Eureka Ironsides

[k15]

Was wondering if the experts here could identify this Beaumark vac. Beaumark was the house brand of The Bay in Canada. I know it's a Eureka, and sure looks like an Ironsides. Anyone know the rough age of it? My guess is late 80s early 90s, the model is 98603 and serial is 141008118.

 

[paul]

I am not a Eureka expert—that distinction goes to Eurekaprince, Hoover300, OpelGTKarl and others—but I have done some data collection and organization of Eureka model-types.

So using that data, your Beaumark Super 98603 Power Team's bag light is the same as the Eureka Vactronic Power Teams' that were made from 1983 to 1988, give or take. The Vactronics, though, had an electronic power selector near the bag light that the Beamark appears to lack. The other Power Teams with a control panel during that time had a non-lit rectangular Performance Guide indicator and standard power selector.

The "Ironsides" had no control panel and were equipped with standard-sized rear wheels versus the Super 98603's and Vactronics' over-sized wheels. They were manufactured from 1989 until 1993 or so, when that design was discontinued.

Btw, the serial number of the Super 98603 seems to predate Eureka's embedded production year and week format.

 

[k15]

Thanks for the info! I googled Vactronics and that's definitely it. It's pretty powerful, and the power nozzle is really effective.

 

[paul]

You're welcome!

That's a sharp looking cleaner, and I'm glad you're impressed with its performance. I have a budget Eureka 1500 Series Roto-Matic Power Team and also like its performance.

I wanted to clarify, too, that the "Vactronic" and "Ironsides" both have the same basic design—which originated as the 1600 Series "Sweet Sixteen" canisters, then became the 3700 Series canisters and 1700 Series Roto-Matic Power Teams. Some refer all the 1700 Series as "Ironsides", but only four models were identified by that model name—which, I think, was due to the fact that other marketed Eureka canisters and Power Teams at the time were plastic.

Euphoric Eurekaing!

 

[dysonman1]

There's a way to verify whether or not it is a Vactronic. Like an Electrolux Automatic, there's a sensor tube connected to the intake so the full-bag light will not go on when you put your hand over the end of the hose. The tube can easily be seen when you raise the hood and look. If the light comes on when you put your hand over the end of the hose, it's not a Vactronic.

 

[eurekaprince]

If you Google “Beaumark vacuum advertisement” you will find a Canadian newspaper ad from 1987 showing the identical Eureka power nozzle. So your Beaumark Roto-Matic Power Team is probably from around that year. Probably one of the last Canadian-made Eureka canisters from the Onward Manufacturing factory in Kitchener, Ontario.

 

[paul]

I looked in an online newspaper database for your model but was unsuccessful in locating an ad for it—it could be, too, that the ads for it omitted the model IDs. The Model 98602, though, in the attached 1985 ad featuring the electronic power sensor and bag change sensor along with the similar—if not identical—power nozzle is a close match to yours.


A few Beaumark-brand vacuum cleaner ads:

1. 1980 Nov 25 LEADER-POST

2. 1981 Feb 3 CALGARY HERALD

3. 1985 May 15 WINDSOR STAR

 

[paul]

"Ironsides" Trivia - Historical, Definitional, "

Historical—"Old Ironsides" was the nickname given to the 18th-century frigate, USS Constitution, during the War of 1812 after its naval battle with HMS Guerriere. Constitution was one of the original six frigates of the United States Navy, commissioned by the Naval Act of 1794.

Source: Wikipedia


Definitional—The word "ironsides" has multiple meanings, including:
~A strong person: A person with great strength, stamina, or resistance
~A nickname for Oliver Cromwell, Edmund II of England, or the soldiers serving under Cromwell: Cromwell was given the nickname "Old Ironsides" because the troops he led wore armor for protection, giving them "iron sides". His Royalist opponents called Cromwell's cavalry troopers "Ironsides" in the English Civil War to allude to their hardiness in battle.
~An ironclad ship
~The Eastern U.S. scup (fish)

Source: AI


"Eurekal"—Model name on the labeling of the 1989-1993 mid- to low-range set of metal Power Teams (canister & power nozzles) likely to differentiate them from their contemporaneous plastic counterparts. None had control panels or large rear wheels like the top-range ones . They were equipped with motors of varying amperages and colors and other features. The set, based on the original 1971 Sweet Sixteen "trunk style" canisters, was the last iteration.

(actual color names unverified)

~Model 1739 (black, 3.0-PHP, Tool-Pak nubs, sans headlight)
~Model 1749 (white w/black trim, 3.2-PHP, covered Tool-Park tray, headlight)
~Model 1789 (cinnamon cover & black lower shell & trim, 4.0-PHP, Tool-Park tray, headlight)
~Model 1799 (black, 4.0-PHP, covered Tool-Park tray, headlight)

Source: eBay

 

[paul]

Ironsides Photos

1. Model 1739

2. Model 1749 (missing Tool-Pak cover)

3. Model 1789

4. Model 1799 (w/wide handle)

 

[rugsucker]

The 'Ironsides'--

--name was being used at a time that more vacs including Kenmore and Spirit were plastic.Was a good and powerful vac with nice attachments.