As requested, the 2 speed early 50s Eureka built Ward's upright with the Disturbulator brushroll, and the Apex built canister with steel wheels....And neon pilot light that tells you when its plugged in!

Made a lot of the old Ward's uprights in the 30s.

These are both really nice vacs, thanks for posting Hans! I just love the Montgomery Ward crest and hood striations on the upright while the canister is cool for simply being an Apex. How long did Apex build these canisters for Wards? The steel wheels look pretty small, do they roll easily?

They built it several years, I know from 53 to 55,maybe longer, the wheels are about the size of 1 inch ball bearings, it rolls easily, but noisily..

"it rolls easily, but noisily"

It's nice to know that the little wheels work OK, but maybe for quieter use Wards should have offered - dare I say it - a Ken-Kart! I'm guessing that being Apex based the Wards has more suction than a Kenmore.

Only the Strato Cleaner used the Apex built motor, this one as well as the Aero and Dyno used a Lamb, this one being a 4250, just like a 350 Filter Queen or Lewyt 55.Here is the Apex Aero, 1955, by this time the 4450 Lamb motor had come out.

If I can FIND the pictures!...Meanwhile, here is the Apex version of the steel wheel canister, this is Apex's first canister cleaner, 1952, Lamb 4250 motor.

I didn't know Apex ever made their own motor! Did any other vacuum manufacturers use the Apex motor?

Only the Strato Cleaner, It was a 1 fan motor, the fan was a very large thing that was shaped kind of like a flying saucer, thick in the middle tapering to thin at the edges, it was a very high amperage motor for its time, as was the Sunbeam Dual deluxe motor, and the suction and airflow was much higher than any other cleaner of its time...1953-1963, I do have some pictures if I can find them I will post them.

Pics would be cool but even without them this is fascinating information. I had always assumed Apex just specified a larger, higher amperage motor than anyone else, perhaps something out of a central vac or commercial machine. I never thought of them making their own motor. What a shame that a company with this much dedication to making a first rate vac didn't last!

What motor did Sunbeam use for the Dual Deluxe?

Made their own motor also,,,12 amp in 1958!!!! 1 fan.

Pics of the 1957 Strato Cleaner, notice the one of my hand spread out over the fan housing, that shows how big it is..

Any of my pictures, of vacuums that is..LOL! That Apex is strangely quiet, about like a Filter Queen, if you notice, the motor brushes are not pushed by springs, but rather pulled from either side by the springs, also, another oddity, the bearings are above the commutator like most motors, but on the other side of the fan at the end of the shaft, under a cover on the fan housing...odd, but it really works!

That Strato-Cleaner is beautiful! I've seen photos of the outside before but not of the inside. I love the wheels on the floor tool too, that's a super nice touch. Whatever happened to Apex?

Was bought out by the White Sewing machine Company, and quit making cleaners about 1963.