Just won on eBay...

[jmurray01]

A 1950s HOOVER Dustette in the original box!

Better still, I managed to get it for the starting bid of £5 because nobody else was interested.

The pictures are quite poor but I can make out the cleaner, which needs a good clean and maybe a lick of paint (can you buy the correct colour ?) and it comes with the original bag, which looks worn out but a good clean should bring it back up to a good standard.

Needless to say I'm chuffed!

So, has anybody got any information on the 50s Dustettes ?

 

[turbomaster1984]

(can you buy the correct colour ?)

I have no idea, can you?

 

[hooverboy81]

Color

What color is the machine? Is it the gold hammertone?

 

[hooverboy81]

OH!

Congrats by the way! I am completely addicted to ebay! lol!

 

[jmurray01]

"(can you buy the correct colour ?)

I have no idea, can you?"

To quote your good self Robert: Is that all you have to contribute?

A bit of double standards going on here I think.

Anyway, the Dustette should arrive next week and when it does I'll be sure to post some pictures in this thread and make a video which I will upload to YouTube.

 

[turbomaster1984]

No double standards here.

Read your original post again.
Now you might agree my points.

1)You ask for info about 50's Dustettes implying you know very little about them.

2)As you know very little about them you may have no idea what colours or how many colours they came in.

As far as I am aware there was 2 colours this cleaner came in during the 50's.

An earlier Gold/Black Hoover 119/612 colourway

Later Blue Hoover 1224 match.

You mention no actual colours, include no pictures of the auction or even a link to the completed listing.

Are you requiring us to ask questions and go finding expired ebay listings to answer your queries?

More info is usually required on the basics before anyone can answer.

 

[jmurray01]

I take your point and apologise for the lack of information, but you could have made it a bit more clear to me what you were getting at and I would have posted a link.

Since you've brought it to my attention, here is a link, as before, any information would be greatly appreciated.



http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/190690703275?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

 

[vacbear58]

Dustette

Jamie

The link was very useful. The dustette was a design that changed very little in its lifetime starting production in 1930 and I think it carried on until the mid 1980s. There was a later Dustette but that was a completely different design. The main change occured in the mid 1950s when the colours were updated and the introduction of a version which allowed interchangable tools and even a hose and wand - US members will know that as the Pixie, although in my opinion the suction is too limited for these to be much use. The fixed head version continued along side it for some years though.

Judging by the serial number yours was manufactured in 1952 or perhaps late 1951, its nice that you have it in the original box too, that gives it more value.

Picking up some comments made in another thread I am afraid you will find this of limited value as a supplement to your Ranger as it has the fixed head on it, so its really only suitable for upholstry or stairs. But its still a nice little cleaner and yours looks to be in reasonable condition.

Al

 

[jmurray01]

Al, thank you so much for the information you've given!

I will mainly use it on the stairs anyway, so I'm not too bothered about it being a fixed head.

Did these models come fitted with a BS1363 plug, or will I probably have to update it from the BS546 ?

 

[vacbear58]

Plug

Jamie

Most definatly not a BS1363 plug! You must rememeber that most cleaners of this time did not come with a plug at all, these had to be fitted by the dealer or the householder - and often not well either.

Hoover were an exception, all Hoover cleaners and polishers were supplied with a colour matched two (round) pin plug, up to around 1962 with an option of a bayonet adaptor. It is most likely that this plug had been removed and replaced with a three pin plug. You would be well advised to open up the plug and check the wiring and fuse. Check also the flex to make sure their is no stiffness in it for if their is it will have perished and will not be safe to use.

On a slightly side note I was discussing woth Doug (Collector2) an Electrolux 64 (from September 1960) I recently obtained which had a somewhat contrary arrangement with a bayonet plug fitted to the cleaner with a bayonet to two pin adaptor - the exact opposite to Hoover. Doug has an amazing knowledge about even UK cleaners and he was able to send me a picture from the packaging of a Lux 62 which showed and aperature of such an adaptor and the adaptor resting in it, so perhaps Electrolux also fitted a plug as well

Al

 

[turbomaster1984]

Not a complete reccomendation but I do have a fondness for fitting either MK plugs or the Ashley plugs to older collection items.

Modern Marbo, Duraplug, LeGrand, Volex, <asterplugs etc.

Always worth looking out for at carboot sales but ensure they are in good condition with no chips cracks or scorches.

I never pay more than 20p a plug either,

 

[turbomaster1984]

My Personal favourite,

These Ashleys were fitted to almost every appliance in my grandparents houses with exception of the Hotpoint Twin tub with its Hotpoint MK plug.

Perhaps they were cheaper and more available than most others, they seem to frequent more often than MK and others on our pre 1980 collection items.

(Modern Marbo, Duraplug, LeGrand, Volex, -should of also added - im none tokeen on theseyounger plugs on vintage appliances.)

 

[jmurray01]

Thank you again Al, the listing says it is working so I presume it has a BS1363 plug fitted, or how else would the seller have known it worked ?

Even if it has no plug fitted, I've got plenty spare plugs hanging around the house (when an electrical appliance fails or is replaced, I always keep the plugs!).

Of course I'll check the basics for electrical safety before switching it on, I learned my lesson after discovering the neutral wire on my 1977 HOOVER Ranger's plug was being held on with three strands of wire! After that I check all fitted plugs.

 

[jmurray01]

Nice plugs Robert! I personally like the Nettle ones, I have one fitted on my Ranger (aforementioned) and on my extractor fan above the cooker.

 

[turbomaster1984]

Nettle?

Never heard of or seen one of those before.

 

[jmurray01]

I will take a picture of one of mine sometime and post it.

 

[turbomaster1984]

Sometime? talk about keeping the audience waiting.

 

[jmurray01]

Don't blame me, blame my crappy batteries.

 

[vintagerepairer]

Nettle are a very old company who were bought up in due course by Delta and MEM. I have seen a good deal of their plugs around, especially the design which continued under the Delta name. They had a large 'N' printed between the two cord grip screws and had a hole so you could see the colour of the fuse from the outside of the plug.