Hoover Concept I/II info

[cart1531]

Although I don't own one, I really like them and was wondering about this history of them. From what I've seen they started making them around 1978/1979 but I'm not sure. And I'd like to know when they started making the concept II, also when did hoover stop producing this model? I'm 19 and I think I remember seeing one at K-mart when I was about 3 years old.

 

[hoover1060]

Concept One

The Concept series came out in 1978 replacing the Dial-A-Matic as Hoover's top cleaner.
The U3101 model was the un-official 70th anniversar model.
The Concept was new from the ground up: Motor, fan, and brush roll all quite different from anything before. This was also Hoover's first really popular upright with a cord reel. There had previously been three cord reel Convertible models(2 for JCPenney and one of Hoover
The Concept II came out in 1983, and featured the little Help Mate vacuum in its front, a hint of the on board tool craze that was yet to come.
The Concept series ran until 1992 when it was replaced by the PowerMax line.

 

[cart1531]

hoover concept

thanks for the info, I was guessing that the concept was a replacement for the dial-a-matic too. I love the look of concept ones, especially the green ones. I wish hoover still made them.

 

[myhooverco]

Yes, you are right in that the Concept series replaced the Dial A Matic line in 1978. Hoover foolishly sold the clean air design to Panasonic. The Concept was a very aggressive cleaner with the all new quadraflex agitator. Many of these machines are still in use because they were so effective and so well made. <br
--Tom

 

[swingette]

let me add my two cents here...

coming from somebody who is very critical of cleaner quality and performance, i'd like to add that, IMO, the Concept/Powermax deserves to stand beside Hoover's 60-series and Convertible-series models as the best ever made. the Concept looks plastic on the outside, but is a very serious cleaner on the inside. i find almost no evidence of skimping or cost-cutting on Hoover's part in the manufacture of these models. quality and performance were obviously priorities with this design <br
i had a four-amp model of Concept One, and even at this (relatively) low amperage, this machine was a powerhouse cleaner <br
btw, from what ive seen in the old adverts (i was a small child when the machine was popular) the Concept was not an inexpensive machine. even the BOL model was close to two-hundred bucks, wasnt it?

 

[hoover1060]

AMPS

do not clean carpets...a good brush and airflow do
The Concept One had both, and it was/is an amazing performer

 

[cart1531]

I just found a very nice light blue one on ebay, I put a bid on it

 

[hoover1060]

Concept price

David,
When the Concept debuted in 1978 its list price was something like $279.95 for the TOL U3101. You could buy it in most stores for around $239 and on sale for about $200. The U3101 also included a set of deluxe attachments. <br
In the middle 80's you could buy the cheapie model U3109(tan/rust color, no cord reel or headlight) for about $180 regular price at places like Kmart and Venture.
I have some catalogs at home I can verify prices tonight.

 

[cart1531]

Could you please scan them and post? If its too much of a hassle you don't have to though.

 

[swiveltop]

Here's my three Concepts, bottom,middle and top of the line, The green one is just like the one I talked my Grandmother into buying when they came out,It replaced her Dial-a-Matic,We wanted a blue one but all they had was green,I like the green one best now, when I got the blue MOL it had a bad fan that was melted into the housing,it had only 3.8 amps,I found a really beat up later model powerdrive model with the 7.1 amp motor and put it in the blue one,It really doesn't need the powerdrive it almost pulls itself. The tan and rust one was last Fridays thrift store find. The picture looks really distorted on my computer. Mark

 

[swiveltop]

The pic looks ok once it posted,the date was not set,I also got this camera,its fancier than my old one,so I'm still figuring it out. Mark

 

[cart1531]

the blue one looks exactly like the one I'm bidding on, very nice. The green and rust ones look great too, I like the striped bag and the little stencil design on the front of the green one.

 

[swiveltop]

Thanks, The one your bidding on looks nice too,I just got the tan one and haven't cleaned or polished it,they clean up nice with Mothers Brand Polish,and others. Good luck, hope you win it. Mark

 

[petek]

The green one is very nice. I have two blues and that's all I ever seem to see

 

[charles~richard]

hmmmmmmm. I guess it's gonna take me a few more years to appreciate the "beauty" of these machines....... <br

 

[petek]

Why Charles, aren't they Dysonian enough for ya LOL

 

[petek]

They're the last of the Hoovers I like. Once the Windtunnel came out next it was game over for me.

 

[cart1531]

What's the round red button on the handle for? The one that I'm bidding on has one too and I can't figure what its for.

 

[constellation86]

red button

The red button is to disable the power drive. Used for delicate rugs or to push it with the motor off
Nicholas