The Hoover Special / What did I just buy?

[paulg]

Apologies in advance. Vacuum cleaners like these are not my cup of tea, so I know little of them. This question probably came up a thousand times before. I hope you can advise me what I just bought.
Back story.... went to an estate sale last week. Saw this vac but passed it up. ( I’m a GE- Sunbeam kind of a guy...)
Coming back from shopping I see an estate sale. Same place by accident. This old vac is still there. I asked what they wanted for it. Here’s what I got for five bucks.

 

[paulg]

But what does this mean?

Previous model reconstructed at the Hoover Factory?
Did I just get taken to the cleaners (excuse the pun)?
Tell me what you may know about this doozy!
Thanks for any info. Good or bad.

 

[paulg]

Rear shot

 

[toddk13]

I'd say that it started it's life as

either a Hoover 105, or 541. The Hoover plate is similar in design to the original 541, but that might be what was on the shelf when they rebuilt it.

 

[huskyvacs]

Didn't someone have a master list of Hoover serial numbers here?

Great find for $5! I paid $90 for mine!

 

[bikerray]

It looks like a 105, if it were a 541 it would have a height adjustment on the side opposite the switch. The 105 also has a hand hole underneath, the 541 has a pulley cover.

The 105 you adjust the height by loosening the thumb screw on the rear wheels then raising or lowering them.

The handle is definitely a 105 handle.

The 105 was 1920 - 1923, the 541 was 1923 - 1926

 

[lesinutah]

Special

Isn't special basically saying hoover rebuild program?

 

[electrolux137]

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The original replacement bag is a real treasure!

 

[bikerray]

re: Serial numbers

Don't forget that this is a rebuild from Hoover so the serial number on the plate is NOT the original number given to the machine. If you want the original number it's hidden under the rear wheels.

The 105 had two series of numbers
575,000 to 674,900
5,000,000 to 5,299,999

 

[gottahaveahoove]

"Special" didn't always mean, re-manufactured

The early Convertibles came out in "Special" as well. They had: a snap bag, half bumper, no light(sometimes), no handle grip. The motors were still "all Hoover", but, they were offered in a 'economy ' model.
I have a few 'rebuilds' marked "special".

 

[oreck_xl]

Hoover Specials

Hoover offered true rebuilt "Special" models up until the late '50's when Hoover stopped selling door to door. Here on the forum, I think the newest rebuilt Special I saw was a model 61, which if discontinued in 1949 was still a fairly new machine. I would have loved to been able to purchase a reconditioned early model like a baby 103 or a Senior model N back in the '50's.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

I actually have one "factory rebuild"

from the 70s. It's the putty colored one with the floral bag.... stamped, 'rebuilt by The Hoover Co". Amazing.
But, in general, it's true: they stopped that years before.