1930's Hoover

[kirbyotronic]

Well, here's my Hoover that I call the "forgotten model", since I forgot what model it is! It's in decent condition and runs like a champ. I also have a model 700 that's in poor condition.

I'm getting about 6 more of these pre-war Hoover's from a friend, along with 6 GE Roll-Easys, 2 Kirby 505's, and a few other odd ball machines.

~Alex

 

[kirbyotronic]

Another...

 

[hygiene903]

Nice Hoover, Alex!

Looking forward to seeing pictures of the rest of the machines you're getting when you have a chance. Nice Christmas tree, too!
Jeff

 

[ohio_tuec]

Yes Alex, that is a nice Hoover. Looks like a model 575 (1930). That bag could have come originally from a model 28.

 

[vintagehoover]

Hi Alex,

what you have there is a 1932 Model 425.

There's info on it on my site - follow the link below and scroll down to the 3rd cleaner on the page.

Jack

http://www.vintagehoover.com/popularprice.htm

 

[ohio_tuec]

How can you be sure? The 425 looks identical to the 575. Other than the flat belt and different tool connector are there any other noticable differences?

 

[kirbyotronic]

Jack,

According to your website, this is a model 425 since it has a flat belt.

Do you know where I can find flat belts?

~Alex

 

[vintagehoover]

'How can you be sure? The 425 looks identical to the 575

Models 575 and 425 are two entirely different cleaners - as distict from each other as, for example, a Kirby Legend II and a Kirby G3.

The chassis is different. The handle bail is different. The handle release mechanism is different. The motor is different. The impeller is different. The Agitator is different. The finish is different. The designs and styles of the original bag would have been different.

Hoover designed the 425 to be lighter and cheaper than anything which had come before it. The chassis was totally redesigned; it was unique to the 425 (the 450, which replaced it, used yet another design). The tool converter was subsequently unique for the 425. The motor was mounted centrally. The chassis also had a highly polished finish, whereas the 575 was the last of the popular-priced Hoovers to have an unpolished finish.

One of the most obvious differences between the two machines is the motor; the 575 uses the larger, heavier, more expensive motor - very similar to Model 700s, sealed and without the cooling fan, but slightly more powerful.

The 425 introduced a brand new, lightweight motor. It was air-cooled by an internal fan on the armature, and had a much smaller impeller. The example shown below is actually a pre-restoration pic of my Model 300, but apart from the built-in headlight on the 300, it's a very similar motor. As you can see, it's a separate unit underneath an outer hood, whereas with the older style of motor, there is no outer casing, just a cap held on with 2 screws.

 

[vintagehoover]

Agitators/Belts

You can see the size difference between the older 575 design (top) and the new, lightweight 425 design (bottom).

My 425 is either a later model, or one which has been retro-fitted with a round belt pulley and a 450/475 Agitator. The flat-belt design didn't even make it to the end of the 425's production run! This being the case, Alex, you're as likely to find a correct 425 flat belt for your cleaner as you are to find a set of Hyienisacs for it! However, I have been told that a Dyson flat belt will fit - look for the kind which goes on the DC07/DC14 models without the clutch control.

 

[vintagehoover]

Of course, the easiest way to tell what model it is...

is simply to turn it over!

 

[kirbyotronic]

Of course I turned it over to look at the model number! I do recall seeing "425" now.

Putting a Dyson belt in a Hoover is like a slap on the face...but what else would I do? lol

 

[rolls_rapide]

Jack

I never realised that there was yet another style of agitator (the 575 version)!

What effect/advantage do the small, vertical,'nobbly' metal bits have over agitators without those bits?

Do you think the 1980's Turbopower activator took some design cues from the 575 agitator?

 

[akabent]

GREAT THREAD!

Hey, Alex and Jack

This was fascinating! Alex, thanks for initiating this. I appreciate the information, seems there's always more to learn. (And all the more meaningful since I met you in N. Canton this summer, Jack!) Although I am not trying for every model, my collection is becoming more and more representative of the major food groups Hoover produced! Now if only I could snag Marty Rocha's model N while he's working or sleeping!!

Rick

 

[vintagehoover]

Calum - the 'nobbly bits' prevent light rugs from being drawn up against the Agitator too closely, ensuring the fluttering action of the beater bar is gentle. The introduction of the Agitator meant Hoover could no longer use the rug-guard bars they had with their older style of brush-roll. The original brush-guard, coincidentally, was designed and patented by Murray J Spangler in 1910.

The picture below shows what I believe is the earliest style of Agitator, as seen on my as yet unrestored Model 543 (hence all the dirt!). Notice the beaters are slightly sharper than on later versions.

Rick - glad you're enjoying the discussion! Here's another Model 425 fact, then - it came with 3 different bag designs during its short production run:

- The original bore the same design as the 575's - the silver 'question mark'. However, it used the new 'slide-top' design, not the patented bag-spreader device.

- Later on, it had the Hoover Silver Jubilee commemorative bag.

- Finally, the same design as the Jubilee bag, but lacking the words 'Silver Jubilee Series'.

The manual came with at least 2 different cover designs, too.

 

[rolls_rapide]

Jack

Thanks for sharing; as Rick says, this is fascinating stuff!

 

[akabent]

Yes! Fascinating, and fun to add all the tidbits together!

And.....Tom tells me my (the) 543, being the first of this series to have the beater bar (but with the same motor as the 541), struggled as the beater bar actually requires more power or has more resistance than it predecessor, the brush roll. Although my 543 runs like a Swiss watch, it confirms Tom's point!
The higher line 700 with its bigger motor and introduced the same year, easily powers the beater bar.
Rick

 

[vintagehoover]

Model 425 will always have a special place in my collection, because it was the first of the pre-war Hoovers I ever got - just 3 short years ago, believe it or not. Back then, I'd only ever seen them behind glass in museums. And now, I'm only missing 4 from the entire UK pre-war line-up!

Rick - that's absolutely right, and I've found it to be true with my own machines; I have 2 Model 543s, one which is all-original apart from the bag, and one which was rebuilt at the Hoover Factory in London. Both are whisper-quiet, but they just don't have the power to clean well - the Agitator puts such a load on the motor, it can't run fast enough. Thus, it can't generate the same airflow as the 541 managed with the lighter brush-roll. And since it can't turn the Agitator fast either, the performance suffers overall.

Even if they aren't the greatest performers, I do like how quiet and slow-running they are! I'd love to see your 543, if you've got a digital camera?

 

[acevac]

Check out this vid (not mine):