eurekaprince
Well-known member
That gold and brown cylinder vac may have come from Eureka’s Canadian factory in Kitchener, Ontario. Maybe that’s why it has colours that are unusual for Eureka cylinders of the era. Just a thought….
Eureka Tank Vacuums
- Thread starter paul
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eurekaprince
Well-known member
Oh gosh….wish I had the time to spend in a library right now…but really can’t. Maybe I will sign up to newspapers.com and see what ads I find from Canada!!!!
Check out thread 38104 that shows a 1950 manual featuring (presumably) the Model 600.
https://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?38104
https://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?38104
From the Apr 20, 1942, issue of THE READING EAGLE—a Eureka tank styled by George Walker. I also found an article that mentioned Mr. Walker's design of the Eureka iron; so it seems he was contracted by The Eureka Company in the 1940s for more than one product. I found no reference of him in 1950s Eureka advertisements. Incidentally, this was the only advertisement I located that featured the Viso-Tool Kit.
Here's a link to the October 15, 1959, TO TELL THE TRUTH episode in which Mr. Walker participated as a challenger:
Here's a link to the October 15, 1959, TO TELL THE TRUTH episode in which Mr. Walker participated as a challenger:
eurekaprince
Well-known member
Thanks for posting this Paul! Fascinating! And I finally get to see one of Eureka’s industrial designers in real life! This is great! Wish I could find out more names of designers who worked at Eureka…especially during the 1960’s and 1970’s.
Hmmm…”Viso Tool Kit”? Fascinating! First time I heard of the cardboard tool carrier called that name! By the 1960’s, so many vac-makers were offering cardboard tool carriers. The designs of these carriers were quite ingenious, even though they often did not stand up to hard use over the years. The hole at the top of our Eureka tool caddy ripped at some point so you no longer had a “handle hole” to carry the caddy around. I wonder if there was one single manufacturer who made these tool carriers for Hoover and Eureka and Singer and GE. Would be interesting to learn who made them for all the companies…..
Hmmm…”Viso Tool Kit”? Fascinating! First time I heard of the cardboard tool carrier called that name! By the 1960’s, so many vac-makers were offering cardboard tool carriers. The designs of these carriers were quite ingenious, even though they often did not stand up to hard use over the years. The hole at the top of our Eureka tool caddy ripped at some point so you no longer had a “handle hole” to carry the caddy around. I wonder if there was one single manufacturer who made these tool carriers for Hoover and Eureka and Singer and GE. Would be interesting to learn who made them for all the companies…..
You're welcome, Brian! If one of us ever gets to the McLean County Museum of History I'm sure we'll be able to obtain the answers to your questions. Eureka Company and product details are just waiting to be exposed!
Btw, a more thorough read of the ad revealed to me the Rug-Glide Pontoon Nozzle, too. That makes me wonder if you or anyone else has ever researched Eureka's attachments? I know that the ones most familiar to Vacuumland contributors were introduced in 1956 and used through the early '90s-except for the floor nozzle that was restyled around 1980.
Btw, a more thorough read of the ad revealed to me the Rug-Glide Pontoon Nozzle, too. That makes me wonder if you or anyone else has ever researched Eureka's attachments? I know that the ones most familiar to Vacuumland contributors were introduced in 1956 and used through the early '90s-except for the floor nozzle that was restyled around 1980.
eurekaprince
Well-known member
I really have to plan a trip down memory lane to that museum in Illinois one summer….and lay a flower on the burial site of the Eureka Williams factory while I’m there… 
Burgundy colored MW Supreme
Some friends of my family in Barrington Il owned this vacuum cleaner. I thought it was pretty sleek being a tapered tank & all. Alas they replaced it eventually with a Hoover Constellation after they became cheap. Does anyone here know how much water lift the Supreme had? I would guess 45 " to 50" which was the usual for tank types of this price range. Looks top of the line.
Some friends of my family in Barrington Il owned this vacuum cleaner. I thought it was pretty sleek being a tapered tank & all. Alas they replaced it eventually with a Hoover Constellation after they became cheap. Does anyone here know how much water lift the Supreme had? I would guess 45 " to 50" which was the usual for tank types of this price range. Looks top of the line.
collector2
Well-known member
Hey Paul
Love it - thats a very eye catching design. Looks like the cord might have been removable too.
Doug
Love it - thats a very eye catching design. Looks like the cord might have been removable too.
Doug
Hey Doug,
Thanks for the response—and your kindness. Shortly after I posted the photo I noticed the MW logo. I'll bet you did, too, but decided to keep it to yourself—that says a lot about your character.
Anyway, I wonder if that particular styling was a MW exclusive, because I've never seen any Eureka tanks advertised in periodicals other than the D-660, W-series, 600, and 700 stylings?
Thanks for the response—and your kindness. Shortly after I posted the photo I noticed the MW logo. I'll bet you did, too, but decided to keep it to yourself—that says a lot about your character.
Anyway, I wonder if that particular styling was a MW exclusive, because I've never seen any Eureka tanks advertised in periodicals other than the D-660, W-series, 600, and 700 stylings?
Comparison/Contrast Model Table & Photos
Special thanks to Doug Smith (Collector2) who provided most of the photos and other information posted on his website and to Nick (texbodemer) for posting Eureka's May 1910-May 1964 Shipping Record on another thread.
Thanks also to Buffalo-Joe who provided the W-75-B photo (which I incorrectly identified as Model 600 in my original post).
I now have a hunch that the entire W-Series was styled by George Walker due to the 1942 ad I posted in Reply #24 in which he was credited for doing so. That may account for the 'W' model number prefix. Speaking of the ad, the tank colors are described as white, grey, and blue-chrome beauty. I inferred that this was the model W-64 and the one Doug posted in Reply #17 due to the cursive logo marks that changed to block lettering in the W-75s. The white has just yellowed.
So some of the table information is by conjecture due to limited online data and "filling in the blanks" among similar model details I did locate. Eureka's limited variations during that era led me to do so. The main differences besides color changes seems to have been between the lower-end 600 Series and the higher-end W and 700 Series.
The design of the W-Series tanks is very close to the Progress Cleaners that Eureka purchased in 1940. See thread 1326 for photos of a Progress Type 12 cleaner and some interesting information about the Progress Vacuum Corporation of Cleveland. Eureka actually sold five Progress models from 1939 to 1941, including the one it briefly dubbed "Sanitaire"; those are not included in the table due to very limited available information. I did attach an October 3, 1941, ad for a Progress tank from the MERIDEN RECORD that ran just prior to the Sanitaire ad that is nearly identical to it.
Some details left out of the table ... As far as I know all the models came from the factory with braided fabric hoses. One ad mentioned an 8-foot one, but it may be that other lengths were sold. I wonder, too, if Eureka used the Progress tool molds or if it designed its own; correspondingly, I'm unsure if new tools or tool styles were introduced after 1940. The throw-away bags were introduced by Eureka in 1949 with models 600 & 700.
Eureka discontinued its tank-type vacuum cleaners when it introduced the new Model 800 "Roto-Matic" tub canister in 1952.
Oh, btw, the highlighted model designations in the table indicate no photo or artwork to determine the styling.
Corrections and additions are welcome. Data collecting is ongoing with new revelations through personal reviews, online sales providing previously unknown features, and new discussions bringing further clarifications and details.
Photo 3 shows the "Viso-Tool Kit" with some of the Model 700 tools.
Euphoric Eurekaing!
Special thanks to Doug Smith (Collector2) who provided most of the photos and other information posted on his website and to Nick (texbodemer) for posting Eureka's May 1910-May 1964 Shipping Record on another thread.
Thanks also to Buffalo-Joe who provided the W-75-B photo (which I incorrectly identified as Model 600 in my original post).
I now have a hunch that the entire W-Series was styled by George Walker due to the 1942 ad I posted in Reply #24 in which he was credited for doing so. That may account for the 'W' model number prefix. Speaking of the ad, the tank colors are described as white, grey, and blue-chrome beauty. I inferred that this was the model W-64 and the one Doug posted in Reply #17 due to the cursive logo marks that changed to block lettering in the W-75s. The white has just yellowed.
So some of the table information is by conjecture due to limited online data and "filling in the blanks" among similar model details I did locate. Eureka's limited variations during that era led me to do so. The main differences besides color changes seems to have been between the lower-end 600 Series and the higher-end W and 700 Series.
The design of the W-Series tanks is very close to the Progress Cleaners that Eureka purchased in 1940. See thread 1326 for photos of a Progress Type 12 cleaner and some interesting information about the Progress Vacuum Corporation of Cleveland. Eureka actually sold five Progress models from 1939 to 1941, including the one it briefly dubbed "Sanitaire"; those are not included in the table due to very limited available information. I did attach an October 3, 1941, ad for a Progress tank from the MERIDEN RECORD that ran just prior to the Sanitaire ad that is nearly identical to it.
Some details left out of the table ... As far as I know all the models came from the factory with braided fabric hoses. One ad mentioned an 8-foot one, but it may be that other lengths were sold. I wonder, too, if Eureka used the Progress tool molds or if it designed its own; correspondingly, I'm unsure if new tools or tool styles were introduced after 1940. The throw-away bags were introduced by Eureka in 1949 with models 600 & 700.
Eureka discontinued its tank-type vacuum cleaners when it introduced the new Model 800 "Roto-Matic" tub canister in 1952.
Oh, btw, the highlighted model designations in the table indicate no photo or artwork to determine the styling.
Corrections and additions are welcome. Data collecting is ongoing with new revelations through personal reviews, online sales providing previously unknown features, and new discussions bringing further clarifications and details.
Photo 3 shows the "Viso-Tool Kit" with some of the Model 700 tools.
Euphoric Eurekaing!
huskyvacs
Well-known member
Great job on the chart! You've got a real talent for disseminating this information and making it cohesive and easy to understand! Once you start grouping these models all out in a timeline and in chronological order like that, they start making more sense.
collector2
Well-known member
Since this was originally posted I have picked up another interesting machine to go with it.
This is a 1952 Apex model 710. Made by Eureka for the T. Eaton Co in Canada.
This is a 1952 Apex model 710. Made by Eureka for the T. Eaton Co in Canada.
collector2
Well-known member
It should be noted that Eatons often made deals with manufacturers for "cheaper" machines that used up their old stock of parts. In this case we see the 700 style body but with the older style handle and with the grey parts that were used with the rotomatic.
Amendment to my initial post: According to the 1964 Eureka Shipping Record obtained by texbodemer and posted in another VL thread, Eureka's began its tank-type line in August 1939 with the Electroair, an original product of Progress Vacuum Corporation of Cleveland of which it had taken over production and the assets of which it acquired in 1940.
Progress, a German company, had opened its U.S. division in 1936 and run by recent German immigrants August K. and Emma G. Hoppe. Check out this thread for more information: https://vacuumland.org/threads/filtex-history-wanted.27019/
Eureka’s shipping record also lists later Progress models: P (Progress, Dec 1940), PD (Progress Deluxe, Dec 1940-Jul 1941), PS (Progress Standard, Jan 1941), ED (Electroair Deluxe?, May 1941) and Electroair (Aug 1939-Aug 1941 - which I would presume to be the one dubbed ‘Sanitaire’ in the Oct 1941 ad). At least one of the models had runners while others had a front caster and two rear wheels according to located ads (omitting type/model designations).
Here's a table of all the models I constructed based on my research and a labeled photo collection - mainly courtesy of Doug Smith:
Progress, a German company, had opened its U.S. division in 1936 and run by recent German immigrants August K. and Emma G. Hoppe. Check out this thread for more information: https://vacuumland.org/threads/filtex-history-wanted.27019/
Eureka’s shipping record also lists later Progress models: P (Progress, Dec 1940), PD (Progress Deluxe, Dec 1940-Jul 1941), PS (Progress Standard, Jan 1941), ED (Electroair Deluxe?, May 1941) and Electroair (Aug 1939-Aug 1941 - which I would presume to be the one dubbed ‘Sanitaire’ in the Oct 1941 ad). At least one of the models had runners while others had a front caster and two rear wheels according to located ads (omitting type/model designations).
Here's a table of all the models I constructed based on my research and a labeled photo collection - mainly courtesy of Doug Smith:
Attachments
cheesewonton
Well-known member
I guess I'm confused but these all appear to be cylinder vacs. A tank vac is something like a Rotomatic, GE Swivel Top or similar.
Tank & cylinder-type vacs are synonymous—the first typically used in North America and the second being common in Europe (and perhaps other places); and some even refer to them as torpedo vacs. Canister-types are what you referenced. The difference is the motor positions. Tanks/cylinders have a horizontal airflow, and the canisters' airflow is positioned vertically.
The confusion lies in some companies, advertisers, and individuals using the terms incorrectly or interchangeably such as Aerus, that uses the term canister.
cheesewonton
Well-known member
Nope. Cylinder vacs are long and narrow like these Eurekas, most Electrolux and Royal cylinder vacs. Something like Rotomatic, GE Swiveltop, Numatic Henry, Charles or James, Filter Queen, Lux Powerprof or most Nilfisk models would be called tank vacuums. Tanks are lower, larger diameter and open on top. And in the US we lump them all together as canister vacs.
