A pair of Hoover 918s

electrolux~137 · May 27, 2011

I have two Hoover 918s that I am going to put together to get one good one. One is cosmetically nicer than the other one, but has a shot motor. The other one has a good motor but is all scratched and dinged up. As soon as I get an original 918 bag that someone promised to send me (hint hint!), this may be my first project in my new workshop (see off-topic department).

If you'll look closely you'll see that while these are the same model, they are slightly different -- most notably in the color. One is a sort of slate gray wrinkle finish and the other one is a lighter gray, almost silvery hammertone. I am sure they are both the original paint.

The other difference is that the lighter-colored one has a metal "shelf" for the bag to rest on. See photos. I had never noticed this before. So I wonder which one is older. I didn't think to look at the serial numbers, and I've already finished out there for the day. Anyone wanna guess?!

Other than those two differences, however, the two machines are identical.

P.S. Sorry about the crummy quality of the photos. My good digital camera is being repaired so I had to use my cellphone camera.

electrolux~137 · May 27, 2011

electrolux~137 · May 27, 2011

electrolux~137 · May 27, 2011

electrolux~137 · May 27, 2011

brandon_w_t · May 27, 2011

Oh my. I need to send those. I have been putting that off too long. Very sorry!

One unique thing I am noticing is that both your 918s are quite different from both of mine.

Mine have a darker grey hood, with silver base, and a red step on button.

What color are the power switches on yours? Mine have red switches

The shelf is a scuff plate for when rolling the machine on its rear wheels on non carpeted floors. (so back of machine wouldn't gouge floor)

I thought all 913s/18s etc had them. Maybe not.

I think the 918 went under more changes than any other Hoover in its run.

electrolux~137 · May 27, 2011

Hi Brandon

I =think= the on-off switches are white on both of them but will have to check to make sure. I know at least one of them is white, and does appear to be original.


The 918 without the scuff plate did not come with one, so maybe it never had one or maybe it was removed for some reason.

The cord is identical on both -- 3-wire, ribbed black with a molded 3-prong plug; and the handle release buttons are also the same on both, as you can see.

One other difference --- one has a plastic handle grip and the other one does not. Again, I don't know if the one that hasn't got one never did, or if it went missing somewhere along the way.


When I go out there tomorrow I'll take a closer look and also jot down the serial numbers.

hoovercelebrity · May 28, 2011

I would wager that the darker of the two probably also doesn't have a handle grip. If that's the case, then that's the earlier of the cleaners. Those cleaners were made for a long time... When they transitioned from model 913 to 918, perhaps they hadn't changed the color they were using (to use up old stock?). Same goes with the handle grip. Model 913s didn't ever have them from the factory. I believe that's something which was added to the model 918 somewhere in its run.

Fabulous machines, and they sound very different from a Convertible. Much more of a "grumble" to them, almost like it has bad bearings in it. But that's just how they sound. Very heavy, too. But excellent carpet cleaners!

Thanks for sharing!

F

electrolux~137 · May 28, 2011

Here's another photo I overlooked. You can see that the darker machine is the one with the handle grip. You can also see that they both have white on-off switches. It's harder to see in the darker machine but if you look closely you can see a white 'glimmer' where the switch would be. I'll take some more photos tomorrow and, as I said, also get the serial numbers.

Automatic-Shift · May 28, 2011

Fred

Thanks for your insight, and your knowledge of Hoover is always impressive. I agree that back in the UK these were probably old stock parts that were continued in use for years. Sometimes, it's hard to date them. Ron

kirbyclassiciii · May 28, 2011

The 918 would date roughly between 1968 and 1978, being replaced from 1979-83 by the U7037. Hoover serial # format used in the UK/Europe, which commenced around 1966-67, was very easy to decipher as USA-made models would have to wait until 1987-88 to follow suit.

For example: 918-00901515 (where "009" would mean September 1970, and "01515" is the production sequence). Likewise, a serial # of U7037-90358161 would have the "903" meaning March 1979.

~Ben

portable · May 28, 2011

Here's a scan of a brochure for the 913 from 1967. I could only get a scan of the front of the brochure, because my &#^@$% scanner wants to make the back of the page into 2 photos and leaves out part of the text (as my Italian great-grandmother used to say "Soom of a Beech!"). 

 

So, anyway, here's the image of it. Note: no handle grip, as you guys suspected:

kirbyclassiciii · May 28, 2011

@portable
I say it is time for a new scanner that has a better capability to do larger scans for brochures of this size.

~Ben

portable · May 28, 2011

Hey Ben -

 

That reminds me. I owe you those pictures from the Eureka brochure. Any problem with you receiving 2 or 3 MB attachments on your personal email account? - J

jfalberti · May 28, 2011

Charles, those are awesome.

I remember when I was in Elementary School, Those were the vacuums the custodians used to vacuum the classrooms every evening. When I went to 6th grade, they replaced those Hoovers with commercial Royals. I would love to have one of those Hoovers, and am keeping a careful eye out to find one. Thanks for the trip down Memory Lane.

Joe

kirbyclassiciii · May 28, 2011

@portable
I had no problem getting the four pages of that brochure, John.

All the best to you on the Hoover 913 brochure...

~Ben

electrolux~137 · May 28, 2011

Here are some more photos of the two 918s.

kirbyclassiciii · May 29, 2011

The serial #s that you found indicate these were perhaps finished in the USA because they do not match the UK-style serial # format. I'd think the U7037 is the only one where Hoover in the USA bought directly from its UK arm - unless, of course, I'm missing out on a few nooks/crannies there.

~Ben

Automatic-Shift · May 31, 2011

Ben

Thanks for your input, as it is so helpful too. What I was thinking was true, and you verified it. Thanks, Ron

A pair of Hoover 918s

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