My Fabulous new Eureka!

[hoovercelebrity]

More pictures!

Here are some more pictures that I took this afternoon!

The base.

Glam Shot.

Hood Closeup

Bag Detail.

Switch.

Underside.

Data Plate.

Latch detail... I love these!

Brushroll.

Disturbulator! Isn't this fabulous?

Does anyone by chance have an extra wheel? This one was cracked and ended up breaking through.. :-(

Hope you enjoyed!

~F

 

[swingette]

Lovely machine. I have one of these and i sit here with my Hoovers model 1060 and 1070 and i honestly dont think i could force myself to choose between the Hoovers and the Eureka. Pros and cons on both sides.

Also interesting is the number of variations on the model 260. Ive seen them with square and round handles. Chrome and white motor covers. Metal and plastic headlight trim. Latch and screw on bags.

Fred, yours seems to have a brushroll holder/catch that ive never seen before.

 

[hoovercelebrity]

True, David!

Although, the 1060 and 1070 came roughly 5 and 9 years after this Eureka...
(I'm not 100% sure, but I think this model is from about 1961... it was in the 1961 Consumer Reports -- I'm not sure how
long Eureka made this model...)

I'll try to grab pictures of the brushroll holder tomorrow.

 

[kenmore81]

Thanks Fred, for the lovely detail pics =). I love the way the attacment port looks when the vacuum is on. It looks like it also has a light of its own when the headlight shines through.

 

[eurekaprince]

The version I grew up with must have been from just a bit ea

I think we must have had the 250. Here are the differences:

1. The handle was square in profile. It was also in one piece and must have been shipped separately (?). The newer 260 seems to have the two-piece handle that made it easier to ship in a more compact box.
2. Our two-speed switch was on the underside of the handle above the bag. It was not as "designed" as this one, and was more like the old-fashioned rocker switch. It was also in black.
3. Our wheels were turquoise to match the rest of the base! Speaking of wheels, it's strange that one of the things I remember as a toddler was the unique design of Eureka vacuum wheels, with the multiple "positive/negative" "pie-pieces" like a Trivial Pursuit game marker! I used to love watching how the pattern twirled when the vac was moved back and forth!
4. As I mentioned on another thread, the graphic on the bag was completely different. Imagine a small vertical rectangle at the top of the bag, with a big Eureka "E" at the top of the rectangle and vertical stripes dropping down from the "E". The word "Automatic" was written in vertical letters inside the box as well.

Fred....I think your handle-release pedal is missing a nice, turquose cover!

Friends - this Eureka needs some matching tools! Time to make a trade with the boys in Minneapolis!

BTW, Fred...how do you do multiple pics in one post with tag lines for each pic? I thought you needed to do this in separate posts?

EP Brian

 

[hamiltonbeachbo]

Fred,
Thanks for posting the great pics.
I absolutely loved working on that machine with you.
As you indicated early on, it was covered in a thick layer of dirt that, once washed away, revealed a machine in very nice condition.
I was thrilled with the way all the parts came back to almost new.
You did a fantastic job buffing out the light trim ring ... it shines like chrome!!
That machines does a great job cleaning, and with only a 3.5 amp motor.
Running it is like pushing a platter on a cushion of air.
That beautiful cast metal base really helps to give the machine a substantial feel.
(One of my daily drivers is a Eureka with a 7 amp motor and a 4 brush brush roll .... it lifts the carpet nap beautifully!!)
Overall, very fun project and nice addition to your collection.
Enjoy!!
Pat

 

[rolls_rapide]

Unusual brush design

It looks strange when compared to the likes of Hoover's agitator.

Does it vibrate the carpet well?

 

[dualsanitronic]

That Eureka is fabo, Fred. And it REALLY did outclean ANYTHING in its day!

 

[dial-a-nap]

Love that disturbulator - I didn't see that at Fred's. Beautiful machine, Fred, you guys did a fantastic job -- with a little help from vintage Oxydol? Fabulous!

 

[compactelectra]

OK

Here's the scan of the page from the 1961 Consumer Reports. I found I had a CD with all vacuum ratings from 1958 - 1976. Just emailed them to Fred - hope he got them. What a treasure trove. Ratings of the Electrolux 30 from back in the day. It rated tops in the beginning and then slid as machines were perfected. Ooops, a bit of a sidetrack on the thread. . .

Fred

 

[eurekaprince]

Eureka Top-Fill Uprights vs Hoover Convertible

Remember friends, one of the major reasons the Eureka uprights in the 1960's and 1970's outperformed the Hoover Convertibles was the use of a top-fill F&G bag. For some reason, Hoover did not catch on until the 1980's. The top fill bag makes all the difference in keeping the airflow path free from obstructions and in maintaining efficient cleaning power. When full, it is amazing how much dirt is packed into the bottom of a Eureka F&G bag. Could never understand how the Hoover C bag could contain dirt without it falling back down into the main power unit.

 

[indyhoover]

gosh Fred

I am sooooooo jealous of that Eureka, nice machine!

 

[kenmore81]

Brian

Could never understand how the Hoover C bag could contain dirt without it falling back down into the main power unit.

It did/does. When there is dirt in the bag and you tip the vacuum forward such as to change the belt,dirt does fall back into the fanchamber, then into the baseplate when retuned to upright position =)

 

[eurekaprince]

Thanks for that Kenneth - that's what I thought.

Wonder if these bottom-fill bags caused early motor damage/death compared to the uprights which used top-fill bags.....or did they just force a powerful blast of dust and dirt back up the bag whenever the vac was turned on!

 

[normvac]

Eureka, 260 E

I have a blue and cream 260 A, it has a square handle, with 2 spd. switch on the back of the handle. With the distribulator
brush roll. Trust me, it still does an awesome job of vacuuming, grooming carpets and rugs. I did have a pic to share, but gone with my digital camera when I got robbed back the first of the month. I am disappointed that I can not show it to you. As I have a complete set of attachments and the cardboard carrie. All in good shape, just no suction at the end of the hose! Even on High speed. Much like the Hoover 28,62,29 and 63's.
My sister who is 17 years older than I. Moved into a new bi level home in 1967. Had the whole place carpeted ( as was totally the thing to do in that decade) So the carpet company that she bought almost 2,000 sq. yards of carpet from. Gave her
that same Eureka 260 E. No attachments of course. It came in a square box, with the 2 piece handle. Which of course the 260A square handle is in one piece. Blue and white also. I can remember adv. in the Cleveland and local papers of the day. Giving away this "full size Eureka upright" with the purchase of 500 sq. yards of carep or more.
Just a little P S, I convienced her to buy a rebuilt Kirby,
514, in about 1970. Because of the glued down, no pile kitchen carpet. Plus every room had different hieghts of pile. No shag at that point. It was on the market.
Norm

 

[petek]

Here's mine with the back side switch,,I've never cleaned it up.. it's also missing the grill in front of the light

 

[petek]

The switch

 

[petek]

Lookee how pristine the hose is. Probably seldom or never used.
Don't have the wand or tools

 

[petek]

The brushroll cover

 

[kenmore81]

Brian- They did indeed force a blast of dust back up through the bag. If you were to take a "full" type C bag, leave it attached and cut the top off you will see the hole in the center. I dont think it caused any or much "pre mature" death it just cut the suction efficentcy.

Pete & Morgan- thanks for sharing the photos I like the unique bottom cover to keep the suction concentrated to the hose. I also love the chrome version.
Kenny.