Untangling Eureka USA's "Christmas Lights"—1957-1982 ...
- Thread starter paul
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That's a Model-Type 2020-RR from the promotional Imperials series with the 'mod' bag covers circa 1971 to 1974. See Reply # 11 on the Eureka "Imperials" thread:
https://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?44351
https://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?44351
Re: Replies #13 & #24
Attached is a FB photo of an unidentified 1960s Eureka Deluxe that appears to be a 258 with the same Platinum Blue hood as the one in reply #24 (identified model-type 258-B in a YT video); albeit a replacement bag cover (guessing it would have been the same). Newspaper ad clip art corresponds to model-type 258-A. To my knowledge no other Eureka upright with a tool port had a cursive wordmark on the hood and a E/W logo on the nameplate.
A double-check revealed that I presumed the photo in reply #13 was a 258-A as the original poster did so without identifying it. So actual identification is needed by myvacsrock or someone else.
The 258-A was first shipped to distributors in June 1961 and continued to be at least through May 1964 (the end of the list) as the budget alternative to the Deluxe model-type 260-A with chrome-hooded counterparts 259-A and 260-BK, respectively. (The verdict is still out as to whether there was a 260-AK with the chrome hood. The option may have been introduced in 1962 when the chrome-hooded 259-A debuted during the run of the 260-B).
FB photos and newspaper ads are from 1961 and 1964:
Attached is a FB photo of an unidentified 1960s Eureka Deluxe that appears to be a 258 with the same Platinum Blue hood as the one in reply #24 (identified model-type 258-B in a YT video); albeit a replacement bag cover (guessing it would have been the same). Newspaper ad clip art corresponds to model-type 258-A. To my knowledge no other Eureka upright with a tool port had a cursive wordmark on the hood and a E/W logo on the nameplate.
A double-check revealed that I presumed the photo in reply #13 was a 258-A as the original poster did so without identifying it. So actual identification is needed by myvacsrock or someone else.
The 258-A was first shipped to distributors in June 1961 and continued to be at least through May 1964 (the end of the list) as the budget alternative to the Deluxe model-type 260-A with chrome-hooded counterparts 259-A and 260-BK, respectively. (The verdict is still out as to whether there was a 260-AK with the chrome hood. The option may have been introduced in 1962 when the chrome-hooded 259-A debuted during the run of the 260-B).
FB photos and newspaper ads are from 1961 and 1964:
eurekaprince
Well-known member
Hi Paul!
Two comments about this recent post:
It would be interesting to figure out whether the 258 is Eureka’s first upright with a toe-operated switch. I was under the impression that this kind of power switch debuted much later with the arrival of the Dial-a-Nap height adjuster. The 258 may now be tagged as the first Eureka upright with a toe switch on the motor hood!
Another personal observation: Many Consumer Reports tests seemed to show Eureka uprights constantly outperforming Hoover’s venerable Convertible uprights. I always thought this was due to the better airflow resulting from Eureka’s top fill F & G dust bags. But taking a closer look at the underside of these Eureka uprights, you can see how the entire brush roll and belt cavity seems to have a more aerodynamic form in comparison to the Convertible. The fan port seems to be offset from the rest of the fan chamber, and even the belt groove in the brush roll is off center allowing a larger belt free path to the fan spindle. This off-center configuration has survived to this day in classic Sanitaire commercial uprights. It would be interesting to compare the bottom of a Eureka 260 with the bottom of a Convertible from the same year. You can see the subtle differences in the brush roll and belt cavities…which may have given Eureka a bit of an edge on airflow and dirt pick-up in their 1960’s uprights.
Two comments about this recent post:
It would be interesting to figure out whether the 258 is Eureka’s first upright with a toe-operated switch. I was under the impression that this kind of power switch debuted much later with the arrival of the Dial-a-Nap height adjuster. The 258 may now be tagged as the first Eureka upright with a toe switch on the motor hood!
Another personal observation: Many Consumer Reports tests seemed to show Eureka uprights constantly outperforming Hoover’s venerable Convertible uprights. I always thought this was due to the better airflow resulting from Eureka’s top fill F & G dust bags. But taking a closer look at the underside of these Eureka uprights, you can see how the entire brush roll and belt cavity seems to have a more aerodynamic form in comparison to the Convertible. The fan port seems to be offset from the rest of the fan chamber, and even the belt groove in the brush roll is off center allowing a larger belt free path to the fan spindle. This off-center configuration has survived to this day in classic Sanitaire commercial uprights. It would be interesting to compare the bottom of a Eureka 260 with the bottom of a Convertible from the same year. You can see the subtle differences in the brush roll and belt cavities…which may have given Eureka a bit of an edge on airflow and dirt pick-up in their 1960’s uprights.
Hi Brian!
Good observations, as always. I just looked at a photo of a D-360, which would have been the only drop-down model prior to the 258, and I saw no toe switch, so you're probably correct that the 258 can be tagged as the first. Going by memory, other models with the toe switch were the 259 (258 with a chrome hood), the 238s, 248 Commercial, household 240s (with the toe rocker switch), and the 228 with toe switch prior to the Dial-A-Nap. It may be that some private-labeled uprights in the '60s had them, as well.
I wish Eureka sales sheets were more plentiful like Hoover's seem to be. Time and again, I've seen people posting them for Convertibles, which often answer questions about models' features. The McLean Historical Society seemingly does not have them in its Eureka records. I have heard nothing back from them for about a year now.
You make a good point regarding the Eureka F & G's aero-dynamic cavity in comparison to the Hoover Convertible's. Maybe Vaclab or someone else will do a comparison test sometime to verify. It would be even better if different tests could be done with different brush rolls, Hoover types C & A bags, boxtops bags and Hoover's 13-quart bags to see how those features contributed to the overall performances of Eurekas and Hoovers on a variety of carpeting styles.
It's really bugging me that I haven't found out what model that gray Eureka is that I'd taken for granted was the 258-A. My guess is that it's a 258-BA, -BG, or another double letter that often occurred when the only change was the color. Whatever it is, it must have had a short run, because I have found no information for it so far.
Good observations, as always. I just looked at a photo of a D-360, which would have been the only drop-down model prior to the 258, and I saw no toe switch, so you're probably correct that the 258 can be tagged as the first. Going by memory, other models with the toe switch were the 259 (258 with a chrome hood), the 238s, 248 Commercial, household 240s (with the toe rocker switch), and the 228 with toe switch prior to the Dial-A-Nap. It may be that some private-labeled uprights in the '60s had them, as well.
I wish Eureka sales sheets were more plentiful like Hoover's seem to be. Time and again, I've seen people posting them for Convertibles, which often answer questions about models' features. The McLean Historical Society seemingly does not have them in its Eureka records. I have heard nothing back from them for about a year now.
You make a good point regarding the Eureka F & G's aero-dynamic cavity in comparison to the Hoover Convertible's. Maybe Vaclab or someone else will do a comparison test sometime to verify. It would be even better if different tests could be done with different brush rolls, Hoover types C & A bags, boxtops bags and Hoover's 13-quart bags to see how those features contributed to the overall performances of Eurekas and Hoovers on a variety of carpeting styles.
It's really bugging me that I haven't found out what model that gray Eureka is that I'd taken for granted was the 258-A. My guess is that it's a 258-BA, -BG, or another double letter that often occurred when the only change was the color. Whatever it is, it must have had a short run, because I have found no information for it so far.
eurekaprince
Well-known member
I forgot…one other obvious difference is that Eureka and Sanitaire fan-first uprights have closed, round ends in the belt and spindle chamber, whereas the Convertible had that spring loaded door at the back for the hose converter. When Hoover moved to a pan converter for the hose, they kept a square back end right under the fan. That square end is not as aerodynamic as a round end matching the fan chamber.
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