Portapower with an identity crisis

kloveland · Mar 26, 2012

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<p class="MsoNormal">I recently bought a (Oreck) Hoover Portapower while in Austin Texas. It’s definitely a Hoover Portapower with an Oreck label on it. The tools are Hoover and they are all white without the Hoover logo. Oreck probably used Hoovers design before they developed their own Buster B.</p>

twocvbloke · Mar 26, 2012

Wouldn't be the first time Oreck bought in other's designs, just as they did with the Douglas Aardvac (also known as the Sears Powermate, Kirby Vacuette and ReadiVac Pow'rBrush), the only difference is the Oreck version had the valve fitted to stop the thing sucking in order to work Oreck's dry shampoo stuff into carpets or whatever to do a spot-cleaning session...

kloveland · Mar 26, 2012

That's interesting.

So did Oreck use Hoover's design before coming up with their own? Or was this sold as a separate canister and not included with the upright vacs?

trebor · Mar 26, 2012

when Oreck first hit the vac shops...

they were frequently paired with the Panasonic ARM (a dirt cup hand vac with square extension tubes with cord hooks. It functioned like a hand/broom vac. Basic model was red with a duster along with the wands and floor tool. Deluxe model was off-white with upholstery and crevice tools, a short hose, and a shoulder strap.

The first Oreck canister was the GE MV-1, a hand vac with extension tubes that allowed it to function as an electric broom sans hose. Oreck liked to show the machine as an 'edger' crevice tool, wand on the machine again, sans hose.

The Buster B morphed into the 5.lb portable canister vac. Oreck dropped the Buster B moniker, but it stuck with those of us whose nature adores a vacuum. The canister had optional wheels, and one version actually came with it. Apparently, women found the 5 lb canister 'too heavy' to carry, and requested wheels. I never saw a Hoover Portapower masquerading as an Oreck. Interesting.

rugsucker · Mar 26, 2012

Oreck by Hoover

I have,in a box somewhere,a small Oreck catalog from about 1982 that shows this portapower and much more.Also had the round commercial canisters,Celoc canister with Big Foot power nozzle,hard shell medium size upright with PN(I think by Douglas,also made for JCPenney).I recall they also were selling a grandfather clock.I dont recall the UR/canister twin sets,but the Oreck/Hoover was available separately.Around this time some independent DTD salesmen would sell Oreck & Panasonic uprights.Some vac shops also did well with Oreck and had them taken away when the Oreck company stores appeared in about the mid 90s.

thekiz · Mar 26, 2012

Oreck

Kenny, What a wonderful little (Hoovoreck) find. You said the tools for it are Hoover and in white that seems strange as the body and hose look to be black or dark gray. What tools did you get with it? In your picture is a combo floor nozzle that looks to be rather well made. What brand is it and would you be willing to take a full picture of the top and bottom of it please? Thanks Russ

kloveland · Mar 26, 2012

Sure.

The picture was taken in my trunk with "other" miscellaneous vacuum parts. The combo tool does not go with the Oreck. I've used my other Portapower at work a few times. I'm not a custodian (although, I would love to vacuum the acres of carpet at my work place.) I supervisor several "work studies" who clean our computers, both in the lab and the classrooms. During the summer when the work studies are off. The full time staff is required to clean the computer classrooms. I'd much rather use the Portapower than a rag and Windex.

kloveland · Mar 26, 2012

Tools

I'm not sure what vacuum the combo tool is supposed to be used with. I bought it with some other tools that look like they fit a central vacuum system. They were in a sack for $2.99 at a Thrift store in Austin, TX.

kloveland · Mar 26, 2012

Complete Oreck

Sorry about the bad picture quality. I'm using the hose with my Dial-A-Matic.

kloveland · Mar 26, 2012

Other miscellaneous attachments

Can anyone identify what vacuum these tools belong with? I'm thinking a newer Eureka canister of some sort.

gottahaveahoove · Mar 26, 2012

tsk, tsk

putting that Oreck label on a HOOVER is like putting Kool-Aid in a Waterford crystal glass!

thekiz · Mar 27, 2012

Bits & Such

Kenny, Thank you for the fast responce. Those accessories look to me as if they belong to an european machine, are they 1 1/4" or 30 whatever mm.? ON a side note if you keep collecting vacuums at this rate, you'll need to move into the garage so your vacuums can breathe! LOL! Thank You,Russ

arh1953 · Mar 27, 2012

I love the PortaPowers and all their variations. More bang for the buck!

kirbylux77 · Mar 27, 2012

Kenny, the upholstery tool, dusting brush, crevice tool, tool caddy & the top floor brush beside the upholstery tool, they belong to a Dirt Devil Vision canister. The floor brush on the bottom I have seen with the lower-line Panasonic Optiflow canisters with the smaller C18 style bag. The rug/floor brush I have seen paired with Euro-Pro canisters.

And if that isn't bad enough, I have seen all these tools paired with other Chinese-made canisters, particularly those made by Suzhou/TEK Electrical. My local shop also sells all these as generic tools to customers all the time.

Rob

kirbyvertibles · Mar 28, 2012

Kenny, what convertible is that in the trunk. Rick and I do really want to see that Oreck when we visit this Saturday.

kloveland · Mar 28, 2012

704

The 704 that I got from Tom at the last convention. I'm using it for parts. Looking forward to Saturday.

1926700 · Mar 29, 2012

could it be possible....

that the Hoovereck was made to match the small black XL 4000 upright???.....it looks like its in the color set...

Portapower with an identity crisis

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