Thank you all...
For the compliments on not only my Eureka's, but my decor too. I had pieced my home together from scratch.
@vacerator: That is a Top of Zenith Allegro console. But mine is a 1973 Allegro from the introduction of the Allegro system. That was a $500.00 Stereo in 1973. I also have two correct Allegro remote speakers on the other side of the room for the four channel 2+2 Matrix sound. I am including pages from a 1973 Zenith brocure I scanned, these pages are for my model.
@:Rugsucker:My opinion on Eureka and Hoovers competition in the 70's. They were neck in neck in some ways, but in some others they weren't. As far as uprights go, Eureka had Hoover beat in the TOL feature package. Hoover stuck to their guns as far as cleaning went, and yes has experimented with the cord reel on the Convertible for the simple fact to compete with Eureka, we all know that the market is all about competition, and who can out do or copy who. But no other upright had the flashy features like Eureka, meaning the Powertouch, Cordaway, boxtop bag, Rugualtor, two speeds, and headlight all on ONE machine. That I am certain was looked at as impressive by business owners and costumers alike. But like I said, Hoover had TOL features too, but they seemed to be less impressed by flashy gadgets on their machines, and knew that if you took away the boxtop, and the cord reel, and the power touch etc, you ended up with a upright that is the same machine a little down the tier of models. So thus they seemed to more boast on their sheer ability to clean and clean well. I have respect for Hoover for that. As a collector, I like flashy features and cool gadgets, but the truth of it is, for the average homemaker of 1976,cleaning ability is what counts in the end. But as far as Hoover and Eureka canisters go, I think they WERE neck in NECK! When Eureka introduced the Empress and the Empress II there was not another canister like it, with a high amperage, and push button suction control, and a cord reel and tool rack again all on the SAME machine, unheard of, but yet this is all on a canister, which a flashy canister seems to be far more needed at this time then a flashy upright. Then Hoover introduced the Celebrity, with that they really matched Eureka feature for feature. Then when Eureka added the power head in 1972, hoover added the Powermatic to the Celebrity in 1976. By the end of the 70's you could get a canister with 12amps total, that has a electric hose and Powerhead, that both pulled almost 100 on the suction tester, both has push button suction controls, both had headlights in the PN, both had bag check indicators, both had cord reels, both had tool racks in the top of the machines, and both had a name that insinuated one was the best, both even had the Roman numeral II after the name. That says it all.
