A Rare Model Restored

[vacbear58]

Several years ago a Morphy Richards upright cleaner cropped up on ebay. I had only seen one other, which was on the Simply Switch On website. I was pleased to win it for £10 although not so happy when I saw it. It had been stored in a shed for many years, the handgrip and flex were perished and the handle, which should have been chrome was completely cover with rust. It lurked in the back of my loft for years for I really do not have the skill to restore it.

Members of automaticwasher may recall references to the "Spa of Neil & Bob". They have done many tremendous restorations on washer cabinets, so I thought I would give them a try on restoring this old cleaner.

Here it is, I think the results speak for themselves

 

[vacbear58]

The other side

Showing the MR logo. Morphy Richards were most famous for their "Senior" iron, so for many years a soleplate was part of their logo

 

[vacbear58]

Here it is running

After a re-wire it runs very sweetly

 

[vacbear58]

I presume it is a Eureka

It appears that virtually every cleaner (excepting Electrlux) sold in the UK was designed in the US. I an guessing that, because of the shape of the handle it is a Eureka. Here is a close up of the front - not the iron logo again. Height selector on the right

 

[vacbear58]

Another top view

Unfortunatly it was not possible to get the handle re-chromed but Neil did a wonderful job sanding the handle and painting it silver

 

[vacbear58]

Underneath

I am sorry this picture is a bit fuzzy. The height selector is on the left. Note how the central fan chamber goes out to the right to meet the bag. By the way, despite the bag being stored with dust in it for years it has no holes or fraying. Bob kindly washed it by hand and once dry even ironed it Although there are no beater bars on the brushroll the bristles are pretty stiff, so it has the typical "Hoover Brushroll" sound

 

[vacbear58]

Handgrip

It was touch and go whether we could re-wire the handle and switch as the hand grip seemed to be so far gone. But Bob and Neil managed (with much WD40) to get it released - teh hand grip is in two parts. The origional flex was dangerously perished and in fact the cleaner origionally came with a three core flex (cord) although the ground had been cut back on the two pin plug that was on it when I got it. Thankfully it is now 100% safe with new, rubber (horray!) flex. The cores split at the handle fork and each enter the body where the forks are attached

 

[vacbear58]

Final Glamour Shot

I cannot express how pleased I am with the job that Bob and Neil have done. I have not seen another example of this cleaner apart from the one on SSO, so I am pleased to be the custodian of this one

 

[electrolux~137]

Wow, what a stunning vacuum cleaner. I **LOVE** the curved handle! It gives the machine an almost "cartoon" appearance, like a sweeper you'd see in an old Tom and Jerry cartoon!

Great job.

 

[eurekastar]

Very cool art deco look! I have no idea who designed that vacuum but it kind of reminds me of an old Singer upright.

 

[portable]

So, Alistair -

An absolutely stunning restoral job. HOW did they reconstruct the handle grip? This always seems so impossible! Did they carve it from new rubber, or????

 

[aeoliandave]

Really beautiful sculptured shapes, Al. The base, the 'S' handle and the sexy grip. Well worth the trip to the Spa, I'd say.

Dave

 

[joe22]

looks a lot like a ge or westinghouse. awesome vac !!!

 

[junior1975]

OUTSTANDING.

Al,

That is one of the best restorations I have seen. I wonder what they could do with my 1334!!!

Beautiful addition to your already awesom ecollection.

Clark.

 

[crevicetool]

Great job!!!!

Gotta agree with everyone else.....that handle does it for me too!!!

thanks,

Rick

 

[vacbear58]

Thanks for the kind comments

I just wish I had "before" pics so you could see just how good a restoration it was.

Clark
Bob & Neil live outside Birmingham and I am sure they would be pleased to help out - I think they may use a Junior as their daily driver - their home is immiculate I might add. They certainly do appreciate Hoover uprights, but just at the moment it sounds like they have a backlog of washers queuing up.

Just the clarify, the hand grip is the origional. If I remember correctly they told me applied a great deal of WD40 to it, which not only loosened the retaining screws but "mositurised" the dry and perished hand grip - it is in two parts which enclose the top of the handle.

If I have some time this weekend I am will do some footage for YouTube
Al

 

[hygiene903]

Beautiful Restoration, Al!

And I agree with Joe, it reminds me of a Westinghouse, GE, or Premier. Congrats om a nice find!
Jeff

 

[74simon]

Fantastic!

Alistair, I'm so glad that you've gotten this machine restored, Neil and Bob have done a stunning job on the old gal! Don't suppose you have a 'before' picture as well? Think I vaguely remember it on Ebay...

The handle is intriguing - was the idea to make it easier to get the cleaner under furniture, or was it an early back-saver design, istr another manufacturer (Electrolux?) doing something similar in the 1990s.

Simon