Hoover Special 541

[s31463221]

One of the great things about having kids and pets, they tend to dirty the carpet/rugs up rather fast! Since the area rug in the living room was sporting quite a few crumbs, I decided to give it a going over. As I have been in the habit of lately, I decided to change up machines. Tonight, I felt like an upright would do what I needed, but not just any upright.....I pulled out my Hoover Special Model 541.

This old machine runs pretty good, and since I sent the brush roll to O'Connors in Youngstown Ohio sometime back to be rebristled, it picks up well too! I know its hard to see from the video, but the coffee can motor and front emblem are green. Since the old rubberized cord was dry, cracking, and crumbling, I replaced it with a green cloth covered wire and a period style vintage plug. The Hoover bag is in great shape, and clean so I slipped a Hoover style C bag in that fit in there great and keeps the cloth bag clean.

As you can see, it's still a work in progress, needing some finishing touches, handle refinished, a knob for the power switch, etc., but tell me how many vacuums you see today in stores that will still be around and running 80+ years from now?

P.S. please pardon the heavy breathing in the video, I guess I'm going to have to hold the camera a little further away from me!!

http://https//youtu.be/KnIyHKS_FPM

 

[dysonman1]

Nice cleaner. I noticed that your switch is on the wrong side. When standing behind your cleaner, the switch should be on the left. Wonder if that's a Robins and Meyers motor? Since your 541 was rebuilt at the factory, it's possible they put a 102 motor on it.

 

[caligula]

Hoover 541 Special.

I have one that was given to me in the early 1970's, I wish it looked half this good, but it needs work.

Where did you get that green cord for the 541? it's exactly what I'm looking for. I contacted an antique lamp company to replace the cords on my upright Air-Way's and they said their cords are not what I need, but that green one is exactly what I need.

Have a very merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year,
Alex Taber.

 

[s31463221]

Switch

Tom,

That's a very interesting observation, I hadn't really paid a lot of attention to the position of the switch, but now that you mention it, I had another 541 that was destroyed in a flood a few years ago, and I do remember it's switch being on the other side of the machine! I'll have to dig in my storage room, I believe I have a 102 somewhere in there, I'll check the motor housing on it, that's a grand possibility they used whatever they had available when rebuilding it!

Alex,

Thank you! While it's not an exact match, I really liked the looks of that green twisted wire and thought it would improve the looks compared to that heavy, rubber cord that had been stuck on it at some point in its life. I actually found that on eBay from a seller out of Ohio. I'll put the link to the listing below. Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year to you as well! Thanks again!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Green-Cloth...133182?hash=item2ee8f9137e:g:tcYAAOxyOa9R0M17

 

[caligula]

Green cord.

Interesting, Vintage antique cord is the place I contacted, spoke to the manager who told me this was NOT to be used on vacuum cleaners that it was the wrong guage. Now I'm right back where I started from.

Alex.

 

[bnsd60m9200]

alex, go to sun dial wire's webite. theyll have brand new woven cords that come in other colors than black and have guages that handle amp loads of vacuums.

 

[caligula]

The 'kids' are home.

Thanks I'll do that. And here's a look at the machines that need work. A complete restoration project is set to start in January.

 

[caligula]

What's the correct guage?

I'm replacing the cord on the upright Air-Way with the light brown bag and the Electrolux model V with twisted cord, but need to know the guage to order. In time, all other machines like the 541 get the correct cords twisted or otherwise.

Please advise.

 

[blknblu]

The cord you want is 18/2


I just ordered a couple of "Ace 31462 18/2 SVT 20ft Power Supply Replacement Cords" recently.


It is the correct type for a vacuum cleaner.


<span style="font-size: 12pt;">The plug is polarized, which is not needed for the vacuum, but I will wire it correctly.</span>


<span style="font-size: 12pt;">The SVT refers to the thickness of the insulation.</span>


 


http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1341254

<ul style="margin: 0px; padding: 10px 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; list-style: none; color: rgb(108, 108, 108); font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; background: transparent;">
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 10px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; list-style-type: none; background: url("../images/description-tabs-ul.gif") 0% 8px no-repeat;">Gauge Conductors: 18/2 SVT</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 10px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; list-style-type: none; background: url("../images/description-tabs-ul.gif") 0% 8px no-repeat;">Voltage: 125 volts</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 10px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; list-style-type: none; background: url("../images/description-tabs-ul.gif") 0% 8px no-repeat;">Product Type: Power Supply Replacement Cord</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 10px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; list-style-type: none; background: url("../images/description-tabs-ul.gif") 0% 8px no-repeat;">Cord Length: 20 ft.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 10px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; list-style-type: none; background: url("../images/description-tabs-ul.gif") 0% 8px no-repeat;">Maximum Wattage: 1250 watts</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 10px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; list-style-type: none; background: url("../images/description-tabs-ul.gif") 0% 8px no-repeat;">Insulation Material: PVC</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 10px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; list-style-type: none; background: url("../images/description-tabs-ul.gif") 0% 8px no-repeat;">Maximum Amperage: 10 amps</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 10px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; list-style-type: none; background: url("../images/description-tabs-ul.gif") 0% 8px no-repeat;">Number of Outlets: 2</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 10px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; list-style-type: none; background: url("../images/description-tabs-ul.gif") 0% 8px no-repeat;">Number of Conductors: 2</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 10px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; list-style-type: none; background: url("../images/description-tabs-ul.gif") 0% 8px no-repeat;">Color: Grey</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 10px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; list-style-type: none; background: url("../images/description-tabs-ul.gif") 0% 8px no-repeat;">UL Listed: Yes</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 10px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; list-style-type: none; background: url("../images/description-tabs-ul.gif") 0% 8px no-repeat;">Straight cap</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 10px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; list-style-type: none; background: url("../images/description-tabs-ul.gif") 0% 8px no-repeat;">Conductor stripped 5/8"</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 10px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; list-style-type: none; background: url("../images/description-tabs-ul.gif") 0% 8px no-repeat;">Jacket removed 2"</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 10px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; list-style-type: none; background: url("../images/description-tabs-ul.gif") 0% 8px no-repeat;">For vacuum cleaners</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 10px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; list-style-type: none; background: url("../images/description-tabs-ul.gif") 0% 8px no-repeat;">Sleeved</li>
</ul>
<h2 class="prodC1" style="margin: 3px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 30px; width: auto; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: arial; background: transparent;"> </h2>

 

[caligula]

Hi Blknblu.

From one Connecticut collector to another Happy Holidays. As a lot of early members know I was born and raised in Wallingford, on the campus of Choate school (now Choate Rosemary Hall.)

The cords need to be as original as possible as they will be mostly used for display, but I might need to power up to test the motors and don't want to be zapped. However, I don't intend to use these for cleaning, so they will be display machines.

Most of the machines shown here have standard cords, easily replaced, but the Air-Way, Electrolux V and other early mahines have the spiral cords.

So I'll look into what you recomend.

Thanks,
Alex Taber.

 

[blknblu]

cloth style cords are back in style I guess.


I went to BJ's wholesale club and saw some cloth style extension cords.


http://www.bjs.com/globe-6-and-9-extension-cords-3-pk.product.286836

Look close at the pic. it says "grouned" on the package


 


Here is a web site showing some different cloth styles:


http://thisamericanhouse.com/cloth-extension-cords-vintage-style-modern-safety/

 


The plastic expandable wiring loom comes in colors reminiscent of the old vacuum hoses and some of the old electrical cords. You may be able to find one that has a similar style to the old cord and slip it one before you put the cord on. 


Do a search in google images for "expandable wiring loom"

 

[coffeecanman]

Steve,

Very interesting about the switch. I'm interested to find out what the deal with that is! My 105 and 543 both have the switches on the left, only my 102 has the switch on the right. Curious indeed!

Alex,

Sundial wire is where you want to go. They make most of the wire that other places sell, so just go right to to source. I've re-wired about 25% of my collection with their wire. The original wire on your air-way was probably 18-gauge, so you'd be fine using either 18 or 16. They have a huge selection and the quality is excellent.

 

[caligula]

Thanks CofeeCanMan.

I love those Hoovers, here's a look at the only vacuum cleaner that's not in the display, it hangs in my bedroom. Have a very Merry Christmas, or whatever holiday you celebrate, and Happy New Year.