Royal upright model 285

[hygiene903]

The second Electro-Hygiene model was the 94, which was made until production was stopped for WWII. With this model the switch was put in the handle and there was a pigtail connection at the motor so that the short handle, small bag, and cord with inline switch could be installed for hand vac use. Also note the hammered finish--not hammertone, but actually hammered finish on the metal. This was the only model with it.
Jeff

 

[hygiene903]

After WWII was over, production was resumed, and the model 230 was introduced. It was identical to the 94, except they had gone back to a smooth finish and the bag design was changed. This 230 is all original, but I forgot to mention that the 94 in the preceding pic has a replacement cord, and the previous owner had a section of the original bag serged onto a replacement bag.
Jeff

 

[hygiene903]

And the final straight suction Electro-Hygiene, the model 2-230. Only differences between this and the 230 are the bag color changed from black to blue and the motor housing was more streamlined, although it can't be seen in this picture. All original with attachments, only missing the wands, crevice tool, and floor brush.
Jeff

 

[ornery]

Nice Booklet

So ends the "re-badge" chapter of Jeff's future book "The History Of The Royal Vacuum".

Honestly, I should just comb through the archives here and gather all of Jeff and Ben's posts and compile the book myself. Wouldn't take as much work as they did researching, typing and posting the pictures.

I get the feeling, behind that garage door, is the beginning of the "Royal Vacuum Museum". I'm only a few miles from the Royal headquarters in Highland Hts., Ohio, but I'll bet Jeff knows more about their history than they do! He's only about an hour away.

 

[bee-vac]

Jeff

Thank you SO much, for all that information! I had an Electro Hygiene straight suction, but lent it to a friend to use. It's now in Las Vegas. I don't remember the model number on it however. That Good Housekeeper model 189 is really beautiful, I especially like how the arm is painted black.

 

[hygiene903]

Thank you John and Anthony, for the compliments. However, there's still a lot that I DON'T know, and a lot of models I'm not familiar with, but I am always glad to share what knowledge I do have. I am also thankful for the help I've had along the way. I learned most of what I know about early Royal history from Tom Gasko, and a couple years ago Ben posted a list (think it was on one of the Yahoo clubs) of postwar Royal models and when they were built. And I also learned quite a bit from the history section of Royal's website.
Jeff

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

1987 Royal 285

If anyone has a 1987 Royal 285 I'd love to see that. By that point in time it had a 4.5 amp motor and the angular fan case.

~Ben

 

[hygiene903]

Sorry Ben, my newest 285 is the one pictured earlier in this thread from 1979.
Jeff