Convertibles rare around here now?

[fan-of-fans]

Convertibles aren't common much here anymore. I remember several years ago at Habitat there was a blue and white one with headlight from the 60s I think and another that was aqua/light gray. Both metal models. I also saw a lime green Hoover Convertible Deluxe model with the gingham green bag in great shape. Should have gotten it.

As a kid I found an orange/white plastic base Convertible in the trash once. Parents let me pick it up. I thought it was older than it was for some reason and I was afraid to plug it in, so I never used it. I wished I had kept it, I bet it worked.

I used to play with one at a place my mom used to clean. They had a beige plastic base C Convertible and a Kirby. I was very afraid of the Kirby, because I figured it would be really loud and scary because of how it looked. I did use the Convertible a few times though. I liked the low rumble it made. I guess that's partly why I like my Eureka 1934A.

I have seen a few old Eurekas turn up lately but no Hoover. Oh and I did see a maroon/white plastic base Convertible at an estate sale but it was in very poor shape.

 

[broomvac]

I see them semi-often at the shops in my area. Most are too beat up for my standards.

 

[huskyvacs]

I still have the turbo model, or whatever they called it, power surge i think, that i found in the garbage dump at the trailer park in 2010. never seen another one since. but i still have that same one but I have not touched it since 2010.

 

[huskyvacs]

Here's the video of it from when I was 19, fresh out of the dump. Sorry it was 2011 when i got it, not 2010.

 

[kirbyvertibles]

That's about a circa 1985 kmart model. Very good model!

 

[oreck_xl]

Everything is relative. The last time Hoover sold the convertible in their residential lineup was 1992 ala the dowdy RS model which ironically I happened to see at a thrift store yesterday. It was missing the bottom plate and brushroll and they wanted $30.99. I passed on that one but I did find a Dial-A-Matic U6039-030 in EXCELLENT shape right next to it, so that one came home with me ;-)

 

[dysonman1]

When Hoover brought out the "Elite" lineup, many people got rid of their Convertible for the new light-weight elite models. Especially after the Elites got on-board tools. The type C bag, used in the older Convertibles also help do them in. Once Hoover went bagless in the late 1990's, people were dumping the old Convertible left and right.

 

[human]

Yeah, most people have been on the bagless plastivac treadmill for the past 15 or 20 years, so fewer and fewer Convertibles are still in service, not because they wore out but because their owners didn't know any better.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

I rarely see them in my travels, too

But, just yesterday, in the Philadelphia burbs, I scored a "mint condition" Mint green Decade 80........... under $10.00. I have both shades of green, one is from the 'vault'.
Amazing how people dump things. I was told, AT Hoover, that Elite was never 'intended' to replace Convertible. But, they couldn't make them fast enough. The onboard tools helped a lot. Too bad they never designed an onboard Convertible. THat would have been a sight, I'm sure.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Of course, some of like them so much that

we KEEP them, STILL use them. That could be why we seldom see them 'out' .

 

[oreck_xl]

"Too bad they never designed an onboard Convertible"

True, but at least we had a Concept 1 with onboard tools when Hoover sold the final incarnation - the PowerMax. I RARELY see them anymore and when I do, the hose end that plugs into the machine is snapped off and the bases are horribly gouged. Pity they weren't produced longer. Much better build quality than their Elite counterpart IMHO. Imagine a Dial-A-Matic with onboard tool storage? It could've been the Dial-A-Matic II!

 

[ultralux88]

Still very common around here, but most are quite thrashed at this point, I'll save a nice one if it comes along, but I tend to avoid the more common machines and focus on the things you just not see much. I have nothing against the Convertible, other than simply not being a challenge to find for the most part.

 

[fan-of-fans]

I think I did see a PowerMax today at an estate sale. It's back was too me, but I saw that Power Surge handle and a hose hanging off the side. It was in a closet in the bedroom, not for sale.

I still see a fair number of Elites here and there. Once in a while a PowerMax comes up.

 

[real1shep]

There was a member here that was moving across country and he tried to tell the membership that he was liquidating his vacs. Somebody said something off-color to him and that put him off. He was north of Seattle a bit and I arranged to meet him at some mutually agreed upon rest stop. He had a retro Connie new in a box and I really wanted that. However, he ambushed me with other vacs in the trunk...one was a bronze G which I snapped up as well and then we got to the HOOVERS.


 


I know nothing about collectable Hoovers other than a few comments I read here. He had some 60's and 70's convertibles and gave me my choice. I liked the lines of the 1070 the best so I bought that. He looked surprised that I didn't buy a 60's model.  I don't remember if it was the one with the red switch and the Hoover logo proudly displayed......I try not to think about it.


 


But compared to the balance of the 70's Royal 880 I'm using now, the 1070 feels like pushing around a 20lb weight with a stick.  I still like to run the Hoover though for its unique sound.


 


Kevin

[this post was last edited: 4/7/2018-02:34]

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Kevin, oddly, the 1070 only

weighs 17 lbs! How heavy is your bag? Perhaps it needs to be changed. Or, perhaps you have the rug setting at the wrong setting. For instance, you might have the vacuum on "low" while operating it on thick pile, or, even shag.
On page 4 of your owner's manual, it gives explicit directions. "To select the desired rug position........".
I hope this helps you enjoy you Hoover "Convertible" with ease.
John

 

[real1shep]

Thanks John...it feels heavier than 17lbs....but I know it's not. I don't know how to describe this rug...not quite shag, but almost. I've tried different setting...it seems to be best on HIGH. I don't ever let my bags get more than half full. It doesn't like SHAG and NORMAL doesn't seem to be quite right either. The vac does really well on a very short nap kid's rug set on INDOOR OUTDOOR.


 


I have no dog in this fight....in fact I would LIKE the 1070 to outperform the Royal 880....but it's not happening. The 1070 wasn't exactly free.....and the 880 a mere $25. Nothing will make me hate Hoover however because I grew up with them and had one all my single yrs.


 


Kevin