the bag latch
Hoover's bag latch was introduced on the model 66 mid-run in 1958 or 59. It was a way of streamlining the design and really offered no real benefit. The lesser models used the spring as a cost saver. Actually the latch weakend the handle and created "cracks" around the center of the handle. Many Convertible cleaners have had the upper portion of the handle replaced to convert it to a spring or replaced it with a new latch type handle. The latch was a feature on the top line Convertible until sometime in 1972 during the run of the yelow 1076.
I have a 1070 Convertible that the handle literally broke in half! I replaced it with a spring type handle and have had no trouble since. Anyone else out there have this happen?
--Tom