Hoover "Lightweight Heavy-Duty Commercial Cleaner"...A True Story

[swingette]

I have a thing for commercial vacuums, esp cloth bag vacuums...a diseased mind perhaps?

 

[swingette]

A dream cleaner is now mine. The 334 was a commercial Convertible with a cloth shakeout bag and heavy duty cord. A good alternative to the brutish heavy duty model 913. Its a two-position Convertible. Anyone know what year the 334 made its debut? I wonder what other commercial uprights were popular at the time?

 

[swingette]

When my cleaner arrived it was wearing this bag. I'm guessing it's from a model 70? Perhaps the dealer placed this bag on the cleaner himself?

 

[swingette]

This is the lovely cord that powered the Hoover. This is the impeller that created the famous Hoover suction. Whats wrong with this picture?

 

[swingette]

This cleaner taught me a lesson: Lube your wheels! If anyone out there is learing about Hoover Convertibles and you come across a model with these early white wheels, grease them... now. The early Convertible wheels use a metal bearing that will wear-away rapidly if allowed to get dry.

A very kind *King of all things Hoover* sent me a wheel and impeller to help bring my cherished new Hoover up to speed. Thank You!

(Those b*tc# white wheels sure show every trace of dirt, dont they! lol)

 

[swingette]

Which agitator would YOU choose?

Btw, any of these agitators (paired with Hoover's massive airflow) would outsweep and outclean most modern "cutting edge" machines.

 

[swingette]

The Hoover Co. here in San Antonio provided the more correct cord seen here. A heavy-duty, two-wire cord would be even better, but i dont know where to get one. And about the bag...

 

[swingette]

I dont like the way the bag blows up. I like the shape of the black bag MUCH better. I think i will re-sew the bag to get a more *petite* shape. Too bottom-heavy. Not that i am obsessive or anything...

 

[swingette]

Thanks for watching. All of the early commercial Convertibles are interesting to me. The variety ive seen in some of the collections here is simply amazing (to me). Here is a bonus pic for any cloth bag people out there.

Swingette

 

[buffalo-joe]

Nice................

The 334 is on my list too.

Congrats on getting the machine. Looks like you got a good one.

Joe

 

[myvacsrock]

the wrong with the picture is the fan has a chiped off spot!

Congrats! I must say they are beautiful!

 

[myhooverco]

Wow...you have a beautiful example of an early 334. These were built starting on 11.5.63 and ending on 12.10.68. The serial numbers went from 1001 to 120,971.

What brush roll did you choose? I can just see you using it (gently) in the lobby of your hotel.

It does not take much to ruin a fan. Someone might have picked up a penny with it or something. Your advice is good about those wheel bearings. I have seen them as thin as paper. Some oil seems to help. Not only that the squeal that can come from one of those bearings is very annoying. The original cord set was a thick two wire cord in black with a plug shaped like a Convertible plug but labeled "Hoover" even after 1963.

Those are some great photos! A 334 is very hard to find and a nice one is even harder to find. Thanks for sharing with everyone! I may have to snap a photo of mine.

 

[vacuumkid3]

Ahh, yes! Beautiful! I always oil my wheels...I just can't stand that squeaky noise!

And it's funny...just yesterday I got my first Convertible! A model 31!! It looks exactly like yours, I guess! Except mine has a turquoise handle...Mine runs great! I made sure to oil those wheels and also the height adjustment and handle release. Those can make some noise too, along with the handle.

When did Hoover start using ball bearings? Doesn't the 31 have sleeve bearings?

Also, did 334 and 31 (with their plastic hoods) have a problem with deforming? Mine is terribly deformed...I am going to start a new post about these questions...sorry for hijacking! :'-(

~~K~~

 

[ian88]

I like old Commercial vacs too (mostly uprights) I think it's just their ruggedness and a (possibly mythical) more powerful motor.

 

[hoover1060]

very nice!

Congrats David, that is indeed a rare find, the 334 is the only 1960's model I have never had!
When I was a kid, there were tons of Commercial Convertibles all over, I am surprised to see they only made 120,000 334's!
Here's the one I have, a 344. Cool machines!

 

[ian88]

As I've said before if any of you dashing chaps fancy doing a deal of some sort with me for one of those solid, metal based 914 (or w/e) commercial uprights by hoover let me know ;]

lol

Ian

 

[ian88]

912 even, the 912 commercial upright..

 

[sfovacman]

913, 918, 90, 91, and 925 Commercials

I suspect some of you remember the commercial models referenced above from the 1940's and 1950's. The 925, I believe, was from the 1930's. The only one of these I've seen is Stan Kann's.

In my vintage vacuum collection, I have several Model 913's (made in England; a 918; and a 91. I believe the 90 and 91 were made in the U. S.

Jeff Parker and Tom Anderson, correct me as needed on this.

 

[myvacsrock]

Tom do you have a later one?
his has the madalion yours has a sticker

the base also looks whiter