@ Brian: Yes your correct! My Dyslexia is in overdrive tonight!
Eureka Sweet Sixteen Canisters
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eurekaprince
Well-known member
Hi Keith! 
My Eureka obsession goes into overdrive when it comes to the 1960’s and early 1970’s….not to worry!!! 
But ask me about model numbers in the 1980’s and I will draw a complete blank!
My Eureka obsession goes into overdrive when it comes to the 1960’s and early 1970’s….not to worry!!! But ask me about model numbers in the 1980’s and I will draw a complete blank!
@ Brian: I’m glad you pointed it out! Your good 
eurekaprince
Well-known member
And I am so grateful for all the pictures of your beautiful Eurekas you post here on Vacuumland! Your collection is amazing! 
@ Brian: Thanks so much for the kind words Brian! I appreciate you very much!
Another Department store brand version of the Eureka vacs was Grants. They carried the Bradford rebadged Eurekas back in the early 70s. [this post was last edited: 12/23/2021-17:08]
Another Department store brand version of the Eureka vacs was Grants. They carried the Bradford rebadged Eurekas back in the early 70s. [this post was last edited: 12/23/2021-17:08]
suckolux
Well-known member
Wow, I had forgotten about Grants brand, and they were my first job!.
eurekaprince
Well-known member
If I remember correctly, Eureka also made vacuums for the American "Western Auto" chain of stores....I think the store brandname was "Wizard".
love the sound
Love the sound of the motor on that youtube video, between an "E" and E flat. Definitely a two stage motor, what a contrast between that and the high pitch screaming sound of most vacuum motors today. I like the sound of those older motors much better. So each cleaner in the 16 series used a different motor? Interesting. I still think it's kind of interesting and somewhat ironic that two of the biggest vacuum brands, Hoover and Eureka were actually the last ones to introduce powerteam canisters. Just about every other vacuum brand had powerteam canisters several years before Hoover and Eureka did. Try as I might, I can't think of any reason why these two companies waited so long.
Mike
Love the sound of the motor on that youtube video, between an "E" and E flat. Definitely a two stage motor, what a contrast between that and the high pitch screaming sound of most vacuum motors today. I like the sound of those older motors much better. So each cleaner in the 16 series used a different motor? Interesting. I still think it's kind of interesting and somewhat ironic that two of the biggest vacuum brands, Hoover and Eureka were actually the last ones to introduce powerteam canisters. Just about every other vacuum brand had powerteam canisters several years before Hoover and Eureka did. Try as I might, I can't think of any reason why these two companies waited so long.
Mike
eurekaprince
Well-known member
Hi Mike,
I have a theory about why power nozzle canisters by Eureka and Hoover did not appear before 1973. In about 1969, Consumer Reports rated the Electrolux 1205 as the top canister because of its excellent carpet cleaning ability. I can't remember if any Kenmore power nozzle cleaners rated well in that report. It could be that once popular Electrolux grabbed the top spot in the ratings, Hoover and Eureka figured it was time they created a power nozzle canister. Especially since Consumer Reports tests showed that Eureka's Vibra Beat carpet nozzle did not really improve carpet cleaning: I remember that the report said the racket the Vibra Beat created was "much ado about nothing"!!!!
I have a theory about why power nozzle canisters by Eureka and Hoover did not appear before 1973. In about 1969, Consumer Reports rated the Electrolux 1205 as the top canister because of its excellent carpet cleaning ability. I can't remember if any Kenmore power nozzle cleaners rated well in that report. It could be that once popular Electrolux grabbed the top spot in the ratings, Hoover and Eureka figured it was time they created a power nozzle canister. Especially since Consumer Reports tests showed that Eureka's Vibra Beat carpet nozzle did not really improve carpet cleaning: I remember that the report said the racket the Vibra Beat created was "much ado about nothing"!!!!
suckolux
Well-known member
Another thought, although obviously I could be very wrong! I always thought that the Hoover and Eureka back in the day, they had some models starting at let's say a beginning household's budget and then fancied up and more powerful from there, where adding a power head would almost double that price. Again it's just a theory but I think you're more expensive door to door and such it wouldn't have been such a shock to their average buyer. Maybe! Using my sweet 16 today!!!
eurekaprince
Well-known member
Still, when you look at the chronological history of canister vacs in North America, there were at least 3 manufacturers offering a deluxe power nozzle canister by 1960: Electrolux, Lewyt and Whirlpool. Singer and Sunbeam were offering deluxe canisters with air-driven turbo nozzles by that time. The question was: why did Hoover and Eureka wait until 1973 to offer a power nozzle with a canister vac? My guess would be that Eureka thought they were offering a comparible cleaning solution with the Vibra-Beat carpet nozzle all through the 1960’s. And it could be that Hoover thought of itself as the inventor of the upright vacuum - why bother adding a power nozzle to a canister if the consumer was willing to buy a separate upright just for carpets?
So my theory is by 1970, after Consumer Reports showed that the Vibra Beat nozzle was providing “much ado about nothing”, Eureka realized the Vibra Beat could not offer a comparably clean carpet and they decided to replace it with an electrified power nozzle to compete with the better performers being made by Electrolux and Kenmore (Whirlpool). Once Eureka started selling very good power nozzle canisters, Hoover needed to keep up with the competition. I think the PowerMatic nozzles came out a year later in 1974.
So my theory is by 1970, after Consumer Reports showed that the Vibra Beat nozzle was providing “much ado about nothing”, Eureka realized the Vibra Beat could not offer a comparably clean carpet and they decided to replace it with an electrified power nozzle to compete with the better performers being made by Electrolux and Kenmore (Whirlpool). Once Eureka started selling very good power nozzle canisters, Hoover needed to keep up with the competition. I think the PowerMatic nozzles came out a year later in 1974.
suckolux
Well-known member
Don't forget the carpet we had by then too! Sculpted and Shag!! Yeah baby!
eurekaprince
Well-known member
Yes!!! I can just imagine those Vibra Beat nozzles getting completely clogged up with long groovy hippie hair and thick shag fibres! Vibra Beat could not handle the beatnik generation….
