Eureka Tank Vacuums

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.

Hey Paul

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?

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!

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.

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.

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:

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.

cheesewonton said:

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.

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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.

paul said:

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.

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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.

cheesewonton said:

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.

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Yep. Here are two sources that support my assertion (see the last paragraph of the second image).

cheesewonton said:

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.

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Paul is right, cylinder and tank vacs ARE the same thing! They are long and narrow and have horizontal airflow. Examples would include the Eurekas pictured in this thread, Electrolux, Filtex, Royal, and Hoover Aerodyne. Canisters are kettle shaped and have vertical airflow. Examples would include Eureka Rotomatic, GE Swiveltop, Hoover Constellation, Lewyt, Filter Queen, and Silver King.

paul said:

Yep. Here are two sources that support my assertion (see the last paragraph of the second image).

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Paul, I actually have the DIY book that you posted that page from! It's a volume from the Mechanics Illustrated Do It Yourself Encyclopedia. I have several volumes, but unfortunately not the whole set. Came out in the mid 60's if I remember right.

I have seen GE Swivel Top and similar called 'pot type' and I think Jet 99 has referred to radio styling when table top radios were bigger and rectangular.

hygiene903 said:

Paul, I actually have the DIY book that you posted that page from! It's a volume from the Mechanics Illustrated Do It Yourself Encyclopedia. I have several volumes, but unfortunately not the whole set. Came out in the mid 60's if I remember right.

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Thanks for the title, Jeff. I neglected to cite that in my photo caption as I typically do, and my copy (I only have the one volume) is in storage; I used an old photo.

paul said:

Thanks for the title, Jeff. I neglected to cite that in my photo caption as I typically do, and my copy (I only have the one volume) is in storage; I used an old photo.

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That volume was actually the first one I got, the rest I picked up at book sales, flea markets, etc. Think I have 5 or 6 volumes but not sure, mine are in storage too. If I remember right, there were 13 volumes in the complete set. They were originally offered at grocery stores in one of those deals where you buy $?? of groceries and get a volume for 50 cents or a dollar or something like that.
And Jimmy, yes, I've also heard of canisters referred to as "pot type" cleaners, and now that you mentioned it, I remember seeing them called pot type cleaners in a few appliance repair manuals too.

hygiene903 said:

That volume was actually the first one I got, the rest I picked up at book sales, flea markets, etc. Think I have 5 or 6 volumes but not sure, mine are in storage too. If I remember right, there were 13 volumes in the complete set. They were originally offered at grocery stores in one of those deals where you buy $?? of groceries and get a volume for 50 cents or a dollar or something like that.
And Jimmy, yes, I've also heard of canisters referred to as "pot type" cleaners, and now that you mentioned it, I remember seeing them called pot type cleaners in a few appliance repair manuals too.

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Gotcha. I got mine at a library book sale that was sold independently from the set. Interesting back story; I was aware of dinnerware set offers based on $ amount of groceries purchased but not other items.

paul said:

Gotcha. I got mine at a library book sale that was sold independently from the set. Interesting back story; I was aware of dinnerware set offers based on $ amount of groceries purchased but not other items.

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Speaking of dinnerware, we have a set of Florentine china that came from the grocery store the same way, a few plates, cups, saucers, or bowls at a time until we got the whole set. And in the early to mid 80's the same store offered Funk & Wagnall's Encyclopedia as well, and yes, we have a set.

cheesewonton said:

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.

Click to expand...

In the UK, all canister vacs are called cylinder vacs.

hygiene903 said:

Speaking of dinnerware, we have a set of Florentine china that came from the grocery store the same way, a few plates, cups, saucers, or bowls at a time until we got the whole set. And in the early to mid 80's the same store offered Funk & Wagnall's Encyclopedia as well, and yes, we have a set.

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Very cool. My dad got my grandma a set of Stetson dinnerware (also over time) when he worked at a local grocery store, and I remember us getting plastic bowls from a Derby gas station in the '70s. I only remember encyclopedias being sold by door to door salesmen. We had a set of Compton's.

That is where I got the term from, European idiom. In the US we call them canister vacuums regardless of shape unless it is a shop vac. But all the European sources I have read call vacuums from Electrolux for example "cylinder vacs" unless you are talking about the Powerprof, which is like a shop vac and I see it called a "tank". Same for many Nilfisk models. They are tanks. But a long skinny vintage Progress vacuum is a cylinder vac.

cheesewonton said:

That is where I got the term from, European idiom. In the US we call them canister vacuums regardless of shape unless it is a shop vac. But all the European sources I have read call vacuums from Electrolux for example "cylinder vacs" unless you are talking about the Powerprof, which is like a shop vac and I see it called a "tank". Same for many Nilfisk models. They are tanks. But a long skinny vintage Progress vacuum is a cylinder vac.

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You must have missed my post with attachments last Friday and hygiene 903's reply on Tuesday. In the US, while some may refer to any "pull-along" vacuum as a canister except for shop vacs, the original industry definitions still stand, which have also been used in advertising. See the US newspaper attachments.

Btw, Eureka changed the airflow of its "pull-along" cleaners beginning with the 1800 Series (& 1280-1290 Roto-Matic Power Teams) in 1970 by moving the exhausts from the bottoms to the rears. This design changed continued in its later series: 600 (in the design of the other series' counterparts), 700/1250/1500/3300/3400, 1600/1260-1270, 1700, & 3700. These are still canisters based on the horizontal positions of their motors. The 500/1240/3200 and 550/3360 canister series retained the bottom exhaust.

paul said:

Btw, Eureka changed the airflow of its "pull-along" cleaners beginning with the 1800 Series (& 1280-1290 Roto-Matic Power Teams) in 1970 by moving the exhausts from the bottoms to the rears. This design changed continued in its later series: 600 (in the design of the other series' counterparts), 700/1250/1500/3300/3400, 1600/1260-1270, 1700, & 3700. These are still canisters based on the horizontal positions of their motors. The 500/1240/3200 and 550/3360 canister series retained the bottom exhaust.

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Quiet Kleen Vactronics have their exhausts in two lines along the bottom.

paul said:

Btw, Eureka changed the airflow of its "pull-along" cleaners beginning with the 1800 Series (& 1280-1290 Roto-Matic Power Teams) in 1970 by moving the exhausts from the bottoms to the rears. This design changed continued in its later series: 600 (in the design of the other series' counterparts), 700/1250/1500/3300/3400, 1600/1260-1270, 1700, & 3700. These are still canisters based on the horizontal positions of their motors. The 500/1240/3200 and 550/3360 canister series retained the bottom exhaust.

Click to expand...

Hi Paul!!! I actually think the motor exhaust moved to the rear earlier than that. The 1965 Empress already had a rear facing exhaust grill. And a unique inverted motor made by General Electric if I remember correctly. The fan faced the bottom and the suction was drawn in from the top over the motor itself.

cheesewonton said:

Quiet Kleen Vactronics have their exhausts in two lines along the bottom.

Click to expand...

That's right - I even saved an online photo of one, a 1791-B.

eurekaprince said:

Hi Paul!!! I actually think the motor exhaust moved to the rear earlier than that. The 1965 Empress already had a rear facing exhaust grill. And a unique inverted motor made by General Electric if I remember correctly. The fan faced the bottom and the suction was drawn in from the top over the motor itself.

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Hi Brian!!!

Thanks for the info.! I was unaware of the unique G-E motor and exhaust of the Empress. I'd checked out the 1000 Series canisters but forgot to have a look the 1100 Empress & 1099. In fact until now I hadn't thought about the 822 Crown Princess Series either, which I can now confirm after checking does have the bottom exhaust. Eureka was all about value & variety!