Hoover Constellation Curb Find!

[electrolux137]

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How's this for an unbelievable curb find! I nearly drove off the road when I spotted it!!

This is my favorite Constellation for two reasons: First: I love the way the body is tilted on its axis, giving it a forward-moving appearance. Second: My uncle Charles Richard Jessup, for whom I was named, had one of these!

All it had was a replacement hose but the cord is original. It won't take much to turn this unwanted trash into my treasure!

A great plus: It runs smoothly and perfectly!

 

[timh]

Right on

It's funny how you find things and really weren't looking at the moment.

 

[suckolux]

Congratulations, nice find!

 

[paul]

Good eye and great score—and greater yet due to your family connection to the model!

Going by memory, the 843 was the only US Hoover-branded tilt-top model Connie (the Canadian factory produced several), it appears to be the second version circa 1969-71 with gold upper shell/taupe lower shell, base, hose & tools; the earlier one that debuted in 1967 had deep seal griege instead of the lighter taupe items. The third version's upper shell was enameled in a brighter yellow with the taupe and paired with the white hose and tool set with the restyled nozzle.

As I recall, the die was initially used by Penney's for its Penncrest model in the mid- to late-'60s to accommodate the storage rack.

Happy Hoovering!


1969 Woolco ad (a Kmart ad that year listed it for $39.99 or $343 in 2024):

 

[bnsd60m9200]

here are the 843's spec sheets from the hoover company.

 

[paul]

This Hoover specs sheet, posted by Constellation86 on another thread, reveals the color changes of gold tone and taupe; although the photos from the first version were reused:

 

[eurekaprince]

Though I’m no Hoover expert, I prefer not attaching the tool caddy to any Constellation because the tools can mar furniture and walls if the canister sails into any of these surfaces. With the caddy onboard, the rubber bumper provides no protection. I discovered this problem when I bought the powerful retro stainless steel Connie about 20 years ago when it came to market in Canada. Great vacuum - but I kept all the tools in a separate plastic basket in my closet.

 

[paul]

Here are some internet photos showing the different versions and a 1972 magazine ad sold on eBay (the colors of Version 3 are speculative):

 

[paul]

I just noticed that the specs sheets photo shoot used a pearl white hose from another Constellation, such as the Model 454.

 

[electrolux137]

 


 


Will, thanks for posting the spec sheet. Funny how the hose is white but the attachments are dark brown.

 

[bnsd60m9200]

white hose

charles, from what i talked to tom anderson about with several of the spec sheet photos, if tools etc weren't in the correct color, they just grabbed whatever was in production or with final mockups for the "beauty photos". ive seen oddball stuff on manuals and promo materials from kirby and compact like that too, where attachments pictured, never were offered with the production cleaners.

 

[human]

That is indeed an amazing curb find, and just the right person to find it and appreciate it. Those machines have real 'unicorn' status these days. I've never seen one in a thrift shop. I'm glad you were able rescue it and save it from an ignoble fate. My grandmother had one of those in that same color. My cousin and I found it in a closet when we were little, but were told not to play with it; it was for the maid to use. Different era, I suppose. Even back then, I remember thinking it was an exceedingly cool design.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

That was my first Constellation

I have at least 3,,,all shades.  Love them!

 

[dysonman1]

A good friend found mine for me. One of the very few Hoover memories from my childhood.