Hoover RS Convertible U4597 Agitator Oddity

[phaeton]

Is a Hoover Convertible a Hoover Convertible when the brushroll does not have Beater Bars?

I have had 3 Hoover RS Convertible Models U4597 and I sold one a few months back. I did not paint the brushroll I did not notice there were no Beater Bars on the brushroll until today when I looked at pictures of it. You see I was painting the brushroll of a second Hoover RS Model U4597 yesterday and this morning I said to myself, I forgot to mask off the Beater Bars so I will go strip it, mask the Beater Bars and repaint it again. So today I was ready to do just that when I saw it also had no Beater Bars on it. I then when in the house and check out the near mint RS and it does have Beater Bars on the brushroll.
Were these 2 brushrolls without Beater Bars a mistake or intentionally made without them? Also in the picture of the 3 brushrolls why did Hoover changed the direction of the Beater Bars and brushes? That bottom brushroll is out of a late 60’s Hoover, the middle one is out of the really nice RS that I have had for so time and the top is out of the RS I am Cleaning up.
The first 2 pictures are of the RS I sold a few months back and there are no Beater Bars. Pictures 3 and 4 are of the newly painted RS brushroll without Beater Bars. The fifth picture is newly painted RS brushroll and the RS brushroll from my nice RS and it has Beater Bars. The sixth picture I added a late 60's Convertible Brushroll for comparison. The last 3 pictures are of all the ID Tags of the 3 RS with the first being the on I sold, the second is the one I am working on and the third is the one I have had and is in nice condition which I believe was manufactured in the month of January.
So why some RS were sold without Beater Bars? While I like Hoovers I am no expert capable of answering this question.
Thank you for looking,
Pete

 

[hooveru4089]

The secret behind the CONVERTIBLE…

…is that it was Hoover's first effort to design a fast, easy, no-tools method of converting an upright cleaner to an above floor cleaning machine.

Prior to the Convertible, conversion to attachments was a multi-step process that involved replacing one piece with another. Below is an example of such process with an early Hoover.




http://https//www.youtube.com/watch?v=gT4v-SSQAxg

 

[hooveru4089]

In 1957, the first Convertible rolled off the line equipped with a receptacle at the rear of the base, in which an attachment converter at the end of the hose could be inserted without any disassembly or even shutting the cleaner off. Models with two speed motors had an additional mechanism to switch the motor to high speed when the converter is inserted. This design was used through the mid '70s.

The following video demonstrates the rear-converter setup. Skip to 2:48 to see how it works.

http://https//www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CvZUygC810

 

[hooveru4089]

Later convertibles, like yours…

…had a front-mounted converter that attached to the bottom plate covering the brushroll.

Here is a demonstration of the later setup. This can also be accomplished with the cleaner running.

http://https//www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNCvRc-Ky10

 

[hooveru4089]

As for your brushrolls, the ones without the beater bars were likely replacements, but still made by Hoover, probably for the commercial machines. I believe all Convertibles had beater bars but I am not entirely certain.

 

[kloveland]

All of the RS models I've come across are just like this one with no beater bars. Some of the plastic based convertibles did not have beater bars. Why? I don't know. They came that way. 

 

[bnsd60m9200]

lack of beat bars

was a cost reduction for the budget machines. hoover wanted you to get a higher end convertible, or dial a matic / concept depending on the era. from what tom anderson told me, the very cheap convertibles like the RS at the end of the convertible era, were made this way. the build quality of these budget convertibles wasnt as quality either. motors lesser quality, brushrolls with no beat bars, single speed , etc.

 

[phaeton]

Hello All,
While I have repaired hundreds of vacuum I stopped working at the shop in the early 80's and not until recently have I started working on them. I would never have thought Hoover would make a residential vacuum without Beater Bars. Now I do own some old Hovers such as 105, 541 that do not have the beater bars and I just thought that from the 543 and 700 up would have them. My 305 has beater bars and I know the NORCA 1 and 80 did not. I must clarify this I have attachment sets for my 543, 700, 28, 61 and 65 and I have always had a trusty Lux G, 30 and 1205 to use.
Well thank you all, I guess I missed a few years and to be totally honest I have not heard of some of the vacuums being talked about or collected today.
Thank you for looking,
Pete

 

[real1shep]

I bought a pink Hoover upright in the early to mid 70's while in college. Didn't have the light and snap buttons on the bag instead of a zipper. Was an economy Hoover (John told me once what those models were called) for sure, but it had the beater bars. 


 


Kevin

 

[oreck_xl]

They were Hoover's Special convertibles. Special was Hoover's codeword for their economy models.

 

[2011hoover700]

Can I have someone show me how to mount a front converter with the motor running?
Thanks everyone
2011hoover700

 

[real1shep]

Thank you Hershel..."Special" Convertible was what I was going for. It seemed like the motor was powerful, much like my present Convertible (I think from the 70's) with the light & zipper bag.


 


This is what I had as I remember it....more pinkish though...probably didn't come through in the pics or maybe his faded over time........


 

 


Kevin

[this post was last edited: 1/23/2018-14:57]

 

[phaeton]

Hoover Attachment Set U4901

Hello All and 2011hoover700,
The set in the picture is Hoover Attachment Set U4901 which would be used on Hoovers such as my Hoover RS that is pictured above that are the economical Hoovers.
I do not remember if you leave the belt on or not as I do not own the set. I think the were similar to what some Eureka vacuums used.
I took the picture off eBay as there are many on eBay. This I think was Item No. 263435035390. If you just put the numbers in the search line it will come up and if you just put U4901 you will see more of them.
I hope this helped you visualize how it works, the plate in the middle of the hose attaches to the bottom plate.
Thank you for looking,
Pete

 

[louvac]

Missing Beater Bars

Here is the reason I was given as to why these agitators do not have beater bars:

Carpeting years ago was porous meaning, that the backing was breathable and which further meant that dirt and debris could penetrate the carpet fibers and sit on the padding underneath. When hard flooring made a come back many years ago, new carpeting was designed with a non-porous backing and therefore there was no need for beater bars because the carpeting now had a plastic or non-permeable backing which didn't allow dirt to hide under thus needing to beaten out of the carpet! This backing also protected the hardwood flooring from carpet steam cleaners because the chemicals and water could not come in contact with the wood floors because of the plastic backing.

 

[2011hoover700]

Phaeton I appreciate that you want to show me what a front converter looks like but I actually use one all the time on my Hoover 913 while I wait until I have an original converter. hooveru4089 can I have you post a video of how to mount a front converter with the motor running?
Thanks everyone

 

[louvac]

Never....

Never attach the converter with the motor running! Natural vibration makes it difficult for your hand to steady it onto the frame of the machine. And if it slips it could damage the converter itself, the nozzle opening, or worse yet, your fingers/hand. Always turn the machine off before installing the converter. This also goes for the older convertibles with the rear converter.

 

[hooveru4089]

@2011hoover700: Unfortunately I do not have any Convertible tool sets so I cannot post a video.

 

[phaeton]

Hello All and 2011hoover700,
Sorry my mistake as I misunderstood your question.
I would have to agree with Louvac's reply of not putting the converter on while the vacuum is running.
Why is it important to install the converter while the vacuum is running?
Thank you for looking,
Pete