Royal Vacuums - A Model-to-Year Guide

[kirbyclassiciii]

Does anyone know of an official source of Royal vacuum cleaner model-to-year guides? I know there is one for their tank models, but the metal uprights are a different story.

So, in the meantime here is the model-to-year guide for their tanks. Note that the earliest year of coverage in their official guide is 1976, and we know very well there were lots of models Royal made, both of uprights and tanks, prior to '76. Entries marked with a * are my additions.

*Model 950 Deluxe Tank (Electro-Hygiene) - 1940s
*Model 966 Deluxe Tank (Electro-Hygiene) - 1948 to 1980
*Model 701 - 1951 to 1966
*Model 702 (Macy's Stalwart) - 1950s
*Model 901 Deluxe Tank - 1951 to 1966
Model 401 - 1963 to 1985
*Model 666 Pony (Electro-Hygiene) - 1966 to 1983
*Model 931 Deluxe Tank - 1966 to 1980
Model 407 - 1985 to 1987
Model 408 - like 407 w/ 598 power nozzle included
Model 411 - 1985 to 1987
Model 400 - 1987 to 1989
Model 404 Pony - 1987 to 1990
Model 405 Pony - like 404 w/ 600 power nozzle included
Model 412 Power Tank - 1987 to 1990
Model 413 Power Tank - like 412 w/ 600 power nozzle included
Model 415 Power Tank - 1989 to 1990 (first navy blue trim model, and first model with lighted power nozzle)
Model 4100 - 1990 to 1991
Model 4200 - 1990 to 1991
Model 4300 - 1990 to 1991
Model 4400 - 1990 to 1991
Model 4500 - 1990 to 1991
Model 4150 - 1991 to 2002
Model 4250 - 1991 to 1994
Model 4350 - 1991 to 2002
Model 4450 - 1994 to 1999
Model 4600 - 1991 to 1999
Model 4650 - 1994 to 1999
Model 4700 - 1999 to 2002
Model 4750 - 1999 to 2002

~Ben

http://www.royalvacuums.com/Dealers....aspx?id=B7B82A11-0881-43DE-88FC-A8BD71E4BE79

 

[gsheen]

Ben I have a Model 215 any idea of how old it is ? 


 

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Model 215 was produced in the 1930s-early 1950s. Yours is likely a 1945-49 model.

~Ben

 

[gsheen]

Thank you Ben 


 

 

[hygiene903]

A Few Corrections

Ben, here are some corrections for your list. These are from another list that you posted on the Royal Yahoo club last year.
Model 950 Deluxe tank (Electro-Hygiene) 1945-1952
Model 966 Deluxe tank (Electro-Hygiene) 1953-1983
Model 701 1953-1965
Model 901 1953-1965
And here are a few additions that weren't on either list:
Model 260 1953-1965
Model 186 Pre-war tank ?-1942
Model 210 Electro-Hygiene Pre-war tank ?-1942.
Here is a pic of the 950.
Jeff

 

[hygiene903]

And a 966.

 

[hygiene903]

A Rough Looking 701

With the Electro-Hygiene name.

 

[hygiene903]

A 260 Royalaire

 

[hygiene903]

And Last But Not Least

Model 186 Royalaire.

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

I know the earliest 966s still had the manufacturer as "P. A. Geier" instead of "Royal Vacuum Cleaner Co."

"P. A. Geier Co." changed its name to "Royal Vacuum Cleaner Co." around 1949, and then in 1953, to "Royal Appliance Mfg. Co." after being purchased by the investment firm known as the Walter E. Schott Organization. But the Schott family was not wholly committed to the company and decided to dissolve it soon after the acquisition, and the next year (1954) it was resold to a group of employees led by Stan Erbor, who remained committed to the company until his death in 1981 at age 80.

~Ben

 

[hygiene903]

True, the earliest 966's did have P.A. Geier Co. on the data plate. The older of my 2 966's says P.A. Geier, as well as two of my 285 uprights. But the name changes occurred later than you think. The change to Royal Vacuum Cleaner Co. occurred at some point during the Schott ownership (interesting too, that they were the same Schott family who owned the Cincinatti Reds), and the change to Royal Appliance Mfg. Co. came about when Stan Erbor and the employees group bought the company.
But even though the company name changed, P.A. Geier continued to appear on data plates well into the 1950's, and in the case of private labeled machines such as Electro-Hygiene it was used even longer, into the 60's.
Jeff

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Jeff,

For that reason, is it possible to come by a "lady bug scheme" Royal 501 Prince hand vac or the 601 or 801 uprights with "P. A. Geier" on its nameplate, and so might we think these two models only had "Royal Appliance Mfg. Co." on the nameplate by the time the "lady bug scheme" was phased out?

The early '50s Royals seemed to have black trim almost throughout (bumpers, cord, handle, et al). By the late '50s most of that particular trim became gray.

Lady bug scheme = red/black bag and red/black belt cover (normal version for 153 and 601, and Adjust-O-Rite for 801).

~Ben

 

[hygiene903]

Possibly could be some out there. Royal did some confusing things at times and just when you think you've got it figured out they throw you a curve. My early model 601 is the ONLY machine in my collection that says Royal Vacuum Cleaner Co. on the data plate--ALL the rest either say P.A. Geier or Royal Appliance Mfg. Co. Here's a picture of it. The bag was originally red & black, but is quite faded.
I'm also thinking that Royal was known as the Royal Vacuum Cleaner Co. for such a short time that there are relatively few machines out there with that name on the data plate.
Jeff

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Jeff,

I need to correct myself. On eBay I most recently saw a blue Royal 901 tank and its serial # dated it to September 1972 ("27J"), so the 901 tank was produced from 1953-1972.

~Ben

 

[hygiene903]

Yep, like I said before, just when you think you've got Royal figured out, they throw you a curve!
Jeff

 

[farmvet01]

Why is it....

...that I can never find any information on the Royal 2000 upright that I purchased last month? The placard containing the serial number also indicates "F98C", which from what I can find out so far, means that it was manufactured in 1998.

 

[ncovert]

How about

Royal Model 311 straight-suction commercial upright?

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

ncovert

Royal 311 Heavy Duty Commercial - circa 1966 to circa 1980

~Ben

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

BUMP (7/23/2014)

Corrections...

Model 311 Heavy Duty Commercial - 1965-1987 (thank you, vacman1961)
Model 888 (Royal Prestige) - 1971-1987
Model 890 (Electro-Hygiene) - 1969-1971
Model 903 (Electro-Hygiene) - 1971-1987
Model 931 - ca. 1973-1985
Model 966 (Electro-Hygiene) - 1953-1985
Model 980 (Electro-Hygiene) - 1971-1987
Model 990 (Galaxie Prestige) - 1971-1987
Model 2001 (Electro-Hygiene) - ca. 1985-1987 (variation of 888/980/990)

~Ben