I think i found a Rare Convertible (see pics) like a Usa Liberty model

[clarkecombi]

I found this at a Yard Sale for 2$ and it has like the Liberty Bell and the eagle on the bag and its a very low Serial Number. Can anyone tell me if its rare? i remeber seeing one of these that Tom Anderson had i think

 

[clarkecombi]

See the Liberty bell and such

see pic

 

[clarkecombi]

Model U4085
serial:0009552 what Position was this in Line?

 

[kc_kirby]

Bicentennial Hoover

This is the Hoover Bicentennial edition of the Hoover Convertible. I recently picked one up myself for a mere $3 at an estate sale. I think these are fairly rare but I'm not sure exactly how rare. I remember Andy Weter had one come into his vac shop on trade I believe and he posted pics of it then.

 

[hoover1060]

The Bi-centennial convertible

Made from August of 1975 to November 1976, a promo model not widely available.
Yours is in the first 10,000 made...its a '75 model

 

[gottahaveahoove]

clean it up, get a nice lens cover, and KEEP it. I have the

without the liberty bells. A great find

 

[clarkecombi]

Man this is a Dream Come True...Thanks for all the Info

 

[vintagehoover]

I'm curious!

Jeff, when you say it wasn't widely available, how did ordinary customers obtain these machines? Were they only stocked by certain dealers? And did they cost more than standard models?

 

[clarkecombi]

What are the Colors of this Machine...I may Paint it and Restore it to New Since its rare and all

 

[hoover1060]

Jack,

At the time this was available, there were three lines of Hoover's on the market, A, B, and C. These lines individually would have consisted of a set of Convertibles, two DAM's and then the canisters. Some cleaners were shared between lines.
Depending on where you shopped, you could hit three different stores, and see three different lines of Hoovers.
The Bicentennial model was a promo cleaner. These were lower priced, less featured models designed solely to bring shoppers in. Not all the dealers had the promo models, just depended on where you shopped. I remember Tru-Valu hardware stores selling the bicentennial model for $59.95, and seeing it in a few Fingerhut type catalogs. You could buy the A-line U4061 Convertible for $65 or so, and it didn't have the headlight!
The interesting thing about it was the Bicentennial model was a two-speed, high performance model, identical mechanically to the A/B/C line machines save for one difference: the brush strips. It would have originally had the old style black strips, while the other models had the stiffer red ones.
Hope this helps!