hismastersvoice
Well-known member
Over the weekend, I randomly stopped into a vac shop to buy some compact bags after discovering the antique car parts auction I had driven 1.5 hours to get to was actually next weekend. I got to talking with the proprietor about old vacuums (not surprising) and before I knew it he invited me back to dig through his junk rooms. After about 30 minutes of digging through vacuums ranging from hand-pump models to convertibles, I came out with 2 machines I wanted to buy, a Hoover Junior model 115, and an Electro Hygiene, both with nice original bags. There were others I liked but decided I'd come back again and take another look at a later date, once I get everything I've recently acquired organized and cleaned up.
After the deal was done, he asked if I was in a rush, then offered to take me to his other shop about 10 miles away. At this point both shops had closed for the day. Naturally I said YES. So we get to the other shop, and I got to look through the junk room, the parts room, and the sheds. I hadn't found anything that caught my eye, then as we were about to leave, in the corner of a small room off to the side, I saw it. A Hoover Model 102! He told me that it had come with the store when he bought it 40 years ago, and imagined it was probably a trade in that somehow escaped the dumpster when they cleaned the place out many years ago. Probably because it's just too cool looking to toss.
I pulled it out into the light, and looked at it in awe. This machine had the original bag, original cloth cord with screw type socket plug, tufted brush roll, it was a perfect "survivor". After hesitantly selling it to me, I got home and started cleaning it up a little.
The bag is in pretty good shape for 96 years old, I made a few repairs (the bag hanger loop was hanging on by a thread) and gently washed it with cool water and a dash of woolite gentle. It came out great! I did nothing more to the machine than oil it, and give it a quick wipe down. The cord looks scary at first glance, but the actual insulation on the wires seemed to be in good shape. The motor was surprisingly clean under the cap, it obviously wasn't used much. So, I plugged it into a lamp and flipped the switch....
After a few seconds of hesitation and a puff of dust, the motor whirred to life and that beatiful sateen bag puffed up to proudly show "The Hoover" emblazoned across it. I have to believe that this Hoover hasn't been run in my lifetime, and probably much longer. Since it has the early Robbins & Meyers motor in it, the sound is unlike any of the other old Hoovers I have. I'm absolutely thrilled to have found such an early Hoover in an untouched state.
After the deal was done, he asked if I was in a rush, then offered to take me to his other shop about 10 miles away. At this point both shops had closed for the day. Naturally I said YES. So we get to the other shop, and I got to look through the junk room, the parts room, and the sheds. I hadn't found anything that caught my eye, then as we were about to leave, in the corner of a small room off to the side, I saw it. A Hoover Model 102! He told me that it had come with the store when he bought it 40 years ago, and imagined it was probably a trade in that somehow escaped the dumpster when they cleaned the place out many years ago. Probably because it's just too cool looking to toss.
I pulled it out into the light, and looked at it in awe. This machine had the original bag, original cloth cord with screw type socket plug, tufted brush roll, it was a perfect "survivor". After hesitantly selling it to me, I got home and started cleaning it up a little.
The bag is in pretty good shape for 96 years old, I made a few repairs (the bag hanger loop was hanging on by a thread) and gently washed it with cool water and a dash of woolite gentle. It came out great! I did nothing more to the machine than oil it, and give it a quick wipe down. The cord looks scary at first glance, but the actual insulation on the wires seemed to be in good shape. The motor was surprisingly clean under the cap, it obviously wasn't used much. So, I plugged it into a lamp and flipped the switch....
After a few seconds of hesitation and a puff of dust, the motor whirred to life and that beatiful sateen bag puffed up to proudly show "The Hoover" emblazoned across it. I have to believe that this Hoover hasn't been run in my lifetime, and probably much longer. Since it has the early Robbins & Meyers motor in it, the sound is unlike any of the other old Hoovers I have. I'm absolutely thrilled to have found such an early Hoover in an untouched state.
