general constellation questions (I own a 454)

[lynn]

Hi all! I'm new and have some questions about constellations. I have a 454 I found in an old house attic. It works great, but came with nothing else besides just the main unit and the stuff inside the main unit. So it does have the filter, filter ring, and bags. I rigged up a temporary hose so I could use it while I looked for the real parts. 1. What type and color was the floor tool that went with this model? 2. What kind of hose was the original kind.
3. Any other info appreciated on this model, such as years of production and any other trivia anyone knows. I want to get original parts for this machine so I can use it in my retro style art studio Ps: I've really enjoyed reading all the threads about constellations here!

 

[massagemiracle]

Where you have a 484 I have an 86!  The off white tools are what came with these constellations along with the stretch hose as you can see. They also had the telescopic wand with the floor hose.

 

[massagemiracle]

I have a couple of Constellations! Love them! If I had extra tools I would offer them to you but unfortunetly I don't right now.

 

[jmurray01]

Beautiful machines!

 

[vacman27]

454 parts

What a shame! About two weeks ago there were two hoses and attachments for sale on ebay.

 

[lynn]

I tried to get those parts

I bid on those, and was bidding at the very last second of the auction but got outbid in the last second. I need to understand more about ebay bidding, because the final bid was almost $10 more than the last bid before mine. Maybe several people bid at the last second and we couldn't see all the bids, or maybe the person who won had put in one of those preliminary kinds of bids. I was so disappointed.

 

[lynn]

by the way theres an 86 on ebay now

I would try to bid on that one, but then I would still end up short one set of parts!

 

[normvac]

Lynn

Your Hoover Constellation, would be about the years of 1962-64. I remember well, how absolutely schocked I was when a favorite aunt bought one new.
She had traded her (my beloved) Model 28 Hoover upright and attachments in on this cleaner when I was. Well let's just say in High School !
At any rate, it had a usualy white or gray Combo carpet/barefloor tool. Then it
only had a combo upholstery/dusting brush like the ones in the "short" tool sets that were sometimes given/included in the price of some Convertible uprights of the day. Oh yes than the matching usual Crevice tool. That was it. It seems to me that they were all white, just like the double stretch hose and trim on the cleaner.
Norm

 

[massagemiracle]

<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">I was one of those bidders on the hoses that were on Ebay 2 weeks ago! Anytime I see any Hoover tools I try to get them for me or my friend. </span>

 

[lynn]

Went thrifting today

with no luck, but it's really fun to look. Probably will have better luck in some of the smaller towns around. I have a lot of type j bags from a thrift store though. My hubby was making fun of me with the vacs, then I reminded him that it was the same as his interest in old cars - but cheaper and smaller heh heh. Thanks so much for the info on my constellation!

 

[gottahaveahoove]

I have one too.

I got it out of a rectory. At least you have the "coupling" that goes into the cleaner. When they still made those hoses, I paid $22.00 for a new one. You can always have "new hose" put on it, to use. They are great cleaners. You all beautiful specimens there.

 

[lynn]

constellation coupling piece

Regarding the piece that attaches the hose to the cleaner, a lady at a vac repair shop sold it to me, but she didn't think it was very old. Did anything change with that particular part over the constellation years including the new ones? I also have read about different kinds of hoses over the years, and wonder exactly which type of hose and aluminum wand stick was used in this era.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

In the very beginning,

the hose mounted on the top. It was like a "snorkle". Then, the went in the front. That coupling remained. The "new" ones are not the same.
The hose was called "ultraflex". It was wonderful. Most hoses now are nothing better than pool filter hose. These were the tools, and, they fit all Convertibles, too.
This blue one had the "snorkle" and "veriflex" hose. The green one shows the evolution.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Later years,

like the other great specimens here. Ony the colors chnged. The early telescoping wand had a white coupling with a red arrow. That was simplified. These Constellations were inspired by "Sputnick".

 

[gottahaveahoove]

And, that's Today's lesson, kids.

Great photos from the 2008 Convention and the Fred S. gallery. I hope no one minds me using them.

 

[massagemiracle]

<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">That Green Constellation with the Red bow is beautiful! All of them are! </span>

 

[lynn]

hose colors

wow! I love them!!!! Is that a pale pink hose on that pale pink one?

 

[lynn]

porta power

I can see some portapowers way down on the lowest shelf. I have one with the bright
orangy-red trapdoor, and orangy-red and blue stripes along one side. It was my granddads, and it still kicks butt! When my windtunnel was down and out, i used that portapower all over the place.

 

[hygiene903]

2008 Convention Pic

That was Norm Brown's display in the convention pic, and the 82 Connie in the front center of the display is mine. Norm won two prizes for this beautiful display, and gave one to me (model 35 Convertible) for letting him use my 82 and helping him set up. Thanks again Norm, and thank you John, for posting the pic. It brought back fond memories of a great convention.
Jeff