Canadian Hoover Model 281

[arh1953]

My sympathies to the Templeton family

What a first class lady Mrs. Templeton was, and it shows in her daughter. Everytime you use or look at that beautiful machine, you will think of her. The nostalgic color scheme and the automobile like styling work so well. I too would like to hear something about the life of Margaret Templeton. I'm so glad you got that vacuum.

 

[electroluxxxx]

The suction on the convertable vacs with the adaptor that you put on the bottom plate I think has a higher level ov suction. the 28 is on the low suction side but is very durable.

 

[myhooverco]

Dave...

Beautiful machine. I just love the maple leaf on the bag. The Hoover Historical Center has a Canadian model 150 (not sure of the model number) with the same maple leaf design bag on it. Your hose is a "Veriflex" hose from the early 1950s and is much better than the original cloth hose. It is more flexible and easier to use. I am glad that the machine is in good hands where it will be appreciated. Thanks for posting the nice photos of it.

As for the side conversion...again just my two cents...the side conversion was a little stronger than the rear conversion Convertible. However, the Convertible pulled easily along behind you unlike the side converter where you had to tug at the machine to get it to move. I guess you can't have everything. And yes, those 28s were very long lived units!

Thanks again for posting those great photos!

--Tom

 

[aeoliandave]

Thanks Tom. The Variflex hose came from the parts bin and as you can see has no tool/wand end. It goes so well with the 281. They will remain together. As for more appropriate wands & tools...

Would someone post a picture of what the tools and wands for this should look like? Maybe I have some lurking about and don't know it yet.

A suction reading at the converter inlet registers 15" but that's not what these 'Beats as it Sweeps as it Cleans' uprights were all about. Although mine has the slogan 'The HOOVER makes Rugs Last Longer' cast into the fanbelt bottom plate.

Dave

 

[hoover28]

good find

cant beat a clean one owner.



Chris

 

[camelotshadow]

That vac is too skinny

Fatten her up!

LOL

 

[aeoliandave]

The tools are coming home...

Worked a 13 hour day, came home to an email with pictures. They were found in a box at the top of a closet.

The tool set in brown bakelite with hose blower converter plate, too.

 

[aeoliandave]

Thankyou, Margaret Templeton and May.

Hose with small tape fix and the tool carryall.

Wow!

Another weekend drive to London.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

I'd like to think....

That she's looking on, very happy that the treasured machine is still being "cared for".... as she did. ...sending a prayer to her..................

 

[charles~richard]

beautiful set. btw the wands were brushed aluminum, one curved, one straight.

Hoover, ever the innovator, was one of the first companies to use aluminum for wands rather than chromed steel.

Kirby has the distinction of being the first vacuum cleaner (that I know of) to have plastic wands and attachments. But when plastics of that type were first introduced to the public in the late 1940s after World War II, these new materials were considered Wonders of the Modern Age!

I have a really neat article from "Tool Engineering Magazine" from around 1952 that shows the "all-new" Kirby attachments in gray plastic, as opposed to the former dark gray (and previously black) rubberized-fiber sets. It wasn't until quite a bit later, generally the late 1950s, that plastic became equated with cheap, due to the large and sudden influx of cheap goods from overseas.

 

[aeoliandave]

Picked up the tools, hose & caddy today

Then she said "Would you like to take Mom's Hoover Polisher as well?"

Certainly.

 

[aeoliandave]

The hose is purely decorative now since it is petrified and cracked open at the bend. I'll do what she and her Hoover Repair Depot would have done and graft that tool fitting (it's too large diametre to fit a Connie or Portable wand) onto the brown Variflex hose, keep the cloth hose hanging on display.

Fitted the bakelite tools and the converter to the caddy hoops. It's made of heavy cardstock at least 1/8" thick. Only things I need to complete it are the two wands...and a Manual.

 

[aeoliandave]

another angle on the Tool Caddy

The hose must have hung on the hook for some time. Visually, except for that tape, it's perfect, as are the caddy & tools.

Some of the rest of the story about Margaret Templeton. Her husband predeceased her 5 years ago at the age of 90. Living alone in her own house she began to take in stray cats. Apparently her mind began to go astray as well; there were over 50 cats running loose and free in the house and as you can imagine most of the ancient befouled furniture had to be taken to the dump or burned along with all the linens and quilts, etc. The house is being gutted, fumigated and repainted for sale. Only things on the walls or in closets and cupboards were spared - thus the Hoovers' condition. Her daughter was about to move her to her home when Margaret probably decided to let loose her mortal coil. Good for you, Lady Templeton - Independant to the Last, says I.

 

[camelotshadow]

What is too many?

I know I have too many
vacs
plants
cast iron pans
etc

The lady couldn't say no to a cat in need...
took on more than she could take care of

LOL

All of us have at least a dozen vacs
LOL

I have at least 4 per room myself....

LOL

Least vacs don't need a litter box

LOL

Good thing she kept the vac away from them

 

[arh1953]

Excuse the rambling please

I love cats but I have a limit as to how many I would want. When I get my life back I might get a little brother for TomTiger, but he is stressed from the current situation. It is a shame that Mrs. Templeton let her kind nature get the best of her, and little can be saved when animals of any kind go all over. I see those nightmare stories on Animal Planet and had to quit watching. Back to the generosity of May, and Dave's eternal good luck, wow, does not get any better than that, huh? I love that shampooer/polisher!