Hoover Decade 800 Clone

[squarehandle]

I am very proud of this project. We love our 1990 Hoover Decade 800 so much I decided to recreate one in my basement laboratory. This is a Decade 800 "clone". The base is from a C1123-050 Industrial/Commercial model. 99% of the parts are new "old" stock found in various warehouses throughout the country. I found the chrome handle, bag and grey hood at Hesco. The base is from one of those Orange commercials from American Vacuum in Kansas City, MO (as seen on Ebay). I swapped out the motor field and added dual lamps. The baseplate is metal and the all metal agitator sports beater bars. It has the heavy duty rear wheel axle with the added support bar and the thicker wheels. It is even more "heavy duty" than an original Decade 800. It has all the features of the original except the air freshener drawer in the bag top, I could not find the new "old" parts for that feature. The only differences from our original is the white bail, blue bag and no label on the hood, but whose complaining. It runs like new and cleans up real good, just like the original. Happy New Year! P.S. In the background is my refurbished Convertible 700

 

[floor-a-matic]

@squarehandle

Very nice job you've done with the Decade "clone"

 

[durango159]

Very nice clone!! Hoover Decade 800's look really neat and clean well, you just can't go wrong with one!!!

 

[shaneg]

That is very cool

Nice vacuum, love both the refurbished convertible and the decade clone!

 

[s31463221]

Aaron

That is an amazing looking "clone" machine you've created! Certainly a cool conversation starter and I would imagine a powerhouse of a machine. Just out of curiousity, is it something you are going to put into your collection, sell, or what are your plans for it?

 

[guardsman69]

your machine is impressive sadly i could not find any of those 1980s light socket terminals...

 

[squarehandle]

Thanks Guardsman69!

Thanks for looking, I may look for an alternative light socket setup in the automotive world. I found the connectors that Hoover used for the handles, they are made by AMP. I am keeping the clone but may sell the orange hood from the KC Commercial on Ebay, will try to post the link if I do. Was disappointed because it did not say "Shag" on the indicator! (Just had the lines). That was a very disappointing purchase all around - it came with a broken rear wheel because they shipped it in the original carton, the aforementioned lack of "Shag" and when I started to handle the dry rotted bag it shredded into a million pieces, they sent me a new cloth bag, some type A bags and a new belt and I had already replaced the wheel and retainer from my parts bin. What can you do, those things have been sitting in a warehouse for 20 years! Thanks Guys!

 

[whirlpolf]

Wow! Looks even better than the original!

Great.
Finally a decent version. Dark colours matching that perfect ribbed transparent lamp glass. Way better than the original baby blue (ever seen a tough pick-up truck in pink? nah...) or better than that faint 70s-bathroom green (ever seen an SUV as a live sample of some old people's staircase lift? nah....)
Well done, I love that version of a Decade!
Btw. is it the same setup of motor and brushes as in a convertible? I have always been wondering whether it is just the outer appearance or if Decades feature other components.

Thanks for sharing!

 

[squarehandle]

Same as convertibles?

Yes it has fully functioning power surge like the later convertibles, I had to install a 2 speed motor field coil to get the power surge with dual lamps and the brush rollers are interchangeable with most convertibles. I also forgot to mention it has the steel lined fan chamber and the heavy duty 2 piece cam follower for height adjustment. The original decades had square handles whereas most convertibles had round ones. I guess the main difference between Convertibles and Decades is the body style. Thanks.

 

[squarehandle]

Under Carriage!

Here is what the bottom looks like...

 

[raycarter]

Nice job on the Decade 800! By the way, is that a model C1631 I see in the upper right corner of that photo? If so, I have that same model, and I LOVE it!

 

[squarehandle]

The C1631

Yes I think I might put the orange hood and bag on it from the C1123.... or next project? Maybe an all black Decade???

 

[squarehandle]

My meager collection

From left to right, refurbished Convertible 700 U4497-900 replaced both motor bearings, new agitator bearings & brushes new belt & fully cleaned up, new tube and bag made of mystery material (looks like paper!) runs like new. Next: Our baby - the original Decade 800 from March of 1990 (our wedding present to ourselves) Model # U4503-900 serial #039000243193 purchased in Oak Park, IL, new agitator brushes and bearings, new belt. C: The Decade Clone based on a C1123-050 - changed out the bail to accommodate the square handle, replaced the motor field for the power surge, installed dual lamps, most parts are New old stock scrounged from all over this great land of ours. #4 last but not least a C1631 from July of 2000 found on Ebay from Vacuum Cleaner World in Richmond, VA. Cannot decide what to do with this one, maybe I will leave it original..... or NOT! Thanks

 

[gottahaveahoove]

A very nice little lineup,

I must say.  That's a lot of American HOOVER pride there.

 

[durango159]

Wonderful line up!! All of those machines look awesome. Those two hood styles of the Decade and Convertible 700 are my favorite. Love the headlights on both!! Great job you did with keeping all of them operating smoothly and looking pristine!!

 

[squarehandle]

The Squarehandle Manifesto

Thanks Guys, I like to think that the Squarehandle Hoovers are the ultimate culmination of Mr. Spangler's original design with all the features that could possibly be loaded on to an upright vacuum cleaning machine. To me the Hoover upright represents a time when America truly was the greatest country on earth where a man could get a job anywhere and raise a home and a family (can you hear the fifes playing?) and not have to worry about loosing his job to some foreign company that no one ever heard of. It is a symbol of a better time in America and will always be an American icon. Is that too political?, I really don't mean to offend anyone. God Bless the Hoover Vacuum Cleaner Company!

 

[raycarter]

I agree!

Industrial designer Richard Wareham created two very handsome designs with the full hood Convertible and Decade series designs, in addition to the equally handsome Concept One. Henry Dreyfuss would be proud!

 

[squarehandle]

Men of vision?

Where have all the true men of vision gone, the Fords, the Edisons, the Vanderbilts, Morgans and Carnegies... the Teslas, are we relegated to living in an idiocracy run by mindless, ignorant smartphone slaves who are lost in a texting, tweeting virtual hades!...... Sorry, I digress, this is supposed to about vacuum cleaners, right?