Hoover Film From 1950

[vacbear58]

I came across this film today, from 1950.

This would have been a cinema "short" and was just one of the many ways that Hoover promoted their products. Whilst there is no doubt that Hoover produced good cleaners the real secret of their success was that they promoted them extensively - utilising every possible medium.

 

[vacbear58]

Hoover cleaner

Look away now to avoid a "spoiler"

The ironic thing about this film is that, in fact, there is very little new in the fundamental operation of the cleaner. About the only real advantage is that the tools would have been very much lighter than in the old cleaner. The suction would not have been as good, although side entry tools have more suction than rear entry. The cleaner itself might have been a bit lighter too.

 

[vacbear58]

And not just cleaners

I hope a little subject drift will be permitted

Here is another "short", this time about the Hoover 307 washing machine.

 

[sebo_fan]

Interesting films though the days of "keeping a model overnight for free use" are sadly well over.

 

[suckolux]

Like they used to loan out new cars to try out for the weekend!

 

[hoovercelebrity]

Those are wonderful videos! Loved the demo of the cleaner!

 

[KirbyLux]

Hoover Cleaner

Awesome videos! That demo was great but I don't know how I would feel about someone dumping sand on my carpet. However, it does make for a good visual. I'll bet they sold a lot of cleaners.

 

[tolivac]

That was an interesting and effective cleaner demo!Certainy helpted sell the new one!

 

[anthony]

delightfull

a perfect reminder of how things used to be in the not to distant but nevertheless gone forever past oh if only i could go back in time .If you were to make that film now the woman would probably be twice the size wearing leggins scraped back hair and big hoop earings bra straps showing [yes i know i have just formed a very familiar image in your head] the guy would be sat on the sofa in a track suit fag in one hand and tv remote in the other and every other word would start with F oh yes and there would be a giant tv above the fireplace probably showing even more of the same JEREMY KYLE and of course it wouldnt be a hoover would it what cleaner do you think it would be ? i bet it begins with D sorry for going on but i am just old enough to remember when people were actually like the ones in the film .thanks for finding this loverly film Vacbear

 

[sebo_fan]

Im surprised the man would be around....Anyone in the UK watch "My Big Fat Gyspy Wedding?" I feel sorry for those kids whose parents are in jail for half the year.

 

[vintagerepairer]

Not saying society hasn't changed

But to be pedantic, the couple in the video were rather middle-class. The picture you paint Anthony is of a modern working class family. And whilst I am hiding behind a smirk over what you wrote, the truth is that many a working class family -albeit along the lines of what my mother affectionately used to term "lower working class" on account of the fact that we to were working class- were often thought of back in the 40's & 50's as you seem to be thinking of them now. However, the humour has not been lost on me.

 

[ultimatevacman]

"<a name="start_22947.256918">yes i know i have just formed a very familiar image in your head"</a>


 


Indeed you did! lol

 

[anthony]

Hi vintagerepairer

the family i describe would not be working class they would be hard pushed to know what work is .A new girl has just started to work in my department she is 23 years old when i told her that chips were made from potatoes her reply was are you taking the pxxx and yes she was being serious .getting back to the film i can identify with it because it reminds me of the way things were.my family were working class my dad was a butcher and my mum worked in a launderette money was tight but we had a happy clean home with standards simple things like all meals were eaten at the table the tv was turned off shoes were polished neither of my parents would dream of leaving the house unless they were dressed properly just basic stuff like that im glad you found what i wrote amusing it was meant to be funny at least by some of the older members

 

[watsonw]

Thanks Alistair,

I enjoyed both of the videos but the 612 was my favourite.

Both of my Grandmothers bought 612's around this time as both had fully carpeted homes to clean. My Mothers' Mother already had a pre-war dustette ( which remained until Granny bought a lux 65 in 1960) Mum cannot remember what the cleaner she had to trade in but is sure there would have been one as Granny had a 'Beattie' washing machine and lux gas fridge in 1938 not to mention a live in maid!!

I do remember my Fathers' Mother describing to me, the cleaner (that would have been around 1967 when I was eight) she gave in part exchange; a 750 (with plain brass triangular name plate) the Hoover Man did however tell her that the 750 "ran as well as the day it had left the factory"...perhaps not the wisest thing to say if he was trying to sell a new model? In due course She traded the 612 in for a 652 which was still in use when She died in 1970.


Selling to these suburban middle class wives must have been the Hoover Reps dream!!

Those were such different times, very certain,secure and ordered; a time now becoming a hazzy memory to people in my age group:- I imagine Anthony,Alistair and Vintagerepairer will agree?

Thanks again Al,

Regards, Walter.

 

[vacbear58]

More on Hoover films

I am glad you enjoyed the films, they are a great part of appliance history as well as being, to an extent, something of a social documentary although they were never intended for that purpose.

Her comment "maybe they will give us something against the old one" made me chuckle too for, at that time, Hoover had a factory in Scotland (not Cambuslang) refurbishing old models for sale - these cleaners were not subject to the 50% purchase tax current at that time and offered a very considerable reduction in price over the cost of a new one. I also had to smile at how the engineer did not do the sand test with the old cleaner for it would have done just as well as the new one, especially as she had been having it regularly serviced.

By the way, my avatar is of a 612 from that period.

It seems opportune to remind members of the wonderful "All Mod Cons" episode featuring domestic appliances which featured a former Hoover rep. talking about selling cleaners in the 1950s - from about 3.55, which is the start of a film which promoted the Hoover 638 - "You haven't got a Hoover? Good gracious! I'll fetch mine" Its also fun seeing a young Katie Boyle letting rip LOLOLOL



This one programme featured at least two other Hoover films (in colour!) as well as an English Electric and Marguerite Patten doing a cookery demonstration on a GEC cooker (range) - hopefully in time these will all emerge in full as well in time.

It is easy to look back in time and think how much better things were then, but I am not so sure. At the time of these two films Britain was just emerging from a period of dreadful post war austerity (I recommend reading the book "Nella Last's Peace) although in a very few years there would certainly be a great feeling of optimism in the future, "We had never had it so good" and it could only get better.

Well it did not take long for the shine to wear off that promise and I think one of the problems we have today is that an ever hungry media is always reminding us us how bad things are. Living in 2013 (nearly 2014!) we have much to be thankful for, not the least being the worldwide fellowship we can enjoy on sites like this.

Al

 

[turbo500]

she is 23 years old when i told her that chips

I object to that. I'm 23, work full time and have my own house. This girl was clearly not an accurate reflection of people in my age range. The people I still associate with that I went to school with are now ALL working, almost all of them are in their own homes and some now have their own familes. We're not all that bad .

 

[sensotronic]

That film featuring Katie Boyle can be seen in full on the same YouTube channel that uploading the other films you mentioned.

 

[1926700]

"Ive had my Hoover for 20 years,

[COLOR=#800000; font-family: arial black,avant garde]That must be a record"<span style="color: #008000;">......lol.....Typical "I have to have the latest and greatest customer...lol[/COLOR]</span>

 

[vacbear58]

@sensotronic

Thank you so much for that link, I have been waiting 16 years to see that film.

It is from 1958, and it is interesting to see how things move on - no longer a male expert, its now the women with the knowledge, although of course hubby was still required to go along to make the purchase.

If you enjoyed the first films, grab a coffee and enjoy this one



Al