Thread Number: 42046  /  Tag: Pre-1950 Vacuum Cleaners
Singer R3 Restoration
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Post# 443449   6/28/2021 at 21:07 (1,004 days old) by myvacsrock (USA)        

So I couldn’t find a proper Singer bag anywhere, nor could I find red fabric suitable. So I took an old generic bag and dyed a new bag! For the logo I did a mock up in photoshop and am making a patch that will be sewn on the front.

The second bag is for another special project coming up 🙂


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Post# 443450 , Reply# 1   6/28/2021 at 21:12 (1,004 days old) by myvacsrock (USA)        

The machine restoration is to come!

Post# 443479 , Reply# 2   6/30/2021 at 10:41 (1,002 days old) by dysonman1 (the county)        

dysonman1's profile picture
You are so clever. And so good at what you do. It makes me so happy every time I see you restore a vintage cleaner. There are so few of us in the world who know how to work on them.

Post# 443492 , Reply# 3   6/30/2021 at 23:12 (1,002 days old) by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana)        

huskyvacs's profile picture
Wow that must have been some strong dye to go over that dark of a color, I would have guessed you used a white colored bag as the base. I can tell you I wouldn't have done that in my bathroom, would have blood red caulking for years, lol

Does the dye have any negative impact on the bag's filtration? I read posts from decades ago on here about dying bags and everyone said not to do it because the dye product will clog up the bag pores or something?


Post# 443500 , Reply# 4   7/1/2021 at 10:22 (1,001 days old) by Vacmadman (Pueblo Co.)        
can't wait!!

vacmadman's profile picture
Myvacsrock,

I'm very much looking forward to seeing the finished product. The R3 came with two different power switches mine pictured has a slide style switch unlike the older style toggle switch.

Jim


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Post# 443507 , Reply# 5   7/1/2021 at 11:04 (1,001 days old) by myvacsrock (USA)        
Re dye:

I completely removed the old base color (turning the bag off white) before dying in red.
This is a trick they also use on Broadway costumes to make extremely vibrant color. If you find a great costume piece in the wrong color, you remove the old dye and make it any color you want.
As far as filtration… I don’t know, nor do I care. I would rather the machine look brand new, and with my motor work, sound and feel brand new, than care about filtration. That’s what my Miele is for lol

Thank you Tom and Jim! Highest compliments from you guys. Both with gorgeous vacuums all around.
Can’t wait to dive into the machine later today!


Post# 443508 , Reply# 6   7/1/2021 at 11:17 (1,001 days old) by Hoover300 (Kentucky)        
Interesting

hoover300's profile picture
Bag looks great so far! Is the R3 you’re referring to the one from eBay awhile back? The one with the dent/crack in the hood.

Post# 443509 , Reply# 7   7/1/2021 at 11:26 (1,001 days old) by gottahaveahoove (Pittston, Pennsylvania, 18640)        
Kyle, I danced in 42nd Street

gottahaveahoove's profile picture
for 6 months, yrs ago. What have you been in? Where is your place in NY? E 89th street for me.

Post# 443512 , Reply# 8   7/1/2021 at 12:10 (1,001 days old) by myvacsrock (USA)        

Just before the pandemic I was going into Dear Evan Hansen. Reopening December

W 172nd/Fort Wash.
I did 42nd Street regionally back when I was 19… fun show. Ensemble never stops quick changing and moving!


Kieran: No, this was a local find. I’ll post some pictures.


Post# 443513 , Reply# 9   7/1/2021 at 13:38 (1,001 days old) by gottahaveahoove (Pittston, Pennsylvania, 18640)        
Nice

gottahaveahoove's profile picture
I didn't know you were a singer/dancer too.


Post# 443514 , Reply# 10   7/1/2021 at 14:03 (1,001 days old) by myvacsrock (USA)        

Yes sir. BFA in Musical Theatre

Post# 443527 , Reply# 11   7/1/2021 at 22:42 (1,001 days old) by MadMan (Chicago, IL, USA)        

madman's profile picture
I don't think dye clogs the fabric. Sounds like bs to me.

Post# 443575 , Reply# 12   7/3/2021 at 16:51 (999 days old) by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana)        

huskyvacs's profile picture
"I don’t know, nor do I care. I would rather the machine look brand new, and with my motor work, sound and feel brand new, than care about filtration."

It's not about looks. You should care about the filtration because that is the entire reason how a vacuum works. It has to be able to exhaust the air properly otherwise you will overheat, overload, and burn up the motor windings as well as the vacuum not being able to pick anything up to begin with. The old vacuums used the bag as part of the filtration system as well as the air path. Commercial vacs still do. If you never wash them and leave them to get clogged up, or they get clogged up in other ways, they lose their ability to expel and exhaust air, and what you have is the "blowing into a bottle" effect. Air is going in, but none can escape. This is still true today with bagless vacuums, if the filters get clogged and the motor cannot breathe, you notice the power cord will start heating up and growing warm as the vacuum draws more and mower power to try and run. Eventually the motor will burn up, that's why so many of them that were abused and not cared for sound terrible.


Post# 443577 , Reply# 13   7/3/2021 at 18:45 (999 days old) by myvacsrock (USA)        

You’re acting as though this vacuum is being used daily…

Post# 443605 , Reply# 14   7/5/2021 at 15:08 (997 days old) by phaeton (Los Angeles )        
Singer Vacuum Brochures

phaeton's profile picture
I was thinking some of you might have some interest in these Singer brochures. I was not able to keep all the pictures properly oriented. The last picture of a disassembled R3 was sold to one of the members that was famous as a Kirby restorer a few years back. The armature was burnt, however it could be rewound.

I am guessing that next project of "myvacsrock" is a Premier Grand


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Post# 443606 , Reply# 15   7/5/2021 at 16:07 (997 days old) by myvacsrock (USA)        
Thanks, Pete!

Those are so fun to see!

The Premier Grand did get done, but it is another Premier product :)


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Post# 443825 , Reply# 16   7/13/2021 at 13:50 (989 days old) by phaeton (Los Angeles )        
Nice and well polished vacuums

phaeton's profile picture
Kyle and Jim have some really nice vacuums as do other members.
For as many years that I have worked on vacuums I have never seen the Premier Grand nor the General Electric Model 111 or 111-A of which I believe the brush roll tuned forward and upward same as the Singer R1. I own the Singer R1, R4, R4D and R5D but never the Singer R2 series and I can not remember owning the R3 series. The nozzle of the R1 is wider then the R4 and the brush roll of the R1 in longer and of a larger diameter then the R4. It seems the R1, Grand and Model 111 all used the larger brush roll. Would that be correct thought? Remembering that I live in California and here most major Cities would of had Singer Sewing Centers as did other State would could that be why I might not have come across the Grand and model 111 vacuums? Would it also be said the Hoover out sold the machines? At the shop in the 70s the oddest I ever worked on were the early Air-Way which were so strange looking to me and the Cadillac and BeeVac. The owner of the shop stopped working on anything older the a Hoover Model 28 as parts were hard to get for the older vacuums. I had found a Model 111 last year but it was such a hassle that I gave up and decided I did not need it. I have the Hoover 700 and the Singers so all is good.
Please keep buffing, polishing and restoring those great old aluminum vacuums and others that are great and fun, Pete



Post# 444119 , Reply# 17   7/23/2021 at 22:24 (979 days old) by myvacsrock (USA)        
It’s happening!



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Post# 444167 , Reply# 18   7/27/2021 at 09:24 (975 days old) by VacMadMan (Pueblo Co.)        
Looking good!

vacmadman's profile picture
Nice work...looking good!


Post# 444179 , Reply# 19   7/27/2021 at 21:18 (975 days old) by myvacsrock (USA)        



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Post# 444180 , Reply# 20   7/28/2021 at 08:33 (974 days old) by VacMadMan (Pueblo Co.)        
Nice job

vacmadman's profile picture
Your R3 looks fantastic! Nice to see another one restored. Love it!!

Post# 444184 , Reply# 21   7/28/2021 at 12:09 (974 days old) by myvacsrock (USA)        
Final touches!

Take a look at those wheels, haha!

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Post# 444187 , Reply# 22   7/28/2021 at 14:26 (974 days old) by dysonman1 (the county)        

dysonman1's profile picture
Just stunning. Excellent job. As always.

Post# 444190 , Reply# 23   7/28/2021 at 18:03 (974 days old) by phaeton (Los Angeles )        
Singer R1 Bag with Patent Numbers on it

phaeton's profile picture
For all the Singer folks,
I have a really ugly original Singer R1 bag and it has Patent Numbers on it on the back side down by the bag ring. I find it interesting and odd that there would be patent numbers on it. The bag has paint marks and stains on it but no holes or worn spots. The bag is off an R1 I sold for parts and it is now on the R4.
I do have a question regarding the 2-speed sliding switch which I know has a screw under the red dot on the switch. I have no idea how one get the dot out?
One other question, is there a Singer R2 and what does it look like the R1 or the R3?
Thank you, Peter


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Post# 444218 , Reply# 24   7/29/2021 at 23:12 (973 days old) by rivstg1 (colorado springs)        

rivstg1's profile picture
did the brushroller need to be re-bristled? aka, is it functional for actual use on carpet?

Post# 444221 , Reply# 25   7/30/2021 at 08:45 (972 days old) by myvacsrock (USA)        
Kelton..

It did not need to be rebristled. It works great!


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