Alan and Jeff - thanks, glad you like it. I'm pleased I finally have a half-decent 160 to add to the collection. It's in good company!
Andy and Tom - I guess since we got our 160 three years after you got your 150, Hoover had more time to develop a new style of handle. As you say, Tom, the older style one spoils the aerodynamic look of the chassis and hood a little. That said, the 150 is a lovely machine, and had more de luxe features than the 160.
Also although the handle may have looked better, it was a flawed design; the metal bit inside, which guides the handle as you lower it (I forget it's proper name - ratchet?), was thin and delicate, and often broke. The handle lock on the 262, although a different design, often broke in a similar way. These models just were not quite as durable as the ones they replaced, or the ones which replaced them!
The mid-handle hand-grip was mainly meant for carrying the cleaner around the house. As for using the machine for cleaning stair carpeting, you could use the grip - but as I look at it, I think I'd want to hold the handle above and below where the grip is situated!
It would have had a 2-speed motor originally, but the Hoover Service Engineers had a mass switch conversion at some point. The 2-speed switch was prone to jamming and failing. I have 2 160s and a 960, and none of them have their 2-speed switches in place. In some cases, they just changed the switch and removed the 3rd handle wire, but all too often they removed the 3rd wire from the field coils too, and rectifying that is sadly beyond my skill. Luckily, my 750, 900, 925 and 825 have their 2-speed systems still intact, and I have 1 spare 2-speed switch ready to go on a suitable cleaner.
Simon - no, sadly, the 262's converter is totally different; it's much fatter and made of bakelite, and lacks the little locking spring-latch. I did just glue the furniture guard with my glue gun; discretely underneath to hide the mend. It looks ok, although it wouldn't stand up to rough treatment! I do still have the spare motor, it's put aside for you and you're welcome to it whenever I see you next.
John and Brett - no, I don't like shoes or socks much; shoes make me feel clumsy (I can't wear them when I drive), and I look at socks as something you wear when you're cold, or to stop your shoes rubbing! I don't bother with them in the house, in the summer.
As for me having nice feet, thanks, Brett, a couple of people have said that, but I don't see it myself...they're just what I have at the end of my legs to stop me falling over
