Eureka 745

[thundergooch]

Intro
Hello all! After lurking in the shadows I felt i should contribute.
First, all here have contributed to my "sickness".
And you have all helped me so much in the past, even without knowing it, both technically and psychologically! Thank you!

I recently purchased this from a local seller. I haven't been into Eurekas per SE, but I thought it was worth $10.

The tank has been cleaned and restocked with a filter and bag, but most everything else is "as found".

I haven't found a lot online yet about 745's specifically, but some about the 700's and the metal tanks as a group.

There are 2 details that I was specifically impressed with that I felt were worth sharing.

First, the little paper tag attached to the vacuum with a piece of cotton string touting the fact that it was made with good ol' American steel. To think that little tag survived looped around the machines handle all of these years is amazing to me!

Second, the paper tag on the elbow with assembly instructions noting that joining joining the tubes would be "permanent". Really? Again, not a Eureka guy per se.

These things seem to be worthy of being noted.

Vacuum is a little noisy but I will be giving it an extended run-in sometime soon. Cord lock/retract works fine, switch pedal works fine.

The only attachments I received are what is shown. Even the (supposedly) dubious vibra beat floor tool...can't wait to try that one!!!

I remember the durability of an Empress my Mom had when I was little...had a broken caster wheel (missing) and she still dragged it around the house w/o it. Had that thing forever. Maybe its still in her garage??? Hmmm...

Please comment if you have anything to add...haven't nailed down a specific date yet.

 

[fantomfan57]

"Guilty"'

well, not a much as any other member. In fact, I barely contribute.

Let me say I am astonished the tags survived. The same thing happened when I found a Sunbeam Challenger at Goodwill. Tag and sticker intact. Yours looks like it is in great condition.

Lastly, I love the color. Keep up the good work.
Garry

 

[rugsucker]

Eureka

Looks very nice and would have been a more deluxe model.
It would be missing upholstery & crevice tools,wands? and may have had an inside tool tray.Exhaust on bottom could be open for regular use and closed for blower.
It needs what some called the 'doughnut' seal at opening where Type H bag attaches.These were rubber and later foam.Without it you lose suction and dirt goes to filter and motor.
A now rare vac at a good price!

 

[eurekaprince]

Wow! Very deluxe Eureka Princess! I have never seen that white button on the back before on a Eureka…does it cause the cord to retract?

Would you be able to post a full top and front picture? I can’t tell what colour it is.

Indeed, the curved handle seems to have been shipped from the factory unassembled and never properly connected to the hose. The user was meant to slide the handle onto the hose end until a secure click is heard. The handle was meant to be permanently connected to the hose as the instructions indicate. Most Eureka canisters came with the handle already permanently connected right out of the box. Not sure why this model did not.

Enjoy your Eureka!

EUREKA. The very best in vacuum cleaners.

 

[paul]

That's an amazing acquisition - it's overall condition and the original manufacturer's spec's tags!

The first Cordaway canisters debuted in 1965 - the teardrop-shaped models 1010 "Empress" & 1025 (& 1019?) "Vibra-Beat", the trapezoid-shaped models 730 & 745, and the tub-shaped model 555. The only difference that I have noticed between the models 730 and the 745 is that the former was equipped with the Tool-Pak on top, and the 745 came with a Tote Tray.

The color for that time period is new to me. I'm used to seeing aqua blue with lagoon blue trim, moss green with teakwood accents & white trim, or gold mist with teakwood accents and white trim. Is it a forest green?

Below are some newspaper ads I located for models the 745, 730, & 555 from 1965 to 1971 from an online database. I thought you'd be interested in the comparisons & contrasts.


Photos:

1. 1965 Dec. 12 THE TELEGRAPH-HERALD - 745
2. 1968 May 7 THE EVENING NEWS - 745
3. 1965 Dec. 10 WILLIAMSON DAILY NEWS - 730
4. 1965 Dec. 14 PITTSBURGE POST-GAZETTE - 555

Happy "Eureka-ing"!

 

[paul]

Clarification:

I located newspaper ads for the model 745 from 1965 to 1971. I'm not sure specifically when the 745-AG was produced and what, if any other types were produced. The AG may have been a 745-A in green (hence the 'G').

 

[eurekaprince]

I’ve never seen a Eureka Tote Tray like that! Probably made out of cardboard. Though offers an easier way to store the tools by just dropping them in the box, it may take up too much room on the floor or shelf of a closet. Would love to a see a pic of a real one!

It looks like the colour of the canister is charcoal gray. Never saw a 1960’s Eureka canister in that colour!

 

[thundergooch]

More pix...

...of the 745. Thanks for all of the interest and info!!
Paul, I thought maybe the "G" would mean gray?
The machine is definitely gray, but I have seen greens that seem to cross the line.

Also, Eurekaprince, that "button" is actually a lever. As you pull out the cord it locks. Depressing the lever allows it to retract. It's not a ratchet type of me hanism but rather a continuous friction brake of some sort. It locks at any length.
And those ads for 745 are neat! They are slightly different as I do not see that release for the cord
Sadly I am missing a few nozzles and the wands, and the cardboard tool carrier, if it ever had one, has gone on the the Great Beyond!
Maybe I'll dig out another Princess...

 

[eurekaprince]

Thanks for the pics and info Thunder!

This is definitely a rare Eureka Prince or Princess. I have never seen that kind of CordAway brake switch on a Eureka canister before. Must have been a short-lived feature! All subsequent canisters with a cord reel worked like a venetian blind: pull out to extend cord, short tug on the cord to retract. Wonder why they did not keep that button….

Strange that they did not label this a Eureka Prince…which is what Eureka was calling the more powerful square Princess canisters at the time in the mid 1960’s.

 

[paul]

Thanks for the additional photo's, Mark. I can definitely tell it's gray in the 3rd & 4th. I would imagine that a certain store either requested the color, or Eureka used some enamel from a different line such as the upright model 238 or 248 (Heavy Duty) instead of making a new batch of aqua blue or lagoon blue. This may be a clue that your 745 was produced in 1971.

Whatever the case, Eureka was known for its wide variety of model-types! Speaking of that, as I gave a second look at the ads I posted on this thread yesterday I noticed that the 730's mentioned dual exhausts. Does your 745 have that feature?

I need to locate some original-style tools for my 1514-A, too (a 1980s manual cord version of yours). They're harder to find than I'd initially thought.

 

[thundergooch]

Dual exhaust yes. In the first set of pix I posted you can see one with the bottom exhaust open and one with it closed.
My initial thought was that directing full exhaust out the rear vent would be used for "blower" type attachments, but the lid latch hangs down below the opening so I don't think the hose can be attached there.
Could it possibly for using the vacuum standing on end, as if it was being carried by the handle, as on stairs?
Hmmm.

 

[eurekaprince]

That is a blower vent at the back. The user is meant to keep the lid open when attaching a hose to that port for blower use.

 

[paul]

Thanks for the info., Mark and Brian!

Here's a April 24, 1970, LIFE magazine advertisement featuring the later Cordaway Model 740 and Princess Model 736. The Tool-Pak makes me think it was a revision of the Model 730 rather than the Model 745.

 

[rugsucker]

Eureka

 

[paul]

Wow, Jimmy, how amazing that the Tote Tray has been unused in its carton! Thanks for posting those photo's along with ones of the Tool Tray.

Do you have a good old-style set of white Eureka canister tools - 12" floor brush, round dusting brush, and the utility nozzle?

Also, do you have user manuals for the 1400 Series and 1500 Series?

 

[eurekaprince]

Thanks for posting those pics Jimmy! And the assembly instructions for the Tote Tray!

Eureka tried so many different ways to offer tool storage for their canisters over the decades. My preferred method was that two sided plastic Carry All Tool Caddy that came with the Empress II canisters and Vanguard uprights. My only concern with that one is I wonder if the tools stored snugly on the round nibs after many years of use.

 

[rugsucker]

Tote Tray

Both trays are used and worn.These would have been fragile.Could mine be the last in the world??
"do you have--tools--manuals--?"--
Yes.But I also have a 2nd location,1 block away,of a book store and then a book booth at a store down the street.Just yesterday to try to find trays at old shop,get pics and look for more Eureka items I had to stop to sell vac belt,service Simplicity UR and look at Elux with PN not running.This will be the year that anything kept from 2 buildings will fit in 1.All other WILL GO.Any interested should plan trip for spring or summer before I make trips to dumpster!

 

[paul]

Thanks, Jimmy. Gas prices will figure in to any long trips for me.

Photo's would be great whenever you can manage to take & post.