Hoover Specials - Instruction Booklet 1940

[mbhdesign]

Hi all!

I'm the recent proud owner of a copy of the "Hoover Specials" Instruction Manual Booklet. The printing date on the back cover shows May 1940.

As far as I can gather (and please correct me if I am mistaken) this booklet was attached to factory reconditioned models of Hoover vacuum cleaners when sold.

A "Hoover Special" typically had it's original badge replaced with a rectangular badge. "Hoover Special" models were supplied with a cloth bag marked "Special" also. I've seen examples of 541s, 105s, 700s, 725s, and many more.

If you own one of these "Hoover Specials", I'm attaching a link to a reduced file-size PDF of the full Instruction Booklet. If you would like a high-resolution PDF, let me know via email message and I'll gladly send you a link!

Enjoy!
Michael

https://www.dropbox.com/s/d8193zyyyeuuwx1/HooverSpecials_InstBklt_05-1940_SML.pdf?dl=0

 

[dysonman1]

Hoover started rebuilding old machines early on. I have a Hoover Special instruction manual from 1924 showing the really old models (like the "Old Style Special" and "Junior" and "Senior" models).

 

[mbhdesign]

Awesome!

Yes, indeed! I’d love to see that sometime.

I’ve been researching the refurbishment of my Model 725 and believe it may have been a Wartime refurbishment. The cloth bag, the replaced switch, replaced rubber furniture guard, and the painted lower housing all point to a 1943-1945 era refurbishment job.

There are Hoover ads from the war years (1942-1945) with a special price to have your machine serviced and refurbished “until the day comes again when you can buy a new Hoover”.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

I have a machine like that.. a 'factory re-do'.

I don't believe I have the book, but I have a cleaner like that, plus a much newer one. I was amazed to read 'refurbished at The Hoover Factory' on the bottom of the machine.

 

[dysonman1]

You may want to check with someone who can verify, but I don't believe they rebuilt Hoovers as "Specials" which means "for sale" during the World War II. Hoover's factory was making motor to open the bomber bay doors and received a lot of recognition for their contribution to the war effort. I believe that if the Special has the brown bag, cord, and painted nozzle housing, it was made after the war during the production of other brown machines like the 28 and 61 and 115. I know in 1936, Communist Reports tested a factory rebuilt model 700, which at that time was only 10 years old.

 

[mbhdesign]

Specials not Wartime refurbishment

Hey Dysonman1,

That’s right. Specials were often factory refurbished models available at a lower cost than a new machine. Hoover dealers did this going all the way back to the 20s. Maybe earlier, as one member stated.

During WW2, you could not buy a new Hoover. You could buy a Special, a pre-war vacuum that was reconditioned. Or, you could have your own pre-war machine serviced and refreshed (for $2.85) through your local dealer. There are Hoover ads in magazines and newspapers from 1943 through 1945 with this servicing offer.

That’s what I discovered from the ads and ephemera. And, my 1929-30 Model 725 looks as if it underwent a service between 1943-45, based on the parts it now has.

Here’s a link to a 1944 ad with the refurbishment offer.



https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-19...are-Art-Deco-Print-Ad-1940s-40s-/201677252575

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Yes, Michael

Having 'your' Hoover refurbished meant having it serviced thoroughly. It always meant that. There were ads for years offering your machine to be refurbished.
Re-manufactured is different. I have 2 cleaners that were re-done, rebuilt, etc. at the factory.
I'll check with Tom Anderson, as, he'll have all of the info on it. It might take a few days, as, we talk every week, at least once.

 

[mbhdesign]

My bad

Thanks, gottahavahoove. I think I’m trying to say the same thing but I’m mixing terminology. I also mixed in my curiosity about when “my” 725 was serviced in a thread about something else. My bad.

Let me start a new thread with my questions and share investigation on this. That’s why I brought it here for discussion in the first place.

Thanks for everyone’s comments and insights.

 

[electro]

Same instruction book

I have the same instruction book. When I was little, our hardware store sold Hoover "specials" . They sat behind the new Hoover's on display and had this book on a string tag with the cleaners. As a young person, the book seemed strange with all the different models in one book. I remember several of the machines sat for years. They did have the nozzle painted in the brown like a model 28. They looked so old compared to the new model 63 on display. Also had a Hoover Lark that sat for years and years with no takers.

 

[huskyvacs]

Just stopping by to say thank you for providing the PDF file of the manual.

My 700 Special appears to have the same model tag shown in the manual. I noticed these tags styles changed from year to year.

 

[huskyvacs]

Oh sorry I forgot to include the shot from the manual in my post above to compare.

 

[2011hoover700]

My hoover designated as a model 700 special looks more like a model 725. Did hoover ever modify machines as they refurbished them into specials?
Thanks for clearing that up.

 

[dysonman1]

That’s definitely a model 725. That was the first Hoover motor that had a cooling fan. The warm exhaust comes out directly behind the motor. You can see the opening for the exhaust. They were rebuilding them as fast as they could. Certainly mistakes could get made.

 

[huskyvacs]

I'm sure some factory worker maybe mistakenly grabbed the wrong nametag and stuck it to your machine. They probably just had an array of parts bins all over with dozens of bits and pieces at a time to grab from.

 

[2011hoover700]

Here's a picture of my hoover 725 with the bag that came with it.