Numatic Henry HVR 200 - 22

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alexhoovers94

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 22, 2012
Messages
3,221
Location
Manchester UK
Here is my henry that I got from my neighbour for FREE! she said to me I am gonna throw this down the tip so do you want it and I obviously said yes!
It is a 2006 numatic henry with the high low switch, the push button switch and the two side exhausts which I like a lot. I do have a 2008 henry with new exhaust and switch bank but I prefer this one becuause it looks like a normal traditional henry because of the older exhaust design. Any way here it is, I do also have the optional "airobrush".

alexhoovers94++4-29-2012-12-54-12.jpg
 
I always wanted a Henry. Too bad they aren't nearly as popular over here. What price point are they sold at?
 
Sure is.

My 2007 Henry is different from yours, despite being a year newer.

It has the rocker switches, the one exhaust port and dull metal pipes instead of the stainless steel ones you have.

I wonder why ?
 
Here in the UK they are around £100 to buy new, which is $160 in your currency.

If you have the James version of the Numatic cleaner that should be cheaper.
 
Jmurray, Because like everything, Numatic cleaners have been subjected to on-going changes, in the hope it will better the product.

Around 2003, a foot switch was introduced, presumably as it had been seen as inconvenient to try and find the rocker switch in the side of the cleaner, and operate it by hand.

Around 2004, Numatic decided to add a 2-speed motor. There may have been a reason behind it, such as a heading towards the eco-friendly idea, or it could be that it was done because they felt it was what the consumer wanted. I think there is a good chance it may all have been done following customer feedback.

However the foot operated switch was highly problematic as the quality of the switch was poor. The contacts would often burn out, or the locking mechanism would fail. I am not surprised as the same switch was used by other manufacturers and many suffered the same fate if used as a foot switch. They were ok as hand switches but seemed unable to cope with the hefty pressure of a foot. Now as well as this, there is one more point to add. Like a good deal of vacuum cleaners in the past, and probably some today, such was the design of the foot switch button, it was easily caught by the hose when in use, which switched the machine off. The same could happen if the cleaner fell over. This was annoying at best, and at worst put added wear upon the switch.

I don't know much about the mentality of the Numatic company, but they do seem to try and change things for the better, whilst admitting when they got it wrong and changed it back. Hence the two top mounted rocker switches we have seen in recent years. Having tried a foot switch, and having been unable to make it work successfully, they've done the next best thing and made a cleaner with the tried & trusted rocker switches, but fitted them as high up the cleaner as possible, to avoid as much bending down as possible.

There is a fine line between making something a consumer wants, and deciding whether or not they would buy the product regardless. This may have been what was behind the Numatic changes, because whilst I am sure the foot switch was liked by all users, the fact that it no longer has one is probably not going to put anyone off buying a cleaner.

As for the metal tubes, there have been some changes recently, as the design of the suction regulator has changed too. I don't know if Numatic make their own tubes or buy them in. There could be many reasons for changes.
 
I don't see why they would change the suction regulation valve, as I have never had a problem with the twist valve, and can't see why anybody else would...

Oh well, if they think it is better then that's up to them.

As for the tubes, I may buy some stainless steel ones at some point, as those dull metal ones are tough as old boots, but are getting rusty and are scratched to high Heaven.

More pressingly though, the floor tool requires replacement, as it has worn out to the point where I have to go over one patch of flooring numerous times to clear the dirt.
 
If they are rusty, it sounds like they are the painted aluminium type. I didn't mean to suggest the suction regulator had been changed as a matter of improvement, sorry, I mean it has been changed for no reason as I see it. I suspect that Numatic has switched supplier of its metal tubes, but I don't know this, or know if they make them in-house.
 

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