"Over here it would be a standard Elite using type A Bags"
It was the most basic Hoover upright you could buy here, it ran along side the Turbopower Juniors in the upright range. It was only on sale for a year, this was the only US Elite style machine we had, although, we did get some other Elite BASED cleaners throughout the 90s.
The H4 bags were the Top fill bags designed for the Turbopower 1, Turbopower Juniors, Turbomaster and Turbolite uprights.
Regarding the pan comverter, I don't think it ever had a seal, as there is no sticky residue left behind, I will be adding a seal to it, which will improve the suction, I have no doubt...It makes a hissing noise in tool use, so I imagine there is quite a bit of suction lost around the converter.