The Hoover model 29

[gottahaveahoove]

I finally have 2 of them, plus the box for one. I first saw them, used them when I was a kid. I went to Catholic 'Convent" school. WE all had 'jobs'. Mine was to clean the community room in the convent. I also put up Christmas trees. The 'community room' was a large, almost ballroom type room. Our convent had 50 rooms, house 26 nuns. The place had: 2 ReGINA Electric brooms, a commercial floor polisher (Clarke), a Hoover Handivac, with tools, and 2 model 29 Hoovers. It was there that I first saw and used a red 29.
The school had some Eureeeeka upright . Later, the seminary had 2 reg Guardsman vacuums, and 2 domestic uprights, one being a 719, the other, the red flower power upright.
So, I was well used to vacuuming large places with Hoovers. I went to Catholic school for a total of 20 years: Elementary school, High School, College, and Graduate School. There were Hoovers everywhere. I also taught in 12 Catholic schools, most had Hoover cleaners.At my first job, every classroom had a Hoover Convertible, "goldtone, floral bag". That was quite a thing, purchasing 10 of those for a little school.
Some things, like that education, stay with us.

 

[2011hoover700]

At your convenience I will enjoy pictures.
If you posted any, have I permission to save them to my device?

 

[compactelectra]

Here You Go

Not sure if John will post a picture of his so here is a picture of the infamous Model 29 that keeps on going back and forth from my house to the Watrous collection. Just shipped back.  It is rare to find such a pristine example, especially the original cloth bag.  Boy, this machine has a history and has done quite a bit of traveling.

 

[air-waycharlie]

Fred, well, the HOOVER 29 is now safely ensconced in North Carolina in pristine condition. Many thanks for the latest hand off. "AirWay Abbey", is now up and running and our Mrs. Hughes has everything under control.

After a few more tweaks, the new vacuum room will be available for tours. Your shipment from Palm Springs brought a wonderful new dimension......no pun intended.

Today, I was lucky enough to snag an Electrolux Ambassador III from a colleague who bought a new and different type of vacuum. (A plastic dust blower.....ick!) She kept all the attachments and had it serviced regularly so it will be fun to add to the stable of other Lux/Aerus vacuums.

Currently, the new SEBO Felix that I acquired from Tom Gasko is doing a wonderful job on the wood flooring as well as the wall to wall in the "non-public", areas.

Thanks for posting the great pics! If that 29 was getting mileage for all it's travels it would be on a free ticket to Paris by now.

 

[dysonman1]

Oh my god that is such a beautiful machine. Why do I remember Tania using it In Fred’s gorgeous vacuum room?

 

[compactelectra]

Tom

Tania was never much of a Hoover fan and definitely not an upright gal.  But during one of our gatherings at Tarantula Arms (as you know) with enough wine, anything was possible. 

 

[air-waycharlie]

Yes, anything...…..

 

[gottahaveahoove]

nice to see that pic of the gang

again.Glad you posted that great 29 also. Now, we need to post the matching "Holiday". Mine is packed away in a box with so many others at the moment. I'm getting ready for more renovation work here.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

I just posted an interesting story

in Miscellanea. It doesn't involve a vacuum, BUT it involves that convent and a nun who lived there. She would have been 97 today!

 

[oreck_xl]

Model 29

I've often wondered where the model 29 fit into Hoover's line-up. Was it a less expensive alternative to the model 62? I've never owned a 29 but I assume they all have shake-out bags correct? When was the 29 discontinued? I'm assuming 1950 was the first year they were offered since that as the end of model 28 production.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Well, perhaps I can help you with this.

Model lineup for 1950:Model 62, deluxe, sold for $94.95 (with Handisac, and a more efficient agitator. Model29:$79.95 shakeout bag, less efficient agitator. Hoover Junior, model 115, $59.50 There were only these three during this time.Model 29 stats: Built from June 12, 1950 to August 24, 1953.. 351,800 units were built Model 62 and 29 were replaced by model 63. Model 115 was replaced by the red Lark.This info comes straight out of the Hoover "books".

 

[gottahaveahoove]

And, I have the matching Holiday tank

I believe it was the only time Hoover altered the infamous logo.

 

[oreck_xl]

Thank you John, you are a treasure trove of Hoover knowledge. I always wondered about production dates on the model 29. At work, we have a bunch of headlight lenses from Hoover 61's, model 60 probably used the same, but I noticed some are plastic, others are glass. Could it be that the model 60 had a glass lens and the 61 plastic or did they switch to plastic during the run of model 61's as a cost cutting touch?

 

[gottahaveahoove]

I believe it was cost and safety

Of someone was a "banger", they could smash the glass.
Also, on one of the blue models, the H O O V E R letters on the hood were metal, silver, rather than the white painted ones.
Next time I talk with Tom (A.), I'll check, as, he has the info PLUS the actual machines.
I have all of the cleaners with that style hood. Mine are the "regular" ones.

 

[oreck_xl]

If you could, I'd sure appreciate it. I'd love to know if the glass lenses were just for the model 60 or if the early 61's had them too. Even in glass, the lens is so narrow I don't think it broke that often.

 

[oreck_xl]

I answered my own question, at least in part

Well, in all my years at this vacuum shop I saw a Hoover 61 come in this morning for the first time. I noticed the lens was pushed in which gave me a reason to pop open the hood. Wouldn't you know, it had a GLASS lens, so now I know the changeover to plastic must've occurred sometime during production of the model 61. She told me "such a shame the way cleaning ladies bang these around." I replied "such a shame they are ALLOWED to bang around such a quality machine."

 

[gottahaveahoove]

but.....................................

still amazing that the machine is still running. .. doing the job it was built to do!

 

[oreck_xl]

Indeed

I see sewing machines from the '40's all day long, but so see a vacuum that old is an extremely rare sight. Even if they're perfectly good, most of our customers want the latest and greatest when it comes to vacuums. Until now, about the oldest I've seen come in is a plastic base Convertible or a Concept One.