Hoover Convertible Junk?

[phaeton]

Hello All and Hoover lovers,
Hoover Convertible is it Junk?
There are 15 pictures for you to look at and decide if it is junk.
The Fan #38755010 is not repairable as it has nail holes, new fan cost $14.00.
Fan casing has holes and could be repaired with JB Weld or similar.
The motor base plate has a hole in it and could also be repaired with JB Weld or similar.
They picked up a number of nails and kept on going.
Perfumed fine white powder in motor and all over.
Paper bag exploded and more perfumed fine white powder.
Okay, I tore it down and cleaned every part.
I washed bag which and it turned out nicely.
Reassembled without replacing fan nor repairing any of the holes.
This Hoover RS Convertible Model U4597 runs almost as new the way it is, but not at all usable at this point.
I am given to understand the Hoover RS is the last Convertible. What year would that have been?
I already have a Hoover RS in nice condition so just what do I do with this Hoover RS.
I could not sell it without the above being disclosed and include the pictures. So sell it on eBay with a starting price of say $15.00 as it is with pictures and disclose the above. Fix and disclose with pictures and try to get $45.00. Sell off the good parts?
While the model might be the last Convertible, there are only a hand full of people that would care. 99.99999 percent of the people looking at vacuums on eBay could care less about it being the last one.
I have no idea what a really pristine Hoover RS could be worth but I can't imagine it being worth more than $50.00 to $75.00.
Just what would you do with what appears to be a good looking Hoover that can’t be used?
Junk it or fix it?
Thank you for looking,
Pete

 

[fcs3]

To keep or not to keep...

I would either make it the latest member of the collection, or
keep it for parts, or sell the best parts on Ebay.

Even if you sold it fully restored , do you disclose the torture it
went through to require restoration?
If you "Told" (probably the right thing to do), then any
hiccup is going to cause a demand for refund (or worse).

Be the Buyers' Advocate when selling, then your Ebay Store
will always enjoy top ratings.

 

[broomvac]

In my opinion, if you find a donor machine or NOS parts and replace the fan, vacuum base, and motor base with identical, undamaged parts, there is no need to worry about the history of the vacuum. If those three parts are replaced, the damage has been erased because nothing else has been affected by the ingestion of nails. The only reason I would disclose the new parts is if someone is worried about originality. Most probably would not care. If anything, fresh parts might be a selling point!

Years ago, I bought my Sanitaire S661 on eBay, advertised as "used but in full working condition. It showed up with the same damage your Convertible has: exploded fan, ruined cleaner base, and cracked motor base. The bag was dirty, but everything else was in great shape.

I emailed the seller and explained that my $60 purchase was badly damaged. He/she refunded my money without even wanting the cleaner back. I used my refunded $60 to buy a brand new cleaner base and a brand new 7 amp Sanitaire motor which included a new fan, belt pulley, and gaskets.

After replacement of such parts, the machine was back to like-new condition and became a fierce cleaner again.

Should I ever sell this Sanitaire, which I likely won't, I wouldn't mention what happened to it before simply because in the end, I was able to restore it to the state it should be in.

 

[phaeton]

Hello FCS3, broomvac and All,
I have no need of the Hoover RS and I am not sure of it having any value. I own a Hoover RS I bought a month ago. See Thread #32212, Post #378472 and you will see the Hoover RS I bought. At the time I just thought it was a nice looking good Convertible and was going to give it to an elderly friend that needed a vacuum. To be totally honest I have no need of a vacuum and I have like a 105, 541, 543, 700, 800, 825, 28, 25, 150, Kirby 519, D50, D80, Omega, Singer R-1, R-4D, R-4, Electrolux G, a 1215 think, a few Filter Queens, Royal 129, 189 and a Elecrto-Hygiene 2-230. I would have no problem in putting this broken Hoover RS on eBay with full disclosure with 12 pictures of the damages as the truth never hurts. I definitely am not going repair it nor look for parts to repair it. A perfect Hoover RS might have a value of say $75.00 and this broken one, like I said start it out at $15.00 one eBay or sell it in parts. I do not use any of the vacuums I own and having 2 Hoover RS is not practical for me. I don’t mean to be rude but I just don’t need it and I had fun cleaning it up and discovering what problems it had.
I would say Rainbows rule but I can’t say that , I don’t own any :-(.
Thank you for looking,
Pete

 

[kirbyvertibles]

Hello,
Is it worth keeping/fixing yes and its easy to find used parts. Value? Well I don't think of any plastic based convertible having a high $$ value but it does have historical value. It may be worth $25-50? It is the last domestic Convertible. Yours is dated February 1992 indicated on the serial number first 4 digits 0292. All Hoover after 1987 can be dated this way.

 

[phaeton]

Hello All and Phillip,
I had no idea the Convertibles were made up to 1992. My other RS is 0192 so it is January 1992. Am I right in thinking the Hoover Convertibles were made from 1957 to 1992? My grandparent built the new home and move into it in 1957 and they retired their Rexair Model B and bought a Hoover Convertible. I think I helped assemble it and as I remember it had a pinkish hood and bag and for some reason I might remember a gold colored trim above the light lens. I have digressed again.
Now seriously I really do not want to keep this broken RS. I have other projects to take care of and some vacuums I just don't need or want any longer. If it were a 27, 28 or 150 and they were not working I would keep them. A few months back I sold a Singer R-1 in parts, it was complete less bag ring, with a burnt motor on eBay, one could say well-known Vacuumland collectors bought it. I might say in retrospect it might not have been a one of my brighter ideas but I am so okay with it and I do not miss having it as I have a Singer R-1 that I have had since 1976.
My thought is in parts that the brush roll is worth between $15.00 to $20.00, the bag with is nice $10.00 or more, the cord $10.00 and switch, handle and fork about $15.00 to $20.00 if put on eBay.
Thank you for looking and your advice,
Pete

 

[kirbyvertibles]

Yep 1957-1992 is right. It was the longest running machine for Hoover. The concept was also discontinued the same time 1978-1992.

You are right about the headlight trim. If it was the pink model (model 65) it should have silver trim and the model 66 in green has gold.

 

[phaeton]

Hello All and Hoover lovers,
Looks like someone found a new RS in the box. Drat, there goes my dreams of getting thousands for my poor broken RS. Well maybe I can get thousands for my nice good used one? I heard that. LOL.
Now if it were that all illusive GE 111 with a headlight I would be in line along with hundreds and hundreds of others.
Thank you for looking,
Pete