of what they sold under 1 management,I have a 57 Kenmore Horizon that is one of the last Birtman built machines, Birtman built their own motors,and thats how you tell, Any Kenmore with a 116 prefix is made by either Birtman or Whirlpool, Whirlpool sold off the mixers to Hamilton Beach, and any Kenmore mixer you find with a 400 prefix is a HB product.Here is a Birtman Built Blender.The portable is from the late 50s and is a Hamilton Beach built mixer.

Post# 248829 , Reply# 36   9/2/2013 at 19:18 (3,859 days old) by kenkart ()        
1957

Horizon, Birtman built.

Post# 248830 , Reply# 37   9/2/2013 at 19:21 (3,859 days old) by kenkart ()        
And the

Motor, you can clearly see its NOT a Lamb, in the 60s Whirlpool used a GE motor in some of the cleaners that was not repairable, it was a great motor but you cant fix it, it is cemented together!but other than that lamb made everthing after late 1957.

Post# 248831 , Reply# 38   9/2/2013 at 19:22 (3,859 days old) by kenkart ()        
filter..

As you can see, the Birtman motor uses a much bigger filter.

Post# 248832 , Reply# 39   9/2/2013 at 19:24 (3,859 days old) by kenkart ()        
One of my..

Newer Kenmores, 70 something I think..

Post# 248833 , Reply# 40   9/2/2013 at 19:27 (3,859 days old) by kenkart ()        
Here are

Two identical mixers...One says Birtman, one Kenmore, Birtman also made BeeVacs.

Post# 248835 , Reply# 41   9/2/2013 at 19:53 (3,859 days old) by kenkart ()        
63 Kenmore..

This one has the General Electric motor that is sealed.A few others in the background...They are..A 1956 Kenmore canister I brought back from my visit with Charles Lester and Stann.the 57 Horizon, a 58 Vanguard and a 59 Horizon.the Vanguard has a sticker on the top that says, Selected for exibition at the Brussels Worlds Fair, 1958!

Post# 248994 , Reply# 42   9/3/2013 at 19:25 (3,858 days old) by kenkart ()        
RE Duo Power

I would love to get my hands on a nice Duo Power upright, my Mother had a good friend who had one when I was a kid, I loved that wierd thing!

Post# 284142 , Reply# 43   6/11/2014 at 23:27 (3,577 days old) by DesertTortoise ()        

Wow, really stumbled onto this one roundabout while looking at another web discussion of Kenmores. Old thread but here goes. Any Kenmore vacuum with the 116 prefix in it's serial number was made by Matsushita Electric Manufacturing Company at a plant of theirs in the US. In fact for a time they were the largest manufacturer of vacuums in the US. Matsushita is the parent of Panasonic, their consumer line, and though the Matsushita name was retired a decade or so ago in favor of the more well known Panasonic name, they are the still the firm that manufactures modern Kenmore vacuums. Matsushita goes back over a century and made heavy industrial and commercial electronics. Old man Matsushita started a line of consumer products and called those Panasonic. That is the name that made them famous, and prosperous.

I did recently find one real oddball on eBay, a Kenmore 3.1 of maybe 1990-ish vintage ( ??? ) with a 175 prefix in the serial number. 175 is the prefix for InSinkErator, weird, but they are owned by Emerson so I imagine that vacuum, was made for Sears by Emerson. It's a very strange duck with nothing in common with any other Kenmore I know of.

I have three Kenmore canisters that bracket the era of those brochures, all Matsushita products made in the US, including one badged "Lady Kenmore" and "Sears Best" from the mid 1970s along with it's eventual replacement in our home, an early 80s Kenmore 4.1 with variable speed motor about equal in suction and airflow to the Miele's and Simplicity's of the world. The Powermate is part for part identical to a modern Hayden Superpack with the sole exception of the upper outer shell (which matches some later model Kenmore Powermates exactly). You can rebuild everything in it with parts in current production, even upgrade it to serpentine belts and modern quiet motors. Many powermates will plug right into the Sears hose.

I am hanging on to them and repairing them as necessary. The flexible plastic hinge just broke on the Lady Kenmore, which really bums me out as I recently replaced a worn out two speed motor with a modern Ametek-Lamb single speed, two stage high efficiency motor with suction and airflow specs that rival anything on the market today. I was planning to reinforce the lid because it flexes inward pretty far if you pull suction on the hose, and find a way to add exhaust filtration to it. Amazingly you can buy replacement secondary filters, the little filter that fits over the fan intake on top of the motor, but they are domes and have pleated HEPA filtration. Hilarious. HEPA filters for 70's Kenmores! I was looking for a way to adapt some other vacuum's HEPA exhaust filter to it. Don't laugh, the powerful 4.1 has already been upgraded to modern filtration. Hose parts for central vacuums plug right in, switches and such can still be found at places like SweetSweep, so as long as I don't bust or lose any hard to replace body parts I ought to have lifetime vacuums, and darn good ones too.


Post# 284249 , Reply# 44   6/12/2014 at 17:10 (3,577 days old) by super-sweeper (KSSRC Refurbishment Center)        
actually,

super-sweeper's profile picture

Before 1957 the 116 number stood for machines made by Birtman electric.


Post# 284257 , Reply# 45   6/12/2014 at 17:58 (3,577 days old) by DesertTortoise ()        

And the tracking information from the US Postal Service shows there is another vintage Kenmore 4.1 sitting on my porch as I type. Yesssssss ! This one only needs clean up, HEPA filters and bag and a cord. 122 cfm, 100.5 inches of water lift and around 447 air watts. Attach it to my reconditioned and updated Powermate. Take that Miele/Sebo/Aerus Lux, etc. !

Post# 284299 , Reply# 46   6/13/2014 at 03:02 (3,576 days old) by bnsd60m9200 (Akron OH)        

bnsd60m9200's profile picture
116 is kenmore's vacuum prefix for part codes. it has NOTHING to do with sourced manufacturer of the vacs. 116 was used during the whirlpool era until 1984 as well and it still used on new machines to this day and thru the panasonic era of the mid 80's and 90's.

Post# 284384 , Reply# 47   6/13/2014 at 13:32 (3,576 days old) by super-sweeper (KSSRC Refurbishment Center)        
I love my DuoPower!

super-sweeper's profile picture

Sears knew how to make them back in the day! I'm lucky that the hose and tool caddy still look as if they came from Sears yesterday!

 


Post# 284396 , Reply# 48   6/13/2014 at 14:36 (3,576 days old) by DesertTortoise ()        

Sigh. Read and learn.

www.appliance411.com/parts/sears....

www.reliableparts.com/sections/k...

www.webanswers.com/home-garden/ap...

www.fixya.com/support/t5861403-di...

You can always tell a Texan, but you can't tell him much.



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