The GIGANTIC Hoover

[friendlynerd]

Does anybody remember a huge Hoover Convertible that was displayed in department stores? I think the color scheme was blue and white, but I was very young when I saw it. Would have been around the early/mid 1980s. I couldn't even estimate how big it actually was, because I was very small - it looked to be the size of a building to me.

A couple years ago I emailed Hoover and they confirmed that there was such a thing, but didn't say much beyond the fact it was a promtional/advertising item.

Anyone have pictures? Stories to share? Knowledge of where it is (or they are) now?

 

[hoovercelebrity]

This one?

I think Jeff sent this to me... from one of his trips to North Canton.. perhaps for the 95th Anniversary.

 

[vacjwt]

do they vacuum

lol

 

[myhooverco]

Yes Fred, this was in 2003 during the 95th anniversary celebration. This photo was taken during the car cruise in that we held that year at the Hoover Historical Center. All three machines were displayed in the 1860 Barn. The large vacs function like real vacuums. They have flourescent bulbs for headlights and something like a furnace motor that blows up the bags. The bags are made of the genuine material of the actual production models. The Convertible on the left is acutally a modified model 28 if you look closely. They just changed the styling over the years. Hoover stores these machines elsewhere so it was the first time I had a chance to see them in person. They made many of these for parades or promotions throughout the years. Thanks Fred for posting this one! This was a fun day for me as it was wall to wall cars and we were celebrating my favorite company's anniversary. Happy Hoovering!

--Tom

 

[myvacsrock]

FRED YOU HAVE A MODEL O????????

 

[friendlynerd]

That's it!! Thanks so much for posting the picture. I knew I wasn't crazy.

 

[hoovercelebrity]

Kyle, those aren't mine. Jeff Parker took that picture at the Hoover Historical Center...

 

[henrydreyfuss]

I have never ever seen those big Hoovers before! They're crazy! So they really did vacuum? They're cool!

 

[hoover1060]

they did not vacuum...

The model on the left was set up more like an actual cleaner, vertical motor which turned the fan to inflate the bag, and rotate the agitator inside. It was NOISY!

The U4103 on the right was just a blower and a lightbulb, nothing more to inflate the bag when you hit the switch.

Both were VERY heavy!

These were displayed for the 95th anniversary party in June 2003.
The model O is the one that can be seen running in the "see it clean" section of this website.