Eureka model naming theory?

[texbodemer]

Hi!

I'm wondering if Eureka used this as a naming practice:

When a model ran out of letters (let's just use the 1401 A, B, C, D, E, F...), then, they'd move to a new name (1402A, B, C, D...)

 

[texbodemer]

I'm also guessing

that the middle digit indicates the level of the vacuum. So, a 1400 is a basic model, 1410 basic Dial-a-Nap one, 1420 a mid-range Dial-a-Nap, a 1430 a high end Dial a Nap?

 

[huskyvacs]

The lettering as far as I understand was not part of the model name per se. It was company code to designate a mid-run change/revision to that model. So if you needed it serviced the shop would know what part it had or didn't have or what was changed on it so it wouldn't be fixed with wrong parts. That's just what I read from members on here. I assume they probably have service bulletins preserved that tell of model changes.

The model denominations within the same series range, yes I believe you are on the right track. The higher the increment the more features and higher price point that model had.

 

[texbodemer]

That makes sense

That makes sense! In the research I've done in preparation for a vintage Eureka restoration guide, I've found that perforated vinyl bags were introduced around 1973. Dial-a-Nap, 1969. Rugulator 1967ish

 

[eurekaprince]

I can give you a specific example of a minor model number change.

In 1973, Consumer Reports gave many Eureka vacuums top marks in the upright category as well as in the power-nozzle canister category. The second best upright was Model 2082, the deluxe Rugulator upright with CordAway cord reel, Vibra Groomer brush roll and box-top bag. It’s colour was beige and “Queen Anne Gold”. This was really the “Golden Era” for the Eureka Williams Company.

In late 1974, my parents decided it was time to get a new upright for our house which had lots of wall-to-wall carpeting. So I gave my dad a Eureka advertisement from Home Furnishings Daily which showed the 2082 and told him to buy that from a Canadian vacuum dealer he knew. What we ended up getting was model 2083 - made in Canada at Eureka’s Onward Manufacturing Company in Kitchener, Ontario. The only new feature on our model was those Edge Kleener notches added to the metal sole plate. There were also two “Edge Kleener” decals glued to the sides of the motor head.

I could not find any other difference between the 2082 and the 2083 - just the little Edge Kleener notches on the metal sole plate.

 

[texbodemer]

Does a letter K

Does a letter K after the model number indicate Chrome? I saw an ad for the 238K that describes it as having a chrome hood, and my 260EK is chrome also.

 

[eurekaprince]

I don’t know what EK would denote. In the line-up with which I’m quite familiar (1973-74), I know that the deluxe Rugulator models with the chrome hoods got their own number:

2062: Rugulator model in cream and gold
2072: same as 2062 but with chrome hood
2082: Rugulator model with CordAway in cream and gold
2092: same as 2082 but with chrome hood

2042 was the top rated upright in CR tests in 1973…maybe even a Best Buy (can’t remember for sure) since it was a less expensive Dial-a-Nap upright in cream and green….but its carpet cleaning performance was rated excellent …just like the 2082 which came in second due it being more expensive.

 

[eurekaprince]

Here is Model 260D in action…it’s got a chrome hood:

I think Eureka called their famous 1960’s turquoise colour “Lagoon Blue”…I read that somewhere in an article about their Princess canister.

 

[paul]

Hi, I'm glad to hear that you're composing a Eureka models & spec's timeline. It's hard to locate information on all the models. I've recently come across some model lists on vacuum parts websites, so thought I'd pass them on to you in case you need them or just want a cross-reference. Incidentally, the letters after the model numbers are the "Type"s as found on the manufacturer's labels. The lists may not be completely accurate, though; for example the 1475A had been omitted. There is also a photo of a 1910-1958 Eureka model and serial number list on another thread.

F&G Bag Uprights (1958- )

238AK, 259, 260, 267(Cord-A-Way), 270 (Vanguard)

1401A/B/D; 1402A/D; 1403A; 1404A/B; 1405A; 1406A/B/D/E/G/H/J/K; 1407B/D; 1408A; 1409A/B; 1410A/D; 1411A; 1412A/B/D; 1413A/B; 1414A/B; 1415A/AG/B/BG; 1416A/AS/B/BS/D; 1417A/B;
1418A/B; 1419A/B; 1420A; 1421A; 1422A; 1423A/B; 1424A/B/D/E/F/G; 1425A/B/D/E/F/G; 1426A/B; 1427A/B/D/E; 1428A/B/D; 1429A/D; 1431A/B/D; 1432A/B/D/E/F; 1435A/B/D; 1436A; 1437A; 1438A; 1439A; 1440A; 1441A; 1442A/B/D; 1443A/B/D; 1444A; 1446A/B; 1447A; 1448A/B/D; 1450A; 1452A/B/F; 1453A/B/D; 1454A; 1455A; 1456A; 1457A/B; 1458A/B/D/E/F; 1459A; 1462A; 1463A; 1466A; 1469A; 1470A/D; 1471A/B; 1473A/B;
1475A (75th anniversary); 1485A/B/D; 1486A; 1489A/AM/B/BM; 1490A; 1495A

1903A/B, 1923A/B, 1925A/AT, 1928A/AT, 1931A, 1932A, 1934A/A1, 1935AT/B/BT, 1941E,1942A/B, 1943A/AT, 1945B, 1946A, 1947A, 1967A/AT/B/BT, 1968A

2008A,2009A,2010A/AT/BH/BHT/BT/R/RB/RY/RYT, 2011A/B, 2012A/AT/B, 2013AM/BM, 2014A/B, 2015A/B, 2016A, 2017A, 2018A, 2019A/AT, 2020A/B/BT/R/RB/RR/WT, 2021BT, 2022A/AT, 2023A/AT, 2024A, 2025A/B/BT, 2026A, 2027A/AM, 2028A/B, 2030ADV, 2033A, 2035A, 2036A/B, 2042A/B/D/ DT/E, 2043A, 2044R/RB/RG, 2045A, 2047A, 2048A/B, 2049A, 2050A/B/R/RB, 2052A, 2053A, 2055A/AP/B/BP, 2058A/AT/B/BT/D/DT, 2060R/RB, 2061A/AT/B/BT/D/DT, 2062A/B/D, 2064A/B, 2068A/AY/BYT, 2070A/B/D/E/F, 2071A/B/D, 2072A, 2073A, 2074A, 2076A, 2077A, 2079A, 2080A/B, 2081A/B, 2082A,2083A, 2084A, 2085A, 2086A/B/D, 2087A, 2088A, 2090A, 2091A/B/D/DT, 2092A, 2093A, C2094, 2095A, 2097A, 2101, 2105, 2107, 2109, 2118, 2122, 2124, 2125, 2134, 2150, 2152

4036, 4040, 4053, 4060

5071D, 5071E
6484A, 6484AT
7534A, 7575

Sanitaires - Blue Line SC679, SC684, SC684E, SC689, SC886, SC887, SC887A, SC888, SC899, S634, and S647

Sanitaires - Red Line
SC684F-2, SC684F-3, SC689A-2, SC689A-3, SC886E, SC886E-1, SC886E-2, SC886E-3, SC887B-2,  SC887B-3

 

[eurekaprince]

Hi Paul,

Eureka also made special edition F&G uprights for Kmart. These are easy to identify because they all had 3 digit model numbers. They were not rebranded with the Kmart name....they just had unique colours that could only be found in Kmart stores. If you search for "Eureka vacuum ads Kmart", you will see some of these models.

 

[paul]

Hi Brian,

Thanks for the reminder. I have seen those ad's in the past and thought they were the 600 series mentioned on bag containers and parts lists, because that's all I have ever seen. I have yet to see a list of individual model numbers & types, however.

Were these made from the '60s to the '80s? Also, what was the period of F & G uprights production besides the Sanitaire line? I'm guessing mid-1950s to the mid-1990s?

I wonder if Bissell has kept its vintage Eureka records intact?

 

[paul]

Some bag packages also mention the 300 Series and Montgomery Wards 800 & 8000 Series.

 

[paul]

Here is some information on hood styles and colors. I had wondered if Eureka named its colors like Hoover, and it did indeed. The data is from usavacuum.com. Wonder how many hood styles there were in the F & G series?

Blue, 2030ADV
Fawn Beige, 2055B/BP
Frost White, 2061B, 2058A/AT/B/BT/D/DT, 2061D/DT
Cinnamon, 2062A
Cinnamon, 2062B/D
Fawn Beige, 2064A/B, 2073A, 2076A
Blue, 2068A/AY
Shadow, 2086A
Shadow, 2086B/D
Wild Moss, 2088A
Evergreen, 2091B
Chrome, 2095A

 

[eurekaprince]

Yes….1950’s to early 1990’s….but the Eureka F&G uprights live on in the Sanitaire line of uprights….now owned by the American Bissell company.

Regarding Eureka colours: the ubiquitous turquoise blue that Eureka used in the first half of the 1960’s was called “Lagoon Blue”….I learned this in an article exploring the design of the little Eureka Princess canister cleaner.

The gold used for the deluxe Rugulator 2062 and 2082 Uprights of 1973 was called “Queen Anne Gold”!

 

[eurekaprince]

Oh! I forgot the most famous Eureka colour: Brandywine Red! Late 1970's...ESP uprights and power team canisters too!!!!

 

[paul]

Wow, good info, Brian; thanks! I'm surprised that this information hasn't been composed like Hoover's; unless Eureka collectors are not as interested in the production spectrum and specifics.

I'm looking forward to seeing texbodemer's data compilation. That, along with your research will be a boon to Eureka enthusiasts.