Thread Number: 44156  /  Tag: 50s/60s/70s Vacuum Cleaners
Sanitaire Brand and Model History
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Post# 459827   1/28/2023 at 15:31 (425 days old) by Paul (USA)        

Please add photos and information to consolidate the Sanitaire brand history, including model specifics.

Attached is a reproduction of an October 1941 ad in the MINNEAPOLIS TRIBUNE (the only one I was able to find on my library's e-newspaper database) and an enlarged copy of the 1969, 1970 Sanitaire brochure (green line?) posted on thread 35776 by TheSpiritof76.

Below is a timeline of the Sanitaire trademark history at uspto.report (Unite States Patent Office) followed by the model list of blue and red lines at hescoinc.com. Apparently, these were launched in 1972.

USPTO Trademarks › National Union Electric Corporation › Sanitaire Application #72195008

Timeline
1939-11-16 Date of First Use
1964-06-05 Application Filed
1965-03-30 Trademark Registered
2015-03-30 Location: GENERIC WEB UPDATE
2015-03-30 Renewal Date
2015-03-30 Status: Live/Registered
2019-07-31 Transaction Date

_______

Model List (1972-present)

Blue Line: SC679, SC684, SC684E, SC689, SC886, SC887, SC887A, SC888, SC899, S634, and S647

Red Line: SC684F-2, SC684F-3, SC689A-2, SC689A-3, SC886E, SC886E-1, SC886E-2, SC886E-3, SC887B-2, SC887B-3

Eureka also made special edition F&G uprights for Kmart. These are easy to identify because they all had 3 digit model numbers. They were not rebranded with the Kmart name....they just had unique colours that could only be found in Kmart stores. If you search for "Eureka vacuum ads Kmart", you will see some of these models.


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Post# 459901 , Reply# 1   1/31/2023 at 08:31 (422 days old) by KirbyClassicIII (Milwaukie, Oregon)        
Paul

kirbyclassiciii's profile picture
The early 600 series in the 1970s included:
641A, 641B = 1972-74?
643A, 643B, 643D = 1974-80, also sold by Montgomery Ward as SP8000 from 1977-80
698A, 698B = 1978-80, also sold by Montgomery Ward as SP8005 from 1978-79

~Ben


Post# 459937 , Reply# 2   2/1/2023 at 15:17 (421 days old) by kirbyklekter (Concord,Ca.)        
I can add two more

SC888 Red commercial "super clean" 7amp shake out bag headlight,chrome hood
SC679 " " 4amp shake out bag chrome hood,no light

This is a deep rabbit hole especially when you get to the newer models currently on sale. Some examples are: Super quiet line, multi-surface models, dura-lite, cordless,backpacks,Force Quiet-clean, Eon, Tradition (which are the old school models)
most models are 12" wide cleaning path but you can still get the 16"wide SC899.

I think Les has or did have a really nice blue line and another member posted a while back with a box-top blue line that is really a nice model. I hope they chime in on this. Like I said this is a deep rabbit hole to go down but well worth it in the end. I have 3 other Sanitaires and when I locate them I will add to list if not already added by others. Thanks for your efforts, you and eurekaprince, texbodemer,hoover300 and others have really compiled and shared a lot of info on Eurekas,again thanks!


Post# 459983 , Reply# 3   2/2/2023 at 14:12 (420 days old) by Paul (USA)        

Thanks a lot, Ben & Kirbyklekter - much appreciated!

I have to admit, though, that I didn't realize that there were such a variety of Sanitaire styles (that the rabbit hole was so deep). I was only thinking of the classic hood style.

Questions: Did any of the Sanitaires take F&G bags, or were the ST bags available from the start of the relaunch of the series in the late '60s/early '70s?

What is the model of the one featured in the brochure? I can't make it out. Is it one of the models you listed, Ben?

Recently I saw a couple different after-market brands of disposable bags for Eureka 200 & 300 series, so I'm thinking that the early Sanitaires were possibly the 300s?


Post# 459993 , Reply# 4   2/2/2023 at 18:05 (420 days old) by KirbyClassicIII (Milwaukie, Oregon)        
Paul

kirbyclassiciii's profile picture
Paul,

The SC679A that came out in 1980, which replaced the 641, was also sold by Nobles as the Knight KN-11.

~Ben


Post# 459994 , Reply# 5   2/2/2023 at 18:08 (420 days old) by eurekaprince (Montreal, Canada)        

eurekaprince's profile picture
Paul….I think bagged Sanitaire uprights took F&G bags from the very beginning. The ST set up with the plastic tube is relatively recent….maybe from a decade or two ago.

Post# 459997 , Reply# 6   2/2/2023 at 19:22 (420 days old) by Paul (USA)        

Thanks, Ben & Brian,

I haven't yet found an online source of archived commercial equipment catalogs, so I'm grateful for your knowledge.


Post# 460002 , Reply# 7   2/2/2023 at 20:59 (420 days old) by KirbyClassicIII (Milwaukie, Oregon)        
Paul

kirbyclassiciii's profile picture
Paul,

You're welcome, and keep up the good work so far!

~Ben


Post# 460003 , Reply# 8   2/2/2023 at 22:05 (420 days old) by Lesinutah (Utah)        
I

lesinutah's profile picture
Did have a sanitaire blue line I sold on ebay. I l
Want a widetrack but not a commercial beat to heck one.
I have a eureka that has the same motor. It's green one with a headlight. I have the ST bag setup on it with sanitaire brand hepa bags

Thanks for posting this info its great info.


Post# 460006 , Reply# 9   2/3/2023 at 06:03 (419 days old) by eurekaprince (Montreal, Canada)        

eurekaprince's profile picture
I wonder when the first Sanitaire shake-out bag appeared.

Post# 460016 , Reply# 10   2/3/2023 at 09:52 (419 days old) by Paul (USA)        

No problem, Les. Thanks for contributing to the discussion!

Post# 460033 , Reply# 11   2/3/2023 at 18:52 (419 days old) by KirbyClassicIII (Milwaukie, Oregon)        
Paul

kirbyclassiciii's profile picture
Paul,

The Nobles KN-11 in action. Again, I do believe this is similar to the SC679A.




~Ben


Post# 460105 , Reply# 12   2/6/2023 at 13:34 (416 days old) by Paul (USA)        

Thanks, Ben. I feel like I'm in "Eureka College" lately!

Btw, I found some more Sanitaire model numbers-types at ereplacement.com:

S634A/A-1/A-2/B/D/D-1
S639A
S647A/B/B-1/D/E/E-1
S649A
S652A
S654A/B
S655A
S657A
S659A
S661A/B/E
S662A
S663A/B/D
S670A/A-1/A-2/B/D
S607D/D-1
S677A/A-1/A-2/B/D/D-1
SC675A
SC678A-1
SC679G/H/J-1/J-2/J-3/JGS/JGS-1
SC684E/F/F-1/F-2/F-3
SC688A/A-1
SC689A/A-1/A-2/A-3
SC695A/A-1
SC881A/A-1
SC882A/A-1
SC883A/A-1
SC886b/D/E/E-1/E-2/E-3/
SC887A/B
SC688A/A-1/
SC689A-1/A-2/A-3
SC695A/A-1
SC881A/A-1
SC882A/A-1
SC883A/A-1
SC886D/E/E-1/E-2


Post# 460139 , Reply# 13   2/7/2023 at 17:58 (415 days old) by eurekaprince (Montreal, Canada)        

eurekaprince's profile picture
The current model of basic bagged Sanitaire Dial-a-Nap upright here in Canada is Model SC888K….see link below. Note: the photo is a bit outdated since it shows a headlight which you don’t get now…

CLICK HERE TO GO TO eurekaprince's LINK


Post# 460154 , Reply# 14   2/8/2023 at 12:33 (414 days old) by Paul (USA)        

Thanks, Brian!

Post# 460155 , Reply# 15   2/8/2023 at 13:17 (414 days old) by kirbyklekter (Concord,Ca.)        
Just wonderin'

Does anyone know what the numbers and letters that precede the model number stand for? All of mine are just marked with model# like SC888. I'm seeing more of this in the later models with as many as four letters and numbers tagged at the end.

Post# 460164 , Reply# 16   2/8/2023 at 20:09 (414 days old) by eurekaprince (Montreal, Canada)        

eurekaprince's profile picture
Whenever a slight modification was made to a cleaner, Eureka usually just added a letter to the model number….A, B, C, etc. I think if there was a more significant change, the model number itself was increased by one or two… For example the 1401 upright had no height adjustment but the 1403 had a two position Dial a Nap adjuster…

Post# 460166 , Reply# 17   2/8/2023 at 20:53 (414 days old) by Paul (USA)        

Brian or others can confirm or deny, but I think the SC model number prefix stands for 'Sanitaire Commercial'.

As for later Eureka series with letter prefixes I'm not too familiar with them but know what you mean. I think those with an E prefix might just stand for 'Eureka'. Other letters may either be abbreviations of model names or unique features. Further, it's possible that the prefixes delineate the Midea Group's series from the previous ones; or maybe they ran out of 4-digit combinations.


Post# 460167 , Reply# 18   2/8/2023 at 21:00 (414 days old) by human (Pines of Carolina)        
SC686A?

human's profile picture
I seem to have an oddball Sanitaire, not in any of the above posts. It's a model SC686A from around 1980. In looking for parts, never seen it listed, but any replacement parts compatible with an SC 886 seem to fit it perfectly. It's a red commercial cleaner, originally equipped with a dump bag, Dial-A-Nap knob, and a VG-1 brush roll. The latter two of which have been upgraded. The brush roll's bristles and bearings were shot, so I replaced it with a VG-2, as that's what was readily available. I later also upgraded it to an aftermarket F&G bag setup.





Post# 460170 , Reply# 19   2/8/2023 at 21:30 (414 days old) by Paul (USA)        

Human,

From time to time I've also found model number omissions in other series lists, so either their productions were limited special editions or the record keeper was neglectful.

Thanks for "bringing that to the surface" (excuse the pun). Sounds like you're taking good care of it.


Post# 460593 , Reply# 20   2/23/2023 at 14:29 (399 days old) by Paul (USA)        
1944 Legal Ruling on 'Sanitaire' Trademark

August 15, 1944

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Post# 460613 , Reply# 21   2/23/2023 at 21:16 (399 days old) by portable (Corvallis, OR)        
And, just to bend your mind into a pretzel....

portable's profile picture
P.A. Geier Co., maker of Royal vacuums, used the name on one of their tank models, labeled as a SANIT-AIRE. It was manufactured from about 1949 to 1951. I have one, acquired from Charles Lester. It's labeled "the health cleaner".

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Post# 460618 , Reply# 22   2/24/2023 at 06:43 (398 days old) by eurekaprince (Montreal, Canada)        

eurekaprince's profile picture
Fascinating! I wonder if Geier was aware of the trademark refusal Eureka received from the government….thinking that adding a hyphen would be more acceptable as a trademark.

Post# 460629 , Reply# 23   2/24/2023 at 13:00 (398 days old) by Paul (USA)        
And Yet Another "Sanitaire" - by Hamilton Beach

This is likely what contributed to Eureka's trademark application in 1944. And P.A. Geier wanted to rub Eureka's nose in it!

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Post# 460631 , Reply# 24   2/24/2023 at 13:06 (398 days old) by portable (Corvallis, OR)        

portable's profile picture
Wow. Never heard of the Hamilton Beach version. It looks a lot like their popular Model 26.

Post# 460634 , Reply# 25   2/24/2023 at 13:22 (398 days old) by Paul (USA)        

The back of the Hamilton Beach brochure, in fact, indicates that the Sanitaire is a Model 26, so maybe it included a special feature like Eureka's chemically-treated "Germ Trap". Or maybe the 'Sanitaire' label was removed at some point during production.

Further research has revealed that Eureka had two tank model numbers around 1941: N-61-A & W-64. I'm guessing that the Sanitaire was the former and the regular version was the latter. I also wonder if 'N' meant 'narrow' and 'W' indicated 'wide', because somewhere I remember seeing the W-64 identified as a "large tank".


Post# 460794 , Reply# 26   2/28/2023 at 14:48 (394 days old) by electrolux137 (Los Angeles)        

electrolux137's profile picture

 

 

Here are some more photos of the "Sanit-Aire" that went to John Lucia. It came from a Little Old Lady at a church where I was formerly the organist. She was in her 90s and had gotten it new as a wedding present in the 1940s. She was still using it until very recently until she got arthritis and couldn't manage it any longer.

 

I also added a couple of photos of the Royal 901.


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Post# 460805 , Reply# 27   2/28/2023 at 19:04 (394 days old) by portable (Corvallis, OR)        
Thanks, Charles -

portable's profile picture
I forgot to add pictures of the box. I love the hose on that Sanit-aire. The attachments are definitely Royal.

Post# 462293 , Reply# 28   4/13/2023 at 13:54 (350 days old) by Paul (USA)        



CLICK HERE TO GO TO Paul's LINK


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Post# 462324 , Reply# 29   4/15/2023 at 00:39 (349 days old) by tolivac (Greenville,NC)        

I have ordered new vacuums like these from Bissel.Their own barnd-machines are green in color-and Sanitaire.Theirs are the red color.The ones I ordered use filtrete style inner disposable bags-and-----The Bissel bags hve a round opening-the Sanitaire disposable bags have the ST bag opening-THEY ARE NOT THE SAME.So I ordered packs of disposable bags for each.They are nice machines.A good alternative to Royals and a low cost alternative to Kirby.These machines cannot be used with tools-designed to be a great carpet floor vacuum!

Post# 462325 , Reply# 30   4/15/2023 at 00:40 (349 days old) by tolivac (Greenville,NC)        

Oh yes-the Saniataire I ordered came from Bissel---"Bisseltaire" as we call them at the Greenville Sew&vac.they may carry these.

Post# 462388 , Reply# 31   4/18/2023 at 01:12 (346 days old) by kirbyklekter (Concord,Ca.)        
Paul

Earlier in this thread eurekaprince was wondering when Sanitaires first paper bag came out. I always thought that the shake out came first and later the paper. If they started originally with paper and later shake out I would bet that that was a response to the cleaning companies or custodians etc. wanting lower operating costs.

I was wondering when or specifically which model Eureka introduced the paper bag for the domestic line? Also which model came with the first top fill bag and was that a top tier feature or did all models get the upgrade.

I could imagine the ad department getting a lot of mileage with this change as it really did improve performance over bottom fill bags.


Post# 462390 , Reply# 32   4/18/2023 at 05:42 (345 days old) by eurekaprince (Montreal, Canada)        

eurekaprince's profile picture
I know that our family’s 1960 Eureka Super Automatic 260 upright featured Eureka’s very effective top-fill F & G dust bag. Not sure if previous models did also, but we at least know that the F & G bag was used in 1960. Maybe the early Sanitaires did as well…not sure…

Post# 462469 , Reply# 33   4/21/2023 at 11:44 (342 days old) by Paul (USA)        
Re: Reply 18 - Edgar

I was only able to locate one Model SC686 ad in the newspaper database I use from the November 8, 1979, issue of THE ST. PETERSBURG TIMES:

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Post# 462473 , Reply# 34   4/21/2023 at 15:02 (342 days old) by human (Pines of Carolina)        

human's profile picture
Thanks Paul, that's the first independent confirmation I've ever seen of my Sanitaire SC686's existence.

Post# 462602 , Reply# 35   4/24/2023 at 19:25 (339 days old) by Paul (USA)        

You're welcome, Edgar. Glad to help.

Post# 464034 , Reply# 36   6/20/2023 at 20:44 (282 days old) by Hoover300 (Kentucky)        

hoover300's profile picture
That Sanitaire tank has at least one nearly identical European copy.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/255936575438...


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