Hoover Model 638

[dibble]

Hi, I am new to this vacuum admiration, but my father died recently and he owned (and still used) a Hoover 638. I think I can find all the tools and box in the loft, and probably the receipt somewhere. Can anyone work out the vintage of this old beauty from the serial number JP 17335 ?
Photos may become available when we get everything together. The only thing non-original is the electric cable, and I can't remember if the light works, but the vacuum certainly does!
Thanks.

 

[kirbymodel2c]

Hi Dave.

Hi Dave. Your dads 638 sound interesting. Esp if it's mostley original.
It's hard finding Hoover 638s with original Bag/cord and handle grips.
Mine has the original cord and bag but the handle grip is not original.

Hope you post some pics of it soon. With the tools if pos as well.
I'm sure someone on here will be able to date the vac for you.
My speciality are Kirby vacuum cleaners.

Welcome to the ever growing group.

James)

 

[dibble]

Thanks James.

I have a couple of rather poor pics of it from a while ago. Just to show what it looks like. Dad replaced the black cable with a white one, but I would assume that can soon be replaced.

 

[dibble]

By the way, the base plate says it has a 400W motor.
Don't know if that helps date it?

My parents were married in 1953, so I imagine it was bought between then and when I arrived in 1957!

 

[kirbymodel2c]

Looks..

Hi. That looks nice. I'm sure it will clean up great.
Show us pics once it's done. Mine has a blue cord same as the vac it's self.
What is your handle grip like?

James)

 

[pinkge]

Hoover 638...

Is one and the same as the USA model 63.Beautiful Hoover.Michael

 

[vacbear58]

638

Welcome to the group

As James says apart from the flex the handgrips on these cleaners do not seem to last well - they disintegrate so if yours is still intact you are lucky indeed. These cleaners will just go on for years and years and as long as the belts and brushes are maintained (easily done) they will still be as effective and efficient as much that you can buy today.

From the serial number it was manufactured between July and December 1955 - it is an early one in this series which carried on until 1959. I wonder did the ad on the link influence their purchase?

Al

 

[dibble]

Thanks for the comments folks, and for the dating to 1955. I will have a look at the handgrip this weekend and try to get some closer-up pics.

PS My wife and I must have got through at least 4 modern vacs in our 28 years of marriage. Mind you, my parents didn't have a constant succession of large hairy dogs like us, so maybe that has been the difference. My feeling is that things really were built to last in the 50s and more recently are designed to fail just after the guarantee runs out! They are all harder to empty and replace bags than the old one, and the filters are ridiculous.

 

[dibble]

And vacbear, thanks for that link - a very nostalgic old ad!