My 99p Hoover 612...

[jmurray01]

Hello VLers, it is I the venerable Jamie back again after a break which I shall document in due course.

I still have no home interet so don't expect daily contributions but I will drop in every now and then.

Anyhoo, the purpose of this thread is to inform you that I was incredibly lucky and managed to buy a Hoover 612 for 99 pence.

I'm sure a few UK members will know the one I'm talking about and quite frankly I'm surprised those aforementioned didn't bid - I expected them to!

As such I was very surprised when my £1 bid won the auction.

I haven't received the vacuum yet but it is on its way and should be here any day.

The seller was helpful enough to include the serial number in the listing so I thought I'd start a thread now and get a date of manufacture if anybody with the knowledge would be so kind (I believe Alistair can date the old J-prefix numbers?).

The Serial Number is: J343575.

It needs a bit of aesthetic restoration and has a replacement (though Genuine Hoover) bag unfortunately but the motor runs so put in perspective everything else should be a doddle.

I don't expect buying parts for a 60+ year old motor would be easy nor cheap.

Anyway that's about it for now, when I receive it I'll update with the usual photographs and information.

Bye all.

 

[beko1987]

Those buys are the best!

Good win! Can't wait to see pictures of it.

 

[dysondestijl]

Can't wait to see it Jamie!
Wondered why there was significantly less dyson put-downs on here, then of course I remembered you didn't have Internet!!!!

 

[vacbear58]

612

Jamie
Unfortunately my serial numbers only begin at 1953 - the 612 for 1953 start at 527100 so that dates yours as earlier. For 1953 the production was just under 58,000 so that might help you work back, yours may be an earlier one - they were launched in 1949. Sadly the bags don't often last well, but the cleaners can go on for (apparently) years - well done on getting one for 99p. In their day, they were VERY expensive but were the quality purchase, which obviously they were

 

[ultimatevacman]

Great find Jamie! I cant wait to see pictures of it

I'm glad you're back here on VacuumLand!

Joe

 

[vintagerepairer]

motor

From what I remember of the 612, the motor was pretty much the same as used on the very last senior models during the 1980's. Vacbear is quite correct to point out that these cleaners were incredibly expensive. My mother owned a Hoover Junior 370 which is the first cleaner I ever remember her owning and it was second hand. During the early 1950's my mother was working as a housekeeper for a family who then emigrated around 1954. They had a Hoover 262 which they sold to my mother for a pittance, indeed she sold her old 370 and got enough from the sale to cover the asking price of the Hoover.

It came with all the paperwork which I wish I'd retained. I can't recall the price of it, other than to suggest it cost a small fortune. It had been sold by a door-step Hoover salesmen by the name of Mr Edward Torbett. I am not sure when it was purchases but mother started work for the family in 1950 and the cleaner was in very new condition. Indeed it was like new when mother brought it home, as she has been the one who used it most and took a good deal of care with it.

The 612 was quite a different style of cleaner altogether, utilising a foot switch in place of a handle switch, and generally looking more modern than the 262 cleaner. I recall that the 612 was just as expensive and as heavy in weight.

 

[guido]

Great buy ! Unfortunately I am from Italy and many sellers do not ship to Italy ( don't ask me why, if you think that I am payingthe postage costs ) so I often write them and sometimes get no answer at all. I surely have seen on ebay the model you bought but did not bid cause my real love are the HOOVER 160, 262 and 638. I already have a perfect 612 with original bag,cord, and perfect chassis that I bought for few money in a vintage market many years ago which is a real pride and joy...so I think i could not find a better one !
Anyway i reallywouldwould love to see the images of your new 612 !!! Do not forget to post them !!!!!!! Ciao ciao GUIDO

 

[jmurray01]

Well it arrived on Tuesday and lets just say I got my moneys worth!

Firstly, the bag IS original (I didn't see the horizontal "HOOVER" lettering in the picture) and secondly - as I discovered today - the motor runs like a dream.

I haven't done near as much as you guys do when you receive vacuum cleaners (stripping down the motor etc...) but I did remove the bakelite hood and clean out the copious amounts of dust from around the motor and washed the bag out in warm water with a little fabric softener (I believe I read somewhere on here that's what you should use).

Fortunately the entire Hoover is 100% original and in pretty good condition.

The handles do have quite a lot of missing paint and the leather(?) handle has torn a bit at the top, but for being over 60 years old I'm not complaining.

The flex is the ribbed kind and in good condition with just the usual (I presume) problem of having lots of small cracks in it which become visible when it is wrapped round the cord hooks. None of the internal wires are visible so in my book it is still safe.

What really surprised me when I got it was that (and this is a first for me) the plug was actually wired correctly!! All my other eBay vacuums have had copper wire protruding, the cord clamp going over the actual wires etc... But no, this one was actually wired better than I could have done myself. The only problem was it had a Volex 13AMP fuse in it. That swiftly got swapped for a Bussman 3AMP and that was that. Oh, and the plug is an old (I'd say 1970s) MK one with the British Standard stamp.

Indeed the only thing I needed to do to the vacuum other than to change the fuse was put a new Hedlite bulb in as the previous one had blown and been removed by the previous owner.

Going back to the bag, it is in very good condition (with no fading of the lettering) with only one piece of damage where it has ripped at the bottom through abrasion from rubbing against the handle. Somebody has tried to sew it but it still leaks so I'll need to put a bit of gaffer tape on the inside to seal it. I know you lot would get it professionally repaired but I just don't have the money or time right now.

The brush roll is in great condition and the brush strips still have some life left in them (though they are getting quite worn). After a quick spray of grease the bearings were brought back to new condition and the belt that came with it (generic - grr) should hold out until I can get a pack of Genuine Hoover V14 ones.

I was waiting for the bag to dry before testing the motor and as such did that today. The result? I plugged it in and got ready to press the power pedal waiting for it to either electrocute me or be louder than a fighter jet. Instead it ran quietly and incredibly smoothly (smoother even than my 1977 Senior). In fact the sound of the brush roll grooming the carpet was louder than the motor itself.

Those 612s really do look fantastic with the Hedlite illuminated.

The only question I do have about this vacuum is a strange one indeed. When I turned it on standing still to take the picture, I expected it to move forwards as the Senior does, but instead it moved BACKWARDS. Surely the brush roll wasn't spinning the wrong way around?

All in all I'm delighted (though a little confused) with my purchase.

As promised here are some pictures, though they won't be the clearest as I had to use my mobile phone as my digital camera has bit the dust (pardon the pun).

 

[jmurray01]

Picture 2:

 

[jmurray01]

Picture 3:

 

[jmurray01]

Picture 4:

 

[jmurray01]

Here is it with its handheld counterpart - the Dustette Model 100:

 

[jmurray01]

And a close up of the hood and the Dustette:

 

[jmurray01]

Goodness me those pictures really are poor, sorry about that.

 

[vacbear58]

612

Jamie

Sorry to tell you, it is NOT the original bag, but a replacement, probably prior to 1968 or so due to the round rather than squared off Os in Hoover. The original is as shown in Guido's above, and it is very unusual to see a 612 with one, maybe because it would tend to be rubbed against the floor with the handle fully lowered or, more likely, it is the effect of dust rotting the bag if the bag was not emptied EVERY time it was used. I think this would be more of a problem with the 612 than the 119 - they used the same bag material.

The handgrips of 612s (and 119s come to that) are very prone to distortion and cracking, but then they were probably not designed (even then) with a 60 life span ahead of them. And how could they know that the rubber formulation would not last such a long time? I am not entirely sure it has the original flex either, which should be brown ribbed.

Whatever, it is still a wonderful cleaner and will be a great addition to your collection - I have said it before but I think this is one of the best sounding Hoover cleaners. If you take the hood off your ranger you will clearly see how clearly this is an ancestor to the later model. Personally I would use this with a paper bag, especially now that the bag has been washed - just take a standard paper bag (as you would use in the Ranger), insert it inside the bag, opening it out around the mouth of the bag. It probably wont give you the same amount of suction or bag inflation, but you will not have to clean your room twice either.

Al

 

[squarehandle]

Nice find Jamie

For only 99p, sweet.

 

[dysondestijl]

Wow that, abs the dust ette, both look great!

 

[anthony]

its a nice machine

i have 2 of these there great machines and with a paper bag fitted clean better than a modern machine .i recently restored one of mine here it is with its homemade bag [i hated the gray one ]

 

[jmurray01]

Ah yes, I did suspect it didn't look like a 40s bag.

Yes you are right about them wearing against the handle at the bottom because this replacement has too! I had to put some duct tape on the inside today to seal it. I did wonder if I could put a paper bag in it and I will now after your suggestion.

You are bang on with the motor sound, it is an absolutely fantastic rumble but quiet too.

This isn't the last of my "very vintage" buys though, as I've just won a 262 on eBay.

Happy days.