Help me identify this Eureka vacuum

[niclonnic]

I need help identifying this Eureka vacuum from my childhood.

I don't remember how long we've had it, but it's a Eureka Ultra ESP Triple Filter with a white hood and black outer bag. My parents used it in our old apartment. I remember how noisy it was; in addition, it had a hose that clamped onto the bottom of the machine.

Sometime in the mid- to late '90s, my dad ordered a Fantom Fury vacuum from an infomercial. After we got that, this Eureka became a fireplace vacuum. I recall my mom attaching the hose to the Eureka and using it to clean out the fireplace.

I would greatly appreciate it if anybody could tell me more about this vacuum, which is likely the first one my family ever owned.

I found this vacuum in the background of one of my sister's baby photos from 1995. Here is a pic. I apologize for the poor quality; I didn't feel like scanning it.

 

[fan-of-fans]

I think it's probably one of the models Eureka came out with in the 80s that was their response to the early Hoover Elites that didn't have the onboard tools. I think they were often under the Precision model name.

 

[gj3476]

Yeah that’s a Eureka Ultra ESP from the 80’s. And I don’t think those vacuums are built for cleaning fireplaces.

 

[fcs3]

Hey niclonnic

Check out Vintage thread #18484 to see
if that stirs any memories.

 

[niclonnic]

Thanks!

A few years ago, I asked my mom why she used this Eureka to clean out the fireplace, and she said that because it was bagged, it made the ash easier to dispose of. Additionally, I believe it also prevented ash from blowing all over the place.

I looked at that Vintage thread, and that Eureka looks very close to what mine looked like. I recall mine had the on/off switch on the hood.

I would love to see a picture of one of these with the hose attached. That'll stir up more memories for me.

 

[eurekaprince]

I always liked the look of the Eureka Ultra - a complete departure of design from the bag-in-the-back design Eureka held onto for their uprights in the 1960’s and 1970’s. Maybe a result of Swedish Electrolux European designers starting to influence the North American Eureka line-up as they did with the Express and Mighty Mite canisters.

Interesting that moving the bag to the front was a nostalgic return to the bag position of Eurekas from the 1920’s!

The whole goal of the Ultra was to create a more lightweight upright that actually propelled itself forward by the strong beating action of the Vibra Groomer III brush roll. The advertising for the Ultra focused on the slogan “Eureka will sweep you off your feet” as the user is shown floating off the carpet while holding onto the Ultra.

The Ultra also sent the dirt from the fan chamber to the bag up the hollow handle.The new dust bag was also a big departure from the old F&G bags - no paper throat on this one as the Ultra bags used a cardboard collar you attached inside the top of the outer bag. Perhaps a response to Hoover’s improved “Click & Clean” new upright bags.

 

[oreck_xl]

I think Eureka was trying at least in part to copy Oreck as well. IIRC, the Ultra made its debut in 1985, three years before the Hoover Elite.

 

[niclonnic]

I'm curious

What kind of bags do the Eureka Ultra vacuums take?

 

[gman]

Here's Mine

Most of theses were either a biege or a blue color, so to find this in green with a peacock motif on the was pretty crazy. BTW is takes a "Z" type bag.

 

[eurekaprince]

That green Ultra is gorgeous! One of Eureka’s most beautiful uprights! You’re lucky to have it!!!

 

[eurekaprince]

And here’s Eureka’s animated commercial for the Ultra from 1984:



http://https//youtu.be/sQ270drPPF4