The most beautiful (imo) Vacuum Cleaner in the world.
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Why do I like a Dial-A-Matic? It is fully enclosed, no bags show, the above the floor tools attatch with little effort, the range of colors, the build quality. I'll be looking for a more colorful version in the future.
Archival Material Presented By R. Seger(Unimatic)
Ian, have you seen this?
http://www.vacuumland.org/TD/ARCHIVE/SANDBOX/2006/13x15.htm
Ian, have you seen this?
http://www.vacuumland.org/TD/ARCHIVE/SANDBOX/2006/13x15.htm
You know, I didn't even think of that when I rooted it out of the 2006 Vacuumland Archives. That is a pretty shade of blue on your vacuum.
I believe only the european Dial A Matics were in this colour, no other variations..I may be wrong, only the 70s ones were like this anyway.
My good compadre Seamus has reliably informed me that the serial number tells him that my example was built sometime in May 1970.
Ian
My good compadre Seamus has reliably informed me that the serial number tells him that my example was built sometime in May 1970.
Ian
ge1969
Well-known member
Hi all!! I like the Dial-a-Matic vacs as well, have three in my own collection, an orange, a lime green, and a turquoise. They are well built vacs that seem to clean well. One question thuogh, since we have visited I Dream of Jeannie in this thread. Does anyone other than me remember an episode where Major Nellson sucks Jeannie into a GE Roll-Easy, and we later see Dr. Bellows talking into the hose end? Later, Trg
No, GE1969, I don't remember that episode, somebody has to pull that for us, and pull some more Samantha Stephens and her Dial-A-Matic too. Hmmmmm??
I love this type of cleaner, but I also think it has some serious shortcomings.
What's to like? Well, mainly the fact that it was completely different from any other upright when it was launched. The use of plastics for the bulk of the cleaner was very unusual too, as I don't think plastic canister cleaners hit the market til the early 1970s (in the UK anyway). It's beautiful too, with that tapered body - anyone know if this machine was a Henry Dreyfuss design?
On the other hand, handle wobble was never sorted out, the plastics are rather fragile, dust falls from the tool port sometimes, I don't trust the offset carpet suction duct to clean properly (especially the oppposite edge), and they're so heavy! The Powerdrive versions are particularly bad - light as a feather to push, but try carrying it anywhere...
One thing I have recently noted with my machines is to never use them on full carpet suction unless totally necessary - otherwise they cling to the carpet, and are very hard to push.
But you can't knock the machine too much - it's unreasonable to expect such a step into uncharted waters to be perfect. And of course it is the grandaddy of just about every new upright cleaner on the market.
By the way Ian, yours is Mandarin Blue, same as mine. I wonder if yours (and mine!) had the main casing replaced at some point - I see yours has a blanked off bit for a switch on the main body, like the later U5002 had. I thought mine might have been a crossover machine (built November 1974), but the fact yours also has it (but Seamus' 1973 model doesn't) is intriguing.
I never understood why (In the UK at least) this machine had no headlamp (apart from the Power Drive and the late model U5032) when it was TOL. Or why it seems to have been particularly popular in Italy...
What's to like? Well, mainly the fact that it was completely different from any other upright when it was launched. The use of plastics for the bulk of the cleaner was very unusual too, as I don't think plastic canister cleaners hit the market til the early 1970s (in the UK anyway). It's beautiful too, with that tapered body - anyone know if this machine was a Henry Dreyfuss design?
On the other hand, handle wobble was never sorted out, the plastics are rather fragile, dust falls from the tool port sometimes, I don't trust the offset carpet suction duct to clean properly (especially the oppposite edge), and they're so heavy! The Powerdrive versions are particularly bad - light as a feather to push, but try carrying it anywhere...
One thing I have recently noted with my machines is to never use them on full carpet suction unless totally necessary - otherwise they cling to the carpet, and are very hard to push.
But you can't knock the machine too much - it's unreasonable to expect such a step into uncharted waters to be perfect. And of course it is the grandaddy of just about every new upright cleaner on the market.
By the way Ian, yours is Mandarin Blue, same as mine. I wonder if yours (and mine!) had the main casing replaced at some point - I see yours has a blanked off bit for a switch on the main body, like the later U5002 had. I thought mine might have been a crossover machine (built November 1974), but the fact yours also has it (but Seamus' 1973 model doesn't) is intriguing.
I never understood why (In the UK at least) this machine had no headlamp (apart from the Power Drive and the late model U5032) when it was TOL. Or why it seems to have been particularly popular in Italy...
Well..as you of all people should know Simon, the italians love a bit of good design 
As i've said my DAM is a bit scruffy but you won't be getting it off me for any vacuum (within reason) or any amount of money (again within reason ) because it's just..you know it's like my Kirby, it's one of those vacs I thought i'd never EVER have any chance of owning, it's the same reason my 170 is cherished so much lol.
Ian
As i've said my DAM is a bit scruffy but you won't be getting it off me for any vacuum (within reason
) or any amount of money (again within reason ) because it's just..you know it's like my Kirby, it's one of those vacs I thought i'd never EVER have any chance of owning, it's the same reason my 170 is cherished so much lol.Ian
I dunno if it's right to say it was a *good* design as such, but it was certainly very interesting - revolutionary, in fact.
However, I find it very telling that Hoover replaced it in their lineup with a 'dirty fan' cleaner (the Concept One), and AFAIK didn't produce a new CFA upright until the late 1980s.
I think that the Electrolux 500 series was the cleaner the DAM should always have been - Hoover seriously missed an opportunity there when they made the Starlight/Junior Deluxe a DFA machine.
However, I find it very telling that Hoover replaced it in their lineup with a 'dirty fan' cleaner (the Concept One), and AFAIK didn't produce a new CFA upright until the late 1980s.
I think that the Electrolux 500 series was the cleaner the DAM should always have been - Hoover seriously missed an opportunity there when they made the Starlight/Junior Deluxe a DFA machine.
But think about it from Hoover's perspective, Simon..
Revolutionary, modern, stylish design..BUT technology we know everything about, hell technology we invented..a style of design that we KNOW works.
I like the Junior Deluxe too of course, I trust you saw my Avocado one? got it from a one Mr Peter Cracknell of Hooverland, you'll prob know of him..it's in quite good nick too :] sounds like a dustbuster to me, but it looks right lol
Ian
Revolutionary, modern, stylish design..BUT technology we know everything about, hell technology we invented..a style of design that we KNOW works.
I like the Junior Deluxe too of course, I trust you saw my Avocado one? got it from a one Mr Peter Cracknell of Hooverland, you'll prob know of him..it's in quite good nick too :] sounds like a dustbuster to me, but it looks right
lolIan
chestermikeuk
Well-known member
Hoover Convertable UK
Very TOL in their day, your blue model was sold as a "Hoover Dealer Package" with the Hoover Keymatic washing machine...now thats a cleaning combination if ever there was one.....
I lover the Burgundy colour of the 5032 later one, and with its headlight...
http://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/0...TERMIKEUK.jpg&dir=/COLLECTIONS/CHESTERMIKEUK/
Very TOL in their day, your blue model was sold as a "Hoover Dealer Package" with the Hoover Keymatic washing machine...now thats a cleaning combination if ever there was one.....
I lover the Burgundy colour of the 5032 later one, and with its headlight...
http://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/0...TERMIKEUK.jpg&dir=/COLLECTIONS/CHESTERMIKEUK/
I presume that's an example of one of the last ever european dial a matics, Mike? much like Tommy has..very nice I must say. I wouldn't trade mine for anything though, it was a gift and I shall honour it as such. Do you know how long this Mandarin Blue style was produced for? I imagine it ran for a fair period in Europe, as the later "made in france" models were also in this colour scheme.
Don't let my Convertible's piecemeal appearance fool you, it still cleans with the best of them ;]
Ian
Don't let my Convertible's piecemeal appearance fool you, it still cleans with the best of them ;]
Ian
Yes, I agree 100%. The Dial-A-Matic was one of the best cleaners Hoover produced, and it is my all-time favorite upright. As a child, we had a model 1149 which I still have 
and have been hooked ever since. The powerful suction, ease of tool use, durability, and array of color combinations have made it a favorite of mine. I wish Hoover would consider reviving the Dial-A-Matic (as they did the Constellation). I absolutely LOVE the burgundy model 5032! Too bad that model didn't make it to the states. I think the Dial-A-Matic was available in the UK for a few years after it was discontinued in the U.S.
and have been hooked ever since. The powerful suction, ease of tool use, durability, and array of color combinations have made it a favorite of mine. I wish Hoover would consider reviving the Dial-A-Matic (as they did the Constellation). I absolutely LOVE the burgundy model 5032! Too bad that model didn't make it to the states. I think the Dial-A-Matic was available in the UK for a few years after it was discontinued in the U.S.vintagehoover
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Here's mine...
...currently in pieces in the attic, awaiting reassembly, but in very good condition.
...currently in pieces in the attic, awaiting reassembly, but in very good condition.
