Hoover Junior U1104 Information Wanted

[jmurray01]

Specifically the purple one which I believe was a Currys exclusive, but am not sure.

The reason for asking is that I've just won an auction for one on eBay and shall be receiving it soon.

As usual, I'd like to know as much about it as possible, retail prices, dates, common faults etc...

 

[sebo_fan]

Well, for starters check by http://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?16866 where it outlines the older U1012 - a few posts are you will remember also talk about the U1104. U1012 and U1104 are very similar in the sense that they have top fill dust channels. 


 


Also I think this history timeline is accurate but I may be wrong: 1982/3 to 1987 U1104 standard and U1108 Dirtsearcher was exclusive sales only. The Black Junior at Currys was similar to the Hoover Turbopower Junior at that time with outer bag being identical, model U1220.


 


Two other colours were also sold, a green model U1036 and red model U1036. The green one was launched April 21st 1981 BEFORE the standard line was launched. Im not at all sure but the black one may have been launched in 1985 or 1986.

 

[jmurray01]

So if the black one was a Currys exclusive, what about the purple one ?

 

[sebo_fan]

I thought you wanted to know about the Black one? You're being difficult now..


Always use Google, Jamie if you can't find the past threads on here.. Are you referring to the LILAC Hoover Junior 1346? See it on this thread http://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?725


 


That one was a catalogue exclusive. Im not sure if I ever saw a LILAC U1104 though. 

 

[paulc]

Jamie

Is your new Junior 1104 maybe navy blue? I am sure some one here has one in their collection.

 

[turbo500]

Best bet is to wait until you get it and take some snaps

 

[jmurray01]

What do you mean Ryan ?

I said purple to begin with! I never mentioned black, YOU DID.

Yes Paul it would probably be called navy blue.

 

[sebo_fan]

Sorry I misread - I thought you said black. In any event, as Turbo500 says, its a blue one - I wish you got your colour right the first time regardless of my mistake. The blue one as far as I know was also launched before the standard series, part of the red, green and blue - how very British!


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

 

[sebo_fan]

Also there's a UK listing for Hoover Junior U1104 tools, the U1902 tool kit with one missing brush.



http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-H..._Bags_Parts&hash=item5894e23427#ht_500wt_1204

 

[jmurray01]

It is similar to the blue one in that picture you posted but has an edge cleaning sticker on the bumper.

 

[sebo_fan]

All of the U1104s from shops had a perimeter edge brushing sticker. removable and peelable on the bit below the main front cover. Some also had side stickers to emphasize the edge brushing. Eventually with use the one on the front bumper wore down if it wasn't removed.


 


If anyone else is interested there's also a listing on EBAY UK for a Black Hoover Sprite. See listing below.

[this post was last edited: 7/17/2012-13:35]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Retro-Hoo...um_Cleaners&hash=item3378d8ea47#ht_1899wt_956

 

[vacbear58]

Sprite?

Dont be misled by the posting Ryan, thats a Turbo power Junior, although none the worse for that.

Al

 

[sebo_fan]

Hi AL


No offence taken - but I'm pretty sure that body is that of a Sprite -the Turbo Junior had a far more angled, sloping and shorter front hood and besides, 4 proper wheels on the TPJ as opposed to the only 2 on the back of the Sprite. I can recall Hoover doing the "Junior" badging on the end of line Sprite models (as you know they were originally only for the workers.) and appeared in catalogues.

 

[vacbear58]

Just to throw something else into the mix

I dont think this is the "black" one (i could be wrong though) but its certainly a late one - September 1986


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/vintage-v...534?pt=UK_Vacuum_Cleaners&hash=item41685dbb6e

 

[sebo_fan]

Im pretty sure that's another grey/black Junior U1104 though its a good link you've supplied there! I recall seeing one that was maybe a German market only Hoover Junior with an actual black hood and grey patterned bag.

 

[vintagerepairer]

The Junior in that weblink, the one being said is a Turbopower, is the same as the sprite in every way apart from colour and the paper dust bag used. One uses an H4 and one uses an H1, but I do not remember which cleaner takes which. The Sprite was sold first in the latest part of the 1980s and into 1990. The Junior was sold after that, even though the Turbopower Junior was still being sold, in a colour similar to the Sprite. Eventually the Turbopower Junior became the 'Junior' and replaced the previous Turbopower Junior and also the Junior in that link.

 

[sebo_fan]

For many years I was a fan of many of the old Juniors including the U1104. I also had a beige U1100 Turbopower Junior with the brown bag and was very disappointed with it as I felt the plastic wasn't as good as the Junior U1104 and I didn't like its pick up action either. I was offered the pastel blue Sprite years ago for free or a Junior Deluxe/Compact for £20 extra and chose the Compact - far easier to push for starters and didn't feel as plasticky even though both clearly were plastic.


 


As you correctly say Benny, the TPJ eventually became the Junior model - I had two of them (blue model and then a burgundy one) and both were short lived, being used in a cold, damp house. It was the handles on them that used to snap off in cold temperatures and the main spine also started to cause problems.

 

[jmurray01]

Thank you for the information given.

Once I receive the Junior I'll be sure to post a good deal of pictures and make a video of it.

 

[rolls_rapide]

Hoover Sprite, in pale blue...

Was a hideous machine. No handle lock, no height-right control, took H1 bags in the old 1334 Junior style of bottom-fill, which were very awkward to fit as the fill tube was far too short and fixed within a cramped solid frame.

The Sprite replacement was similar, but had H4 top-fill bags.

Thankfully, Hoover saw sense and brought back the Turbopower Junior, as the Junior.