Hoover 825

[lesinutah]

Hey
Yesterday I seen a 1923 universal upright go for $100. He has a Hoover up for bid now.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/392872195961
https://www.ebay.com/itm/392872195961

 

[chad]

825

Thats mine. Years back, I "think" there was a thread or two I did when I was getting it going. I spent a LOT of time and money on this one, and never really used it, as I never got carpet after my house fire. I took a huge bath on shipping on the Universal I sold yesterday, as I hadn't realized how much ups rates have hiked since my last bit of selling years and years ago, but I hope it now has a good home, I sure worked hard enough on it. Anyhow, not included in the Hoover pics is an extra belt, two motor brushes, and rivets for the rubber bumper. I never use the rivets, because I don t like the look of the bumpers that way....they seem to sag. Contact adhesive is what I used, as it holds great and is easy to redo if necessary.

 

[s31463221]

Chad

You have an absolutely beautiful machine, and I can easily see you’ve spent a lot of time and resources getting it back in good condition. I’d be interested in it, but the shipping price is just too cost prohibitive to KY. If I remember right there was only a $10 price difference between the cost of the machine (current bid amt.) and the shipping cost...I knew shipping rates were skyrocketing, but this is awful! I fear it won’t be long until our new acquisitions will have to be local only or we won’t be able to get them due to the exorbitant cost to ship! I do hope it finds a loving home that will care for it and appreciate all the work you’ve put into it!!

 

[chad]

shipping

You are correct there. The one i sold yesterday kind of hung me out to dry, shipping wise. I even cut the box down three times to try to get it into reasonable territory. I figure this one will be just as much, if not more because it's taller, and the dusting tools that come with it is going to be a big box too. I thought of listing it as local only, as they re a pain to ship, but if you limit the market you do two things..... you don't sell your item, and it hyperinflates the price on the ones that are available. I ve got over 250 in this vacuum and dusting kit, plus countless hours of labor. But, it was a labor of love, and adds zero to the value of the unit. I really, really hate to get rid of it, but all I do with it is move it around from space to space, as I dont have carpet or rugs, and it s too nice for someone to not have and use. I say too nice.... the purists wouldn;t like it in its current configuration because I redid it to be a daily use in mind. The bag isn't original, and a keen eye will see that the replacement cord is a Kirby (I think).

 

[chad]

825

Oh, and if you'll look in the 4th picture, you will spot a U-TEST-M drugstore tube tester. God I love that thing, and it does a quick and dirty tube emission test. Paid 525 to have it shipped. lol. But, down here I've never seen another since I was a youngster. I think the fellers up north have more vintage equipment available than we do. Well, not just equipment... furniture even. Its an older part of the country I reckon, and hurricanes don't blow every damn thing away every 5-10 years (lol). Dressers and wardrobes that are tossed out up North on account of "only" being from the 40's are big money to get down here. Everyone that comes to my house think its a museum, as most of the kids have never seen any antiques. Heritage pieces are tools and firearms for the most part in Texas, as nothing else lasts.

 

[lesinutah]

Nice

The universal was immaculate. Your a member of this site how ironic.
Les

 

[chad]

universal

Thank you. It was very much a lot of work and money to do. The switch on the Universal was wrong, but I included an extra handle assembly with the original switch to the buyer. We'll see if he/she appreciated it when they get it. There's no money to be made restoring one like I've done these two, but it's still time well spent as far as I m concerned. I can't imagine that I'll ever live long enough to do another, but they where fun projects. I 'll make about half of what I ve got in these two by the time it s done I reckon, but hell, most hobbies cost money. Going to be listing a Universal stand blender that I restored, made in 1919 in a few days. It's another one of those things that I overpaid for, and probably over restored, that was a fun project, but I've never used. Think I have close to 180 in it, lol...

 

[lesinutah]

Make money

Isn't always possible. When I do rebuilds it's the satisfaction of getting something old in mint condition. Its a great process and on vacuums you put alot of time into you never get the money back.
I'd imagine you will find a universal again. I never seen one that old.
Les

 

[huskyvacs]

Yes, in March 2020 (I think, it was before the virus started hitting) UPS raised the dimensional rates for shipping, and very large packages (over 80in) were mainly effected. Vacuums that are not able to be broken down smaller boxes suffer from this a great deal as they are tall awkward boxes. They want to push people out that are shipping stuff that hog space on the trucks.

Sadly, I think this is the death bell ringing for collectors that like to buy vacuums off eBay. In 2017 I was buying Kirbys and others for $30-$40 shipped. Now it's about $75-$90.

For some collectors, their love of the vacuum they want trumps shipping charges and they are happy to buy it no matter the cost, but sadly for me I am not that rich. If shipping is over $30 anymore I'm like; "nope get me out of here". I usually end up finding stuff within my own state though and it cuts the shipping down a lot.

Also Universal vacuums are already rare, so saving any one of them is important.

 

[chad]

Been getting a lot of people messaging be from Europe, wanting to buy the 825. As much as I love folk from the other side of the drink, there s just no good way to ship it, (especially without me worrying myself to death about it). I ve had some really fair offers from those folk, but can't imagine how I would do it.

 

[lesinutah]

Hoover

Vacuums are very hard to come by. If you find any vacuum collector from the UK you will find are huge Hoover fanatics.
Les

 

[chad]

little green

Found a Bissell little green 1400 in the trunk of one of my old cars. It seems that it was a giveaway if you sat through the sales pitch of the traveling vacuum salesman? Anyhow, time has not been kind to the box and what-have-you, so its not really worth anything. I'm wondering if they worked well enough to warrant for me to cleanup and use on my couch?

 

[lesinutah]

Not bad

If it's new it's not a bad vacuum. I found one at the thrift store cleaned it up.and used it once.
If you have the cleaning solution it's pretty good. Its not going to inhale your carpet but it is probably perfect for a vehicle.
Les

 

[chad]

thanks

I'll give it a try. Also found an unusual wooden bellows vacuum from what I figure is the late 1800's. It has large wheels that turn a set of gears, which in turn moves a concentric, that moves a leather bellows in and out on each end of the unit. Kinda neat, but couldn't have worked very well. Seems like it had a painted lettering on the side.