Thread Number: 45509  /  Tag: Pre-1950 Vacuum Cleaners
Eureka Upright Photos—1947 to 1957 		[Down to Last]

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Post# 470975   4/29/2024 at 15:40 by Paul (USA)        

Here are some online photos I came across of Eureka upright models S-246 (2-Tone Brown, 1947-49) and S-255 (Wine Red & Gray, 1955-57). I have seen photos in different VL threads showing the Model S-250A (2-Tone Brown, 1951-55) but have yet to see one of the S-250 (2-Tone Brown, 1949-51); so I am curious what the difference(s) is/are.


I do know that the hood of the S-250/S-250A was more streamlined than the S-246's likely to better facilitate cleaning underneath low furniture; and the base was polished aluminum rather than brown like the S-246.


Incidentally, note the square handle on the S-246. Eureka's 2-speed uprights were equipped with that style until circa 1965 when the Model 260-E/-EK was introduced. Was the S-246 the first to have it?


As for the S-255, its hood is similar to the Model D-360's (dark brown monotone, 1947-49)—photo originally posted by HooverCelebrity. This "classic" hood style—or a variation of it—was used until circa 1989 when it was succeeded by the "narrow" style. I'm unsure if George Walker designed the S-250/S-250A & S-255's hoods or if it was Ralph C. Osborn (see the last patent posted below). I found no other patents for hoods (casings) in that era, and Mr. Walker's last patent assigned to Eureka was in 1946; although he may have been contracted later for updates.


The S-246 (& W-75A tank) ad is from the November 8, 1947, SATURDAY EVENING POST, and the S-255 newspaper ad is from the November 23, 1956, issue of THE WASHINGTON REPORTER.

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Post# 471036 , Reply# 1   5/3/2024 at 08:12 by Paul (USA)        
Model S-250A

 For comparison—posted by Portable:

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Post# 471063 , Reply# 2   5/4/2024 at 09:44 by Paul (USA)        
Deluxe Model D-360 photo

 Forgot to post

Sold concurrently with the Supreme Model S-246; very similar to the S-255's hood.

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Post# 471156 , Reply# 3   5/8/2024 at 11:00 by Paul (USA)        
Pretty Maid Toy Vacuum by Louis Marx and Co.

 Louis Marx and Company was an American toy manufacturer from 1919 to 1980. One of the more popular toys that many on this forum have used is its Big Wheel, launched in 1969.

This style of its Pretty Maid vacuum cleaner reminds me of the S-246 in colors like the S-255 and 260. There is also at least one other that resembles a Hoover D80 or D800.

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Post# 471165 , Reply# 4   5/8/2024 at 17:04 by eurekaprince (Montreal, Canada)        

eurekaprince's profile picture
This is great historical information - thanks!

I think I will from now on refer to this round topped hood as Eureka’s Walker Hood! You will find the Walker Hood on most Series 200 uprights (except for the later 270) and on all the 1400 Series uprights.

Post# 471185 , Reply# 5   5/9/2024 at 13:03 by Paul (USA)        

You're welcome!

I'm not positive who designed the S-255 hood as Mr. Osborn's patent looks more similar to it than Mr. Walker's D-360 hood design due to the inclusion of the name plate cover over the added tool port. It's possible that Mr. Osborn updated the D-360 hood for the S-255. The patents I located contain no descritptions—just the artwork. I'll keep looking for more information along with the S-250 clip art or photo. The McLean Museum of History may have both.

Here are the line drawings that show the comparisons and contrasts of each of the Eureka models' hood styles (the S-255's is from a 260 or a 260-type in a lighter color)—the S-246, D-360, and S-250A designed for sure by Mr. Walker.




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Post# 471190 , Reply# 6   5/9/2024 at 18:51 by eurekaprince (Montreal, Canada)        

eurekaprince's profile picture
Indeed…it is the 255 hood that seems to have survived - with some slight modifications - over the decades. Maybe I should just call it “The Automatic Hood”!!! 😀

Post# 471202 , Reply# 7   5/10/2024 at 13:25 by Paul (USA)        

I happened to notice that I'd left out a few uprights from the time period that were also in production if only for a short time between 1947 and 1957:

Model K Commercial: June 1934 - March 1947

Model G-31-P: (polished) January 1941 - July 1951

Model G-31: (brown) January 1941 - July 1951

Model R-49: September 1949 - October 1949


So going by the July 1964 Eureka Shipping Record History customers had one household upright option from which to choose between 1951 and 1962; and businesses had no commercial option for the period 1947 to 1963.

~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~


Here are ads I located for these except for the G-31-P:

1. 1950 Apr 16 YOUNGSTOWN VINDICATOR - Model K

2. 1942 Dec 8 YOUNGSTOWN VINDICATOR - Models G-31 (& R-41) uprights with "Swirlator" brush rolls

3. 1949 Nov 21 SCHENECTADY GAZETTE - New Eureka upright - presumed Model R-49





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Post# 471206 , Reply# 8   5/10/2024 at 14:15 by Paul (USA)        

I also located clip art for the S-250, which appears identical to the S-250-A (considering any resizing distortions I may have made and the grayscale difference). So it could be that it was sand-cast, and the S-250-A was die-cast; as it was around 1950 when another vacuum cleaner company had made the cost-saving switch.

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