3.0 Eureka Shipping and Production History Pre-1947

[hoover300]

The Eureka Challenger M. This model had a full wood handle grip, and an extremely streamlined finish. Early Ms had a plated steel handle with the older bag and badge(like mine) and later ones had an updated bag, badge, and an aluminum handle. No pic on hand of the later variant, I'll leave it for the next revision. Some Ms were painted red and brown, and not always marked with a suffix like M60. For the sake of organization I will only include painted Ms listed under a suffix. Ad courtesy of Portable

 

[hoover300]

The Eureka G30. This one has a steel handle fork and an optional headlight.

 

[hoover300]

The Eureka G31. Same as the G30 but with a brown paint job and a front facing bag.

 

[hoover300]

This is either an R-L-C or an R-41, as it has the steel handle fork that started in 1940.

 

[hoover300]

Model M61, burgundy painted with front facing bag

 

[hoover300]

M61/M61A ad courtesy of Paul

 

[hoover300]

Eureka D171(ad courtesy of Paul)

 

[hoover300]

The Eureka D272. This model simplified the accents of the D171 to white, though some D272s used a matching red bumper and bag. Ad courtesy of Paul.

 

[hoover300]

Eureka M262 "Master" This was the low end version of the D272. Featuring a single row brush, curved metal handle as opposed to plastic grip, and a one speed motor, this did not sell very well. It came in 2 tone with black and a gray/blue. Mine has been repainted in a lighter than original shade. Ad courtesy of Paul

 

[hoover300]

Eureka Juniors H and J respectively. The H came in 2 variants, sleeve and ball bearing. Early Js had a riveted box where the cord comes out, unsure of the purpose. Ads courtesy of Portable.

 

[hoover300]

To wrap up, the following models I was not able to document in any way:
Model C Auto Cleaner
Model L Auto Cleaner
K-60
K-60A
GH-31-P
R-41-P
R-49
D174

And the following I was not able to document fully(ads included):
Model 1
Model 5
Model 8
Standard #2
G30
G31
M-61
M-61A
R-LC
R-41
D171

If anyone has info on any of these models, the brown model M variant below, or of the documented models, please don't hesitate to speak up!

Links to the previous versions: https://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREADM.cgi?43382
https://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?44459__0#start_44459.462577

 

[paul]

You've done a remarkable job, Hoover300 — in both cleaner restoration and data compilation — of the 1920-1947 Eureka USA uprights! A special shout-out on your sensational recent Model M-262 resto — Amazing work!

I double-checked the public database for color names or descriptions of the Model M-262, but was unable to locate any. Attached is an ad, circa 1912, from the University of Toronto library collection along with a couple from the database I do not recall posting — which include pricing of the D-272, M-262, and W-75. The 'D' and 'M' model prefix meanings were indicated in Eureka literature, but I haven't found what the 'W' denoted for Eureka's tanks; possibly "Whisk" prior to the handhelds? Eureka, after all, was known for reusing terms.

To expedite future referencing, this thread contains a list of many post-1947 Eureka models (replies 16-18), which I named "Color-Pak": https://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?44230

________

Photos:

1. Circa 1912 — University of Toronto Libraries (described in caption as "cello-like")

1. May 11, 1947 — PORTSMOUTH TIMES

2. July 17, 1947 — SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

 

[hoover300]

Thank you so much. A friend showed me a pic of his M262 which had good paint underneath - the first pic. Very grey with no tint. So, to keep things looking as close to original, I repainted the 262 in grey.

 

[paul]

Yeah, I like keeping the original look of appliances, too, even though the blue tint on the M-262 was sharp. The gray is stunning!

 

[paul]

"Swirlator"

I had never heard of the Eureka's "Swirlator" before! I wonder if it was just a creative advertising agent's term, or if it originated from Eureka execs?

 

[hoover300]

So neat! Given the odd shape of the handle fork I would say that is a G30 with the optional headlight and steel handle fork. Swirlator... No idea

 

[hoover300]

A neat ad showing the very first Eureka model, with the clip on back wheels!

 

[paul]

Very cool ad! I think the cream-colored one is the Ultra, model 7520-A, produced from 1984 to 1987.

 

[paul]

Interesting Industry Article

Here's a 1984 article I found that mentions Eureka's 75th anniversary and provides an industry overview:

 

[huskyvacs]

Thanks for creating the digital database, Hoover300! It's definitely a lot easier to see and understand the model history when the name and the photos are right there joined to each other.

This reminds me of what I am doing right now with Hot Wheels playsets. Nobody has done it in a thorough way before, only one collector wrote a collector's guide for them and it stops at 1998 and nobody ever made another guide book since then, so because I enjoy them and like collecting them, it's up to me to solve the problem. lol I've just been making folders in Windows for each year and naming JPEG's I find with the proper name and stuff, which forms a handy click-through guide. Could also probably be made into a PowerPoint slideshow project too now that I think about it. But it takes the same kind of work using already published material, digging around old publications, advertisements, connecting data points, photographs, eBay seller photos, I definitely know how much work goes into this, it's not easy!