Stamped 'M' for 'Mystery'

[vintagehoover]

Digging through a box of assorted vintage Hoover parts given to me a couple of years ago by a friend, I found this motor I'd forgotten about. It's a Model 700 motor, but it's interesting for two reasons.

Firstly, all my other vintage Hoovers are given a rating from between 7-9. Many have had their rating stamp filed down and re-stamped, as many were converted as UK voltage was standardised. However, THIS motor is rated 'M'...I've never seen a letter, rather than a number here - can anyone tell me what it represents?

 

[vintagehoover]

A better view of the mysterious 'M'...

 

[tristar]

M for Macho!

Even back then Hoover knew they got it right ;-)

 

[vintagehoover]

The second reason I find this motor interesting is that despite being a 240v UK motor, it has the 'Servant to the Home' logo on the cap, not the Royal warrant, which my complete 700, and all Hoover machines subsequently, bore.

Other than this, I've only ever seen the 'Servant to the Home' ensignia on American machines. According to British law, a company must have been trading with a member of the Royal family for at least 5 years before they can be considered for a Royal warrant. Since Hoover first traded officially in the UK in 1919, they should have been eligible to use the warrant by around 1924. The 700 wasn't launched until 1926, so this motor must be a VERY early one, dating from before Hoover were awarded the right to use the warrant on their machine!

What a shame I don't have the rest of the machine to go with it!

 

[vintagehoover]

Here's the more familiar UK motor cap, bearing the Royal Warrant...coincidentally, this motor is given a rating of 19!!

 

[petek]

Would the made in Canada part have any play in it?

 

[vintagehoover]

Hi Pete - all UK Hoovers from 1919-1932 were made in Canada...these unusual variations only affect this particular motor.

I've just noticed my 725 has a rating of 59, which seems very high, considering most of the rest of them are rated 9!

 

[petek]

What did the sold in Canada at the time 1919-32 have for a logo, the UK version or the US IBAISAIC

 

[vintagehoover]

That's a very good question, Pete! I don't have an answer for that. At a guess, I'd say they'd have the UK version. I don't know much about the Canadian Hoovers of that time, although I know Canada had some exclusive models.

The same question applies for countries such as Norway and Sweden, where royalty gave Hoover their warrant. Presumably, those would have displayed the respective crests of their own royal families!

 

[vacfanatic]

Bearings...

Jack - remember you now know how to tear bearings apart... let's see you get your hands dirty!!!

Andrew

 

[ohio_tuec]

Were I you, Jack, if the motor runs well, I would definitely clean it up and put it into one of your 700's. Then you would really have an oddity.