Couple months back I scored a Sunbeam C20B on Ebay for almost nothing, $10.49 plus shipping to be exact. It was listed as "showing normal signs of wear" but when it arrived at my door it was in near mint condition.
This was my first Sunbeam vac pot and it was also my first electric/automatic vac pot. All is has is a high and low switch. When you want to brew a pot of coffee you simply flip the switch to high and it automatically heats the water (I still use preheated water to speed up the process), steeps the slurry for a couple of minutes, and the automatically switches to the low setting which initiates the draw down and also keeps the coffee warm. Brews a great cup of coffee. Supposedly the C20 has an adjustable thermostat, but I've not started experimenting with temp adjustment just yet.
The are several variations on the Sunbeam automatics: C20x, C30x, V40x, and the C50X. I raise the question of Sunbeam model variations on the
vacuumcoffeepotcollector Yahoo group and got a great response that may help anyone else looking to pick up one of these vintage vac pots.
The differences between these units parallel the differences between vac
pots in general in that much revolves around the filter and the gasket. The
Sunbeams also have the added dimension of variation in the automated heating
arrangement.
Early models, the 20 and the 30a I believe, used a cloth filter. The later
models have variations of a very fine mesh SS disc. I have only used this metal
filter which is very effective. People today use cotton muslin cutouts,
contemporary Yama filters, or other cloths for filtration on the early ones.
The 20 requires you to screw down the filter assembly and unscrew it after
brewing. The tradeoff for this relative inconvenience is that the gasket is more
durable and reliable than the later C30. The C30 has a simple, quick
spring-loaded hook to secure the filter, but the gasket is designed to hold onto
the pot by itsself, without the aid of the screwed down filter rod. This gasket
can harden, rendering the pot unusable - not so with the 20. The 20 also
requires you to use a pot holder to remover the top pot, since there is no
handle.
The 30 and I believe the 20 also have adjustable thermostat set points, a
big advantage.
The model 40, as I learned here, is a model 30 with an aluminum top vessel,
sold for reasons of economy.
I am the least familiar with the 50. I believe it lacks the earlier models
adjustability. The gasket has similar longevity to the 20.
A more rare varient is the "beehive", which is a model 30 with a glass top
vessel.
