I finally found my dream machine... the Hoover Model 150

[betam64]

Unfortunately, only one of the two 150s in the picture survived. One's lower bearing was bad, and the other's armature was deeply gouged as if someone tried to use a nail in place of a motor brush. They both combined nicely to make one complete, working vacuum!

The vacuum store I got it from had some new old stock brush strips I could use, some new old stock motor brushes, and they even cut off a cord from a junk unit and threw that in.

All else it needed was cleaned, bearings cleaned and greased, and the top sleeve bearing oiled. After that, it sounds great! The light bulb never even needed replaced!

First picture is as everything was found, subsequent pictures are various shots of the working 150!

 

[bagintheback]

It Beats - as It Sweeps - as It Cleans!

Congrats! That looks great! You probably also have one of the few remaining new Hoover brush strips available. I remember about 10 years ago calling vacuum stores about brush strips and everyone kept saying how little vintage Hoover parts were left. I ended up buying a guy's entire stock out just to be careful lol.

 

[electrolux137]

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What a great find! How wonderful that the original handle grip is intact! YAY for you!!

 

[madman]

Neat! You should still keep the old damaged parts. You never know...

 

[vacuumlad1650]

I always said the 150 was the greatest sweeper ever made...congrats!

 

[gottahaveahoove]

A wonderful machine, indeed!

It was considered "over-engineered' for it's day.
Do you all know the story about the employees at the time that was manufactured?

 

[2011hoover700]

Hi Patrick would you happen to have any hoover model 150 brush strips I can buy?
Thanks.
Damien

 

[oreck_xl]

John, I would love to hear the story about the 150. It's a beautiful machine for sure.

 

[betam64]

Thank you for the kind words, everyone!

I am actually holding onto those broken parts, still. I feel as though the armature may be possible to sand/buff out, and the bad bearing can always be measured and replaced. It'll just take a little more work (and I wanted to be able to use the vacuum sooner rather than later)!

I'm not sure I've heard this story, but I'd be curious to! (possibly unrelated, but I did read somewhere that Hoover employees got a Hoover 150 that was deducted from paychecks until the vacuum was paid in full)

Unfortunately, I don't have any extra Hoover 150 brush strips... I'm dreading when they finally wear out, because I'll probably have to rebristle them by hand unless someone throws a pair up on eBay.

As for the handle, though, I don't think the picture accurately portrays the condition it's in. It was sitting in a warehouse since the '40s or '50s, and it must have gotten HOT in there. It's cracked to death, but still looks alright from a distance.

 

[betam64]

Forgot to attach pictures... First one is the falling apart handle, second one is just the motor housing (cropped from another picture)! I removed the bag fill indicator for now until I find a small hose for it to replace the one that disintegrated.

I am still looking for an original bag (or one that fits the color scheme better than the green one), does anyone have one or know where I could find one?

Also, does anybody have any recommendations for repairing the fabric bag holder thing (third picture)? I don't really know what it's called, but I'd like to use that since I think it looks nicer than the spring that it's currently using. My thought process is that an extension can be sewn onto what's left of the original, but I'm just not sure what to look up to find said extension.

 

[vacuumlad1650]

I used the fishtank airline hose for my 150 bag indicator

Look in the archives...around 2018(?) There was a thread about replacing the cotton tape used for the bag holder spring

Oh I wrapped the handle on mine in black electrical tape. I didn't want to, but it preserved the shape without the loss of the formed rubber

 

[gottahaveahoove]

It is true

Everyone at The Hoover Company got a model 150.... like it or not!! And yes, it was deducted from your pay. Imagine? Well it was painless to pay for it, and, it was a huge guaranteed sale.

 

[2011hoover700]

If I know anyone who has hoover 150 brush strips would you like to trade some 3d printed parts for some?
I'll keep my eyes open.
Damien

 

[oreck_xl]

Thank you for that information about the Hoover 150. I wonder if that was the only time Hoover "sold" vacuums to their employees that way. I read somewhere that in order to be an employee at the Ford Motor Company you had to purchase and drive a new Model T.

 

[betam64]

Thanks for the pointer, Andy! I located the thread you were talking about (it was actually 2017) and found the stuff is 1/2"-width cotton twill tape. I ordered some and have it on the way now!

Damien - I'd gladly trade some 3D-printed parts for brush strips!

A small part of me wonders if that's how most of the 150s sold; I can't imagine many people buying such a high-end machine in the midst of the Great Depression. But I suppose more could have gotten sold than what I imagined!

 

[gottahaveahoove]

I have the figures on that.

I'm nowhere near my books with that info. But, I can find how many were made.
Great machines, though.

 

[2011hoover700]

I'll need your address emailed to me so I can save on shipping.
Thanks again.

 

[2011hoover700]

Hi I'm also interested in the handle plugs both the male and female if I can get them out of your way. If you need them don't worry about it.
Thanks again for all you do.

 

[2011hoover700]

Hi Patrick I see you're back on eBay.
Here's a link to the brush strips for your model 150 which you'll need a second set as this seller is selling 2 of the same brush strips rather than the set of the short a long stip.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Lot-Of-2-H...8c9a2966f8586996&pid=100675&rk=3&rkt=15&mehot