A Dream Machine Found!

[opelgtkarl]

After searching for years, I have finally found a machine that has eluded me until now. That machine is none other than the 1959 Hoover Constellation Model 87 with the original and production made electric hose. This hose of course being the on/off switch. And here she is!

 

[opelgtkarl]

One more pic

 

[kirbyvertibles]

That's pretty cool. So I've never seen one of these in person, is there a way to turn the vacuum on other than the hose or can you only turn it on at the hose?

 

[kirbyvertibles]

You know somewhere there had to be a power nozzle prototype in the works for this. I bet there was and after the Lewyt disaster they probably canned the idea.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

That is a HUGE piece of HISTORY right there.

That was :all of this stuff" in it's ifancy.  Too bad they didn't continue.  I;m sure that Lewyt   debacle killed it.....for years.


  Can you imagine if they made a NEW Connie,  w/ a Powernozzle, with LED lights...... hmmmmmm

 

[opelgtkarl]

How to turn on an 87

So when the 87 was sold, the only way to use the machine as a vacuum cleaner was with the hose handle. Without the hose, only the blower function worked when you moved the ring around the hose inlet. The hose did have some issues though, because in examining it, the leads for the switch are very exposed and can be dangerous. My 87 was actually converted by Hoover to use a regular Constellation switch instead of just the hose handle switch.

 

[oreck_xl]

I heard rumor that in the Hoover vaults there WAS a Constellation prototype with an electric power nozzle. It was a bit of a let-down that the new pearl white Connie only had an air turbine, but definitely an improvement to clean carpets. Alas I doubt they'll be anymore retro Hoovers with TTI at the helm....

 

[gottahaveahoove]

I have the photos of

that prototype.

 

[oreck_xl]

Constellation prototype

Is there anyway we could see them? I'd love to see how they incorporated an electric power nozzle....

 

[opelgtkarl]

Please!

Yes please John Long could you please post some pictures of that prototype? That sounds really cool! Would've been awesome if Hoover had really put a power nozzle with the Constellation

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

My First Dream Machine - a 1984 Kirby Heritage 84!

My first dream machine just happened to be a special edition. In this case, it is a 1984 Kirby Heritage 84!


 


Since then, I have made several fixes to it.


 


~Ben

 

[gottahaveahoove]

I'll do my best.

They were very dark, but, they were real. I put them away carefully....might take a bit to locate them. But I'll post pics of them. They came out very dark...just so you know.
John

 

[opelgtkarl]

Pics of the Constellation prototype with a power nozzle

Here is a picture of the machine in question with the power nozzle. It's rumored to have been a mock up as there doesn't seem to have electrical leads to the power nozzle.

 

[TheSpiritOf76]

How perfectly Facinating!!

Thank you Karl for posting somthing that is such a asset to our community! =)

 

[real1shep]

Absolutely remarkable, fantastic find.....I had no idea about a Connie with a switch in the hose. And to think there was a prototype PN....WOW!


 


I have two later pumpkin colored models. I use one almost daily rotating with an Electrolux.


 


Kevin

 

[kirbyvertibles]

I have seen this pic before many years ago and I still find it fascinating. That would truly be a dream to find had it ever been produced!!

 

[real1shep]

I'm just gonna throw this out there, but I'm not an expert on anything Hoover. In the OP's pic at the top...is the floor attachment on the left period with the Connie pictured?I asked this because in collecting floor attachments, the floor head on the right is definitely period and should be like a beige color. The later Connie's had  more of a white floor head and was more sleek(not as tall). And I have a floor attachment like the one on the left that is white and another like that is beige without the teeth in the front. I thought the tooth design is a later iteration designed to capture like more dog/cat hair etc than the smooth front. 


 


Kevin