Eureka Roto-Matic Power Team Vacuum

[rp2813]

Per Gary's request, here are pix of it.

 

I got this vacuum for $5 at the same estate sale where I snagged the '52 Kelvinator fridge for $15.  It's a similar system to my sister's '70s Kenmore canister that I guess gave up (aka got smothered by cat hair, I'm betting) some time ago, so I have offered it to her. 

 

It seems to work well, but I'm not so sure it's actually intended for bare floors.  I don't see any little front rollers on the bottom of the Roto-Matic component and it's kind of hard to push, but it does have two big wheels at the rear.  In the attached picture of the bottom there's a bulge on one side toward the front, but not on the other.  That seems weird.  And I know it's apples & oranges but my Sebo airbelt seems to have a far superior bare floor attachment, but it doesn't incorporate a standard roller brush/bar like the Eureka, either.

 

The crevice tool is missing, and I'm hoping that they're a standard fit so I can find one for it off another make, and the wide, swiveling non-roller attachment (I'm bad with vacuum terminology -- see scuffed item in pictures) has seen some hard use and its bristles are all chewed up, so I'll be on the lookout for one of those, too.  Also, what's up with the bulky fitting where the hose meets up with the chrome section?  I have large hands and it feels awkward to me, but it's the only logical place to grip the thing while vacuuming.

 

Any information on this rig, including vintage, would be greatly appreciated.  So far, I'm really impressed with the Edge Kleener, but kind of bummed that the power cord isn't retractable.  I've clearly been spoiled by my Sebo!

 

 

 

[luxflairguy]

Ralph,
The bare floor tool is right there on top of the machine! it's the wide tool in the middle of the tool rack. Yes, it's missing the crevice tool.
To use the floor tool, she'll need to remove the wands from the power head, release the wands and slip the floor tool onto the wands. Easy!!
P.S. Great vacuum!
Greg

 

[iheartmaytag]

Great Vacuum

You got yourself a great deal. Bags are still available, unfortunately the distributor brush roll is NLA, and cost a fortune if you can find old stock.
Just remember you can always send it my way if you tire of it.

 

[rp2813]

Thanks for the info.  This explains the condition of the correct bare floors attachment.  The house it came from had wood floors throughout. 

 

The actual brush/beater did a great job on the area rug in my living room.

 

Extra bags were included.  Considering how often my sister vacuums, they should last quite a while.  She also has a vacuum enthusiast up the hill from her, so he can likely assist with any issues that may arise.

 

[countryguy]

Ralph,

Thanks for the pics. The vac looks to be in decent shape and the power head seems to have had little use. The floor brush looks scuffed up. Any vac shop would be able to provide you with a replacement generic floor brush as the wands are standard size. This rotomatic was the bottom of the line or close to it as evidenced by the lack of an automatic cord reel, full bag check light, suction control on the canister. The ulphostery tool is also the bottom of the line. The hose handle is meant to be gripped by the metal part although may not seem comfortable for everyone. This vac is probably from the late 70s/early 80s.

Gary

 

[rp2813]

Thanks Gary, that's good to know about attachment availability. 

 

Now that you've mentioned it,  this machine does seem rather spartan and I'm remembering versions of these that were more deluxe.  There's not any obvious accommodation for storing the cord, so I'm winding it around the equator above the lip, which is a slow process.

 

I was thinking the bean pot brown was from the same period you mentioned. 

 

It sure does run quietly. 

 

[tomturbomatic]

Congratulations!

Actually, there should be another set of wands with the curved transition piece that goes from the wands to the floor brush; it was all probably left at the house. Thankfully, these can be found online and at thrift stores. Don't start taking the power unit apart from the wands; it will gain you nothing.  Also there are better bare floor brushes. That one is more for walls.  If you happen to find another brush the size of the upholstery brush, grab it.  The are the perfect size to use as a floor brush in a small bathroom for getting  around the base of the toilet, again by using the curved transition piece in the wand assembly. The size (diameter) of the hardware seems pretty standard except for Miele machines.

 

These were highly rated by CU when they came out.

 

[rp2813]

Hmmm.  I was thinking that maybe a transition piece from the hose to the top of the wand assembly might be missing since gripping that bulky fitting seems a bit much for feminine hands. 

 

It seemed to work fine when I tried the bare floor attachment.  If anyone has a picture of this missing piece, I would like to see exactly what I need to look for.

 

[luxflairguy]

Nope! What you see is what you get! (Sorry! G

 

[rp2813]

Thanks Greg!

 

[countryguy]

Tomturbomatic,

The floor brush in the pic already has the angled connector so a curved lower wand is not required.

Gary

 

[pulltostart]

Ralph,

I bought one of these new about 1980 and I agree with Greg, this is/was it.  Seems like it cleaned well enough, but was annoying how complicated it was to just use the floor brush.  Mine was burgundy.

 

lawrence

 

[countryguy]

If you are going to use the vacuum regularly you could always buy another set of 2 straight wands...from a vac dealer, ebay, etc.

 

[rp2813]

Lawrence, I agree that it's a process to remove the power head in order to use any of the attachments.   For the mechanically disinclined (like my sister), this may be a bit much. 

 

Gary, thanks for confirming what I suspected -- that the integrated swivel on the bare floor attachment eliminates the need for a special wand connector.

 

[iheartmaytag]

You can pick up another set of wands on ebay for cheep.    Then you don't have to switch back and forth if you want to use the powernozzle or bare floor head.

 

 

[vacerator]

Yes, I have both models

1279 and 1290 canned ham shapeed one in "brandywine". Both came with 2 sets of wands, and the elbow for the rug and floor brush tools. Both have cord reels, adjustable suction control on the canisters, and visual mechanical bag checks. I bought the 1279 for my mom in 1979. I still use the aluminum brush rolled "vibragroomer 1" on my central vac for our wool are rug runners. It is less harsh as it has just 1 row of brushes, not 2, like our later vibragroomer II, and III do. Bristles, and beater bars can be replaced on all the rollers, wood, aluminum, or steel. The steel ones have integral formed steel beater bars. There are vac repair shops that still have many parrts for these, inc. hoses, pig tails, and attachemnts.

 

[tomturbomatic]

sorry; did not see it.

 

[rp2813]

NP Tom.

 

I hadn't bothered to look in the bag of bags and stray attachments until last night, and I found the crevice tool.  Can anyone advise on what the big notch in the end is for?  It seems to me that it would reduce suction where you need it most.  Is a part missing?

 

The other attachments in the bag were for a B&D, kind of on the small side, and had a wall-mount caddie for storage.  I'll ask my friend if he got the B&D while he worked the sale, and give him those if he has the unit they belong to.

 

[luxflairguy]

Hey Ralph!
Yes! The "notch" is too reduce suction. Otherwise Eureka (and other brands) felt suction was too strong! Many brands advised to open the suction bleeder band to use. Eureka carved a notch instead!
Still a great machine!
Greg