Did I turn into a Montgomery Ward Junkie?

[phaeton]

Hello All,
Well I could not pass this little Montgomery Ward hand held vacuum up. I don't think I have seen one like it before. It runs great and really has a lot of power. The bag is in good shape. I think it is older than the Montgomery Ward/Eureka upright I got a week ago. I don't have a clue who made it for Montgomery Ward but might guess Apex.
Thank you for looking,
Pete

 

[fcs3]

She's a Beauty, Pete

I noticed one like it on Ebay a while ago.
The styling and cast aluminum body suggest
early post-war.
That motor plate's poor fit seems like an after-factory
add-on. So its likely MW wasn't the manufacturer.

Looks like the rubber furniture guard is ailing.
The following link might provide some restoration tips.

Frank


http://ourpastimes.com/repair-disintegrating-rubber-5811107.html

 

[dirtmaster37]

but might guess Apex.

You are absolutely correct in your guess.

What is proven by catalog research, is that... Apex did make this hand vacuum for Wards, and pretty much ALL of their offered vacuum cleaners until the early 1950's. Apex remained for a time their major supplier of canister based cleaners until they began offering what was Essentially the Eureka Automatic and a cylinder type cleaner as early as 1952-53 ( or the upright you have now). Then in the late 1950's, Apex was pretty deep in dire straits as a company at which point, after a brief stint with Westinghouse (making some of their canisters lineup) from 1958-59 to the early 1960's; Eureka pretty much took over (uprights and canisters), with Shetland supplying their more budget minded canister models until 1972, when Shetland Lewyt went bye bye. Thru the resto fo the 1970's and early 80's Eureka produced pretty much the entire lineup, aside from Hoover produced a self-propelled upright (1975) brooms (Jiffy Vacs) and portables (Slimline/Portapower), and the like.

Catalog places were either pretty liaise faire about who made their things, or pretty rigid. So , Wards had Apex, Eureka, Westinghouse, and then later Eureka and Shetland Lewyt, then much later Eureka and Hoover.

But this is pure Apex. Most likely made in Sandusky Ohio.



Chad

 

[ultralux88]

I'm saying Apex too, it just looks like an Apex design. The dead giveaway to me is the motor being in the middle of a large tunnel. Royal did this with their handvacs too, but they didn't have this shape or design.

 

[kenkart]

I have a Wards

canister by Apex that has steel ball bearings for wheels.

 

[phaeton]

Hello Frank, Chad, Reggie and All,
I have a Singer Model H-4 and the Royal Junior Model 81 hand held vacuums and now this little MW/Apex which seems to have more suction power than the others. It also is well made but in that era most things were well made. The split casting is interesting and I guess the small bar that is inside the nozzle is to keep one from picking up something too large. I tend to buy things I find interesting or odd like who could resist the MW logo on the nozzle. My first thought was that it was a VW accessory, I’m kidding. The only vacuum that has been with me for about 40 years is a Singer R-1 which I did use way back when and I did have a nice Hoover 700 that I buffed out back then and is long gone as I gave it away years ago.
I did just received a few Hoover 700s one of which is a really early one with a low serial number of 7000693 and it has what I believe is the original aluminum agitator brush roll that has the spring clip on the outer ends that holds in the brushes. The main problem with it is someone drilled threw the casting and bail/yoke/fork and used bolts to hold it on. I will have to have some Heliarc work done on the fork and replace the one of the pivoting studs on the base casting the other side can be welded shut. This will be for another day and different Thread.
I do enjoy reading may of the Threads and Posts on Vacuumland.
Thank you for looking,
Pete