My latest aqcuisition - Hoover Ranger

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To my experience Mod U 4002 was bottom fill and Mod U 4014 was top fill, the same top filling system as that used in later juniors, taking the same bags as previous models. the only other version of the "ranger" vacs was the commercial, grey with huge reusable cloth bag and later in the early eighties, mod U 4197 with USA top fill system (it was was a USA made vac) red hood , white handle and greyish plaid like bag with red details. See links!
Best Regards,
Tommy
 
I thought it might have been something to do with Top or Bottom fill bags - I dont know which type is more efficient, obviously most clean fan vacs top fill now, so a bottom fill bag is a novelty for me.
Bags and belts ordered here:
(good value postage at only 89p)
Will go to lighting shop tomorrow to get bulbs as I aint paying stupid postage for snail mail to smash em during postage.

http://www.buydustbags.co.uk/hoover...792,45785:495370&refine=bag&model_ref=1222111
 
Here is a picture from an eBay listing last year showing that the U4002 does indeed have the hood and bag that yours has which is original.

jmurray01++9-5-2012-06-12-30.jpg
 
Actually

While Steve's 4002 does appear to be all original, the one in the picture above has a replacement bag


 


Steve, your 4002 does seem to be in very good condition and you are lucky that the cable hooks are both intact - these often get damaged or broken off all together. The headlamp lens would have originally been white, the discolouration of yours is very common with this model  - either the lens changes colour of its own accord or the colour bleeds in from the surronding hood.


 


Whatever, its a very nice find you have there


 


Al
 
So sorry, yes that does have a replacement bag.

I wasn't paying attention when I posted that, it was a spur of the moment thing.

So the lens would have been white (like my U4014) when new ? I presume the U4014 had a better quality lens then that didn't discolour ?

I know what you mean about the cord hooks. My top cord hook is fine, but the bottom one has a chip which leaves a jagged edge that I almost always scrape my hand on while wrapping the flex around the hooks after use.
 
Went to Asda today and found these SBC halogen bulbs, and they fit in the ranger well - remains to be seen how long they last though with all the vibration that they get when the Ranger is running. They are 28W and £2 for 2. Give a good light from the front of the Ranger too!

madabouthoovers++9-5-2012-09-59-3.jpg
 
The light is not as bright as the photo shows - I turned the flash off on the camera, so its a bit brighter than in reality - but I am really pleased with the result, as the only Pygmy bulbs I could find in SBC were only 15W. I got some of these as well, in case the halogen ones blow very quickly. I know you can get 25W pygmy bulbs on Ebay but I dont trust postal companies to get them to me without breaking them, and you just dont know the quality of cheap bulbs on Ebay either!
 
Wow, that's bright!

My Ranger just has the standard fridge size lamp rated at 25W.

Bright enough for me, but I may consider upgrading some day after seeing that.
 
Jamie, honestly its not as bright as the photo, but the bulb has a much shorter , thicker filament than a standard pygmy, so I was thinking it might be more resilient to vibration. I wont be using the Ranger as a daily driver anyhow, as I vac every day having 2 cats, but I will post back on the subject if the bulb does die prematurely. On the subject of the hoover symbol, I have removed it, and re-stuck it with superglue, in a better position:

madabouthoovers++9-5-2012-10-24-6.jpg
 
It looks like you've got that angle down to a T!

I would think that it should last longer being a candle bulb, but who knows.

I haven't had the bulb go on my Senior in my ownership (10 months) and I don't know how long it was in there before me buying it. You never know, it could even be the original bulb.

You are NOT using the Ranger as a daily driver!? That is abominable!

Ha ha, nah, I understand.

I would use my Ranger daily if it were not for the fact I don't want to put too much ware and tare on it plus the handiness of the permanently fitted long hose on my Turbopower 2 is much more suited for daily "running the Hoover over".
 
When you have a vintage Hoover that you cant just go online and order whatever it needs when parts break or wear out, you have to make sure you use it only sparingly, be very careful with it. I would love to be able to get a new headlight lens for mine - but they are just not available any longer. I will be keeping it in a dark cupboard, so that it cant be faded or damaged by sunlight, and bringing out occasionally to savour its beauty and loevely sound. Yes Jamie - you should always keep your Ranger wrapped up in cotton wool, as the older it gets, the more valuable it will become, as parts for it all but dissappear.
 
That is all too true Steve.

I am lucky in that apart from the lower cord hook mine is 99% MINT except for about two or three VERY light scratches which you don't notice after a good polish and buff.

Did you ask your parents if they had the tool kit by the way ? It would be a very good thing to have for when you do bring it out of the closet, as it were...
 
Steve, not sure if it takes the same bulb but got a replacement for my dirt searcher junior in Asda of all places. On holiday just now but can check when I get back if it is.
 
My Ranger

From '81 (i was told). This was left in my last house by the previous owners. :)Sorry for the fuzzy photo, I'm NOT a photographer lol :(

hooverboy81++9-6-2012-14-53-1.jpg
 
Andy - Asda indeed do actually sell the small bayonet pygmy bulbs but only in 15w rating which is a little dim in the Ranger, especially as mine has a discoloured lens, and the long delicate filaments in these pygmy bulbs seem prone to breaking with all the vibration from the brushroll and banging about that most vacs get on the average cleaning session. When I saw the candle bulb with a small halogen capsule inside it, I thought that the shorter more thick filament might stand up to a bit more vibration than the old pygmy type bulb originally used - which I beleive was a 25w rather than 15w.
Time will tell if these substitute bulbs do indeed last longer as they fit perfectly and give a nice bright light, but the 28W versions were in short supply at my local Asda, with only 2 packs left on the shelf - I guess they wouldnt be in great demand being small bayonet cap

Hooverboy81 - nice ranger, one of the later models going by the date - you call them convertibles over there so I learnt. Gottahaveahoove would like that as well as he has several Rangers in different colours.
 
OKAY GUYS I AL LET YOU HAVE YOUR SAY NOW I AM GOING TO WEIGH IN.....JOHN LONG AND I ARE AT THE POLAR END OF THIS DEBATE......THE HOOVER RANGER SERIES UPRIGHTS OR THE HOOD SHAPE I SHOULD SAY WORLD PREMIRED IN 1975 WHEN THE HIGH PERFORMANCE HOOVER CONVERTIBLE 6.0 AMP WITH TOOLS COLLECTION WAS BORN.....TO USE FREDS TERMINALOGY THE CONDIMENT COLOR COLLECTION......RELISH U4057.....HORSERADISH U4059 ....KETCHUP U4061 AND MUSTARD U4063......BUT THE CATALOGUE AND UPSCALE SALES MARKETS NEEDED A UNIQUE LOOK FOR THIS CATALOGUE SHOWROOM LINE.....THUS BRINGING BACK THE EXCLUSIVE 1973 EUROPEAN RANGER LOOK BACK TO OUR SHORES.....THERE IS NO OTHER MORE DISTINCT AND ATTRACTIVE LOOK TO A HOOVER CONVERTIBLE THAN THE RANGER UPRIGHT HOOD STARTING WITH MODELS U4037 MUSTARD AND U4039 KETCHUP WERE THE FIRST RANGER WEARING BEAUTIES TO GRACE THE AMERICAN MARKET AND RAN ALL THE WAY UP TO THE FINAL SEARS EXCLUSIVE AND HOOVER VAC SHOP SUPREMACY MODELS IN 1993......IT WAS HOOVERS GO TO TIMELESS CLASSIC HOOD DESIGN SIGNIFYING QUALITY , BEAUTY , CLASS AND ELEGANCE.....EUROPEAN STYLE AND FLAIR AT ITS BEST AND A TRUE BEAUTY.....HOOVER BLASTED OUT THIS LOOK THROUGH OUT THE 70'S INTO THE 90'S A TRUE WORK OF ART.....MY FAVORITES ARE THE U4039....POPPY.....U4115...LIGHT RED.....U4195-001 BRITTANY BLUE.....U4121 SEA BLUE MEDIUM....U4185/U4311/U4037-001 GOLD TONE AND THE U4423 IN OLYMPIC BLUE.....AN AMAZING 19 YEAR RUN .....FROM A SERVICE PERSPECTIVE ...MORE HOOVER CONVERTIBLE OWNERS AND THERE ARE HUNDREDS IN THIS CLIENT BASIS ARE MORE LIKELY TO HAVE A HOOVER CONVERTIBLE RANGER HOODED CONVERTIBLE REPAIRED BECAUSE OF THE ILLUSION IT CREATED TO THE CONSUMER OF ITS GREATER WORTH .....I GOT SO CARRIED AWAY I FORGOT I LEFT THE CAPS ON .....SORRY FRED MY BAD.....JUST A JOYOUS AND PASSIONATE POSITIVE RESPONSE
 
4003

What about the U4003 model? I appreciate the headlight apperature is rather different to the UK built Ranger, but otherwise it is very similar - apart from the switch arrangements. The UK Ranger (and indeed the South African one I have too) did not have the height adjuster "window" on the top of the hood but similar to the 4003 at the base of the handle on the other side to the handle release.

As far as I know, we has three domestic varities of Ranger made in the UK - the 4002 as noted above in a very attractive yellow colour, U4014 in green - this also had the top fill bag (this model has been posted about so much in the last few months I am sick looking at it) and a later exclusive model (about 1982 or so) in a rather attractive cream and brown finish.

There was also at least one (although I am pretty sure there are more) commercial version in grey with no headlight, metal cord grips, the "traditional" handgrip and a shake out bag. We also had two US produced models - the 4003 and the 4143 (I think - "tomato ketchup" LOLOL).

Al
 
(this model has been posted about so much in the last few mo

Had to lolol - I presume you mean Jamie Murray's, he really does love and cherish that cleaner, he's only 16 and doesnt have a lot - he just wants to belong and feel important with the same as everyone else. After all, thats what these forums are for, showing off and being pround of your cleaner - OK, some of us might not have hundreds of pristine vintage models, or be able to afford to buy a lot, but Jamie is young and he shouldnt really kept being put down by comments like that. I know you meant it to be a bit funny, and I did laugh, but poor Jamie might take it a little differently. Everyone here was young once and proud of their few posessions, wanting to fit in and belong and show off what little they had - give Jamie a break.
 
They are lovely Gottahaveahoove - I assume the difference between the delux model and the blue one is the height adjuster gauge on the top of the hood which the delux has but the blue model doesnt.
I also note that the hoover logo is on the opposite side of the hood to mine, and the cord winders are also on the other side of the handle, so quite a few subtle differences!
 
I noticed too they dont appear to have a foot operated on-off switch, is that an American thing as I am sure I read most of your vacs have on-off switches on the handle somewhere. Are the switches on the back of the handle?
 

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