My Latest Restoration!

[vacuumkid3]

Well...here it is! I successfully took my oldest vacuum, the Hoover Special Model N, and completely restored it...from painting to polishing to motor work...everything! I even gave it a bath to get that 90-year-old dirt off! Well...instead of me typing, here are some pictures...the before pictures first!

~~K~~

 

[vacuumkid3]

And more!

 

[vacuumkid3]

Okay...one more!

 

[vacuumkid3]

And here are the new ones!!

 

[vacuumkid3]

The label...!

 

[vacuumkid3]

Trust me, it looks a lot better in real life! And here it is purring away!

Well, that's all for now!

~~K~~

 

[vacuumkid3]

I find that it vacuums the rug quite smoothly! When I lift the machine up, it even takes up the rug with it! It's crazy it is that powerful for such an old machine!!

~~K~~

 

[hoovercelebrity]

Wow!

That looks great!

Did you use Brasso on the nameplate? I found that works well for those brass nameplates...

Yeah, those machines are really beautiful! They are just soooooooo quiet, they really do purr! It's really incredible--how well made they are. And when polished up and serviced... its awesome! And you're using it on just what it was made to be used on... an oriental (area) rug, with low-ish pile.

Were you able to salvage the original leather bumper? No doubt, made in the Leather goods part of the company...

Here's my oldest, a model 102:
(Anyone have an extra original bag for it??)

 

[vacuumkid3]

Hey Fred!

Thanks, I appreciate it! I tried pretty hard, but I don't care for the mat-ish paint I painted the handle and motor with.

I actually used several polishes on the brass pieces. I didn't try Brasso, but I used another brass polish called Blitz that worked just fine. I also went back over with some MAAS, and that did even better. This vacuum is just not good at taking pictures. It seriously looks WAY better in real life!

This one runs great. Much better than some stuff today!

HAHA!! That bumper...OH!! Gosh, the bumper that was on it was cloth, not leather. It looked original to me, as it was black cloth cord like material that had faded to white. I actually used some bike inner-tube...worked just fine, and looks pretty nice too!

That 102 looks AMAZING!! What in the world did you polish that baby with? And did you go back and repaint the labels and motor?

What kind of oil are you using in that one? I am using something similar to Zoom-Spout, or whatever that stuff is called. I was thinking about using grease instead (molybdenum disulfide grease...the best stuff!!), but I wanted to try and be original. Is there something that carries the oil to the lower bearing? I would think there would need to be. Anyways...thanks for sharing your oldie, Fred!

~~K~~

 

[hygiene903]

Great Job Kyle!!

Nice restoration job on the model N. And yes, the older Hoovers were quiet runners. My 541 is probably the quietest Hoover I've got.
And Fred, your 102 is a real beauty, too.
Jeff

 

[swingette]

very nice, Kyle. your cleaner looks good. i think those early models were not buffed, so yours looks correct.

i too am interested in the lubrication details of these models. where does all the oil go?

 

[vacuumkid3]

Thanks ya'll!

I actually did buff it...(-: I used an electric buffer, but as I say, this vacuum is not good in pictures. I will try and get a better close up with my camera in some more light. That might do it.

Thanks again! :-D

~~K~~

 

[lux1521]

I think that Model N looks very nice, especialy for it's age.

I also use zoom oil with my older models (541 and special 102) and it seems to work great. I think the oil is supposed to get to the lower bearing through a wick, but I'd have to look at my parts diagrams to be sure. I would assume that the oil might evaporate and thats why it needs replacement. It could also leak out of the bottom and into the fan chamber and get carried into the air stream that way.

I'm currently thinking about unrestoring my 541. I buffed it to a mirror finish and I'm trying to find a way to take it back to it's original dullness. If anyone has any ideas, let me know!