Eureka Princess questions.

[volvoguy87]

I am trying to identify a vacuum cleaner that was thrown out after a basement flood almost 20 years ago. I'm pretty certain it was a BOL Eureka Princess series canister. If I recall correctly, it was avocado green with a rectangular woodgrain sticker on the center of the top. It had a corrugated plastic hose, and the non-vacuum end was metal with a black plastic suction regulator. There was no power nozzle, nor can I recall any plug for one. There was no provision for on-board attachment storage. The switch was on the front at the bottom, and it had a rocking foot-pedal to press it. There was a handle on the front, integrated into the hose port surround. The exhaust port had a metal screen over it and a plastic handle/cover. I think this cover could also be used for wrapping the cord.

I'm not yet in a position to acquire one of these, but I would love to get one eventually. In the mean time, I would love to find out when it was made, what model it was, and maybe even find a picture.

Anyone have any thoughts?
Dave

 

[collector2]

This is from the 1974 Eatons Spring and Summer Catalogue. The machines are under the Store name of Viking but made by Eureka - would the first one pictured be the one you are looking for?

 

[volvoguy87]

A is it!

The first one looks like the vacuum I so clearly remember. I can't tell the color in the ad (maybe it faded over time, or the scanner was imprecise) I think the ad looks gold, not green. I also can't see if the switch is there. Otherwise, THAT'S IT!

I really liked the small upholstery brush and the large floor tool. The medium tool (bare floor tool?) was gone before my time. We also had a strange shag rug tool not shown in the ad, but I don't know if that was Eureka or not. We also had the original cream-colored dusting brush, but also a light blue one of the same design.

I remember sitting on the canister as a toddler and scooting myself around the living room. It was thrown out when I was about 6 years old. What were these machines like? Were they good performers? Were they well made? My folks were married in November of 1975, maybe this vacuum was a wedding present.

Memories, sweet memories,
Dave

 

[collector2]

Hi Dave:
It could be either color. I have the delux model (teardrop shaped) in my collection in both gold and green. Apparently they changed the color in 74 from gold (1972-74) to green (1974-75). The catalogue pages are just newsprint so the color didnt reproduce that well.

Those machines, while low end, worked fairly well. Being made of metal (unlike todays plastic garbage) they stood up to alot.

Doug

 

[constellation86]

My grandma had a green one when I was a kid. The only time I ever tried to use it, it made a terrible noise and blew smoke and dust out. I'm not sure whatever happened to it. She throws away everything so I'm sure that was its fate.
That was the scarriest vacuum memory I have. It kind of tainted me against eureka. I always liked her dial a matic better anyway.
Nicholas