Sanitaire Blue Line

[timborow]

I have recently used a Sanitaire/Eureka Blue Line upright. It's the classic Eureka style vac with a headlight. There are no frills, bells, or whistles on it, but boy does it clean. It has 840 watts. It has to be one of the best cleaning modern machines out there. I am so glad the Eureka did not forsake their original classic design. It still proves to be one of their best selling lines. I sure wish Hoover would take the Eureka approach and bring back their Convertible classic machine. I even used this Sanitaire machine to clean bare floors. I set the height adjustment on 2 so that the beater bar didn't touch the floor-only the bristles. Man it cleaned floors as well as any Oreck I've ever used. It didn't even scatter the dirt behind it like I was expecting it to do. I was so impressed with this machine. That just goes to show you that the classic styling is very effective and should be brought back by Hoover. Any thoughts? Tim

 

[mrcleanjeans]

thou art right

Eureka's other styles are awful,just TERRIBLY awful.I've always loved this "style F&G"design.Simple,unadorned,very effective.In the 1970s,I would have one of this design any day of the week over the 4-position Hoover Convertibles,though I love the earlier Hoovers,from 1968 or before alot.Even the 3.3 amp.Eurekas were quite effective at deep cleaning,besides,amps. don't usually mean much,more of the total design that counts.Eureka has one household unit with this design left.It's about 60.00,called the modrel 1934.A great value for the money.

 

[vinvac]

Eureka

I would have to add my two cents as well. I love the Eureka machines and had always felt they were one of the best uprights on the market. I own a new Sanitaire as well and feel it cleans very well. Mine is the smaller one with the folding handle. It is great for quick pick ups. Wish I could tell you the model number but it escapes me!! The cleaning tools were a much better design and the converter sealed off (later models) for better suction. The bag design seemed to work better as well and now if you use the Filtrete bags filtration is much improved as well.

However, I still love using the Hoover convertables and even enjoy using them with the attatchments. It amazes me how much they will pick up with the lower air flow. Dog hair will creap right up to the bare floor tool.

 

[eluxomarty]

eureka upright

I too love the Hoover Convertible design and miss the old Eureka models. There is one model Eureka left called the Boss that uses the F&G style bags. Uses 5 amps so it is pretty quiet and it cleans very well too. Bought one for my Gram but she does not vacuum anymore, my Uncle like it though.

 

[mrcleanjeans]

That machine you mentioned Marty is the model 1934 Eureka that I mentioned above.It's great,the ONLY household Eureka that I like besides the Sanitaires.

 

[brettsomers]

the only thing i dont like about the current Sanitaires is the motor wattage and fan. the motor spins too fast for that fragile plastic fan. other than that, you have an almost perfect cleaner.

 

[tolivac]

I would love to see Eureka go back to their classic METAL upright vacs-these performed well.Most of the time when I have used a "Sanitiare" its been one owned by a cleaning contractor--the fan is worn or cracked and the plastic fan housing has holes in it.Won't pickup worth a darn.I have a single Sanitaire in my collection-can't adjust its floor nozzle high enough for my deep carpets-the machine just bogs down-no airflow and burns belts.I bet it would work well if Eureka would put an extra notch or two on the high side of their nozzle height control.They can move air.Also the schools use them here-My freinds vac shop has a contract to fix them-most common casulties are broken fans and fan housings-next would be motor problems-like dirty communtators and worn motor brushes.the inexpensive Eureka commercial models fool you-they have a Oreck sized motor under that big hood and it really strains to turn that big fan and brush-these end up in a pile in the shops corner-burned out motors.Sanitares are the most common commercial upright vacs.when in good condition-good belt and rollerbrush and fan and housing-they do very well on low to med rugs and carpets.Another Sanitiare casulty at the Vac Hospital--how did they do it??had a big hole melted into the top of its roller brush housing-almost like it was dissolved by some chemical.Came from one of the schools out here-they are rough on their machines!!

 

[bobbyderegis]

Hey all,
I have had a Sanitaire from day one. Mine's about 25 years old with the vibra-groomer and 5 amp motor. I used it every day for years in a three level house with wall to wall crappy plush carpet. Eureka made a nice commercial as well, identical to the Sanitaire except the color and hood shape. I have the brown one (still brand new) and a very old chrome/orange conmmercial Eureka with vibra-groomer and 3.5 amp motor. It also cleans fabulously and is very quiet. Thank God you can still get an "older" style new commercial vac from Sanitaire and Eureka. I just wish the ampereage was back down to 5.
Bobby in Boston

 

[hoover1060]

Bobby...

They do still make the 5.0 amp Sanitaire, problem is its that blender motor, and not the OLD style motor.
I have a Sanitaire SC888A I bought new in 1986, great machine and powerful too. It had lots of use back when I worked for a cleaning service part time.
Have you tried the 4-brush vibra groomer yet? On thicker carpet it really does a nice job!

 

[bobbyderegis]

Hoover, the blender motors stink! Double ball bearing or nothing. A 4 brush Virba-groomer? Never saw one... do tell more, inquiring minds want to know!
Bobby in Boston

 

[hoover1060]

4-brush VG1

Bobby I have one in my Sanitaire, it really changes the performance/handling of the cleaner in that with the big 6.5 motor it does not hug the carpet so much, and makes it easier to push.
I'll take a couple of pictures tonight...

 

[bobbyderegis]

Thanks, Hoover!
Bobby in Boston

 

[hoover1060]

here it is

model SC888B, I bought this new right after Christmas in 1986, paid $279 for it back then.
Its been thru at least one cord, a few bags and brush rolls and fans, and one light bulb.

 

[hoover1060]

4-brush VG1

This really works nice with the big motor, and keeps the cleaner from hugging the carpet so much

 

[brettsomers]

good evening mr parker. did you rivet the bumper onto this Sanitaire? very hoover-like touch. and do you prefer the poly-style bags like the one pictured on your Sanitaire, as opposed to the old cotton ones? seems the white liner on the inside of the newer bags is fragile, no? David

 

[hoover1060]

yes

I riveted the bumper on, back when the cleaner was about 6 months old... damn thing kept falling off!
It came with the old corderoy bag when I bought it, and it took two weeks in commercial use for that bag to totally clog, so I converted it to paper bags. It worked much better that way, and I appreciated just tossing a paper bag.
The current cloth bag is for show, but I must admit its way easier than the older style bags to empty
From 1986-91 I had a night job with a cleaning service, I did mainly model homes and some offices, and I just followed the others and vacuumed up footprints.
That job was a great testing ground for many vacuums.
This Sanitaire wore like iron, and for the better part of 3 years it was vacuuming 30,000+ sq ft of carpet every weekend.
I was changing belts daily, brushes every three months.
Every now and again I get it out and use it, it still runs great, and I marvel that its 20 years old this year!

 

[bobbyderegis]

Hoover, are the 4 brush V. groomers purchased that way or did you knock out the beater bar? Please, do tell!
Bobby in Boston

 

[hoover1060]

Bobby,

You can buy them like that, I have an account with Hesco and thats where I got mine from. Should be available from any vac shop that sells Sanitaire. Just be ready, its expensive! There is also a 4-brush VGII as well, but I have not tried that one yet.
If you want, I'd be happy to order one and send it to you. You will be amazed at how differently the cleaner behaves and handles!

 

[bobbyderegis]

Hoover, I've found the VG II is nowhere near as effective as the VG I. Do you agree? They also tend to "bend" a bit after lots of use, and the belts fail prematurely and there is more vibration than with a VG I. I actually had a VG II crack during use. That was fun, and of course it ws on a 7 amp model. Fortunately no base damage, just a small heart attack. I would like to try a 4 brush just for sh--s and giggles, but I find my regular VG I does an awesome job. And you know how I like my vacs to hug the rug!
Bobby in Boston