Thread Number: 41449  /  Tag: Pre-1950 Vacuum Cleaners
My favorite "polished chrome/aluminum" vacs
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Post# 439396   3/4/2021 at 16:03 (1,141 days old) by Air-WayCharlie (USA)        

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I haven't posted pics of my vacuums in a longtime. Two of these, (the Kenmores), I never have shown here. The thread about the Kenmore Imperial, or "bugeye", prompted me to photograph and post today. Thanks to Opelgkarl!

They are the Kenmore Imperial, Kenmore Deluxe, Air-Way Chief model 35, and the Eureka Challenger model M60.


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This post was last edited 03/04/2021 at 16:27
Post# 439397 , Reply# 1   3/4/2021 at 16:04 (1,141 days old) by Air-WayCharlie (USA)        

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And the Eureka... (The wand is in my storage unit)

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Post# 439400 , Reply# 2   3/4/2021 at 16:41 (1,141 days old) by vacuumdevil (Vacuum Hell )        

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That old machine really looks great with a good polish on it!

Post# 439405 , Reply# 3   3/4/2021 at 20:52 (1,141 days old) by human (Pines of Carolina)        
Love 'Em!

human's profile picture
I'm a total sucker for shiny metal vacs but I don't have anything that old. They're gorgeous! I hate that modern industrial design has moved so far away from creating things that are as aesthetically pleasing as they are functional.

Post# 439407 , Reply# 4   3/4/2021 at 21:38 (1,141 days old) by Air-WayCharlie (USA)        

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Edgar, my interest even as a very young man was design driven. Form follows function. Not only were those vacuums very effective for that time frame, they were pleasing to the eye. Some thought actually went into the production and they were built to last a lifetime with "reasonable", care.

The Hoovers of this period were stunning too and great vacuums. I used to have quite a few of those but in the paring down with aging nearly all have found new homes.


Post# 439408 , Reply# 5   3/4/2021 at 21:39 (1,141 days old) by electrolux137 (Los Angeles)        

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~
~

"A thing of beauty is a joy forever."


Post# 439412 , Reply# 6   3/4/2021 at 23:26 (1,141 days old) by Brando_husky (Las Vegas Nevada)        

That deluxe is to die for. Beautiful machines all around! Thank you for sharing!

Post# 439420 , Reply# 7   3/5/2021 at 09:25 (1,140 days old) by VacMadMan (Pueblo Co.)        
Aluminum beauties!

vacmadman's profile picture
These are all gorgeous vacuums. It's wonderful to see them restored and cared for. All the vacuums in my collection are aluminum based. No plastic or paint allowed. I hope to find a Kenmore Deluxe someday to add to my Kenmore collection. Thanks for sharing the pictures of these rare beauties. Here are some pictures of my two Kenmore's. The Kenmore Imperial, and the Kenmore Automatic. I also included some pictures of my Singer R3 which I think was the ultimate in Art Deco styling.

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Post# 439421 , Reply# 8   3/5/2021 at 09:34 (1,140 days old) by gottahaveahoove (Pittston, Pennsylvania, 18640)        
Beautiful work

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there. Gotta love all that Art Deco style!!

Post# 439422 , Reply# 9   3/5/2021 at 11:00 (1,140 days old) by Air-WayCharlie (USA)        

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James, man that Singer is beautiful! That is a piece of art just sitting there. I had the brown hammertone painted model. They were very good vacuums.

Your Imperial looks all original. Mine has a replacement bag, cord and bumper. The Deluxe is all original. Your automatic is another stunner. These vacs all look like they are right out of the film, "Metropolis".

Thanks for posting them.


Post# 439427 , Reply# 10   3/5/2021 at 12:35 (1,140 days old) by Caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut)        
Air-Way Charlie.

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That Air-Way Chief looks great. Do you know where I can get the outer bag for my 2 upright Air-Ways?

Alex Taber.


Post# 439442 , Reply# 11   3/5/2021 at 17:01 (1,140 days old) by kirbyklekter (Concord,Ca.)        
They're all beautiful

If more people saw these as they are, they'd be less apt to ask "but...why do you collect vacuum cleaners?" Then again.

Post# 439494 , Reply# 12   3/7/2021 at 13:11 (1,138 days old) by Air-WayCharlie (USA)        

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Alex,

The only way I know to find an outer bag is to watch ebay. I have the original outer bag for my Chief but I like the larger capacity, (more airflow), of the one shown on the Chief. I had a lady tailor make it from two Kirby G6 bags as I thought it matched the machine nicely.

I used the dimensions of the DirtMaster outer bag for the Chief. The original outer cloth bag for the Chief is similar to the Sanitary Sytem outer bags. The paper bag the goes in is really large and you have to fold it in half to make it fit. I'm not sure why Air-Way designed the paper bag that way but they did.


Post# 439542 , Reply# 13   3/8/2021 at 08:26 (1,137 days old) by VacMadMan (Pueblo Co.)        
AirWay bag

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Here is a picture of my AirWay green goddess before I reassembled it. You can see the original paper bag, that is still in good shape. These are not easy to find, so I was glade that mine came with it intact. I have seen the outer AirWay bags come up for sale on eBay from time to time. I've included some pictures of my AirWay's.

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Post# 463220 , Reply# 14   5/19/2023 at 09:40 (335 days old) by VacMadMan (Pueblo Co.)        
How many Kenmore Deluxe styles are there?

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I have seen three different Deluxe Kenmore's with lights and without. I have seen two with lights, and one without. Picture #2 shows the two models on the left with lights. I have this pictured deluxe without the light coming to my shop soon. What year did they start and end?

Jim


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Post# 463221 , Reply# 15   5/19/2023 at 10:33 (335 days old) by Hoover300 (Kentucky)        

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A friend of mine has this in his attic. I've never seen one quite like it.

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Post# 463222 , Reply# 16   5/19/2023 at 11:11 (335 days old) by VacMadMan (Pueblo Co.)        
Interesting

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Hoover300,

I can't see the name tag in the picture. Does it have the deluxe name or just Kenmore? I also noticed that some have a name tag on the nozzle like mine and some do not.

Jim


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Post# 463223 , Reply# 17   5/19/2023 at 11:42 (335 days old) by Hoover300 (Kentucky)        

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As far as I know it is just a Kenmore. It appears to be a sleeve bearing motor as it has an oiling port on the top.

Post# 463224 , Reply# 18   5/19/2023 at 12:25 (335 days old) by myvacsrock (USA)        

This entire thread is simply gorgeous! 


Post# 463226 , Reply# 19   5/19/2023 at 12:33 (335 days old) by Rugsucker (Elizabethton TN)        
Clean your home with chrome



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