Royal Electro Hygiene Deluxe

[countryguy]

This vac was posted locally on Facebook Marketplace yesterday. Only the 2nd time that I have seen an 'old' vac for sale locally. It looked to be in excellent condition so today I went and had a look and brought it home for $40. It is indeed in excellent condition...barely a scratch anywhere and only a bit of rust on the inside bottom. It is missing the crevice tool and upholstery brush. With the hose in blue, tools in grey and the red rubber on the wands, I really don't know which parts are original. I was surprised that all the fittings are friction fit...I was expecting them to have the nibs and buttons like on a Filter Queen. The motor sounds good.

Gary

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Looks like a model 231 from the mid-1970s.

It will be from 1974 or later if it has the receptacle for the power nozzle.

~Ben

 

[countryguy]

It doesn't have the receptacle for a power nozzle. Thanks for the info.

Gary

 

[hygiene903]

Nice Find, Gary!

It might also be a model 565 or 975. Model and serial numbers should be found on the bottom, either on a data plate or stamped directly on the bottom of the cannister. If it's newer than 1971, the month and date of production will be encoded in the serial number.
As for the attachments, it all depends on how old it is. If it's a newer version, the attachments and the cuffs on the wands should be blue, matching the hose. If it's an older one (from the 60's for example) the gray attachments are correct, and the hose might have been replaced. Either way, the red cuffs on the wands are wrong. And yes, they are friction fit, except the rug nozzle and floor brush, which do (or should) have a depressible pin that fits into a slot on the lower wand, which allows the tool to swivel. To remove the tool simply turn 180 degrees from operating position and pull it out.
Again, nice find, and I'm hoping to get one myself someday.
Jeff

 

[countryguy]

Thanks for the info Jeff! Yes it is a 565. The serial no. is almost worn off. I'll have to take another look. What machine would the wands with the red cuffs be from? The rug and floor nozzles do have the pin and the lower wand has the slot to allow them to rotate.

Gary

 

[kirbylux77]

Gary, those wands and tools may be from a Princess canister. The first model was white with red trim. It could also be from a Royal upright.

 

[countryguy]

Thanks Rob.

Gary

 

[hygiene903]

Wands

The wands would most likely be from a model 903 Electro-Hygiene upright, such as mine, pictured here.
Jeff

 

[countryguy]

Thanks Jeff. Are the grey tools correct for the vacuum?

Gary

 

[hygiene903]

Gary,

Like I said earlier, it depends on the age. The grey tools would have been correct if your 565 turns out to be from 1966 or before and would either have had a grey or cloth hose and grey cuffs on the wands with it. If it is newer than 1966 the tools, hose, and cuffs would all be blue. And the year 1966 could be a little off, but I do know that it was sometime in the 60's that they went from grey tools for all models to color coordinated tools for red and blue machines.
Jeff