The Incredible Hoover 150

[air-waycharlie]

I was doing a repair on my Hoover 150 today and decided to start a thread since I have not seen any talk about the fabulous 150 in a while.

Here it is with shots of the bag full/empty indicator, automatic height adjustor, bag tension elastic strap, (upright and in the vacuuming position), quick release bag for easy emptying, two-speed motor and cushioned handle grip.

All pretty incredible for 1936! It will be 80 years old next year and still looks good and works great. I put new brush strips in the agitator and it cleans beautifully. When I empty the bag, I take it out to my backyard and remove the top bag closure clamp, turn it on high speed and blow out the dust.

 

[air-waycharlie]

Hoover 150 with a disposable bag?

Yes, here is the Hoover 150 with the Hoover sanctioned and manufactured disposable bag system designed for the model 28 but could be used on the 150.

This conversion kit, I emphasize genuine Hoover, not bojack, was a rarely seen option and used the W Handisac bags. This is the only one that I have ever seen. Are there more out there?

 

[air-waycharlie]

How..........

about other 150 owners posting their vacuums? It would be nice to see other models and how many exist out in Vacuumland.

 

[suckolux]

Very impressive!

 

[fairfax88]

Who has

Terry's 150??

 

[electrolux137]

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Very lovely.

I used to have a 150 complete, all original -- rubber handle intact and complete; rubber cord with Hoover logo, original black pinstriped bag with white and blue lettering and intact strain relief cloth tape, complete attachment set w/ original carton; black woven cloth hose with blue and white stripes, instruction manual, infomational hang tag on the handle, what else...?? It was a real dillie.

I found it at the "Mountains o' Vacs" that Stan Kann and I visited in the early 1990s. I had seen a listing in The Recycler (buy-and-sell paper) "400 Vacuums, 400 Dollars" and then a phone number. Our interest piqued, I called the number with Stan listening in. The ad had been placed by the son of a man who had had a Hoover dealership in the Glendale area for many years, and had retired and closed his shop about 25 years previously. When he closed his shop, he moved all his inventory to his house, storing it ... in his back yard!

The man had just recently died, and the son inherited the house. He wanted to renovate the house and grounds, and he wanted to get rid of all the vacuum cleaners. We made arrangements for Stan and me to go take a look at what the man had.

You wouldn’t believe the sight that greeted us when Stan and I walked into the enormous back yard of this man’s home: Envision a yard about the size of half a football field. In the yard were about a dozen huge mounds of STUFF covered with giant, heavy-duty blue vinyl tarps. The mounds varied in size but most were around 10-12 feet in diameter and from 8 to 10 feet high!

Stan and I walked to the first pile and lifted the first tarp. Underneath was a sight that nearly defied description: A mountain of old vacuum cleaners. Most of them were Hoovers from the 1930s through mid-1960s with a smattering of other machines as well. We both gasped in shock and began digging through the pile. The cleaners’ cords and handles were hopelessly intertwined with one another so pulling them apart was practically an exercise in futility. Finally, we decided the only way to do it would be to cut some of the cords off and pull the machines apart that way.

We spent two long days, from morning till night, laboriously digging through those dozen vacuum cleaner mountains. But it was worth the trouble — we both came home with quite a few treasures; amongst them was the 150.

Here's the only photo I have of it. I thought I had a bunch more but guess they got lost somewhere along the way.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

the workmanship that went into that....

 


at that time was/is....STAGGERING!! Excellent specimen. I'm lucky to have one... imperfect,  but great all the same

 

[air-waycharlie]

Tania and I...

shipped Terry's 150 to someone who had expressed an interest in it. I don't remember who it was but Tania might. If she reads this hopefully she will remember.

When we were helping disseminate Terry's collection, we shipped nearly 1000 pounds of vacuums and small electrics to people in 9 states in 3 days and that was four years ago next March. I just can't remember.

 

[portable]

<span style="font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">The Hoover Model 150 was truly one of a kind. Though it borrowed a few features from prior Dreyfuss Hoovers, there were so many unique things about it, as Charlie has listed. Charlie, I had never seen a conversion kit for the 150, though I have seen some for the 28. I wonder if it is the same? A rare item, even for the 28.</span>


 


<span style="font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">I had a beautiful 150, complete. I think mine went to Dave Olsen. I bought mine from a shop in San Francisco that was one of the Hoover-sanctioned repair shops. One of the brothers had restored the vacuum, complete with an almost-original paint job. I later found a tool kit and carrier for it.</span>


 


<span style="font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Hoover went all out in their ad campaigns for the 150. There were also a number of tie-in ads for other companies, advertising the metal and various parts in the 150.</span>


 


<span style="font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">I am astounded that there were so many in circulation, considering it was a Depression-era vacuum that was NOT cheap.</span>


 


<span style="font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">It truly is an engineering marvel. The underside is very complex. Later Hoovers were much simpler in design and execution.</span>

 

[air-waycharlie]

John

That conversion kit is for the Hover 28. I made mention of that in the post. It just happens to fit on the 150. I think it would fit on a number of Hoovers that are configured the same regarding the bag attachment.

I thought it would be interesting to show it on the 150. I should include a picture of the bottom of it. It also had that unique conversion tool for above the floor cleaning.

I too, find it amazing how many are still around. As you mention, it was being made during the depression and was pricey. Similar competition was the Air-Way Super Chief and Air-Way DirtMaster. I have owned both and found the 150 cleaned better in certain ways and the Air-Ways cleaned better in certain ways. The wood pulp cellulose disposable bag in the Air-Ways set them apart from the 150 on several levels.

Here are the most famous revolving brush Air-Way uprights. The DirtMaster, (far left), used a single motor with two fans and the other two had two motors and a single fan.

 

[kenkart]

I have Terrys 150

The 150 was ,in my opinion, the finest upright ever built....And it will automatically adjust to todays carpets just as well as it would to carpets made in 1936, truly an engineering marvel!It was VERY expensive for the time, and darn well worth it!

 

[gottahaveahoove]

It is incredible.

I've enjoyed running the perfect one at The Hoover Historical Center in North Canton. It was called. 'overengineered'. It is so perfectly balanced, also.It never tips.
Here's an interesting fact: EVERY Hoover employee working there at the time got a Hoover model 150.....whether you wanted on or not. And, who wouldn't ? It was deducted from you paycheck gradually until it was paid for.
To me, it was a 'win-win'.

 

[electrolux137]

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I found the photos of my 150. I had inadvertently named the files "105..." instead of "150..."

Here ya go!

 

[air-waycharlie]

Charles....

Do you still have the 150 or has it moved on to a new owner?

Wonderful pics of it! And all the literature, boxing, etc. I never had the tools or tool caddy but I did find a correct hose but gave it to Fred Nelson for his birthday several years ago to complete his ensemble.

I am going to hang on to this Hoover and try to find a correct original bag and try to find the tools and hose. You never know what will show up on ebay, Goodwill or an estate sale.

 

[electrolux137]

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Charlie, I no longer have it.

 

[kenkart]

Re 150

Something else, The 150 will clean as well as and better than most any cleaner made today, and that is a provable fact!

 

[maestrohenn]

Recently acquired Electrolux XXX

I recently acquired this beautiful Electrolux from eBay. It came with a paper dust bag converter, which is really cool!!
It cost me $300+ shipping, I guess that's a fair price? It comes with so many neat things! Thoughts please…

http://https//www.ebay.com/itm/152210424444