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jukeman70

New member
Joined
Aug 3, 2023
Messages
2
Location
Springdale AR
Hello friends,

I've been collecting all sorts of various vintage items for over 30 years. My most notable collection is antique radios, but even at the expense of having fun poked at me by my family I like old vacuum cleaners. On a recent trip to Des Moines, Iowa to visit family I stopped at a Salvation Army and lo and behold, I found a Hoover model 66 (Garland Green) sitting in a row of other old, used vacuums. The condition appears to be excellent for its age (hood is a little warped which from what I've read is to be expected on these early convertibles) but all in all she's in really nice shape. Original bag, original cord, original red switch and after a new belt and headlight bulb it works perfectly!!

From what I've read here, my 66 was made during the 1958-1960 time frame. I've seen some info that indicates this particular model was of a fairly low production run and is somewhat difficult to find. Would you all concur with that statement? I'm just curious, I joined this site to learn what I can and share the hobby with some fine people who "understand".

Thanks happy to be here!!
Brian
 
Welcome!!!!


 


Our resident Hoover Know-It-All, John (GottahaveaHoover) will be able to answer this...and more! 
smiley-wink.gif
 
Well Brain, if vacuums you like, you have come to the rightest place in all of the world!


 


Welcome to The V land, look no further, you've found your home.
smiley-smile.gif



 
 
Thank you all SO much for the warm welcomes!! Glad that I found this site!! To my friend who posted the photo yes, that looks like my Hoover!! Except mine has a green bag that says "Hoover Convertible". Anything you all can tell me about this great old machine?? Thanks, have a great day. Brian
 
That's a beautiful GARLAND GREEN 66

The first was the 65... 2 colors. The gold one was a promo... salesmen would 'win them". It was gold in celebration os HOOVER'S 50 b day. Then, the 66. featured in MANY, MANY ads... it's companion was The Constellation. "floats on air". Then, the 67, 68. They were the last of the handle "matching the cleaner. They were also the only ones to have that little decorative metal strip around the hood.The bag said HOOVER down the side, or course. We would soon see the 1960s... Neptune green Concertible, model 69.the first w/white handle, and "Convertible" printed on the lens.
You have a great machine, with a genuine HOOVER replacement bag.
 
Thanks John!! My 66 is very much like the one pictured above, except mine has a green bag that matches the hood. It says "Hoover" down the side and under that, going horizontally, is "Convertible". It has a red switch also. Is my machine all original? Was this a lower production model? (I can't find much info on this model).

I thought about trying to replace the hood but I've read that a little warpage is normal and expected on these early convertibles, plus then it wouldn't be "all original" anymore so maybe it's best to leave it just as it is. Hmm...

Thanks very much!!
Brian
 
Yep... the print on the bag is sort of a gold color. "Hoover" goes down the right side of the bag (looking at the front of the machine) and lower down, going across the front of the bag is "Convertible". What should I do about the hood? Probably leave everything alone and consider it part of the machine's charm and history?

I'm told that you're the Hoover expert... maybe I could ask one additional question. I found a 300 for sale locally. The cord is completely shot but it still runs (looks like an easy job to replace that cord). I know that these were the "economy" version, but were they still built well like the other Hoovers of the day?

I think I've got quite a lot to learn!!
 
Hello Brian, I am also partial to Hoover convertibles and have several that I use for regular use.I also collect antique radio's. Primarily a Zenith man but I have other brands also. So I do( understand ). Those are great vacuums I have a model 69 that when I finished going over it it ran so quiet I thought something was wrong with it but it just ran that quiet.It is one of my favorites. You put a new belt and a light and got it going but I would suggest that you check your brush roller bearings they are usually dry and need lubrication. Also hair gets wrapped up on the ends. You would be surprised how quiet and smooth it can run. Also check the roller brushes they do wear down they should stick out beyond the belt cover so they can beat the carpet. Lubricate the wheel axles lightly wheels should coast smoothly for a while when you spin them and not chatter. Also check the motor brushes. Pull them out and inspect them for lenght but put them back exactly as you pulled them out if good as they wear to the armature. Also you can inspect the bellows for splits or being to stiff. Gone over properly and maintaned I am sure these Hoovers will run another 50 years no problem. Have fun Bill,
 
Hi Bill!! Thanks for the pointers. This machine seems to have been very well serviced over the years... I found an old maintenance sticker on it and at least one more underneath that one (definitely a good sign). The brush roll looks surprisingly good and it spins smoothly and freely. I don't think this thing saw a whole lot of use, or it's just been stored for the last 30-plus years (probably both).

I have a couple others though that need quite a bit of maintenance. Plus this 300 that I found which needs a new cord (haven't attempted that before). I'm supposed to go check it out tomorrow so we'll see what happens, I've never bought one that old before and don't know what to look for.

Thanks again for the great info!! Take care.
Brian
 
Replacement cord

Brian, when you replace a cord the replacement is probably going to be an aftermarket cord. What I usually do when I replace a cord is get a 30 ft. cord. The original is like 20 ft. long.The 30 ft. cord lets you vacuum a lot more area without removing and plugging back in cord. ( ecpecially in a older home with less wall outlets ) and a lot of furniture in front of plug. The generic cord were it wires to the switch will have generic connectors. What I do is cut the original connectors and short piece of the old singular wire and attach and solder the old wire to the new cord. I usually put on pieces of shrink tube ( before soldering ) to insulate connection as there is not a lot of room were switch is to have a pile of wires jammed in there. If the cord is not original you have to do your best on install. What radio's do you collect? also do you visit Antique radio forum ? Another excellent site if you need radio information or electrical advice on anything electrical that is the place to ask. Lots of knowledgeable people there. Regards Bill,
 
Thank you Bill for the help on the cord. Sounds like a fairly easy fix if I can just find a cord that will look right on there. Radios? I collect ANYTHING. My Grandfather had a TV Repair Shop in downtown West Des Moines for almost 40 years. When I was a kid I'd follow him around during the summer and on weekends as he did service calls. In the back of the shop was a small closet that was just LINED with old radios... the ones that customers brought in for repair and never came back for. One by one, with his help, I puled them down and repaired them. It's funny, when other kids where carrying around a baseball bat and glove I was carrying my Seco tube tester and my portable VTVM.

Oh, and I am a member on Antique Radio Forum. Great bunch of folks, the knowledge that they have is absolutely amazing, just like on vacuumland!!

Have a good one.
Brian
 
Hi Brian!

Welcome to Vacuumland and congrats on your 66 Convertible and 300! Sounds like your 66 is all original. The 300 was the last model with the round motor hood--called "Coffee cans" by collectors. And you're right, it was the economy model from 1935-1938, selling next to the top of the line 825 and midrange 475 in 1935 & 36, and the TOL 150 and midrange 25 in 1937 & 38. And yes, they were as well built as the higher end models of the day. I love the "coffee can" Hoovers and have about 10 of them myself, including the 300, 475, and 825. Here's a pic of my 300. All original except the bag, and I was told that base/nozzle was painted green (although it looks brown in this pic.) was for sale through Spiegel's. And when you flip it over you can tell by looking at the bottom that it was factory paint.
Jeff

hygiene903++11-8-2014-21-12-15.jpg
 
Hi Jeff!! Thanks for the welcome. That's a great looking 300 you've got there!! It seems rather hard to find all original examples of these old machines. I've been out running around all day and I did run across a nice original 33 in that funky lavender color. I cleaned it up, it looked like it had been in someone's basement for many decades. Fixed the cord, lubricated a few things, put a new bag on it and she's good to go!!

I haven't bought that 300 yet... still a little skeptical about replacing the cord but I think it should be straightforward enough.

Thanks, take care!!
Brian
 
Super Sweeper

A lot of the older homes from the 1910's 20's 30's and some into the 40's had onle one electrical outlet per room with a octopus of cords plugged into them like Ralpies (Christmas story). On a hoover convertable your only talking 2 or 3 wraps extra on the handle I found sometimes a little extra cord gets the job done without plugging in twice. Regards Bill,
 
Yes my grans house upstairs had only 1 outlet in the hall...that was it. Like you said there were extension cords draped from the ceiling dual light to side tables & downstairs if you had to be carefull what you had running or there went the fuse. Oh what fun memories! 😉
 
Brian,

Go ahead and grab that 300 if it's in decent shape other than the cord and if the price is right. Replacing a cord is usually a walk in the park compared to some other repairs. If the base finish is dull Mother's Mag and some elbow grease will shine it up for you. Main things you want to check are if the brushroll turns freely, if the fan turns freely, if it runs, and how well it runs. Everything else is pretty much cosmetic. Good luck,
Jeff
 
There is one bedroom upstairs, referred to as the

"Mercy Hospital room'. It measures 12'by 12' (feet) It, like all other bedrooms, had gas lights in the walls. THere are only 2 outlets in there. I wish there were more. They are on inside walls. They have been replaced with new, grounded ourtlets. still, I wish there were more outlets. Tthe gas has all been disconnected. But, the gas pipes are still under the floor joists. When I installed parquet floors in there, I had to install underlayment. I kept banging into the pipes . Good thing the gas is gone. When "Bob" rewired the other rooms, we found and removed nipples in the walls where the wall lights once lit the way.
 

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