Celebratory Celebrity Find!

[hoovercelebrity]

A few weeks ago I was looking on Craigslist, and happened to click on an ad... I IMMEDIATELY knew what I saw lurking in the background of the first picture.

[this post was last edited: 4/7/2013-22:03]

 

[hoovercelebrity]

There was another picture on the Craigslist .. my heart started beating... email sent to the seller - confirmed pickup the next day for 1:30 PM.

 

[hoovercelebrity]

Okay.

In the car and safe with the other few plastivacs that immediately went into the trash... FILTHY and from a somewhat nasty house that just reeked of grease/fried foods; thus the sent that was now permeating my car. 

 

[hoovercelebrity]

OMG!!!

It's the Model S3237 Celebrity 'Electronic'!!  A total diamond in the rough.  I knew I had my work cut out for me...


 

 

[hoovercelebrity]

Apart it came.. I was so excited about it, I forgot to document my dis-assembly.  I only started taking photos as reminders of how to reassemble it.  Just about everything either went through the dishwasher or got scrubbed manually in the sink and hot, soapy water.

 

[hoovercelebrity]

Here's what makes it an 'electronic' model... A printed circuit board in the powerhead that turns the powerhead into a 2-speed powerhead.  There's a high, and low speed light (green) and a "check belt" and "overheat" light (red).  I was SOOOO careful with this board, not to break it while taking it out. 

 

[hoovercelebrity]

Ugh, that nasty, nasty hose... I spent about 2.5 hours scrubbing every friggin' inch of that hose by hand... came out really nice, but geez, what a pain in the @$$.

 

[hoovercelebrity]

Finally!

Back together after about a week.  I had ordered some new front casters and other misc. items -- I also wanted everything to dry out really well.  It just shines.  I think that layer of dirt really protected it from getting too beat-up.  

 

[hoovercelebrity]

Another glam-shot... just a beautiful vacuum cleaner.  I've wanted one of this model for a long time... it's not a 10 by any means -- perhaps some day I'll find one that's in even nicer shape.  Mine is missing the tool caddy and color-matched tools, oh well.  This cleaner really grooms the carpet nicely.  Any time I've ever taken a Celebrity QS motor apart, it always seems just a **bit** noisier upon reassembly.  I think the reason for this is the fans in the motor are rather thin and can easily get bent and then go a little bit out of round.  Oh well, I'm still very pleased...

 

[hoovercelebrity]

The sun was coming in through the window upstairs at just the right angle and totally hit this machine.. I had to take this picture.

 

[suckolux]

You lucky boy! Great machine, great find, now ready to live again!

 

[brandon_w_t]

Gorgeous machine! You did a superb job restoring it! I cant get into detail like you can. Every machine you work on turns into a crown jewel! Congrats on the great find!

 

[mielesalesman]

Very nice!!

Great find Fred! I have one just like it. I may even have an extra tool caddy in the proper colour. I'll let you know if I find it. I always thought it was crazy how you have to have a working bulb in this p/n for it to work.

 

[dial-a-nap]

So it's just the power head with electronic control? I was thinking it was like a Dimension electronic. How fun - more to play with! I can see where a two speed power head would be nice.

 

[hoovercelebrity]

I always thought it was crazy how you have to have a working

Ugh, I know.. not their smartest move... every now and then at Hoover, we'd get one of those PNs in for service and all it needed was a new bulb.  Silly. 


 


And yay! for maybe extra attachment caddies! 


 


Yeah, Greg -- no variable speed motor.  Just the upgraded PN.  I believe this pre-dates the Dimension 1000, barely.  There was a date-stamp on the powerhead motor of 10-10-1983. 

 

[vac_whisperer]

A great find and it looks like new now!

 

[dustin]

I have the non-electronic version of the same machine, only in green. I laugh at the "quiet series" label! Mine runs great and has tons of suction, but is LOUD! Nice job on it! It looks great!

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Great cleaner!

And, great restore. They are wonderful. Enjoy!!

 

[mieles7]

Where did you get that neon Hoover sign? I'd love something like that for my room.

 

[hoovercelebrity]

Where did you get that neon Hoover sign?

I worked at one of the Hoover factory stores for about 5 years while I was in college.  When Hoover was sold to TTI, and TTI closed all of the stores, my former manager saved the sign for me.  It hung in the window for years and years, and it was always one of my most favorite things in the store. 


 


Here's a shot of the store after we had decorated it for Christmas one year, that's the sign hanging in the window.

 

[portable]

<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva; font-size: medium;">Great find, Fred. If Hoover "comes back" someday, I hope they REALLY work on producing good canisters again. There's a real need for them. I hope they make them quieter this time around. I had a Spirit that was ear-splitting-loud. - J</span>

 

[alexhoovers94]

Wow

Fred, that came up really nice, good to see you saved it from a grubby home.
did you clean this outside or in the garage? Since it came from such a mucky house?

 

[kirby505]

All i can is WOW!!! Great find and your restoration skills AMAZING!!! Wish you the best in finding more Hoovers!!!  Have a great night!


David Kahn


kirby505

 

[kirbyvertibles]

Wow great find! No wonder mine doesn't come on. No light bulb installed, boy i'm glad I read this

 

[cam2s]

Wow!

You don't see those electronic quadraflex powerheads every day! Congrats on an amazing find and an amazing restoration!

 

[kenmore81]

Awsome Fred!...a friend of my dad has one n he wont part with it ive offered him $400.00 n still he said no and he won it in a drawing at the local hardware store Xmas 1983 I think he said...he said I can have whe he dies..hes 86 lol . But his looks likes yours first did.

 

[jfalberti]

That's an awesome machine Fred

Congratulations.  I'm glad to see you rescued it.

 

[durango159]

WOW!!

When I saw its condition in the car, I was worried. You did a FANTASTIC Restore on that. It looks terrific!! Your entire collection looks terrific.

Congratulations on the terrific find! Enjoy, I hope your parts come through ok.

I think Mielesalesman will definitely take care of you. I got a gorgeous Hoover Celebrity Elite IV power head from him. It's perfect!! Eventually I'll get my Hoover Celebrity Elite IV suction unit from another collector whos working on it, and they will be a great team!

 

[gmerkt]

Notice the lint in the PC board components in one of the pics. I've seen burned up boards due to lint build-up, so it's important for people to clean that out from time to time.

A couple of years ago, I was able to get the light green tool caddy from Hesco, then last year I tried to get blue and they were all gone. You might contact them to see if they have one in any color (which could then be painted).