Hoover Concept I/II info

[aeoliandave]

Until a few weeks back I was a Power Drive virgin. There were no relatives with uprights in my family. This is Pete's 2nd U3101 that he sent back with me...so he would have room for more foundling uprights, as we see. :- <br
Anyway, I am just luving this Hoover. Tonight I am taking down the shelf unit here in the Computer room and putting up the new one. There's simply no other place to put it right now until I do a major furniture shiftaround. I do so want to see all the cylinders lined up like Weapons of Mess Dustruction...and hoses hung by the chimney with care.. <br
Pete, remember how you thought the vac was behaving oddly? Well, as usual I had to take it all apart last night to see how it works - engineering minds need to know. Amazing! So simple and rugged <br
The two bolts holding the right side of the powerdrive transmission in place to the side frame had fallen out from vibration probably, causing the right tractor wheel to rub against the fan casing. Replaced them from the self threading screw jar and now the vac skitters across the rug easily and leaves such a nice path. On a smooth floor it literally tugs me along like a large dog. The edge brush got all the Kitty Litter crumbs against the baseboard in the pantry. No more stooping with the whisk. LO <br
Thank you so much for this. I'm calling it my bionic arm vac, its so powerful. Really a hoot to drive around. Its an All Terrain vacuum.

 

[petek]

Last of the great Hoovers they are imho and downright fun too.
And they look nice. In fact I think when they stuck that minivac on front for the Concept Two they uglified it somewhat.

 

[ohio_tuec]

PowerMax

How do you feel about the Concept's final incarnation - the PowerMax? I just noticed on mine they blocked off the speed indicator which the Concept II had. Also, by this point, the transmission housing was made of plastic, and made in Mexico - a sign of things to come.... :-(

 

[tolivac]

Got belts for my Concept-It now works well.Still like the Convertibles better.They are more refined.I do use the Concept on occasion.Good to have one in the collection.Don't care for its all plastic construcion-kinda flimsy.

 

[sleepdoc]

Onboard tools

Jeff made an interesting observation of the docked hand vac having foreshadowed onboard tools. I was in grade school when they debuted, but my first awareness of an upright with integrated hose and tools was the Regina Housekeeper that follwed the Hoover a couple years later. Is that accurate?

 

[hoover1060]

Patrick that is correct

The Concept II(1983)kinda sorta was a prelude to onboard tools, in that Hoover advertised it as being a "self contained" machine. The Help-Mate that rode along in the cleaner's front could be fitted with a dust brush or crevice tool, so you could technically do above-the-floor cleaning, and not need the seperate attachment set. I don't know that I'd want a Help-mate to clean dog hair off the couch(a Concept's tool suction was not all that great either
The Regina Housekeeper was the first upright with on-board tools, that was 1986, and the course of floor care was changed forever.
Prior to the Housekeeper, I know of only two uprights that you could vacuum carpets with and still have the hose attached. One was the Hoover Dial-A-Matic, the other was the GE/Premier soft bag uprght.

 

[cart1531]

Hoover Concept I commercial?

I've heard there was a commercial version of the Hoover Concept, with an orange bag, does anybody have pictures of one? A friend told me about it and I was wondering

 

[74simon]

Weapons of Mess Dustruction...

what a great phrase, Dave! I think I'm going to have to start using that <br
On the subject of onboard tools, I believe Jack's site has a 1930s Hoover patent for just that! It's a shame it never made it to the market then, as after having a go on my mum's Dyson Dc07 (the shame!), I have to admit that they're a lot less hassle than even the easiest to fit tools <br
Si

 

[hoover1060]

Concept Commercial

yes there was one, called "Commercial Power Drive" I have one, I'll try to post pictures tonight

 

[ohio_tuec]

Concept Commercial

I never knew such a machine existed. Too bad Hoover never produced a commercial version of the Dial-A-Matic. Could we see some photos of the Concept Commercial? Thanks.

 

[williamr1248]

Hoover Concept l/ll

My grandmother purchased the blue Concept I. If I am remembering correctly it came with the deluxe tool set. Does anyone else think they were very very loud? I kept her machine but never use it because it is so loud and always smells like dust. I thought it cleaned the carpets almost too aggressively. The tools were hard to connect. I guess my age is showing but my mother has (and is still using) a Hoover dail-a-matic powedrive and it seems so much more refined. It has enclosed bag,much quieter,has more tool suction and a storage bag for the deluxe tools. The Concept was the first Hoover that to me didn't sound like a Hoover. Does anyone remember,I think the Concept came in a very strange triangular box? The tools are still in the their box and it is triangular shaped too. Were all Concepts loud or was just our blue 3101 loud?

 

[petek]

I don't recall there ever being a tool set for the Concept One, where would they connect?

 

[ian88]

A convertor surely? that would fit over the roller brush.

 

[ohio_tuec]

Concept's tools

Yeah, that wasn't a very good system at all. Compared to how easy it was to attach the hose to the Dial-A-Matic, I think Hoover took a step back with the Concept line. And yes, they are noiser than the DAM, as the DAM was an all-enclosed design. Now that I've put my U3105 back into regular use, I can hear the difference. Of all the Hoover uprights, I tend to like the non power-drive Dial-A-Matics the best. The transmission makes them just too heavy.

 

[cart1531]

model u4205

does anyone know when exactly the u4205 was made? I have the one with the avacado green bag and handle. From what I've seen it was between 1978 and sometime in the '80s but I'm not sure.

 

[hoover1060]

Commercial Power Drive

Here it is, only one I know if in a collection too.

 

[hoover1060]

closeup

hood detail

 

[hoover1060]

one more

triple layer bag system too

 

[msalisbury77]

I have always been under the impression that you were either supposed to use either the cloth or inner paper bag, not both <br
Jeff, you are truly one of the biggest Hoover experts I've ever encountered. I am in complete awe of your beautiful collection and extensive knowledge.

 

[petek]

Missed this one... interesting.