ATTN: ALL EUREKA EXPERTS!!!

[kirbyvertibles]

Okay I have a question that needs answered. When did the first Eureka power head come out and what model was it. Also I found out that Eureka dated the powerheads, if you take the plate off you can see a nipple with a two digit date on it. (Look very hard for this) However, I want to know when did they start doing this? I have been trying to date all of my power heads today and the oldest one that I can find with this date is 1980. I have a Rainbow D2, Compact C-9 and the first Tristar. All three of these were 1980. My red Eureka roto matic has no date as well as my Fairfax. So what gives, did they only start this in the 80's? I thought the Fairfax used this head in the 80's through the 90's but just maybe they started it in the 70's right after the Hoover power head they had?

 

[eurekaprince]

Hi Philip.....

If I remember correctly, the first line of Eureka canisters featuring Roto-Matic powerheads was offered in 1973. The two-motor vacs were called Eureka Power Teams, and the group consisted of three models: One was a basic harvest gold canister from the 1600 series (known as the Sweet Sixteens) - this basic unit had no "Control Panel" for adjusting suction, and no full bag indicator. It was one of those boxy Eureka canisters that had a Tool Pak on top - a design which was later known as an Ironside (same form) in the 1980's. The next Power Team was similar to the harvest gold version, but had the deluxe Sweet Sixteen canister in burnt orange. This version featured a Control Panel with a suction dial and Full Bag gauge. The most deluxe Power Team in the debut line-up was basically an 1800 series Empress Two "FastVac" married to a Roto-Matic power nozzle. It had racing stripes, a Suction Control panel of 6 pushbuttons, and a Full Bag indicator. It was brown in colour if I remember correctly.

All these "Power Teams" were given model numbers in the 1200 range, if I remember correctly.

All of Eureka's first Power Teams came with basic Roto-Matic power nozzles featuring a faux woodgrain inlay on top and no headlight. The brush inside was not a Vibra-Groomer - it was a basic Eureka "Disturbulator" with one row of bristles and one red plastic beater bar.

In 1974, Eureka added a fourth Power Team - a budget version which was all red and consisted of a classic Eureka Princess (H Bag) combined with a red Roto Matic powerhead, minus the faux woodgrain inlay. Consumer Reports rated this as the top power nozzle canister and a "Best Buy" because it was so inexpensive for a top performer. In this year, Eureka added a headlight to the deluxe Empress II Power Team.

It would be important to remember that the name "Roto-Matic" was originally used for Eureka's barrel-drum canisters of the 1950's. These never had power nozzles. Eureka just recycled the brand name for their power nozzles over a decade after the last Roto-Matic canister was produced.

Hope this answers some questions. If anyone has any corrections to this bit of foggy Eureka history - please chime in! Norm????

Eurekaprince

 

[normvac]

I am chiming IN!

You are right on the money with the numbers and decades. At
least as far as I remember !! Coming into the Eureka business in the later 70's.
Norm

 

[kirbyvertibles]

oh thanks!!! So that tells me that my red princess is from 1974. how long did they make that model and is it the only one to have the red powerhead?

 

[kirbyvertibles]

I am so excited to know some Eureka history!!!!

 

[normvac]

Yes, Sir !

I would say that the red power nozzle came from the princess.
Not sure how long, probably until the early 80's. As I remember we had it shown in the line up in the early 80's but
they brought out other models with more deluxe features. So it got
pushed aside and disappeared by 1983/84.
Norm