Hoover Concept One U3335 & U3339 Comparison

[paul]

I passed up a Hoover Concept One Model U3339 at the thrift store Saturday, but now I'm not so sure that $34.99 was such a high price for what I've since read on Vacuumland is Hoover's best performing upright of all time.

It has the 4-brush "quadraflex" agitator, but it's not marked on the cover like the Model U3335's; so it must be a replacement. Does the U3335's "Heavy Duty" designation refer to the quadraflex agitator? I'm trying to decide if I should wait for a Heavy Duty Concept One or go back to get the U3339. Is there a big difference in performance between an HD and regular duty Concept One? Can the scratches in the U3339's nozzle cover be removed? The drive control switch only moved partially. Is it supposed to move the entire length of the track?

Information I've found about the U3339 is that it was manufactured from 1988-92 and sold by Sears (it's serial number is coded January 1989) and that its colors are Camargue Blue & Pastel Beige—very similar to Electrolux USA's colors of the late '80s & early '90s. Any information you can add will be appreciated.

P. S. I like the masculine Glen Check outer bag pattern of the U3335. Do any other HD models have that?

Photos: 1) U3339 2) U3339 nozzle 3) U3339 hand grip 4) U3339 nameplate *5) U3335
*6) U3335 nozzle *7) U3335 nameplate

*eBay photo

 

[kirbyvertibles]

Great vacuums. They are the same thing all the way around except for the color and model number. The darker blue was just made for sears. There was a whole hoover line of HP in this color for sears. Its not a very common model. Your 3335 however is very common. Anyhow both are great.these are amoung the last of the Concepts.

 

[broomvac]

I would bet that all Concept Ones came with the quadraflex. Most likely the difference in the labels is just marketing. Since both of the cleaners you mentioned have the same 7.2-amp motor with power surge, they will have the same performance.

The one you saw at the store looks to be in pretty nice shape. That one looks like a late model, judging by the matching bag and body color and the printing on the bag. I’d say it is a less common model than the U3335.

The drive slider on that one is missing it’s cap. The drive slider should have a little plastic cap on it just like the power switch has. No worries, though; it’ll still work fine. Just wiggle the handle back and forth a little bit to help the slider lock into position.

When I come across a Hoover Concept, the first thing I check is the bristle length. Almost all of the Concepts I find have worn out bristles. Sadly, brush strips are NLA. For this reason, sometimes I will buy a Concept just for the brush roll alone—spare parts for my U3317.