Any info about this "vintage" Eureka canister vacuum?

[ct77]

I saw that someone is selling this Eureka canister vacuum online. They said in the listing that it's "vintage" but there isn't anything about what model it is.

Does anyone know anything more about it and what year it might have been made? The closest match I could find is model 3321. I'm kind of considering it because that orange color is unusual and they're selling it for cheap. But I'm only interested in vintage stuff. I MIGHT consider it if it's at least from the early 1980's, but no later than that.

I took a screenshot from the listing. That's the only picture available unfortunately.

It looks a little bit beat up and will definitely need a good cleaning. But would this be an interesting little vacuum to get or should I pass?

- Chris

 

[eurekaprince]

Definitely early 1980’s….but not earlier than that. The “Eureka” lettering on the handle is from the early 1980’s.

 

[eurekaprince]

Another key indicator is the silver hose: these Princess canisters came with blue or white or beige hoses up until the early 1980’s. European style silver hoses were introduced in 1983 with the debut of the first Eureka Mighty Mite canister….probably influenced by Eureka’s takeover by Swedish Electrolux a decade earlier.

So this red Princess is definitely from the mid 1980’s, not earlier.

 

[eurekaprince]

And here’s a YouTube clip of a more deluxe version of that red Princess canister from the same time period….1985 or 1986 or 1987. It’s got the same silver hose and the same brandname lettering on the handle. It came with black tools as you can see in the video…

 

[paul]

Chris, I would contact the seller and request more photos including the manufacturer's tag.

Another thought is to just go for it as long as it's cheaply priced. It is a unique color, and cleaners in that retro styling are becoming harder to find with the passing of time.

 

[ct77]

Well the only problem is that it's kind of far from where I live. (It's for sale on on an app, not eBay). So I'm trying to decide if it's worth it to drive all the way out there. Lol decisions, decisions. I'll see if the seller can take a couple more pictures.

 

[huskyvacs]

If you have to physically drive out to get it so far away, I personally would pass on it. If it was available to be shipped, then I would consider it. It's a budget cleaner and this is towards the end of its lengthy run that Eureka released these in since the 1960's. There's literally nothing to it. Hose and suction and you turn it on and that's about it. This would have been the very late 80's or early 90's, possibly around the same time as the "Ironsides" release.

 

[ct77]

I've been trying to do some more research, and I'm fairly sure now that it's a model 3221A, from around 1986.

The vacuum is listed on OfferUp. I think I am going to pass on it. I was looking at the listing and the location again and it really is too far. It probably just isn't worth it. Yeah, the vacuum itself is cheap...but gas is expensive, especially where I live in California! I was kind of on the fence about it, it really is barely on the borderline of what I would be interested in as far as time period goes. I'm looking for something earlier.

I'll post an update though if I change my mind about it.

 

[eurekaprince]

I think you made the right decision Chris. If you want a real vintage Eureka Princess, there are many from the 1960’s and 1970’s that pop up on EBay. If it’s got a light blue or cream/beige handle and matching hose and tools, you are definitely seeing a vintage Princess.