Seeking more information about Viking Vacuum

[eurus]

New to vintage vacuum collecting. I'd have even more if I had the money though.
Anyways this Viking is not in the best condition but still works quite well!
I think it was sold by Eaton's and Electrolux.
Anyone have a clue on how old it is?
Pictures included.
Bought for 15$ I think.

 

[eurekaprince]

This was made by Eureka's Canadian division called Onward Manufacturing in Kitchener, Ontario. If the handle is metal with metal assembly bolts and a rubber hand-grip, it's from the late 1970's. If the handle is plastic with no rubber hand grip, it's more likely from the early 1980's.

Eureka had a contract witn Canada's Timothy Eaton's Department Store chain for close to two decades - 1965 to 1985...maybe even before 1965. Eaton Viking was the national retailer's store brand for electric appliances and once had a logo featuring a viking ship.

 

[eurekaprince]

Addendum: That bag has America's Liberty Bell on it. Which is really weird for a Canadian-made vacuum. Something tells me its a replacement/donor bag from an American Bicentennial Eureka! It's a "Franken-Viking"!!!

 

[eurus]

It's metal with a rubber hand grip. Also I never noticed the liberty bell and eagle design on the bag but now it's all I can see. I wonder what the orginal bag looked like although this one is fancier! Thanks for all the info!
It's a really great vacuum for fast floor cleaning and not too heavy either.

 

[eurus]

I was looking at eurekas from the late seventies and mine looks the exact same as someones Bicentennial Eureka, right down to the chassi colors and power button except that mine says Viking.

 

[eurekaprince]

Well... maybe Canada's Eaton's really did sell a Bicentennial Viking in 1976 in honour of our neighbour's big birthday. Lots of Americans have lived in Canada throughout our history.

Now we know it's for sure from 1976. That is a really unique Eureka! A real collector's item!!!

 

[eurekaprince]

And here's a Youtube clip of the Eureka version: Maybe they made too many Bicentennial bags for the US Eureka version and shipped the rest of the stock to Kitchener to get rid of them? It's a mystery to me!



http://https//www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6kLolESgaI&sns=em

 

[kirbyvertibles]

and don't forget you can also find (usually) the time dial stamped around a nipple on the very bottom of the vacuum that will have 2 digits (76)

 

[eurus]

The nipped on the bottom only has four dots. The dial also says dial a nap, I am not sure if the bicentennial one says that.
I have a few more pictures.

 

[texbodemer]

From this ad from the Winnipeg Free Press, 9/20/78, that looks like the original bag.

 

[eurekaprince]

I miss Eaton’s. It was a major part of Canadian life for so many decades. And it was my “go to” store to see all of Eureka’s Viking clones.