Hoover "Contract" Commercial U4002

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seamusuk

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 26, 2006
Messages
1,559
Location
Dover Kent UK
Hey Guys

Picked this up today- its the contract version of the U4002 Ranger. Its different from the standard version in 3 major ways..

1. Its Battleship Grey as opposed to the mustard yellow of the standard domestic version....

2. It has a shake out bag.......

3. It lacks a dirtsearcher - instead it has a coluor matched blank where the lens would normally be....

Why is it known as a Contract version you ask?........

From pretty much the beginnings of Hoover over here until the 70s and possibly into the 80s Hoover has a contract hire department. Under this system commercial customers would "lease" their Hoovers for a set payment per month to include all routine repairs/servicing.

The service aspect was provided by the usual network of Authorised dealers. They were paid a minimal ammount to carry out the repairs/servicing, but when the customer had their machine replaced under the contract terms every 2-3 years ownership of the replaced machine passed to the dealer who had looked after it and they could then refurbish it and keep the sale proceeds.

They are VERY rare - indeed im only aware of one other collector who has one of this model. There were Contract Juniors as well, again equipped with a shake out bag.

Seamus

4-25-2009-18-23-58--SeamusUK.jpg
 
Very interesting, were there other Hoover products leased out like floor washers and polishers etc?

Not the pretties color though is it.. likely to make them less appealing to stealing LOL
 
Thats a cute machine,Seamus. Love the metal main casting, shakeout bag and double brush agitator. I like the color too!
 
I remember seeing a couple of those here in the states. At least they did have that same hood and blank lense cover.
Don't remember if they had the shake out cloth bag? Do
remember the red, step on switch. Which pegged it made in
Britton for me !! They were a promo line at the local Depart-
ment store !
Norm
 
Norm,

If my memory serves me right, the "Ranger-style" machines we had here in the 'States had zipper bags on them and used the standard Type C bottom-fill bag. (Don't think that the Style A's were even out yet back then.) Not sure whether or not they were a promotional line, but I remember seeing them in only one (now defunct) local discount department store.

Bill W.
 
This Interests Me ...

... that there were two different versions of a vacuum, all with one model number, the only difference being the color scheme, marketed in the same year yet. How many other Hoovers, U.S. or European, got one model number in two color schemes the same year?

~Ben
 
Hello,
hoover has also made in 1978 the constellation available in two color-schemes: white and yellow and white and orange, and they were the same Mod. 867; same for the "Classic" 427 and for the "hooverette"Mod 2944.
Tommy
 
Oooohhhh.....

Hi Tommy.

Being really cheeky here, but would it be possible for you to post piccies of that wonderful Hoover brochure in full - including the washing machines and tumble dryers?

Would be really interesting to see just what machines, that were available in the UK, were also sold on the continent.

Wrong site I know, but am really interested to see whether Italy received the Hoover 3235 Automatic washer!

Many thanks
Regards
paul
 
WOW!!!!

Many thanks Tommy for continuing to post the pages of your brochure. Really is appreciated and very interesting to see what machines were sold on the continent, when compared to those on sale in the UK.

As far as cleaners are concerned, they appear to pretty much remain the same as those sold over here in the UK, even retaining the same model numbers.

Washers though are different, being based on the UK version obviously, but with the addition of the smart chrome door on the standard automatic as well as the keymatic. Also, the model numbers of these machines are different to those in the UK, with them being numbered in the A2xxx series:

Italian A2022 = UK A3006
Italian A2026 = UK A3008

I know this isn't a laundry forum, but i have to ask it - the A2xxx series of numbering was for cold fill only machines in the UK (Hot and Cold fill were numbered A3xxx). Were the A2022 and A2026 cold fill only machines?

Also, were there tumble dryers and dishwashers sold in Italy at all?

Once again Tommy - thanks for taking the time and effort to post the pages.

Regards
Paul
 
Hi Paul,
I do not have further information about hoover washing machines as I've always been collecting leaflets and paperworks about vacuum cleaners; the one I posted is the only Hoover catalogue in my possess showing washing machines and I have to say that I have never seen hoover washing machines over here...many Candies and Zerovatts...and the acquisition of Hoover by Candy has leaded to marketing washing machines and dryers and other aplliances with the Hoover brand, things that we all can see in the hoover European websites. I am sure of one thing: I will NEVER spend a penny for ANY hoover aplliance (european range, of course), should I explain why?
tommy
 
Different model- same model number......

Hey Guys

There were many cases of the same model number being "recycled", the one that springs to mind is the 652A Deluxe/Senior- AFAIK there are 5 variations in 3 different Colour schemes!.

The U4002 has had the bag washed and has been converted with a bottom fill paper bag assembly from a scrap 652A I had. The performance seems unchanged and its much nicer to use :).

Seamus

P.S I see Italy had the US style Quickbrooms and the later versions of the Portable- sadly we didnt get either :( .
 
Powermatic Nozzle

When did Hoover UK introduce the Powermatic Nozzle? I assume it was 1974 when Hoover USA brought it out; not sure if Hoover Europe came out with it the same time as our USA counterpart?
 
No worries Tommy.

I am grateful for the brochure images you posted - been a real eye opener.

I know what you mean about Hoover abroad - allegedly they sold washers in France, Germany, Austria etc but you see hardly any.
Obviously people elsewhere are decidely more loyal to locally made products that over here in the UK (personal opinion).

Ah well.
Once again - thanks for posting them.
Cheers
Paul
p.s have since been able to confirm (for those interested) that the A2022 and A2026 were both cold fill only.
 
Powermatic Nozzle

We never had that nozzle. The UK got the Hoover 'Electro Kinetic' power nozzle on the 'Sensotronic' cylinder range of cleaners in 1982. These machines were made in France.

A year or two later, the 'Electro Kinetic' nozzle was replaced by the 'Turbo 500' nozzle which was a lower profile design. This accompanied the slightly redesigned Sensotronic range.
 

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