Exhibition update

[vintagehoover]

Only 6 days left of my exhibition now - I have mixed feelings about it all! It's been a lot of hard work, and it'll be nice to have all my Hoovers safely back home again, but overall it's been a very enjoyable experience, and the public reaction has been wonderful. Just speaking to some of the people who've come to see it has made it all worthwhile!

I've done a few more newspaper and magazine interviews, including one which may run in the national papers tomorrow, and a local radio interview, which was pretty fun!

As well as the formal, hour-long talk I gave a while back, I got to spend half an hour talking to a college Design and Technology class about vacuum cleaner design. Their tutor knew all about Henry Dreyfuss, so we had a great chat about his work. I'm really impressed by how people seem to engage with the subject, and ask intelligent questions.

Here's a video I made of the display - I posted it on one of my other threads, but perhaps not everyone reads the modern forum!

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[gottahaveahoove]

WELL DONE

You MUST be very proud!! I don't speak for "everyone", butI'm sure I'm not alone.

 

[vintagehoover]

Speaking of the wonderful public reaction, a number of people have contacted the gallery looking to rehome their old cleaners. I haven't had a chance to follow up all the enquiries yet, but here is one I was VERY glad I did!

A 90 year old lady called me to tell me she had 'an old 1935 Hoover...' that she would be delighted to see go to a good home. She didn't know the model number, and I had a mental picture of a battered old wreck of a Junior with replacment parts. Since she only lives about 10 minutes away from me, I went over to her house to take a look, more out of politeness than anything.

When she showed me into the kitchen, my jaw hit the floor...not some trashed 375, but my favourite vacuum cleaner of all time, Model 800!

 

[vintagehoover]

Even more astoundingly...she had the boxed set of tools, the manual, the remains of the instruction tag, and even the original guarantee letter. The cleaner was purchased on 26th July, 1935, when her father had bought it as a gift for her mother. I worked out that this 90 year old lady would have been 16 at the time!

She told me she stopped using it years ago because it was too heavy (she actually said it didn't run, but it worked fine on both speeds when I tried it!). She's just kept it all this time, because she couldn't bear to part with it. She was delighted to finally be able to pass it on, in the knowledge it was going to a good home!

I asked her what cleaner she uses now - she says she has a cleaning lady who brings a Miele!

 

[vintagehoover]

As you can see from the previous photos, it was a little tarnished and dusty with age, but here's what I achieved after 10 mins hand-polishing with Autosol!

It'll be a while before I have time to clean it all up and finish restoring it, I'll post further pictures when I'm done!

 

[vintagehoover]

I forgot to post this - the heading from the guarantee letter. 'R. Roberts, Esq.' was the lady's father. I know where Oriental Road is - maybe 10-15 mins drive from where I live. I doubt the house will be called 'Alandale' any more, it probably has a number, but I'll have to go down and see if I can locate roughly where it originated from!

Under the list of Hoover's Directors is 'C B Colston' and 'E L Colston'. Back in September 2009, I worked on a short documentary about the collection, and the cameraman happened the great grandson of C B Colston! Pure, scary coincidence - I took it as a blessing for the project!

 

[gottahaveahoove]

You know it was a blessing!

Wonderful story....... To KNOW it will be in great hands. Thanks.

 

[hooverbaby]

That's another nice example of a Hoover 800 Jack, the badge looks almost like new. The instructions and attachments box also look to be in great condition.

It's interesting how some of these badges, like yours, were brass and others were aluminium. Perhaps Hoover just used what they had available at the time?

Stephen C

 

[luxg]

Loved the video Jack!! I bet you will be happy to have your treasures all back home safe and sound!!

 

[74simon]

Glad the exhibition went well, and that 800 is stunning! Have you thought about contacting other museums? If you could get it into the Design Centre you really will have turned the wheel 360 degrees, and you really do have both the knowledge and exhibits!

Still, it'll be nice to get them back home, no kids with grubby fingers to worry about!

 

[kenmore81]

Wow Jack the exibit and the 800 are just excellent!!!
Kenny

 

[a007kirbyman]

Jack & Hoover 800...

Very nice acquisition of the Hoover 800.

Congrats.

hagd all & cheers

Bill

 

[joe22]

bravo jack

 

[turbomaster1984]

WOW!!!!

Jack how lucky!

Well I must confess and admit something, Paul and myself have recently found a few pre war vacs and the problem is they all need some kind of polishing up.

Have got a tube of autosol but is this the ideal thing to get that deep shine? Im wary of using anything that may scratch although I am tempted top use some Astonish SS cookware cleaner to remove the grime first then the autosol.

A couple of them have the original bags in mint condition so I would like the cleaners to look their best too.

Cant think what to do to get them back

Cheers if you can help.

Would be tempted to list model numbers but il leave that for a grand unveiling next week!

 

[vintagehoover]

From today's 'The Sun'....just wait for all the enlightened comments in the comments section...

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepag...ected-120-vintage-Hoover-vacuum-cleaners.html

 

[chestermikeuk]

Hoover Mania..!!!

Hey Jack, well done on such a great exhibition, as you said a lot of hard work, BUT I`m sure it will pay off, you are certainly living the dream, keep going!!!at this rate you`ll be on "Collector Extrordinaire" any day now!!

Now thats just a great story about the Hoover 800, the bag looks stunning, and even better that the old dear had the tools and all the literature from the same sale!!!, makes it all worthwhile!!!

Cheers, Mike

 

[electrolux~137]

Enjoyed the video and article very much -- and you are right, it did not take long for the self-important cretins to weigh in with illiterate comments.

I am curious about that gorgeous 800 -- what a wonderful, fabulous find! -- it has what appears to be ventilation louvers around the bottom of the motor case where it attaches to the base. I have only seen an 800 once or twice, never had one -- do all of them have that feature? Did any other "coffee can" Hoovers had it? Does it make the sound of the motor any noisier? It looks very cool and "heavy industrial!"

 

[portable]

Just beautiful, Jack

That 800 is stunning, and knowing the owner and the history makes it all the better. Congratulations on the Exhibit. I can understand your concern about having the vacuums out in public and away from safe storage. Back home they go.

I'm sure the fools that posted those comments about the article are highly intelligent....and OH so clever! (sigh) J.L.

 

[aeoliandave]

Jack, it is amazing a generous what you have done putting together that exhibit installation.

And now the after benefits kick in...now we both have +90 year old Ladies who have found us and bequeathed their cherished vacuums and stories into our care.

You'll recall last year when I was emailed and then telephoned by the dear 91 yo Lady down in St Thomas gifting me here perfectly intact Hoover 281 with the Canadian Maple leaf bag. But before we could meet she passed away in her chair and it was the notepad jottings she left that caused her daughter to call me up to come get it and the Floor Polisher.

I'm so glad you two got to meet and chat in person.

Dave

 

[vintagehoover]

Hi Charles Richard -

the lower motor vents you mention seem to appear exclusively on 240v machines - my guess would be that Hoover engineers were concerned about keeping the new 360w motor cool when running on a higher current. The same lower vents were also used on the 825; later 825s had slightly restyled vents, as did the 875 (the final cleaner of this style before the Dreyfuss-designed 262 was introduced).

The 800 and 825 were the first Hoover cleaners to be 'styled', Hoover taking their inspiration from luxury motor cars of the day - so you could be right with 'heavy industrial'. They make the cleaner look like it means business!

A few friends in the US who have 800s have commented that UK 800s sound slightly 'different', but not louder, exactly. I've noticed the wattages between the US and UK 800s vary slightly, too - and presumably, the RPM's - which could be a factor.

 

[vintagehoover]

John, Stephen, Terry, Simon, Kenny, Bill, Joe, Rob, Mike and Dave - thanks for your responses! It's been great, but it'll nice to be able to relax again, I've been working at 200% since the end of November!

As you say, Simon - it would be fitting if I could persuade the Design Museum to host an exhibition, after my visit to the Hoover in Britain display back in 1992 sparked my interest in the pre-war machines to begin with! I'm sure I'd stand a better chance of holding such a display now Mr. Dyson has resigned as chairman!

Getting back to the 800 for a moment, I found this newspaper clipping from The Telegraph tucked inside the instruction manual. She's dated it 29.8.01, so presumably the 800 has always been at the back of her mind!

It's a rather oddly-written article, and I'd assume it's talking about H C Booth's vacuum cleaner...

 

[vintagehoover]

John Lucia - sorry I missed your name out!

The Sun is a national daily tabloid with a circulation of 2,862,935, and a readership of 7,986,000, so it's inevitable there will be a few negative comments, I guess. It's a shame, but I have to keep in mind that the only opinions that matter are the ones of the people I love and respect, and of the people who really know me!

It's a strange feeling: the TV thing I did for The ONE Show for Hoover's 100th anniversary will either have been seen or missed on the evening of broadcast, depending on who was watching. But print-media sits around for an indefinite amount of time, as anyone who's ever sat waiting for a doctor or a dentist can attest!

 

[andy]

Way to go Jack! I'm so happy for you and that 800 is gorgeous!

 

[turbopowerpaul]

That 800 is just reward....

....for all the hard work you put in!

What a storming machine it is and in such good condition. Its always nice when people are able to pass stuff on knowing that they are going to a good home where they will be appreciated.

Congratulations on the obvious success of your exhibition and may it continue to pay you dividends in the future.

All the best Jack and see you in a couple of weeks.
Cheers
Paul

 

[turbomaster1984]

Ok

In a position to reveal one.....

Autosol, Jif and a brillo pad later the worst looking one actually looks like it may turn out as the best looking one.

Have not yet dared plug it in although it has been sympathetically rewired and has a new belt and brushroll fitted.
Maybe see about that tomorrow evening.

Bag requires a bit more laundering to get those stains out. Something a machine wash (30degrees Silk Wash, 1000rpm spin)with Ecover liquid didnt achieve.

Half the furniture guard has snapped off although we also scooped a second 700 with it all intact and in good enough condition to transfer it on.
The other 700 is not halfway as pretty as this and will become a spares machine.

Also Paul will touch up the rusty bag grip.

 

[turbomaster1984]

700

 

[turbomaster1984]

hood

 

[vintagehoover]

Hi Rob and Paul - congrats, the 700 is a lovely machine, and of course, the first to introduce the patented Hoover Agitator!

When you get round to firing it up, I'll put money on it running flawlessly - they always do!

Here's mine, post-restoration...

 

[vintagehoover]

...but this was what it looked like when I first got it home!