New UK member; Look what I found today, pre-war Hoover cache...

[scoover]

Hi, Just joined Vacuumland. I am UK based. I had a large collection of cleaners back in the early '90s. I reduced this to a small number of my favourite pre-war Hoovers (2 x 700's, a 725, 3 x 750's and a couple of 800's), all of which I recently got out of storage, rekindling my interest.

I have been negotiating to buy the Hoover collection of a friend who ran a junk shop selling vintage Hoovers amongst other things back in the mid '80s. The trouble was he had no idea what he had or really where they were in his house. So today we clambered through the eaves of his loft while I fantasised about finding an 875 and maybe a 450....

Would you believe it: A 450, an 875, a 575 and a 262 (didn't want the 262 but it seemed impolite not to take it). The remains of a second 575 and a complete set of boxed tools with a mint hose and sundry spares all appeared out of the darkness after almost 35 years...

Jealous?

I will have lots of questions to ask pre-war experts about what bag goes with what etc. as I have been operating in a one man vacuum since before the internet, but for now, I can't stop grinning...[this post was last edited: 8/19/2018-14:41]

 

[watsonw]

Hello

....and welcome, what finds!!

I have had a 575 motor (which runs well) for years but none of the rest of the machine.

Does either of your 700s have the original 1926-30 closed bag and spreader not to mention pistol grip handle?

Regards.

 

[flash0008]

Excellent

machines that were built to last back in the days before greed took over many major manufacturers and dirty politicians sold many of the industries and jobs out to foreign interests. Those must be pretty rare.

 

[scoover]

Hi W,


 


Yes, very pleased with the Haul.


 


Re 575 I will PM you, keep an eye on your junk mail box...


 


Cheers

 

[scoover]

Hoover 700 Handle

One of my 700's is a very early model, serial number 11,500. It's got some detail differences from the other three 700's I have owned, including a "Servant to the home" motor badge in place of the royal crest.


It still has its alloy and plastic handle and original metal switch with inscribed "H". It is however missing the bag spreader and correct bag. I will get pictures up at some point.

 

[rivstg1]

congrats!!

welcome to the group and this site!!! wow. what a find!!! lucky man you are

 

[madman]

You lucky s.o.b.

I noticed a US plug on one of them. Is it a US model or did you folks use the good ol' US plugs back in the day?

Also, welcome!

 

[scoover]

UK plug

Thanks!

I think the plug you are seeing is the (unplugged) motor plug hanging down on the 575.
So far as I know the UK never used what I would call continental style plugs but you never know: I seem to remember that UK voltages were not standardised until about 1960. A lot of old UK Hoovers come with the Hoover two pin plug that connects to a bayonet fitting. Just as an aside, my grandmother didn't even have electricity in her flat until 1955.

 

[scoover]

Loft finds cleaned up.

Have now got the 450, the 875 and the 575 roughly cleaned. Also been inside all of them and briefly had a poke around but it'll be a while before they each get a proper strip-down. Worst discovery so far is a broken 12 blade fan on the 575 but the parts machine had a good replacement. The 450 will be the most work I think, though all of them have had a hard life. The 575 has had the commutator turned down at some point and has since become well worn again. The 875 has also got some serious commutator wear going on. The 875 has a low serial number; B3485. I am sure this has been asked before but is there any serial number system for Perivale built pre-war machinery? Also is the bag with the red Hoover logo (last of the original post photo's)an original 825 bag?

 

[madman]

Ah, the motor plug is a us plug. I see.

 

[scoover]

Hoover 450 Rebuild

So I have been working away on the 450 that came as part of this find. It came out of the seller's loft in parts, stripped down 30 years ago so I assumed there would be lots missing/it wouldn't work. ( I re-assembled it roughly for the first picture)

I bought a Hoover Duster in the middle of doing this and got slightly distracted...

However all of the bits were present and it fires up beautifully. I have bought a huge pile of 450/475 parts since but none of those were required during re-assembly.

Cosmetically it looked terrible as found but crucially the plating was all good. The body was quite deeply scratched and as this is my first alloy polish job I was a bit nervous of taking too much off. The 400's are much lighter bodied than the bigger coffee cans. So I have some reservations about the finish but it looks OK.

I repainted the motor cover and the hedlite cowl which was a bit of a pain; I'll have to get some better masking tape. I still have to do the black lining on the alloy of the hood but I reckon a lining tool (used for bicycle frame lug lining) will do it though the paint is important and I have not got the consistency right yet.

So still a way to go. I have the Hedlite rubber to refit, though fortunately its in really nice condition. and I am going to make a new bumper strip. Haven't even started on the handle yet...

 

[justjunque]

Wow!

That looks amazing so far!
Nice work!

Barry

 

[watsonw]

Coach work finish.

Hello Doug,

Breath taking!!!!!


Absolutely perfect.


Walter.

 

[scoover]

Barry, Walter,

Thank you!