Couldn't just leave it there...or...We're gonna need lots of braided cloth electric cording.

VacuumLand – Vintage & Modern Vacuum Enthusiasts

Help Support VacuumLand:

Once agan Dave

You have found an awsome piece of history! That is one good looking Hoover and in great condition, thank goodness it found its way to good hands.
BTW how is Jack I havn't seen him post anything lately?
Take care Davy!
 
Dave (and Charles)

A lot of the earlier Specials that were reconditioned at the factory had their wooden handles replaced with a newer handle of the era. The fact that they put one of the handles with those quirky strap thingies on it tells me that the machine was probably reconditioned sometime in the last 30's or early 40's.
It IS a cutie!
 
Sidebar with a vacuum related conclusion - keep reading.

Packing-taped to the handle of the Hoover was a plastic bag with this advert and a Popular Mechanics magazine inside.

The advert, while not dated, is of a later Hoover and not from the Pop Mech magzine but it is the same dimensions. Printed on a heavy glossy cardstock paper like cover material. Possibly National Geographic Magazine?

5-15-2010-22-34-32--aeoliandave.jpg
 
Now, as far as I can recall vacuum Companies did not generally advertise in Pop Sci or Pop Mech, being as how vacuums were being marketed to the Ladies of the home, not the gentlemen. :-)

In this January issue I did find this new Westinghouse being featured. I know there are at least a pair of guys that will be excited by this.

Dave

5-15-2010-22-53-54--aeoliandave.jpg
 
The Hoover in the first ad above is a model 700 and, yes, Hoover did advertise at that time. For quite a few years, they had the inside back cover and that's probably what you've got there.
 
The mystery thumbscrew is actually part of the original height adjustment. There was a metal piece that went from that bracket down to the real wheels which originally moved. You used that thumb screw and another one more on top to lock the rear wheels in the position you wanted.
 
Hey Dave:

Looks like a 425 to me. If it had originally been a wooden handled cleaner the base would have had the molded in part to hold the switch.
 
Thanks John. I really don't/didn't know much about early Hoovers as no one elderly in my family had one, or if they did it had long been replaced before I came along and Aunt Carol got her Constellation.

Another fine analysis of my Hybrid Hoover from my 'secret source':

"Hi again, Dave.
You’ll note the patent dates on the motor end in 1927 – during the run of the 543. It has to be a 543 motor since the motor housing has no switch housing ‘built in’ to it – the switch is in the handle (as were the switches on the last 543 models). Yet, the nozzle housing is a 541 (lack of agitator – only the ‘beating sweeping brush’). When they rebuilt it, they obviously used a 543 handle and motor assembly, and screwed the motor onto a 541 base/brush assembly. Your motor is turned the wrong way, suggesting a fan may have been replaced – the wording faces the rear exhaust opening. You also seem to be missing the pile height adjuster, it went through the middle of the ‘screw thingy’ and the large thumb screw ‘locked’ it into whatever position you selected. At some point, someone ‘unscrewed’ one of the bag holding screws and the vac shop that repaired it replaced it with a ‘bojack’ type – I’ve seem those odd bag holder screws in many ‘repaired’ machines – most ‘part houses’ carried them for the vac repair trade. All in all, you have a nice hybrid model. There actually were three versions of the 543 during its run – the first still had the switch next to the motor – the second had the curved handle and switch up top – the third had the curved handle with switch up top BUT the cord that ran down the handle actually ‘plugged’ into the side of the motor and not underneath the handle bail. I have all three ‘versions’ in my collection. You spent that $5 very well! Now to get you the actual height adjuster. You’ll note the patent dates on the motor end in 1927 – during the run of the 543. It has to be a 543 motor since the motor housing has no switch housing ‘built in’ to it – the switch is in the handle (as were the switches on the last 543 models). Yet, the nozzle housing is a 541 (lack of agitator – only the ‘beating sweeping brush’). When they rebuilt it, they obviously used a 543 handle and motor assembly, and screwed the motor onto a 541 base/brush assembly. Your motor is turned the wrong way, suggesting a fan may have been replaced – the wording faces the rear exhaust opening. You also seem to be missing the pile height adjuster, it went through the middle of the ‘screw thingy’ and the large thumb screw ‘locked’ it into whatever position you selected. At some point, someone ‘unscrewed’ one of the bag holding screws and the vac shop that repaired it replaced it with a ‘bojack’ type – I’ve seem those odd bag holder screws in many ‘repaired’ machines – most ‘part houses’ carried them for the vac repair trade. All in all, you have a nice hybrid model. There actually were three versions of the 543 during its run – the first still had the switch next to the motor – the second had the curved handle and switch up top – the third had the curved handle with switch up top BUT the cord that ran down the handle actually ‘plugged’ into the side of the motor and not underneath the handle bail. I have all three ‘versions’ in my collection. You spent that $5 very well! Now to get you the actual height adjuster – I think I have an extra around here on one of my ‘donor’ machines in the collection – it’s yours when ever you get time to visit. – I think I have an extra around here on one of my ‘donor’ machines in the collection – it’s yours when ever you get time to visit."

On the subject of renewing the brush tufts...which are worn to the point that I have to push and bottom out the roller mounts past the third indentation to meet the wire grill guards, leaving just enough clearance so the belt doesn't rub. But it does lift the carpet and leaves lovely groom tracks.

Examining how the bristles are wire-tied into the roller I can see that's a job I could do myself. Other roller brushes that are not cast-embedded in plastic usually have individual metal staples holding the looped bunch in place - like dusting brushes. Taking a wild guess and Hoover's early connection to horses and Fuller Brush would horse tail or mane hair be the thing to use? I know Sable and Boar are used in shaving brushes but that's much too soft of course. Brush tufts on a vacuum carpet roller are meant to be blunt cut and fairly stiff & resilient.

The rubber bumper strip, while still soft and shapely, has stretched a bit and sags along the front. After giving the aluminum a good cleaning I will bear no guilt for placing a strip of double-sided adhesive tape behind it so it won't slip and get pulled under the front, which would surely break it in half, causing great heaving sobs of despair on Well Street. :-)

Since this hybrid does NOT beat the carpet should I scratch out those words on the front plate with a large rusty nail?
Just kidding. :-)

Dave
 
But wait! There's more!

On my way back from Woodstock I stopped in at Francis Furniture in Tavistock to look over sofas. I love my 35 year old 1970s sofa because it is 92" long and only 27" high with the arms and back in one straight plane. This made it perfect for watching the TV on the floor under the living-room windows - from the adjacent computer throne. It was long and wide enough that it could also serve as my spare bed for overnight guests and napping. But it is old and ratty and upholstered in awful orange and greem tweed stripes - the past 15 years it has been hidden under a white canvas cover I made up. In order to support the 3 cushions I laid a 3/4" plywood board under them years ago.

But as I say, I like the looks and the dimensions and the sorta Frank Lloyd Wright-ness of it.

In fact, it is the ONLY seating in my livingroom, what with pianos and phonographs and such vying for floorspace.

Since I turned 50 I have kept half an eye out for a similar sofa to replace it. The only couch that's some close to what I want was a $10,000 Italian leather job. Next best I found at IKEA a few months ago and I was seriously considering getting one, even tho it is simply foam blocks covered with blue denim. And the KLIPPAN sofa is 97" long - just a tad too much. But you get the architectural idea.



http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/products/S59872623
5-18-2010-21-26-4--aeoliandave.jpg
 
Francis Furniture is housed in the same storefront since 1937, still owned and operated by the Francis family along with their chain of Southern Ontario Funeral Homes. My co-department buddy Gerry's wife Nancy's divorced Mother Avis married the Francis heir about 5 years ago and is in charge of the store. It was Gerry who suggested I visit Francis Furniture and be prepared to be amazed at the selection and quality.

The simple storefront gives way to a huge 3 story barn warehouse out back stuffed with all manner of new high-end luxurious middle and upper class furniture. The store accepts only cash or cheques and furniture is ordered from Palliser in Winnipeg Manitoba for delivery in 8-10 weeks.

I do not know Avis personally and assumed the nice 80 yo lady that took me in hand was she. I explained my wants and needs and she turned me loose to explore the whole building to see if I could find something close to what I liked. Meanwhile, she would pull out some catalogs.

Way back in a dark corner covered in a dust cloth I found THE SOFA. A bit dusty and in a very thick masculine grade of oxblood brown leather, I knew immediately upon sitting down that this was the one!

When "Avis' came up to find me I was laid out all comfy and announced " I'll take this one." No price had been mentioned yet but one down on the main floor I rather liked in leather was $1500 and I was comfortable with that.

"Oh no". says "Avis". "We do not sell USED furniture! This was returned by a customer because the color was not right"
"So?" says I, "what will happen to this one? Will you send it back to the factory? Why can I not buy it today for ready money?" (ok, I didn't say exactly that - I was biting my tongue in rising disbelief)
"It will be used as a loaner for people waiting for their order to arrive, because it is so sturdy."

Sensing that "Avis" was not to be budged and was frankly disapproving of my work boots and dirty jacket I calmed myself down and let her show me the estimated order she had worked up. Making huge assumptions she had made her estimate based on a low grade leather, while telling me the one I was sitting on was the very finest best leather they could order - about $3000 worth.
I left the shop with information sheets to consider my options.
But I says to myself "there is no guarantee that whatever leather I choose it won't be an exact match for this one...and what if cheaper leather is just not right?" and so on.

I'd already had a great day, what with the Hoover in the back seat and so gave it not that much thought other than I had a picture and maybe ordering a sofa wasn't such a bad way to proceed.

Well, of course I started getting myself worked up, wanting this couch so very badly.
I showed the picture to Gerry the next day and explained my experience with "Avis".

"Oh, that's not Avis! You were talking with that nasty old Lydia Wormsbecher, who is all pissed off that Avis married the boss and is now her boss after she's worked for Francis all her working life. Would you like me to have Nancy ask about it for you?"
"Yes, please, if it's not too much trouble, because I know that this is THE SOFA I would be very happy with for life. But if it is not for sale, I'll just keep looking, now I've seen exactly what I need."

First Gerry called Avis while I listened in. "Oh, I don't know...does your friend realize how big that couch is? It's the best leather we stock and wass rather expensive..."
"Yes, he has a 92" couch now."
"Well, let me think about it and I'll get back to you."

Today's development, after Nancy had a second 'chat' with her Mom Avis last night:

Avis will sell me this sofa for $1000 cash, no tax and will have it delivered as well. They will not take away my old couch. "Have your friend Dave call me and we'll work out the logistics..."

Obviously I am over the moon with excitement. I will call Avis on Wednesday to propose my plan. Because of work commitments and the state of my house I will have the sofa delivered and put in the garage, hopefully on Saturday morning when I can be home. If not Saturday I will take a weekday morning off work.

Meanwhile, I am going to strip apart my old beater sofa, salvage the major wood frame members and cut up the rest with a reciprocating saw to take to the dump in pieces in the Subaru. The saggy old sofa is not fit to be sent to a Thrift store and it is too large and awkward to get out of the house easily, anyway. And then it would just sit on the lawn lowering property values until the junk man could be induced to haul it away.

I will do a huge clean-up of the living-room and kitchen so that Stanley, Gerry and I can move the new couch in from the garage over the weekend or asap I get the spot prepared and the pathway cleared.

So, anyway, this is my new SOFA! 87" long x 36" deep x 33" high - I can easily see over the back now that the new TV is on top of the window shelf.

Friday turned out to be a most fortuitous afternoon to take off work. :-)

5-18-2010-22-10-30--aeoliandave.jpg
 

Latest posts

Back
Top