EUREKA COMPANY HISTORICAL TIMELINE
The word Eureka means, “I found it.” Greek
physicist Archimedes (c. 287-212 B.C.) allegedly exclaimed “Eureka!” when
he discovered the theory of water displacement. According
to company legend, when Fred Wardell founded the company,
he felt that the term “Eureka” symbolized
a company that would create innovative products that
would have an impact on the world.
Fred Wardell was right. Today, the Eureka brand continues
to be recognized as one of the top vacuum cleaners in
the world. Eureka products are for sale throughout North
America and in 44 other nations. It’s a brand that
will remain strong into the future.
Although the company is now known as Electrolux Home
Products North America, consumers will continue to see
and hear about Eureka floor care products as the Eureka
brand is part of the largest, and the only, global manufacturer
of floor care appliances.
| 1909 |
- |
Fred Wardell founds The Eureka Company in Detroit,
Michigan. |
| 1913 |
- |
Eureka makes six different vacuum models with special
attachments. |
| 1915 |
- |
Eureka is awarded the Grand Prize at the San Francisco
International Exposition. |
| 1919 |
- |
Eureka factory in Detroit has a production capacity
of 2,000 cleaners a day. |
| 1927 |
- |
Eureka is selling one-third of all vacuum cleaners
produced in the United States |
| 1930 |
- |
Eureka begins manufacturing the Electric Range. |
| 1941 |
- |
Commercial production of vacuum cleaners is discontinued. |
| 1942 |
- |
Production in Detroit is dedicated to making gas
masks and other products to support the war efforts
during WWII. |
| 1945 |
- |
Eureka merges with Williams Oil-O-Matic in Bloomington,
Illinois and changes its name to Eureka-Williams.
The Company receives the “E” award from
the U.S. Department of the Navy. |
| 1949 |
- |
Eureka creates a “Wooden Lung” for
treatment of infantile paralysis and polio |
| 1957 |
- |
Eureka-Williams ends heating and air conditioning
business and concentrates on household floor care
products |
| 1960 |
- |
Eureka-Williams merges with National Union Electric
Corporation and begins production of school furniture. |
| 1961 |
- |
Eureka-Williams makes battery-operated automobile
called the Henney Kilowatt. |
| 1968 |
- |
Eureka begins production of the thermal battery
for use in NASA space systems. |
| 1974 |
- |
Eureka-Williams is purchased by AB Electrolux of
Sweden and changes its name to The Eureka Company. |
| 1981 |
- |
The Eureka Company opens a plant for parts manufacturing
in Juarez, Mexico. |
| 1983 |
- |
The Eureka Company develops a manufacturing plant
in El Paso, Texas. |
| 1984 |
- |
Production of vacuum cleaners begins in El Paso
plant. |
| 1997 |
- |
The manufacturing and warehouse facilities in Normal,
Illinois and El Paso, Texas are expanded. |
| 2003 |
- |
The Eureka Company begins to offer Electrolux branded
floor care products. |
| 2004 |
- |
The Eureka Company officially changes its name
to Electrolux Home Care Products North America. |
Today, the company concentrates
exclusively on manufacturing and distributing more than
130 different models of vacuum
cleaners and other home and commercial cleaning products.
The company has four brands: Eureka, Electrolux, Sanitaire
and Beam.
As a full-line company, Eureka offers uprights, including
those with attachments; canisters, hand-held vacuums,
home built-in systems, stick vacuums, battery-powered
vacuum cleaners, wet-dry vacs, steam cleaners and home cleaning systems.
Eureka
also manufactures and offers original and replacement parts, including bags,
belts, and filters for the models it manufactures.
|
|
