Montgomery Wards Uprights

[vacman117]

I recently found these three Wards uprights over the past few months. I don't start work until noon on most days so that allows me to hit the local estate sales on the weekends (what most young adults use their time to sleep in for, of course). In any event, it's allowed me to stumble across these three unique uprights. I went from having zero Wards vacuums to quite a few!

 

[vacman117]

First up, a model from 1973. I haven't had a chance to give this one an overall yet, but it does run pretty well. It would not power on when I found it, but the problem was just where the cord goes into the back of the handle under the grip, it was cut and taped and it was not a quality job at all. After a little rewiring it slowly fired right up! It should clean up nicely, I am a little worried about washing the bag though.

I love the 'patio' setting on the height adjustment

 

[vacman117]

Next up, a two speed cordaway model. I'm unsure of the year, I can't make out Eureka's dating mechanism on this one. It does run, but it is very rough. There's a hole in the plastic part that connects the bag to the base, and there are also several holes in the bag. It's going to take some time to get this one looking good.

 

[vacman117]

Finally, my favorite

This one is my favorite out of the bunch, I couldn't wait to get home and clean this one up. It was pretty rough when I found it, pictured in the first photo I'm going to post of it. The bottom is dated 1973. The brush roll was seized and was covered in hair and thread. Once I got that taken care of I threw a new belt on it and it started purring like new. There was actually an incredibly nice vacuum under the layer of filth!

I usually like the fancy box top bags, but I appreciate the simplicity of this one. It's very straight forward and it looks great. This one also has the two speed switch on the base.

 

[vacman117]

All cleaned up:

 

[vacman117]

The bag logo:

 

[vacman117]

Fitted with a genuine Montgomery Ward bag, of course:

 

[vacman117]

Ready to go on high speed!

 

[brando_husky]

Beautiful eureka there! I'm right there with you on why you chose the last one as your favorite! Can't beat that timeless design

 

[eurekaprince]

I would guess that the caramel coloured upright with the Rugulator and box-top bag is from around 1971 to 1973. It looks like an MW version of Eureka's Vanguard from about the same time period.