Eaton Viking Canister

[114jwh]

Hi Everyone,

I picked up this 1960's Viking a few years ago but haven't ever been able to figure out what type of bags it uses. From what I gather from previous posts this style doesn't seem like it was around for a long time or particularly popular. Seems like it was also only sold in Canada.

I really like it due to its very small footprint and the fact that suction is very strong so hoping someone has an idea on what bags would fit or has a picture of what they look like. As you can see it also uses a cloth bag as a secondary filter.

As you can see from the pictures, I'm also missing a bare floor tool and dusting brush. If anyone has a spare let me know! I may also try and replace the hose at some point with a vinyl one - this one still has pretty good air flow but its also pretty stiff.

Thanks

 

[jimjimmunster]

Maybe a lux C bag

Possibly a Electrolux C style bag, for the LX and on would work?

 

[eurekaprince]

That canister was made for Eaton's by Switson of Welland, Ontario....not far from Buffalo and Niagara Falls. My late Grandma Rose had a similar vacuum branded the Regina Sanitron...it was light brown instead of green and had a cardboard tool caddy to hold all the tools, including a felt "shoe" that snapped onto the carpet nozzle to dust hardwood floors. Doug Smith of Saskatchewan has a few of these in his collection....if I remember correctly.

 

[collector2]

Yep I do have several of them in my collection (your 175 is in better shape than mine lol). I havent found another bag to fit them (originals were discontinued in the 90s) but I really haven't looked either. I'll try to remember to dig it out and take pictures of the bag when I have some time.

Incidentally that isnt the original small nozzle or crevice tool.

The ones I have are on this page. If you look at the model 151 it has the complete accessory set. http://smithcollection.altervista.org/switson-ind-general-signal-appliances.html

Doug

 

[eurekaprince]

Hi Doug! *waves from Montreal....

Love your website's photos...and historical details of some of my favourite vacuums. My grandmother's Regina had an odd colour combination: the canister was light brown, as was the vinyl hose and carpet nozzle. All other tools were dark grey.

Should really go visit Welland, Ontario one of these days to see what's left of that famous Switson/Regina/Iona/Fantom factory.....

 

[114jwh]

Thanks for all the replies guys! Appreciate it!

I took a look at using a Electrolux bag but I don't think it will work although it seems to be the right idea. The Viking isn't quite as deep but, the problem is more the location of the hose outlet. As it's off-centre it seems to be harder to find a bag that lines up. Plus the cardboard mount would need to be rather large to cover the width and height of the bag chamber.

Thanks for the heads up on the nozzle/crevice tool Doug. Noticed that my carpet nozzle is different than the one on your model 151. Yours looks like it has the elbow built in to the nozzle itself whereas mine has a separate removable elbow.

Really appreciate the offer to take a picture of the bag Doug. Thats super nice of you to do.

 

[kirbylux77]

James, I think the best solution to make a bag for the Viking would be to take the cloth bag & make a "liner bag".

Tom Gasko has suggested here in the past that using a Numatic bag as a "liner bag" in the TriStar canisters greatly improves performance instead of the paper bags. And another poster here has suggested the Numatic bags are a good way to use a HEPA Cloth bag in older Kenmore canisters that use the 5033 bag. That Viking bag to me looks like it might be similar in width to the 5033 bag, just taller & shorter.

I would think if you removed the collar & cut the bag open the same way you would do to put the bag inside the TriStar cloth bag, it should work in your Viking.

Rob

 

[collector2]

Hi Brian - Thanks They used grey, cream or white parts depending on the colour of the machine. If you look at my Viking D129 (a little further up the Switson page) it has the grey parts.

Hi James - If you could find some GE bags for the round machines you could easily use them like Rob suggests.

The earlier 151 did have the elbow built onto the rug nozzle and two wands then they switched to the three wands when yours was introduced.

Afraid I still havent been able to find the bags I have but I'll keep looking
Doug

 

[114jwh]

Thanks again everyone!

Rob I hadn't heard of a Numatic vacuum so looked it up and see what you mean. Great idea. I hadn't thought of using a liner instead so might give that a go.

Doug, have to echo the comments on the website. What an incredible collection and awesome job organizing and documenting everything.

I might have some GE bags as I have a couple of swiveltops so I'll give that a try that as well. I might go to a few thrift stores and see if I can come up with any other ideas too.

 

[collector2]

Thank you James