Another little dream realised!

[vintagehoover]

I got a new (old) cleaner today. Can you identify it?

(and if I've already told you, you can't play! )

 

[crevicetool]

Rats!

Lets me out!

 

[aeoliandave]

One of those rare double 'D' Ddono sweepers?

"Ddono - do no harm to Milady's carpets" - famous not often heard slogan of the Do-Knot Vacuum Sweeper Company.

What did I win?

prankish Davy.

 

[vintagehoover]

Ok...how about...now?

 

[kirbyotronic]

Is it some kind of Hoover?

 

[vintagehoover]

Alex...getting warmer...

 

[thevacuumman]

is it a minor or a duster

 

[vintageroyal611]

Hoover Duster/Minor?

 

[kirbyotronic]

I kind of was wondering if it was a Duster/Minor too!

 

[vintagehoover]

Yay!

Tyler won, but both he and Matt posted within the same minute, so congrats, guys - you both win something so magical, it's barely perceptible to the average human. But you feel it, don't you?

Anyway, yes, I've finally found something I've been hoping to obtain for for many years - Hoover's first-ever cylinder cleaner, the Minor Model 200.

Now, you may be thinking, 'Didn't he have one of those already!?' Well sort of. I have a Hoover Minor 200B - but although they look identical at a glance, there is barely a shared component between the 1930 Minor 200 and the 1934 Minor 200B. Motor, impeller, main casting, runners, switch, bag...all different!

 

[vintagehoover]

I wish I could post some comparison pics of the 200 and the 200B side-by-side, but the 200B's on loan to the museum until the end of January

 

[vintagehoover]

The bag - the 200B's bag is bigger to allow for greater airflow.

Note the words 'An Empire Product' - between 1919-32, all our Hoovers were imported from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. In 1932, the Hoover Factory in Perivale, West London opened, and from that point on, the Minor was manufactured there.

This is an earlier, Canadian-made Minor.

 

[vintagehoover]

Beautiful toggle-switch! As far as I know, the American Duster Model 200 never had a motor-mounted switch?

 

[vintagehoover]

The impeller, held on with a rounded nut, rather than a belt pulley - aside from that and the switch, this is just a 575 motor, turned on its side!

 

[vintagehoover]

Ratings plate, and model/serial number:

 

[vintagehoover]

That concludes the pictures for now - it was already dark when I got home this evening, and the only light available was the horrible yellow glow from our energy-saving bulbs. I'll take some better pics sometime tomorrow, in natural daylight!

 

[portable]

Beautiful, Jack....

Here in the states, the Minor/Duster is a rare critter. Such wonderful machines. Congratulations on your find. JL

 

[crevicetool]

I knew it all along - but was told NOT to play.

I don't feel nothin'!

Nice machine Jack!

 

[hoovercelebrity]

Jack-

You're correct about the switch. The Duster in the US has an inline switch on the cord. That's why I really had no idea what your picture was...!

I'm extremely lucky to have a Hoover Duster in my collection; it was a gift from Jeff Parker a few years back.

Yours is absolutely gorgeous! A true gem, indeed.
Where did it turn up?

~Fred

 

[luxg]

Jack, what a nice machine and so happy that one of your wants have been answered!! Did it arrive in that shape? It looks beautiful!!

Terry

 

[joe22]

awesome find, major congrats

joe

 

[a007kirbyman]

Jack & Minor...

Congrats, Jack.

It L@@Ks to be in very good condition.

hagd all

Bill

 

[akabent]

That is GORGEOUS and I am....

....throughly jealous. You truly have an amazing machine and deserve major congratulations for it. And, if you need, I will send my postal address. What a great find, enjoy!!
Rick

 

[vintagehoover]

Sorry for the delay, everyone - v. busy over Christmas, I'm sure you can all indentify!

John - it's pretty rare here, but it enjoyed a much longer production run in the UK. In the US, just 9004 were made in total, between 20th August and 18th November 1929. I don't have a production figure for the UK run, but it was made for 4 years, so I guess it would be quite a bit higher! Even so, it's taken me all this time to find one! The 200B was much rarer, that was just made for a short period in 1934.

Fred - I was pretty sure I'd never seen a Duster with the toggle-switch, so I thought I'd try and confuse you guys a little! The 200B has the inline switch, though...strange that they went back to the older style for that model!

I actually bought it from a guy who'd seen my 'Vintage Hoover Emporium' site, and was looking to rehome it. After some correspondence, I sent off the cheque, and was a little apprehensive that I might get nothing in return. Luckily, it arrived safely on Monday morning!

Terry - thanks! I gave the main casting a quick polish with some Autosol before I took the pics, but aside from that, it's just assembled straight from the shipping box. I don't think it's ever seen much use!

Joe and Bill - thank you! It's probably the best Christmas "gift" I'll get for quite a long time!

Rick - thanks! I don't trust the postal service, though...you better come and pick it up in person!

I've wanted a Hoover Minor since the first time I saw it on Paul Linnell's wonderful site, and reading that there were 2 versions, I naturally needed them both! I'm left with just 3 pre-war UK models to find; the 105, the 961 and the 972. Not really holding out much hope, but who knows? I've found all the others, so maybe those three are out there somewhere...

 

[caligula]

Wow!

That is truly beautiful.

Love to see pictures of this in various positions with hose and attachments. Also love to see it with the bag inflated.

You have quite a find there, enjoy it.

Alex Taber

 

[kenmore81]

Very Nice Present

That is a rare jem indeed Jack, Im glad it arrived safe and sound! Merry Christmas.

 

[vintagehoover]

Hi Alex, here's the best I could do at this late hour!

 

[vintagehoover]

...

 

[vintagehoover]

As for tools, here's an old photo of the 200B set up with tools. You can see how much bigger the bag is on the updated model, too!

I'll take better pics as soon as I have some time, space, and natural daylight!