Convertible U4173

[petek]

I picked up this U4173 yesterday at Value Village but the zipper is kaput and the little plastic hanger that comes out of the bag and clips to the spring is also broken. Otherwise it runs well, still needs a cleaning. What year and color is it? and if anyone has a spare checkered bag that goes with this one and wants to sell it please let me know.

btw why is it that every vacuum I find seems to have splashes of paint on it.. LOL

 

[myhooverco]

Pete...

Wow what a great find. This is a 1980-81 model. It still used a metal height adjuster that was later made in plastic. This model was near the bottom of the line. I just found one this summer and recently gave it away to someone who needed a good vacuum (she has dogs and small kids).

The bag is very common and used extensively throughout the 80's. I would check with a vac shop as they may have an NOS one or a nice used one. I do not have one at the moment. I do have a few used BOJACK bags, but they do not look as nice. If you can live with a broken zipper, you can easily fix the bag holder. Just remove the existing plastic holder and put in a wooden dowel rod. Just cut the rod to fit and voila, the bag will hang straight. The zipper can be held with safety pins until you can find a replacement.

The paint on the hood is easy to remove with a little Brasso. I too find paint splashed on a good many of my "finds". I think that when people go to paint, they use the vacuum first then it sets out in anticipation of cleaning up afterwards. In the process, it gets paint spilled on it.

Thanks for sharing the pic of your newest find...CONGRATS!

When you get her all cleaned up...post a pic. I would love to see her all shined up!

--Tom

 

[petek]

Thanks for the info Tom, much appreciated.

here's a pic of my others while I'm in the pic taking mood. The rest are all Canadian made. I particularly like the denim model.

 

[myhooverco]

Wow! I like your collection!!! Very impressive. Your green and brown Convertible is so unique too. Did your denim Convertible come with a hand grip or was that added later by someone else...ours came plain. Who would not love that sunset orange Convertible...what a great color!

--Tom

 

[retromom]

Value-able Vacuum!!

Great find and great collection Pete! We've started nicknaming Value Village "Valueless Village" around here. The one we visited on Tuesday had a couple of junky Bissells. You are so fortunate to have one that gets some pretty neat stuff.

The pattern on the new find seems to have a bit of a houndstooth pattern to it. BTW does that denim bag on the Hoover have a couple of little back pockets? ;-)

Congrats again!

 

[swingette]

yes, that sherbet-colored one is nice! was there an american equivalent? 70s b-line? thanks.

 

[74simon]

Broken zip

Pete, are the zip teeth missing/broken, or has the fastnener just come off? If it's the latter, it can be fixed fairly easily. If you need to know how to do this, I will post another thread about it.

Si

 

[myhooverco]

David...here is our version of the sherbet colored one...the model 714 in sunset orange...ours had the matching handle grip.

 

[hoovercelebrity]

What's that?

Tom,

What's that odd-looking green model on the Constellation box? Is it European? (I notice the lettering down the left side of the bag)

~Fred

 

[scott55405]

Great group shot, Pete! Tom or anybody, have you ever seen a 1020 style machine like that with a green bag, instead of the tan?

The denim unit was my very first Hoover. I'd seen it at an estate sale, and was telling Jeff Parker about it on Hooverland. He made the strong suggestion that I go back and get it, that it was unusual and somewhat rare. Mine is a Canadian made unit as well. It has a handgrip but it's not out right now and I can't remember if it's white or blue to match the hood.

 

[myhooverco]

Fred...

It is a "ranger" of sorts...it is a US model from the later 70's with the step on switch in the hood...model U4014 built in April 1977 according to the serial number...built in UK.

--Tom

 

[seamusuk]

U4014

Hey Fred/Tom

They didnt change much for the US model- this is my UK version, a friend has a different handle waiting for me as the hooks are broken/replaced on this one

Seamus

 

[seamusuk]

Do the shake and vac..........

This model will always be notorious over here as the Shake and Vac cleaner....sure ya must have seen the ad lol .

This one dates from March 78

 

[swingette]

Stale smells up here, often come from DOWN THERE...

get the male back-up singers! someone once suggested that her (woman im advert) carrying-on like a looney MIGHT be due to that fat spliff burning on the table...

 

[swingette]

PS...

Watch...

 

[seamusuk]

Dont you just wanna shout.......

You DONT use the low setting on green shag pile ya stupid woman!!!!!!

LOL
Seamus

 

[seamusuk]

Lenses

Tom

I see yours has the unfortunate lens discolouration - the U4014 (and the U4002 that preceded it) are VERY prone to this. I have no idea why- maybe it another case of Hoover not getting the plastic quite right

Seamus

 

[seamusuk]

Export models......

I have a U4003 made in the US for the UK- there are a few differences from the US version-see the pics

1 The lens is plain and it states "Made in USA" above the emblem on the hood

 

[seamusuk]

Next

The switch is of the uk type- also the cord running through the handle has an extra layer of sleaving- im guessing both these changes were necessary due to the higher voltage and in order for it to comply with UK safety standards??-

 

[seamusuk]

Rating sticker

Obviously the US version would have been stamped onto the converter track!- this one dates to November 74- was the U4003 still current in the US by then????

 

[seamusuk]

One more.....

In order to comply to UK radio/tv supression standards it has a UK type interference suppressor fitted .

 

[ohio_tuec]

I have the U.S. equivalent, with "Custom Convertible" written on the lens. I just love the bag graphics on this machine. It seems as if the switch cover on the U.K. version is made of plastic, with a different bag hook. U.S. models would have to wait a few years more, when they changed to the sliding switch. I do like the red toggle switch though. Looks just like those used on the first Dial-A-Matics in 1963.

 

[seamusuk]

Switch

looks like this inside....

 

[seamusuk]

other side.....

Showing cord grip etc

 

[vacuumkid3]

Seamus...

How in the world does the supression thing work? I have always been curious. My parents (or someone...) used to remember that vacuums would make the TV go crazy! Does the supression work? Is it just a capacitor? Just curious...

~~K~~

P.S. Nice pics!

 

[seamusuk]

Kyle

Hey

Im not too hot on the techie side of this, but basicslly tv/radio interference is caused by the sparking of the brushes against the commutator. The supressor is basically a smoothing capacitor to counteract this.

All UK Hoovers from the late 50s onwards were fitted with suppression, and there were kits fitted by Hoover service stations to older machines(these were fitted by the switch in the handle normally- the supressors were mini versions!). Strictly speaking it was illegal to cause interference but I doubt this was often if ever enforced.

I dont know if any US machines have anything similar? I know the 1010 and 707 Convertibles I have dont appear to.

Hope this helps!

Seamus

 

[myhooverco]

Seamus...

I think some of our commercial models had the radio supression on the motors. The household units did not. I can remember in the 1970s, when we did not have cable tv, my mom running the Hoover Convertible and the tv going "snowy" until she turned it off. This also happened when she used the can opener or the mixer in the kitchen. I am not sure why this happened.

Also my U4014 does not have a headlight. The lens is opaque and there is no bulb. I am not sure why. It seems very original to me. I loved the Shake and Vac commercial. We had that same stuff here. I am not sure if you can still buy it or not. We called it Carpet Fresh or Love My Carpet. It is nasty stuff for any vacuum to deal with. Thanks for your close up photos of the wiring. The UK models were definitely better built than our US counterparts.

--Tom

 

[74simon]

What an odd machine! Surely sending those to the USA was like sending snow to the North Pole! I'd love to know why Hoover ended up importing them from over here - do you have any idea why, Tom?

Si

 

[myhooverco]

Si...

I have no idea why Hoover wanted to sell UK models here unless the UK just had too many in stock. Any ideas on this one out there in Vacuumland? This model has the aluminum handle, bag and foot switch just like all other UK models. It is very well built but it was not a top line model. I know that the UK got some US built models along the way. It is just one of those great Hoover mysteries!

--Tom