Andy Griffith Show

[charles~richard]

I am just now watching an old episode of The Andy Griffith Show where Barney decides to leave the police department to sell vacuum cleaners door to door --- I tuned in about 10 minutes late but saw Barney walking down Main Street carrying a Hoover Convertible! Since it's a black and white episode I am not sure which model it is, but from the color contrast between the hood and motor housing it looks like the two-tone pink and white one. This is the first time I've seen this episode.

 

[vacman]

Barney Fife's Hoover Convertible

The name Hoover was never mentioned but you couldn't mistake that vacuum. I'm surprised because years before on I Love Lucy they nearly flaunted the Hoover line. Interesting.

 

[charles~richard]

Exactly ==

== re Barney's Hoover and Lucy's product placement. Since she did some print ads for Hoover, I'd say it's a safe bet that there was some kind of commercial tie-in on "I Love Lucy" once she started plugging Hoover. There is one episode in particular, I don't remember all the details offhand, but she is vacuuming with her Hoover while talking to Ethel and she does all this business with the hose and attachments. It was a very elaborate bit with the vacuum cleaner, not just cleaning the carpet but doing the sofa, lampshade, etc.

 

[ohio_tuec]

At one time, yes. Lest we forget the "Handy Dandy" (1952 Westinghouse Dynamatic) vacuum cleaner. That same cleaner made an appearance in a later episode as well. I also recall seeing a Westinghouse upright in the episode where Ricky gives Lucy a black eye. They had a contract with Westinghouse at one point. Somewhere I have that machine.

 

[charles~richard]

I have the "Handy Dandy" Westinghouse tank also!

In fact I found it in a thrift shop in L.A. - I have often wondered if it was the same one! haha

 

[vac-o-matic]

Barney's Convertible

Last night when I went to bed, Andy Griffith was on and it was the episode with the convertible. It must've been model 68 because it had the handle grip and color matched handle. The squad car was also a '61 Ford so that would be the time this model was running. Oh, the things we pay attention to!

 

[sukething]

Does anyone remember?

There is one particular episode of the first colored version of "I Love Lucy" or this maybe the time that when it was "The Luscielle Ball Show" not sure. Ethel still lived with her I believe. But she spilled a huge bag of coins all over the kitchen floor and she used, I think, Hoover 28 to pick them all up. I think you could here them going into the machine..



David