Hoover Portable Model History

[eurekastar]

I'm just wondering if someone can shed some light on the Hoover Portable...it's model history and years of production. Original cost, etc. My Grandmother had one back in the 60s. I always thought it was cool because it looked like a piece of luggage. I think her model was green. Someday, I hope to acquire one myself!

 

[paul]

I did some checking and found that the Hoover Portable was introduced in 1962 or 1963 and discontinued circa 1981. The early Deluxe model sold for $64.99, and the early Standard model was priced at $44.99 (I don't know what the differences were).

Here's a list of models & their colors w/incomplete info.:

2100 "Deluxe" Mint (1962- ?)
2110 "Standard" Gold & Seal Greige
2120 "Standard" *Horizon & *Colonial Blue
2120-01
2200 "Deluxe" *Pearl White & *Canton Red; w/cord winder (1964-?)
2201 "Deluxe" Orange & Seal Greige; w/cord winder (1966-72)
2204 "Deluxe" Gold & Seal Greige w/line graphic; w/cord winder
2208
2210
2260 “Super” Light & Dark Seal Greige; w/cord winder, big wheels & dark tools (1969-?)
2266 “Super” Light & Dark Seal Greige; w/cord winder, big wheels, & light tools
S3013 “Deluxe” *Mint & *Holly Green; w/cord winder
S3013-001
S3013-035
S3015 “Super” *Goldtone Shades; w/cord winder & big wheels
S3015-01

*confirmed Hoover advertisement names

Specs:

►8 ¼" high
►takes up less than a foot of floor space when stored on end
►weight with tools 24.6 pounds
►motor - 840W (1⅛ horse power); 20,000 rpms
►3-stage fan system
►Tufflex hose double vinyl construction w/nylon mesh
►Attachments: rug & floor nozzle, soft dusting brush, general purpose upholstery nozzle, crevice tool, telescoping extension wand
►triple filter system (throw-away bag, special filter ahead of motor, filter behind the motor)
►one-year guarantee

 

[paul]

Btw, using the online inflation calculator here's what 1963 prices would be in 2017:

$44.99 → $366.32

$64.99 → $529.16

 

[kenkart]

I have several

But I want the first one, it had a step on switch pedal, I also want the PINK slimline!

 

[eurekastar]

@ Paul

Wow! What a wealth of information! Thank you! I guess the one my Grandmother had was the earliest model...It definitely would have been mint green. It went right along with her green carpet and green tweed sofa! I don't know what happened to it, but she eventually got a green Hoover Convertible with a square-ish hood and no headlight. I guess green was her favorite color!

 

[rugsucker]

Hoover Portable

These had the best ever idea for hose and attachment storage.As above the first green ones had different step on switch later changed to same switch as Convertible of 60s.As they changed models features such as cordwinders and large rear wheels were added along with great colors and designs on lid.The later ones were called 'Cleaning Center'Advertising items included a very nice,detailed matchbook with atts under cover as with real one.
I have SEVERAL that need to go this year.Most good and near complete.Some very good and complete.Anyone want to make my phone ring?!?
Jimmy Martin
423-268-4841

 

[gottahaveahoove]

It is also true that the Portble

was featured/displayed in The Louvre MUSEUM..... citing "style meets function". They were amazed that an appliance was designed as a 'suitcase'.
"Hoover, nobody did it like you".

 

[oreck_xl]

I read a story on this forum that the inspiration for the portable came when a Hoover employee got caught stealing a motor in his lunchbox.

 

[paul]

@eurekastar

You're welcome. Some of the credit goes to others who posted ad's and info. on this site and eBay sellers along Hesco's model list that I used as a framework. I searched each model number and compiled the information. One of the things that surprised me was that the Model 2120 seems to have been introduced in the early '60s and was still being sold in the mid-1970s.

As for your Grandma's convertible, I'm guessing it was the Model 1010 in Spring Green, Seal Greige Medium & Seal Greige Deep. Check out this link:

http://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?25922

 

[fan-of-fans]

I know the last Portables had the plastic hose handle with a ring lock on it like the Hoover Spirit canisters and later upright tool kits had. It also had the boxy floor/rug nozzle like the Spirits had. I don't think it ever had the plastic wand as they didn't telescope.

 

[paul]

Found this 1963 ad on eBay:

 

[paul]

TV sighting

Here's a screenshot of a scene from THE LUCY SHOW, S3—E14 "Lucy the Coin Collector", originally aired on December 21, 1964, which features Lucy and Viv's antics in attempting to sell a 2100 renamed the 'Handy Dandy' vacuum cleaner and in the process unknowingly vacuum up Mr. Mooney's rare stamp!

Btw, only the cleaner and its hose are used.

 

[vacbear58]

Lucy

Link to episode



Note: Mabel Albertson, more commonly known as Darren Steven's mother plays Mrs White, a customer

 

[kirbysthebest]

I love these vacuums

My aunt had a Mint colored Portable. It was in the same closet that she kept the toy box, but she would never let me play with her vacuum. I remember how I would stare at that vacuum, sometimes I would open the lid to see the tools stored inside and the hose wrapped in a coil.

I coveted one of my own for many years, and a few months ago I was able to acquire one off Ebay. Mine is a Orange/Brown no cord winder, small wheel, but did still have all the attachments. The instruction book has a copyright of 1976.

One of the sweetest sounding vacuum motors I have ever heard. Not too loud, with just a nice low sounding motor and the sound of moving air. The amount of suction on a machine that is now 40 years old is amazing. Bags are still available, but the filter before the motor is difficult to find, and pricy. I made one of my own using the old one from the machine and cutting out a furnace filter to fit a cardboard frame I traced.

I can see it may have fallen out of favor when people doing the vacuuming started to lose their strength and couldn't lift a vacuum any longer; it is 25 lbs, and pulling it around can be difficult in smaller spaces, but the joy of having it is immeasurable. It is truly one of Hoover's best.

 

[justjunque]

Harley,

Good job, making your own pre-motor filter.
I figured someone on here must have the skills to do it.
My Portable has the filter, but I had wanted to pick up a few to have on hand.
Unfortunately, the only site that I found that showed them as being available, just hadn't updated their site.
When I placed the order, I got an e-mail telling me it was no longer available.
How is your homemade one working?

I'm with you on the sound of this motor, and the great suction!
I use a plastic-bodied Electrolux as a primary vacuum. But, once in a while, I do the whole first floor with the Portable.
It's even decent on our braided rugs, even though it's straight suction.

Barry

 

[kirbysthebest]

The Homemade filter seems to be working just fine.
I used a 16 x 25 filtrate MPR300 filter. I traced a template onto cardboard from the original filter, then using staples, I attached to the section I cut from the larger filter. It seems to form a pretty good seal around the edges, and air flow through the machine doesn't seem impaired at all.

I then cut a smaller section, I think its about 3x2 of the same filter material and made a after filter on the exhaust.

I use this vacuum mostly on the indoor/outdoor carpeting in the basement, but it does a wonderful job.

 

[paul]

Good ingenuity with the homemade filters, Harley.

Please help complete the list in reply #1 by giving the model of your Portable. The name stamp is debossed in the metal (example below):

 

[kirbysthebest]

I tried

To get a good picture of the model, but it's not too clear. It reads 2120.
correction on date, manual says 1-73.
Sorry my tablet doesn't take very high resolution pictures.[this post was last edited: 11/29/2018-19:33]

 

[paul]

Thanks for the pics, Harley. I hadn't heard of a Hoover model coming in two different casing colors till now. Besides your 2120, I did an eBay search and both orange and blue ones were shown.