Model 61 holiday find

[constellation86]

I'm real excited about this one I found. After months of no new vacuum toys I picked this up on Saturday.
The Special part about this one is that I bought it at a thrift store in Provo Utah, the same town that my Dad's Grandpa ran the Hoover dealer for years. This could be one that he sold new and I'd bet he worked on it over the years. There are many date stamps on the bottom going from Jan 1952 - Jun 1978.
It's in ok shape. It needs some cleaning, but it should turn out real nice. I couldn't shell out the 8 bucks fast enough!
Now for the questions: The serial number is 1571353. Can anybody date this? Is the bag
original? Does anyone make a replacement bag so I can keep this one for display? Is the belt the same as a convertible?
I hope you guys enjoy the pictures.
Nicholas

 

[constellation86]

Hood closeup

 

[constellation86]

Handle

 

[constellation86]

Bottom

 

[constellation86]

Hood off

 

[constellation86]

Koda likes it too!

 

[constellation86]

Bag tube. Would this be the handi-sac type? I've never seen one like this before.

 

[constellation86]

Last picture. This is running. I'll need to find a headlight bulb. She runs real smooth. Sounds similar to an older convertible but a little deeper. Almost musical.
I still can't believe my luck. Even my family thinks it's neat that I might have found one of Grandpa's old Hoovers.

 

[arh1953]

Wow, eight bucks! Can't beat that. I'll bet too it's one of your Great-granddad's cleaners. That's as happy a find as my $8.00 Lux XXX. And who knows how many scents Koda found in it?

 

[electroluxxxx]

I would have to say that the bag possibly original and that this is from the late 40's to early 50's. this was one of hoovers popular models.

Great find
I wish I had one

Mike

 

[ohio_tuec]

As luck would have it, I finally added a 61 to my collection about 4 weeks ago. I have quite a few model 28's, but somehow the 61 has eluded me. I bought it at an estate sale for $15. bucks. It looks to be in about the same condition as yours (with a bojack outer bag), only the motor sounds as if its on its last legs. Are bearings, motor brushes, and brushroll inserts still readily available for this model?

 

[electroluxxxx]

I think they might be available I do think that the brushes are the same as the convertable if not than the 28. I do not have one and would trade any machine for one but I have torn one apart before. I think the brushes might be available on ebay or check around I also think they are quite rare

 

[constellation86]

Here's one that just sold on ebay. They can't be that rare can they?
I'd like to see pictures of any other 60 series machines.
Nicholas

http://cgi.ebay.com/Hoover-Model-61...260388085QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item180260388085

 

[hoover1060]

by the numbers:

model 61: Made from August 17, 1946 to January 5, 1950

Serial numbers 1,300,001 to 1,687,860

total sold: 383,972


Compare that with model 28 which had 897,376 units sold...

 

[marukap]

Nice Find!

And it should clean up nicely!

Yes, the bag is original as is the agitator.

No, it does not use a convertible belt. Convertibles use belt 49258 which is very slightly thicker and smaller in circumference then belt 44783 which is correct for the model 61 and nearly every other pre-Convertible full-sized upright. They are hard to find but they are still made. The easiest way to get them is from the "store" of eBay seller "anoldreliable." Just go to eBay and look up item number 4453508558.

Your brush strips look pretty good. That's lucky because when they are worn down you will either need to find a set of NOS strips (which are becoming as scarce as hen's teeth) or have the old strips rebristled. I've not yet seriously looked into doing the later but I understand there is a VCCC member who does rebristle things. Maybe somebody else could weigh in on that account?

The lightbulb or "dirtfinder" in Hooverspeak is widely available either online or from a vacuum cleaner repair shop. Ask for a 25 watt bulb rather than the 15 watt. . . Brighter is better! Just be sure it is 115volt, NOT 12 volt.

I see you're using a type-C bag. That's just fine but just be sure to cut off the bottom half inch "lip" including the two staples. This will make mounting it much easier and more secure. This cleaner, however, was meant to use type-W or "Handisac" bags which are absolutely, positively no longer made, but, once in a blue moon they show up on eBay. I'm sure I'm not the only collector who routinely checks the stock in every dusty, old, corner hardware store and vac shop I visit in the hopes of finding a stray package or two.

Type-W bags are held closed at the top with a clamp and were intended to be emptied and reused. They are made of a heavier fiber than other bags.

Last but not least, a black or dark brown cord would be a worthwhile investment. That white cord is an unnecessary distraction!

Happy vacuuming,

Marty Kaplan

 

[z30soulbrother]

fabulous!

now is this the equivelent of my 612? a slightly different bag system?
si

 

[z30soulbrother]

handle switch

switch on the handle rather than 612 foot switch

 

[aussie-plugs]

USA versus UK switches

Hi Simon,

The 612 I grew up with had the foot switch you refer to, and the bag didn't have an inner liner either. I was made in the UK, so was probably the same as yours.

I've noticed that virtually across the life of the upright range, the US version has the switch on the handle and the UK version has it on the motor housing. My guess is that somewhere back in time the UK regulators were concerned about a "break" in the power lead (at the switch) being positioned too close to possible direct human contact if the switch were damaged in any way.

I actually think the US versions look cleaner (pardon the pun) as the design flow isn't interrupted by the switch. I believe there was one model (possibly around the time of the 61/2, but I haven't seen it) that had the handle release built into the handle itself. There were therefore no stray buttons anywhere on the motor housing - very nice design!

Cheers,

Nick

 

[z30soulbrother]

cheers Nick

yea that makes sense mate cheers
Si