Decade 80 - U4151

[chuffle]

After a five-month drought, my local Goodwill store finally had a vac for sale that I would spend the money on. Seeing as I pass the store on my way to and from my Friday job, I thought that I would stop in after work, just to see what might be on offer.

I found a rather filthy Decade 80 (U4151) that, after giving a quick going over and a run in the store, I figured I could make something out of.    Seeing as this morning was snowy and miserable, I spent the time cleaning the machine - and have to say that I am pleased by the results.

While the Hoover is in need of new brush strips (there is just a tiny bit of use in them before they are no longer of any service), it was given a good cleaning, a new belt and bag, and it purrs when it runs.  There's not a rattle or a buzz to this machine, and not a crack in the plastic housing, either.  It did have its share of scuffs, but my tried and true cigarette lighter fluid took care of all but those on the side facing the camera.  The price certainly was good, too - $5.99 isn't bad for a machine with a lot of life left in it.


 


I'm wondering how old the machine is?  It has a serial number of 00078577, but that means nothing to me.  I do know that earlier examples of this model were branded as Convertible, but I am guessing that this is from 1980/1981.


 


I should have taken "before" photos, as it was pretty scuffed.  I always wonder about people when I see a vacuum in similar shape.  What must their furniture look like?  I know that once in a while, I bump into a leg on the dining room table, but damage is never done - I'm never thrashing the cleaner back and forth on the rug.  I guess to most folks, vacuuming is an onerous task, and they dash through it so as to get it over with. 


 


Joe

 

[kenmore81]

Oooh.. Nice and shiny, I got one years ago from the trash that said Convertible on it. Im thinking 80-82 also.

 

[chuffle]

I was amazed...

...by how shiny the vacuum turned out to be, considering how dirty it was. There are no major scratches, either - just little ones, as would be expected on a machine that has seen 30 years.

Joe

 

[hoover719]

It looks like the Decade 80 that vacman117 has, except it said Deluxe Convertible, although it is technically a Decade 80.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

great cleaner,

and..... beautiful hardwood floors, too. That was kind of like the crossover to "Decade 80" series, still a convertible, yet...
Remember: Convertible was NOT intended to be phased out, it happened because, to quote Mr. Dick Pike " When Elite came out, they were so light, had fewer parts, HOOVER couldn't make them fast enough".

 

[chuffle]

Great cleaner, for sure!

"still a Convertible, yet..."  If it is still a Convertible, why did Hoover switch over to the model name "Decade 80?"  Was it for marketing? 1980s updating?  What was the company thought on the switch to Decade 80?


 


The Convertible was not to be phased out?  Gee, I wonder how long the model would have soldiered on (I know we see it as an industrial Hoover/Royal) as a household vac? 


 


This is fascinating to me.


 


Joe

 

[gottahaveahoove]

The end of production was not planned.

Decade 80 WAS an 80s thing. People ask why the switch to Decade 800? Because it went into the 90s. It STILL is used as a commercial, now, with LED lights added. The end of our Convertible story was told to me personally by Mr. Dick Pike, HOOVER exec.

 

[jmurray01]

$5.99!?

Oh my... You sure got a bargain there!

 

[moparhemipower]

BEAUTIFUL Decade 80!!

I have been wanting a Decade 80 for YEARS now, ever since I started Collecting, but haven't been able to find a single one, at least not for a Fair Price you know, but HOPFULLY I'll get one soon, we'll see...