Finally replaced the hose on this Royal. This is one of my favorite vacuums. Very simple in design but yet a very good little vacuum. The suction is great, the tools are very usable.
Royal Model 401
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Bag and Filter
Using the cloth bag and Royal Micro Fresh paper bags along with the filters makes the filtration on this vacuum very good as well.
Royal products have always been one of my favorites. This would have been a very good machine with a power mate.
Forgive the dog, he thought it was safe to approach...not so brave if the machine were running.
Using the cloth bag and Royal Micro Fresh paper bags along with the filters makes the filtration on this vacuum very good as well.
Royal products have always been one of my favorites. This would have been a very good machine with a power mate.
Forgive the dog, he thought it was safe to approach...not so brave if the machine were running.
ooppss!!
Sorry the bag pictured is not a genuine Royal Type J bag but rather an Envirocare bojack bag...filters are Royal filters
Sorry the bag pictured is not a genuine Royal Type J bag but rather an Envirocare bojack bag...filters are Royal filters
crevicetool
Well-known member
NICE!
Something shiny, Something Blue---my wiener dog loves vacuums, have a much larger dog that just pees herself whenever a machine even comes into the room, doesnt have to be on either. Great looking Royal
Something shiny, Something Blue---my wiener dog loves vacuums, have a much larger dog that just pees herself whenever a machine even comes into the room, doesnt have to be on either. Great looking Royal
hygiene903
Well-known member
Nice Royal, Morgan!!
Royals and rebadged Royals (especially Electro-Hygiene!) have always been one of my favorites, whether it's an upright, tank, or cannister. I currently have 2 Royal uprights, models 153 and 189 in my collection, and 5 Electro-Hygienes, models 80 and 94 straight suction uprights, 903 revolving brush upright, 701 tank, and 966 tank. The 189, 94, and 966 currently need repair, the rest run great!! Also, my wife has an 886 Royal upright that is the "daily driver" around here, but I don't consider it part of my collection.
My interest in Royal and Electro-Hygiene goes way back. Two of my Uncles sold them before I was born, probably in the early 50's. Also, when I was a kid, one of my Aunts had a 950 tank, another had a 230 upright, and a Great Aunt had a 230, then a 285, then a 903--she was REALLY sold on them!! I sold them myself during my Senior year in high school and for about 3 months after graduation in 1974, then again for a couple months in 1976.
Your 401 is a beautiful machine, and knowing Royal tanks I'll bet it's both powerful AND quiet!! Nice attachment set too, but I'm wondering why the hose, wand seals, and bumper on the rug nozzle are gray when everything else is blue?
We used to pick up a 16 lb. bowling ball in the demo of the 966, I'll bet you can do that with your 401, too! And the paper & cloth bag and filter setup we used to refer to as the exclusive triple filtration system.
By the way, glad your surgery was successful and you're feeling better, and hopefully soon you'll be completely recovered, if not already.
Jeff
P.S.--Pete, the short pigtail cord on the tank you saw at Sally Ann's IS normal, the ones with the pigtail could be used with a cord like Morgan's, or with the optional cord winder.
Royals and rebadged Royals (especially Electro-Hygiene!) have always been one of my favorites, whether it's an upright, tank, or cannister. I currently have 2 Royal uprights, models 153 and 189 in my collection, and 5 Electro-Hygienes, models 80 and 94 straight suction uprights, 903 revolving brush upright, 701 tank, and 966 tank. The 189, 94, and 966 currently need repair, the rest run great!! Also, my wife has an 886 Royal upright that is the "daily driver" around here, but I don't consider it part of my collection.
My interest in Royal and Electro-Hygiene goes way back. Two of my Uncles sold them before I was born, probably in the early 50's. Also, when I was a kid, one of my Aunts had a 950 tank, another had a 230 upright, and a Great Aunt had a 230, then a 285, then a 903--she was REALLY sold on them!! I sold them myself during my Senior year in high school and for about 3 months after graduation in 1974, then again for a couple months in 1976.
Your 401 is a beautiful machine, and knowing Royal tanks I'll bet it's both powerful AND quiet!! Nice attachment set too, but I'm wondering why the hose, wand seals, and bumper on the rug nozzle are gray when everything else is blue?
We used to pick up a 16 lb. bowling ball in the demo of the 966, I'll bet you can do that with your 401, too! And the paper & cloth bag and filter setup we used to refer to as the exclusive triple filtration system.
By the way, glad your surgery was successful and you're feeling better, and hopefully soon you'll be completely recovered, if not already.
Jeff
P.S.--Pete, the short pigtail cord on the tank you saw at Sally Ann's IS normal, the ones with the pigtail could be used with a cord like Morgan's, or with the optional cord winder.
Jeff,
The 401 was a gift from my partner our first Christmas together. It came with the wands, the floor tool and a cloth hose. The cloth hose was a bad so I replaced it with the grey hose you see. The tools I won on ebay and are actually for the uprights.
You are so right, this machine is very powerful and very quiet. Not as quiet as a Model G Lux but not hard on the ears at all. My guess would be that the suction is better than the Model G Lux.
The 401 was a gift from my partner our first Christmas together. It came with the wands, the floor tool and a cloth hose. The cloth hose was a bad so I replaced it with the grey hose you see. The tools I won on ebay and are actually for the uprights.
You are so right, this machine is very powerful and very quiet. Not as quiet as a Model G Lux but not hard on the ears at all. My guess would be that the suction is better than the Model G Lux.
hygiene903
Well-known member
Royal Tools
Morgan,
Actually the tools are the same for the tank or upright, except that the upright hose has 2 slots on the connector instead of 3 and doesn't have a suction reducer valve, and the upright doesn't have a rug nozzle in the tool kit. Another difference was that tools for the 903 Electro-Hygiene upright were red instead of blue--wish I could find a set for mine!!
Jeff
Morgan,
Actually the tools are the same for the tank or upright, except that the upright hose has 2 slots on the connector instead of 3 and doesn't have a suction reducer valve, and the upright doesn't have a rug nozzle in the tool kit. Another difference was that tools for the 903 Electro-Hygiene upright were red instead of blue--wish I could find a set for mine!!
Jeff
Jeff,
Jeff,
I just purchased a red set of upright tools for my Electro Hygiene Upright (Model 903). There was a Kirby Clasic for sale on Ebay with tools... only the tools were for the Electro Hygiene. I contacted the seller and told him what I saw and after the auction ended he contacted me and said the purchaser of the Kirby did not want the tools if they did not fit the Kirby so he sold them to me for 15.00. The hose is actually two toned.. the ribs are red and the groves are actually white.
The 903 is in the shop getting an overhaul. The fan blade was bad so Mike Rogers is working on it for me.
P.S. The surgery went very well and I had a clean bill of health from the Doctor on Tuesday.
Jeff,
I just purchased a red set of upright tools for my Electro Hygiene Upright (Model 903). There was a Kirby Clasic for sale on Ebay with tools... only the tools were for the Electro Hygiene. I contacted the seller and told him what I saw and after the auction ended he contacted me and said the purchaser of the Kirby did not want the tools if they did not fit the Kirby so he sold them to me for 15.00. The hose is actually two toned.. the ribs are red and the groves are actually white.
The 903 is in the shop getting an overhaul. The fan blade was bad so Mike Rogers is working on it for me.
P.S. The surgery went very well and I had a clean bill of health from the Doctor on Tuesday.
hygiene903
Well-known member
Morgan,
So you have a 903 too? Aren't they great machines!! I think if I HAD to pick a favorite of my collection, the 903 EH would be it!! They're well built, powerful, durable, good looking, great sounding, easy to maneuver, just an all round great machine! And besides that, the 903 upright and 966 tank were the models I sold when I worked for Electro-Hygiene, and obviously how I came up with hygiene903 as my name on the forum!
I bought mine at a thrift store I visited last year with Tom Anderson and Buffalo Joe. It had a $55.00 price tag on it, but I pointed out the Adjust-o-rite and crystal chamber cover were missing and it had a broken wheel and bulb broke off in the headlight, and got it for $15.00. I've replaced the wheel, chamber cover, adjust-o-rite, and upgraded to a double-row brush roll (makes it handle as if it were self-propelled!) and it runs great!! I would put it up against my wife's 886 Royal any day! All I need to do know is get it polished and get the light repaired (bad connection?) and it will be perfect!!
Is your 903 one of the earlier ones, or a later 903? Bag color will tell you. The earlier 903 had a white (or off-white) vinyl bag with red printing, later ones had a red bag with silver printing, right up until they stopped making them in the late 70's or early 80's. And if I'm not mistaken, some of the first 903's MIGHT have had a white (or off-white) cloth bag with red and silver printing, but that might not have been a 903. Anyway, mine has the white vinyl bag with the red printing.
Congrats on getting the tool set for your 903. And sounds like you got it reasonable too. Gives me hope that there may be a set for me out there, somewhere!! Now all you need is the "Extra Accessories Kit" if you can find one. That includes a polishing brush roll, sprayer, short handle, small bag, and cord with inline switch to use as a portable.
Jeff
So you have a 903 too? Aren't they great machines!! I think if I HAD to pick a favorite of my collection, the 903 EH would be it!! They're well built, powerful, durable, good looking, great sounding, easy to maneuver, just an all round great machine! And besides that, the 903 upright and 966 tank were the models I sold when I worked for Electro-Hygiene, and obviously how I came up with hygiene903 as my name on the forum!
I bought mine at a thrift store I visited last year with Tom Anderson and Buffalo Joe. It had a $55.00 price tag on it, but I pointed out the Adjust-o-rite and crystal chamber cover were missing and it had a broken wheel and bulb broke off in the headlight, and got it for $15.00. I've replaced the wheel, chamber cover, adjust-o-rite, and upgraded to a double-row brush roll (makes it handle as if it were self-propelled!) and it runs great!! I would put it up against my wife's 886 Royal any day! All I need to do know is get it polished and get the light repaired (bad connection?) and it will be perfect!!
Is your 903 one of the earlier ones, or a later 903? Bag color will tell you. The earlier 903 had a white (or off-white) vinyl bag with red printing, later ones had a red bag with silver printing, right up until they stopped making them in the late 70's or early 80's. And if I'm not mistaken, some of the first 903's MIGHT have had a white (or off-white) cloth bag with red and silver printing, but that might not have been a 903. Anyway, mine has the white vinyl bag with the red printing.
Congrats on getting the tool set for your 903. And sounds like you got it reasonable too. Gives me hope that there may be a set for me out there, somewhere!! Now all you need is the "Extra Accessories Kit" if you can find one. That includes a polishing brush roll, sprayer, short handle, small bag, and cord with inline switch to use as a portable.
Jeff
You read my mind..
I am hoping someday to make the machine complete by adding the "Extra's"
What I would really like to find is a Model 980 (don't quote me on the model number) but the machine that is like a Kirby in the respect that the front nozzel removes the same way a Kirby removes their nozzel.
When I get the 903 back I will put some pictures here as well.
Morgan
I am hoping someday to make the machine complete by adding the "Extra's"
What I would really like to find is a Model 980 (don't quote me on the model number) but the machine that is like a Kirby in the respect that the front nozzel removes the same way a Kirby removes their nozzel.
When I get the 903 back I will put some pictures here as well.
Morgan
Jeff,
You don't have a timeline for Royal that can put dates of production to the model numbers. Several club members are Royal fans and are finding it tough to know what years the machines were made.
Morgan
You don't have a timeline for Royal that can put dates of production to the model numbers. Several club members are Royal fans and are finding it tough to know what years the machines were made.
Morgan
hygiene903
Well-known member
Morgan,
I wish I did have a timeline like that. It would solve a lot of questions for you, me, and a lot of other people. For example, out of the 5 Hygienes and 2 Royals in my collection, the only ones I have an EXACT date on are my 966 tank, which I bought new for my Mother in 1974 (while I was selling them), and my 153 Royal, which I was told was built in 1953. I THINK that my model 80 was one of the first EH models, as it has the switch on the cord instead of the handle and it clips to the handle (like a Kirby) instead of going through the handle. Also, I think my 903 is from the mid to late 60's, but I'm not sure. Other than that, I haven't a clue when the rest of them were made.
As for the Royal with the removable nozzle, I don't know what the Royal number was, but when I went back to work for Electro-Hygiene in 1976, we sold one called the Galaxie Prestige 990. Unfortunately, I didn't buy one back then (wish I would have!), but I do still have the sales manual for it. It had a crystal chamber in both the nozzle and hose coupler, and an optional power polisher (like Kirby) that you could buy.
Jeff
I wish I did have a timeline like that. It would solve a lot of questions for you, me, and a lot of other people. For example, out of the 5 Hygienes and 2 Royals in my collection, the only ones I have an EXACT date on are my 966 tank, which I bought new for my Mother in 1974 (while I was selling them), and my 153 Royal, which I was told was built in 1953. I THINK that my model 80 was one of the first EH models, as it has the switch on the cord instead of the handle and it clips to the handle (like a Kirby) instead of going through the handle. Also, I think my 903 is from the mid to late 60's, but I'm not sure. Other than that, I haven't a clue when the rest of them were made.
As for the Royal with the removable nozzle, I don't know what the Royal number was, but when I went back to work for Electro-Hygiene in 1976, we sold one called the Galaxie Prestige 990. Unfortunately, I didn't buy one back then (wish I would have!), but I do still have the sales manual for it. It had a crystal chamber in both the nozzle and hose coupler, and an optional power polisher (like Kirby) that you could buy.
Jeff
Replacement Parts for my Blue Royal 401
Anyone know of a replacement part source for a Royal 401 vacuum. My blue plastic hose has cracked, enough times that I'm looking into replacing it. Also one of my well-meaning family members seems to have tossed the filter bag insert (grey with the rubber seal) while replacing the bag.
Please let me know of any sources to buy replacement parts, all those I have found are for newer models of Royal vacuums or an entire new vacuum.
Thanks
Anyone know of a replacement part source for a Royal 401 vacuum. My blue plastic hose has cracked, enough times that I'm looking into replacing it. Also one of my well-meaning family members seems to have tossed the filter bag insert (grey with the rubber seal) while replacing the bag.
Please let me know of any sources to buy replacement parts, all those I have found are for newer models of Royal vacuums or an entire new vacuum.
Thanks
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Hans, I have the same machine you described except that mine is branded "Electro-Hygiene." It's a great vacuum cleaner and very beautiful -- it's one that people always comment on very favorably when they see it here.
As I understand it, the main difference between Royal and Electro-Hygiene (whether upright or tank) is the mothball compartment on the front of the machine where the hose connects.
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Hans, I have the same machine you described except that mine is branded "Electro-Hygiene." It's a great vacuum cleaner and very beautiful -- it's one that people always comment on very favorably when they see it here.
As I understand it, the main difference between Royal and Electro-Hygiene (whether upright or tank) is the mothball compartment on the front of the machine where the hose connects.
My mom has a royal canister. It's round though. I'm not sure how old it is but she had it before I was born. She uses it for the sofas, stairs and that kind of stuff. I can appreciate how cool it looks now but growing up I didn't like it because using it was one of my chores. Ha-ha.
