The Beautiful 68 Convertible

[dial-a-nap]

We took a trip up to Minneapolis last weekend to visit our very own webMaster(s) and had some good luck at the estate sales, as we usually do. Both Fred and I found Hoovers at one house, a very nice model 28 and a 68 Convertible.

 

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Here are finds for the day - and more in the back seat!

 

[brandon_w_t]

HEY!

I had one of those!


Was my great great uncles. Used it until the original bag was packed full and then sat its entire 50 year life in a corner.


I miss that machine! Probably the nicest convertible I have ever owned.


Amazing finds! Your bag looks so mint and unused.

 

[vacumaniac]

Very nice finds!!!!

 

[brandon_w_t]

And Greg....

whats the story behind that umbrella? LOL

Im coming over this week sometime to see that 68. Watch out!

 

[dial-a-nap]

When we got the machines back home, Fred set about tearing the 68 down and giving it a spa treatment. Watching him work on these machines is just amazing, he knows them inside and out and clips along like a Hoover restoration machine! He disassembled the entire machine, cleaned and greased all the necessary parts, ran the base and washable parts through the dishwasher and washed the bag.

 

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Polish and elbow grease made this machine shine like new again - truly stunning in person!

 

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Here is the finished 68, back in service and sounding like it just came out of the box!


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[dial-a-nap]

While working on the 68 and doing some washing in the other room, we loaded up the dishwasher with more Convertible parts Fred was working on. He used only STPP (phosphates - water softener) for the cycle so there are was no chance of harming any of the painted parts with detergents, bleaches, etc. This method does a phenomenal job of making these parts just sparkle again.

 

[dial-a-nap]

Here are our twin 68's in the kitchen - this color is just hypnotic!

Thank you again Fred and Robert for a fun weekend and the overwhelming job on the 68, I love it!!

 

[alexb1186]

I have a drool puddle now on my bed

Is that the 68 field coil in the dishwasher and if not, how did you get yours so clean without taking the motor apart?

 

[unimatic1140]

Thank you again Fred and Robert for a fun weekend and the overwhelming job on the 68, I love it!!


 


Yay, totally our please Greg.  I wish all of us had powers to zap ourselves around the world so we could have visits like this every weekend.  Gotta love those estate sales!

 

[vacfanatic]

Dishwashing Motor Parts

I too have washed field coils and armatures in my dishwasher, but I did use a bit of detergent - they came out so clean!

I then put them on a cookie sheet and baked them on "Keep Warm" for a few hours to get rid of any excess moisture in them.



Andrew

 

[kenmore81]

Very nice, much nicer than mine but still my favorite Hoover.

 

[Automatic-Shift]

Fred,

Amazing! You are not afraid to get in there and make it shine! Wow! That 68 is incredible. Lucky find. I had one a long time ago, but no where near this condition used. Enjoy! Ron

 

[chestermikeuk]

Seniors & Convertibles

Wow great finds there boys, as always at the Minneapolis estate sales!!!, lovely blue colour...the agi bar looks brand new...

A surprise to see the field coil in the dishwash - Fred do you dry them off with a hairdryer etc??

 

[brandon_w_t]

How does one obtain this STTP? I need some.


I Have a bagillion parts to wash in a dishwasher. Could wash them all at once at Gregs!


How would a metal base verity do in a dishwasher? Would think high pressure of dishwasher would take some paint off an old one?

I do have the beast of a dishwasher- the slightly older Whirlpool machine, that cleans like none other.


I have been told to stick armatures of old fans in the dishwasher, and even old phone cords. LOL never thought possible.

 

[alexb1186]

I have stuck hoses in the dw and I think some plastic Convertible bases but usually full hood bases as I have no clue if the phosphates/detergent would mess up decals/lettering on hoods or bases with Penneys or Wards graphics.

 

[hooverhurst]

New to the forum, but have been skulking around reading it for years.
Your 68 is beautiful...fond memory for me...My parents remodeled the house in 1962 and also decided it was time for a new vacuum. My mother took me with her and she let me pick it out..had a choice of the 66, 67, 68 and the rare gold one at the time (I forget the model #). I chose the 68 because I loved the color, though she tried to talk me into the 66, as it would have matched the new forest green carpet better! Also talked her into the attachments, but she didn't buy the deluxe set, since we already had a Constellation 82.