Montgomery Ward Commercial Vacuums

[eurekasanitaire]

We are all familiar with Montgomery Ward Vacuums and how awesome they are. Personally, I love Montgomery Ward Signature Vacuums made by Eureka. But what about Signature Commercial Vacuums? I know there is the SP8000 and SP8005. I know the SP8005 has wide track. Does the SP8000 look the same but without the wide track? Same hood and everything? Did Montgomery Ward make any other models of commercial vacuums in its day?

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

eurekasanitaire

Yes, the SP8000 was the standard-width (12") model, based on the Sanitaire 641. It outlasted the SP8005 by one year.

~Ben

 

[eurekasanitaire]

So did the SP8000 look like this? Did it also have a headlight? I noticed the SP8005 has a headlight.

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

eurekasanitaire

Yes, that's the one! And you are right about the SP8005 having a headlight - that one was based on the Sanitaire 698.

~Ben

 

[eurekasanitaire]

So the SP8000 did not have a headlight, but the SP8005 did. That's cool to know. Too bad Montgomery Ward did not make any other commercial vacuums except those two. And those are hard to find, since so many of us collectors want those models.

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

eurekasanitaire

You are so right. I wish you luck finding either one of these two.

~Ben

 

[eurekasanitaire]

I tried looking for a picture of how a Sanitaire 698 looked, but I could not find a picture.

 

[tolivac]

What can make vintage commercial vacuums rare is typical commercial buyers use the machine until it dies.It is then so beat up it is thrown out and replaced.You could be lucky and fish the vacuum from the trash or dumpster as it is thrown out!

 

[eurekasanitaire]

I've never done that before. But it would be hit or miss.

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

eurekasanitaire

Here's some pictures of that machine you mention (from eBay auctions).

~Ben

 

[eurekasanitaire]

That looks so cool! It looks more 1980s though.

 

[AvonCalling]

There's an SP8005 (the wide path one) up on ebay that I just saw, and it's so clean it's sparkling. Definitely tempted to bid on it myself, but I already own one, albeit one that's been through the ringer so to say.

Do they even still make parts for these? I mean it's a Sanitare/Eureka underneath, but that doesn't necessarily mean that parts are still readily available.

 

[bvac6]

Parts

They sure do still make a ton of the parts, I've upgraded older uprights to use the newer motors. Where you run into trouble as the brush roll, since those older ones use the square ends and those are out of production.