Hoover Dial-A-Matic Thrift store find

[mpbyrd]

Went to one of my local thrift shops and found this amazing machine. I have been wanting one of these for quite some time. I bought this machine for $10. It was complete with a genuine pack of Hoover bags. The belt was broken and I am assuming this is the only reason the machine was donated because it is in perfect condition and runs beautifully. Does anyone have any information on possibly when this was made? I cannot seem to find a sticker on the machine showing the model number or serial number. I also have never seen one of these with powerdrive. Any info would be greatly appreciated!

 

[vacuumlad1650]

I simply ADORE The Dial-A-Matic! I use an 1110 as a daily driver. use a Royal style 4-5 belt if you cant get a DAM Belt (Hoover Style 50). These are FANTASTIC sweepers. They are a chore to service, but if you find someone crazy enough to do it, cleaning the fans will close to double the suction.


Andy

 

[kirby519]

Those came along in the early to mid 70's. The grade school I attended had one around 1973 to 1975 time span.

 

[repairman]

There is no sticker

The model and serial were etched into the metal bottom plate.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

I love the Dial-A-Matic

We never had one, so, naturally, they fascinated me.  I now have a few. I love thhe tool setup and power.  Although a flawed machine,  it changed the vacuum industry.


 Here's my favorite DAM.

 

[eurekaprince]

I've always felt the revolutionary DAM design owes a bit to the revolutionary Singer upright designed by Raymond Loewy which preceded it. And perhaps he was inspired by the sideways motors in the newly designed power nozzles for canisters by Whirlpool and Lewyt. The brilliant idea of turning the motor sideways really gave birth to better upright designs, especially the Hoover DAM (neat pun on the great hydroelectric project, no?)

 

[eurekaprince]

Actually, I think Loewy's Singer upright predates any canister with a power nozzle (1946)....

 

[vacuumlad1650]

I've been told you have to be either real stupid or real daring to service a DAM motor. I've got mine opened up on the bench right now, and installed some new brushes. These are not that hard to work on, if you think it through before you do it. Then I can clean the fans and she's all ready to sweep again. Brushes ran short this morning.
Andy

 

[ronni]

Great deal--good for you! Your DAM/PD is a model U6039 in seafoam blue and oyster white. It was part of Hoover USA's 1978 line-up (I'm unsure how long it was produced). I read that it was one of the last 3 of the DAMs. The PDs had the flourish on the front of the bag casing. The DAMs were succeeded by the Concept Ones.

(Photo originally uploaded by "1926700" on another Vacuumland thread.)

 

[TheSpiritOf76]

That is SEA blue.....

Not seafoam. His a actually the first variation from 1976, it is actually model U6039. Which means your bottom plate has been replaced.  Now how I can tell yours is a earlier one is, that is has the older, smaller Hoover plug. In 1976 Hoover changed over their plugs to one that is more squared. When they did that, the model then became U6039-030. The 030 indicated that a specification change was made. Mine in the Jae Place Collection is a U6039-030.  I will include the early sales sheet for this model, and pictures of mine for comparison, as well as a more clear copy of the other sales sheet (which is mine, that is my old user name). Make certain you replace BOTH the Powerdrive AND the brush roll belt, or your powerdrive feature will not work correctly.

 

[mpbyrd]

Thanks Everyone!

Thanks for all of the useful info. Does anyone know what type of belt the powerdrive takes on this machine?

 

[gottahaveahoove]

I'm not sure. I've never had to replace one,

although there must be a few in a storage box. It should say in the owner's manual.
Personally, I'd never think of a person who'd repair a vacuum like a DAM by Hoover, or any other make, for that matter, as stupid. I'd call them talented.
I've watched a few people go to town repairing, servicing cleaners, and, I admire the level of skill. WE learn that, with age comes maturity, humility, and grace.
Well, it's supposed to, anyway. When the DAM first came out, it was 'newer than new' as far as a concept goes. Concept: no pun intended. We all know (or most do), that the Concept would follow: cleaning up all the mishaps of the DAMs.

 

[bnsd60m9200]

dial a matic power drive belts are type 49. agitator belts are type 50 for both power drive and non pd dams those are the hoover style number for the belts. hoover still makes them tho i suggest attaining vintage ones N.I.P. as the quality in the rubber seems to yield longer lasting belts.

 

[mpbyrd]

That's great to hear!

I have done a bit of research online and seen the type 49 you are talking about. Thanks for the help I will be ordering some new belts soon!

 

[oreck_xl]

"cleaning up all the mishaps of the DAMs."

Well, all but one that is. While it's true the DAM's had issues with the handle entry point breaking, and the delrin bearing holding up the cleaner body I truly believe it was a better machine than the Concept 1 which followed. Reverting back to a "dirty air" system was Hoover taking 2 steps forward, 3 steps back. Attachment conversion is nowhere near as convenient, except for the handle it was constructed entirely out of plastic and it was noisier than its predecessor. Now I know many on this forum think the Concept 1 was Hoover's best work, but think what might have been had Hoover not sold the clean air patents to Panasonic. I would've loved a Dial-A-Matic II!

 

[tommymilan]

Hey I love those powerdrives too!
Here's a link to my posts of a few years ago with scans of Hoover catalogs from 1975-76 with that model.
Greetings
Tommy

http://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?501

 

[tommymilan]

another one

http://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?515

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Absolutely!

A Dial-A-Matic II think of what it would have been like! We might hear someone tell that it will be made in the U.S. once again.
Just the other night, Tom A. and I were discussing a revved up Convertible: Hepa bag, LED lights, Quadraflex brushes, etc....
That'll not happen either. But, I will say, we never had a DAM, until I started a collection. I have several, and I do love them. Flawed and all, they are great vacuum cleaners.

 

[kirbyloverdan]

Sorry John Long

You won't hear me say that a dial a matic will be made in the USA there are no plans to bring it back .

Dan