Hoover Help-Mate

[justjunque]

Well, I needed this like a fish needs a bicycle. But, it was old folks 30% off day, and I really liked the colors.
Also, I was surprised to see “Made in U.S.A.” on it. I was expecting perhaps Mexico.
It sounds perfect. But, it’s not like someone would have used it to vacuum their whole house. These things probably don’t see a ton of use.
I’d love to replace the filter, which is a pleated cardboard type of thing, with a foam seal. But, I’m sure they’ve been NLA for quite some time now. It’s pretty caked with some sort of schmutz. I’ll knock off what I can, and hit it with another vacuum. At least it doesn’t smell. So, it seems to be “clean dirt”, if that makes sense.

 

[wstonehockertv]

The serial number won't say anything.

 

[justjunque]

Yeah. This must have been before they started putting the date in the serial number. I’m guessing it’s maybe mid 1980s.

 

[kirbyman65]

Nice!

I had one of these very briefly. I loved it! I might try to find another but I keep telling myself to stop buying hand vacuums!

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Nice machine!

I have tons of them.  I even have the little 'tools'. Odd, but nice, to see MADE in USA !!!


 


I tell my foreign students that the last thing made in USA... was ME !


 

 

[justjunque]

Hi John!
I see a lot of them, with their boxes and tools even, on the "bay". Not super expensive either.
I'd like to have all the extras and box. But, I got this one for $5, and it seems to be in good shape. So...I guess I can't complain.

Unrelated note; they also had a Dirt Devil 103 with no price on it. No box or anything; just the vac. Seemed in good cosmetic condition. But, I already have a 103 with its box, and the black 500 model with its box, and some additional tools. So, I just grabbed the Hoover.

 

[fan-of-fans]

Funny you posted this, as I just got one last weekend! It’s even the same color and also too is “pre date code in the serial number!”

I’ve been trying to stay away from more vacs, and started not to buy it. But, it even had the dusting brush and crevice tool, as well as the manual with it, so it was hard not to walk back and grab it.

I had a blue one of these, maybe a bit newer, with the box and paperwork, that I got when I first started collecting. But I broke the carbon brushes trying to clean it and unfortunately threw it out during one of my purges long ago. I wish I hadn’t tossed it, but at least I now have another!

I also like how the Help Mate logo is different colors on these like you and I have, I don’t remember my blue one being that way. It’s so 80s!

 

[justjunque]

Nice find, Cole!
Does yours have the logo on both sides? I feel like I've seen some on eBay that have it on both sides. Mine only has it on the one side, shown in the picture.
I think the multi-color logo was one of the things that made me buy it. I too, am trying to limit myself. It's not working very well. But, it struck me too as looking very 1980s, or like autumn colors. That's one of the few things that I actually like about New England, is the fall foliage colors.

 

[fan-of-fans]

Interesting, I checked, and mine does have it on both sides. I wonder if that means an earlier or later production date.

 

[panasonicvac]

I have one

It was assembled in Mexico and you have to put the Concept cord on it to make it work.

 

[justjunque]

Cool.
I see yours has the logo on just one side as well.
And, that explains why the cord seems like it’s removable.
Yours also differs by having a suffix to the model number, and the assembled in Mexico, vs U.S.A.
Maybe the model number difference has to do with whether it was sold as a stand alone hand vac, or as part of the Concept.

 

[fan-of-fans]

Probably. I’d like to find one of those Concept Twos someday. I see the Concept Ones occasionally, but not the Two. I guess maybe being more expensive, they didn’t sell as many here.