Hey Paul,
Funnily enough, my Starlight has been pressed into service as a daily driver at the moment! I think they've got a lot going for them - they don't spit grit out like Juniors and Seniors can, bags are a cinch to change and it doesn't topple with the handle in the operating position, like modern uprights seem to. Poor edge cleaning on the belt side is the only niggle to me.
The Starlight was launched as a competitor to hardbag cleaners by other manufacturers (Hotpoint, Goblin and in particular, Electrolux) which were being marketed successfully, unlike Hoover's Convertible. It was made between 1975 and '77, before being replaced by the Junior Deluxe, basically the same cleaner in different colours, although UK market machines omitted the headlamp and bag full indicator. This model was built until 1982, when the Turbopowers took over.
Dave - the hood is plastic, but there are reinforcing metal brackets at either side. I'm of the opinion that it's actually a pretty important model - kind of a lost link between the Convertible/DAM and the Concept One, the first Hoover to use the Convertible layout with direct fan action - in fact, it's the granddaddy of most of Hoover Worldwide's 1980s hardbag cleaners, IMHO! And it also introduced us to the joys of snapping lower cord hooks at the back...
The Starlights came in grey with either the red or dark blue bag door. There was also an exclusive model in beige with a coffee bag door. The Junior Deluxe came in either green and white, or bright yellow and black, and again there was an exclusive, made for the House of Fraser chain, in white with a black bag door, and, I think the HoF emblem on the front.
Si
Can we all see the Miele S7 in the base shape?
