I'm in The HOLY Land!!

[portable]

<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva; font-size: medium;">John....</span>


<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva; font-size: medium;"> </span>


<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva; font-size: medium;">Please pay my respects to the Hoover gods while you are there. I well remember the first pilgrimage that Alex and I took in 1982. People could not have been nicer. I am so sorry that the factory and employees are gone. Hi to Ann Haines. - JL</span>

 

[caligula]

Hi John Lucia, and Gottahaveahoove.

That trip we made together was indeed great. When I think that without your cross country drive it would never have happened, nor would the V.C.C.C.!

Do you remember the factory tour? What stands out in my mind are those two ladies on the third floor who were assembling machines. One looked at the other and said. "I don't know who these people are, but they must be very special, Hoover gives a lot of tours, but nobody get's to the third floor!" I remember us tracking down the grave sites of the Hoover family, and also Murry J. Spangler.

It really warmed my heart when we spent a few hours with Bill Smily, the man who designed a number of parts for the early models. Wasn't he the man who designed the brushrolls? If memory serves, he had maybe a week to stay alive. The two of you talked Hoover and I drank it all in.

But I think it was Stacy Krammes who made the biggest impact on me. First when I went there in 1980, and again when we were there. Then came the gathering of the club in 94. Hoover outdid themselves. By the way do you recall the newspaper article? as far as I know, that was the only bad press the club ever got!

Now a suggestion for gottahaveahoove. John, would you please light a candle for Stacy from me, she was one special lady.

Alex Taber

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Well, today, we went to visit

The Pikes, who both worked for YEARS and YEARS at HOOVER. I always visit them when I'm here,and I always feel so welcome at their home. Dick talked a lot about loads of things at the company. WE saw his massive collection, which grows every year. I left with some wonderful things: tools, trucks, etc PLUS two 'vault' machines.
When I get home, I'm giving a Windtunnel canister vacuum to Rob Shore, a.k.a. 'Zippy". It's not one of these, but one I have at home. Some people are so kind, it's only right to 'give forward' as well. I have a few things at home to go, but, we'll talk more about that this week.
WE have a few more things planned in the works for tomorrow. More photos as well.
Miss Jane gave me a wonderful book about The HOOVER Company during the war years. War production, etc all the juicy details as well are in this great book.
As always, it's wonderful to be back and to see all the wonderful things and people here in North Canton. Hope you are enjoying my trip.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Tonight, we are looking at, playing with, and taking photos

This Super Portable was a gift from Rick B.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Here's the inside scoop

of the machine. This gift came in 2006 at St. louis. Isn't it pretty?

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Talk about your 'HOOVER Junior"

HOOVERING isn't just 'fun and games'. Well, OK, it IS. But you know what they say about a man and his toys....

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Did someone say 'HOOVER Holiday"?

Here is that beautiful Holiday cleaner seen in the other Holiday thread. It is brand new , and was a gift from Rick B. also. Doesn't it look 'fab' between the two original 29s?

 

[durango159]

The JC Penney one looks Awesome. Love that blue!!!!!

Congratulations John, so glad you're having a blast in Hooverland!! Where's the room of Power head canisters though????? You know me, had to ask!!!!

 

[gottahaveahoove]

With a heavy heart and a heavy trunk

Here's a snippet of object d' Hoover coming back to Pennsylvania. It was wonderful. I plan to share some of my wonderful items with the people who care about me. See it's not always about me.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Who knew such a little trunk could hold so much

HOOVER. There isn't room for a stale cookie or a glass of sour iced tea. Of course my Pittston hospital iced tea contains lots of fruit but no sour grapes.

 

[raycarter]

Seems your pilgrimage was very fruitful indeed! That Super Portable is Gorgeous! I just love the three-tone Taupe color scheme Hoover used on their high-end cleaners back in the early 1970s. And how fortunate are you to have not one, but TWO model 29 uprights in such enviable condition.

I would love to see some of the official literature on the 1950s Hoover models. I had heard that the color scheme of the 29 was "maroon and irridium gray." Are those the correct color names, or is that just a well-educated guess?

Seeing all those old Hoovers in your home brings back a lot of great memories of Hoovers my mother, grandmother, and even great-grandmother had years ago. Thank You for sharing your Hoover Historical Center experiences with us. They are always a fascinating education!

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Well, 6 hours later and I'm home.

It was a wonderful trip as always. Tom and Heather couldn't have been nicer. Glenn is getting so big now. Before I left, Dick Pike called...he had a HOOVER heater as a gift for me. What a surprise. Of course, I BOUGHT the 2 vault cleaners, which was only right. I'll post more pics soon, if you'd like to see more of the trip. Back to school tomorrow, (the college). I worked twice as hard to make up the time I wasn't there. I DO work, lolol.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Doug!

I just might have a 65 that you'd be interested in.
"Zippy", the canister room is right here on William Street.
Photos will be posted tonight.
I'm not on Facebook. However, I DID see some most unpleasant attacks toward me on there.Thankfully, it never leaked over here into Vacuumland, BUT, tapes are copied, posts are printed. Not sure if the lawyers would call it harassment or slander. Not to worry about that in here, though.
NOTHING could ruin a trip to North Canton. And nothing DID.
I noticed they removed the ceiling in the HOOVER International Building and replaced it with a high tech new look. It's always great to walk through the place.

 

[portable]

<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva; font-size: medium;">John...</span>


<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva; font-size: medium;"> </span>


<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva; font-size: medium;">Any word on what they are going to do with the International Bldg?</span>

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Well, yes.

You might know that the 'factory' part at the end is Stark University classrooms.
Parts of the big white "international Building' have been divided into offices.A lot of it, though, still is empty. They are trying to fill it. You KNOW how massive it was... all just for ONE glorious company. They just section off parts to rent. I know that beautiful boardroom is being used, as are is a lot of office space down various hallways. The auditorium is still perfectly intact, and is used sometimes for presentations. I'm assuming that will stay as a 'common area' for general use. It's sad to see it like this, but also nice to see lights on in the front windows. If you didn't know any better, it kinda looks like it's still running. i know that the big beautiful floodlights are not on. It was wonderful to see the whole place lit up at night. It was quite a spectacle. Dick Pike told me that the energy crunch stopped a lot of that. It would cost huge amounts to run those lights. But, it WAS gorgeous to see . [this post was last edited: 8/13/2013-12:44]

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Alex........

Candle has been lit for Stacey. You're more than welcome.
Among my boxes of treasures is a box of old Convertible hoods that Tom had no need of or use for. But, I can think of a few things do do with them. WE were at OfficeMax making copies of 'experimental designs' from long, long ago. While we were checking out, a woman called, "Tom??? I have my grandmother's HOOVER upright in the car for YOU". Tom worked with this woman and had become friends. So, see how KARMA works? You're nice to people and they, in turn are nice to you. There's nothing like 'bad KARMA'. If you're not careful, it can come back and bite you in the arse.

 

[williamr1248]

I'm In the Holy Land

John,
Thanks for posting all the pictures. I ALWAYS see something new at Tom's house.
What a wonderful collection.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Rob! You are so right.

There's always something new and great to see there. He recently made a HOOVER lamp out of an old 1070. He made lamps in the past, too. There are signs, ads, vacuums added to 'complete' a lineup of a certain vintage, etc. He freely shares his knowledge insight, and passion for all things HOOVER with so many. I'm very honored to call those people my friends. I'm closer to Tom that I was to my own late brother. I certainly don't go there to 'get stuff'. If I never carried another thing out of that house or town, that would be fine. It is all trust, respect, honesty. Isn't that the way it should be?

I have complete, and I mean complete photo coverage of every inch of that place. Sometimes I compare older visits with current ones to compare. Sometimes, during my visits, I see that I've worn the same clothes before..but, who cares? I have 9 different HOOVER shirts, so, I'm well-prepared for a visit there. Some were made for me, others were real HOOVER shirts. Of course, I dress for myself, not for others. Good thing, huh? I'm glad you like the photos. I'll load more of them tonight.
John

 

[beko1987]

Wow, just wow!

 

[caligula]

Hi gottahaveahoove

Thank's for the candle, I think of Stacy every time I haul out a vacuum cleaner, be that Hoover, Electrolux, Kirby or others. And it might interest you to know what she told me about her favorite brand. It was not Hoover! She said she remembered that when she was as a child, her mother had an upright Air-Way. When she married Don Krammes, he looked at the Air-Way and said "that thing has to go, I work for Hoover!" Don Krammes was the man who designed the Hoover floor washer.

Glad you had fun in the old stomping ground. By the way, was the Whirlwind there? I mean the one that is an exact copy of this one.

Alex Taber.