Thoughts on Hoover Dial-a-Matic 1120

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michvacguy

Active member
Joined
Nov 15, 2014
Messages
25
Location
Michigan
Hello everyone!

I recently purchased a Hoover Dial-a-Matic 1120 in very good condition from Ebay. Just wanting to share my thoughts and impressions with all of you and certainly welcome your 2 cents you're willing to share :)

Background Info:

I first came across a Dial-a-Matic in the early 1980s when my grandpa owned own (the light green and brown model with height adjustment). My impressions as a kid (around age of 7) were:
1. It was very hard to push on grandpa's higher pile carpeting

2. It seemed to spit out debris at times that had to travel from one end of
nozzle trying to make it down to the other end where the suction hose was
located (even as I kid I made sure the bag wasn't full and there were no
clogs in an attempt to remedy this)

3. I remember the genuine Hoover dust bags in the bag chamber but also remember
how dirty the chamber itself always seemed and how worthless the red pre-
motor filter seemed to be

4. I was still in awe at this machine, though, as it was completely different
than the direct-air, soft-bagged machines we had in my own home and what
I saw in the local vac shop and big-box stores

Model 1120 from Ebay cleanup work:

I tried my best to disassemble certain areas of the vac to give it a lookover and a cleaning:

1. A refurbished beater bar brush roll had been installed by the vac shop that
sold it to me, so there is plenty of bristle contact left with carpets

2. I completely cleaned out the bag chamber and coated it with some tan
plastic-friendly spray paint (this very much helped mask any old odors)

3. I got rid of the old red filter and got some cut-to-fit pre-motor filter
material from my local vac shop.
Does anyone have any suggestions on how to build a filter support,
though, as it tends to get sucked down into the chamber leading to the
motor?

4. Per Tom Gasko's suggestion, I wrapped a few rounds of electrical tape
around the tube where the dust bag gets attached and am using a Simplicity
Symmetry HEPA bag.

4. I managed to remove the front cover, of which the inside was filthy with
dust, lint, etc from who knows how long ago (the pre-motor filter didn't
trap much LOL). I removed the old noise baffles and replaced them with
new thick foam weather stripping. I replaced the foam diffuser as well as
the old one had literally dry rotted into nothing. I also coated inside
with the spray paint.

Firing the Vac Up:

1. Absolutely LOVE the sound/hum of the motor and the beater bar brush roll

2. I love the love profile of the nozzle and the narrowness of it (makes
vacuuming the smaller rooms in my tri-level easier)

3. It seems, though, just as I remember as a kid, that if debris enters the far
side of the power nozzle it takes forever to get sucked up finally into
the nozzle hose and also some gets spit back out in front of vac (I have
berber carpet throughout) and I know nothing is blocked and the bag is new

Closing thoughts:

I'm very happy to have a piece of vac history in my own home now. I just had to get one after the childhood memories. The vac definitely has its plusses, but also minuses.

1. I'm assuming this was Hoover's most expensive vac back in the day?

2. Any thoughts on if, upon purchasing and trying in their own home, house-
wives (or men) were perhaps disappointed in some of the shortcomings of
the vac after shelling out all that money?

Thanks for allowing me to share! All-in-all I enjoy this vac!!!!
 
I think they are great! Great suction! I guess I’m just old fashioned. I’ve never tried to adapt a bag. Although it probably would help if you had bad allergies or something. I just like the looks of the original green bags. I currently have three non-power drive dial a matics. The other one is in the closet.

kloveland++1-20-2017-13-09-15.jpg
 
The Dial-A-Matic 1110 is my daily driver! Or it was...the carbon brushes ran short, and the bearings needed service. I opened it up, and found the motor in awful shape! Armature rusted in the ball bearing, and screw heads busted off of the carbon brush holders. I'm working on a replacement.
Post a picture of the brushroll you have in it...the first ones pushes dirt away from the suction. I might have a spare one to push the dirt to the suction. I don't remember if I have away the NOS one I received.
Andy
 
Well,

when the Dial A Matic first came out in 1963, HOOVER simply took a "Convertible" brushroll and modified it to accept a pulley, by simply making a longer rod. At first , it spun the dirt away from the suction inlet. Later, Hoover rectified this by reversing the helix, and made a vast improvement on later models. (post 1969). Remember:   this was the FIRST successful clean air machine to come to market.  Hoover invented it. Of course, we all know now that it paved the way for all of thee new methods of cleaning.


  I have several of these cleaners.  Although not my favorite machine, it is wonderful in any home, on any carpet.  You've got to love the stylish design along with those terriffic colors. My personal favorite is model 1157 in ceylon yellow, a perfect companion to the great 1076 Convertible. I've never had any problems with tool hook up, performance, or belching bags. Of course, I always consult my trusty owner's manual, perform proper maintenance, and, naturally, use only "genuine Hoover disposable filter bags". So, enjoy your marvelous ,pioneering vacuum cleaner. As stated on the bottom of the machine,"The Hoover makes rugs last longer".


 Enjoy!!


 

gottahaveahoove++1-20-2017-22-57-18.jpg
 
Thank you everyone so far for your responses! Love the pics! So what year(s) was my 1120 manufactured? Also, @andy, please let me know about a possible reverse helix beater bar brush roll or any other possible sources.
 
Thank you again! I'm so appreciative of all your knowledge on this vac!

What was the normal retail price for this back in the day, and was it sold in box box stores?

What are the shortcomings of the design that some of you see that consumers would have picked up on almost immediately or maybe a year into usage?

I also find it strange, to me anyway, that there is no "support" or "crossbar" on the metal nozzle plate. I can imaging many-a-rug and probably some looser fastened carpeting being mangled LOL.
 
Anyone care to chime in on these last few prying questions I have about the Dial-a-Matic? I appreciate each and every one of you and your time very much!

What was the normal retail price for this back in the day, and was it sold in box box stores?

What are the shortcomings of the design that some of you see that consumers would have picked up on almost immediately or maybe a year into usage?

I also find it strange, to me anyway, that there is no "support" or "crossbar" on the metal nozzle plate. I can imaging many-a-rug and probably some looser fastened carpeting being mangled LOL

Also, after all the spray painting to coat the innards of the bag and the diffuser filter chambers, I still get a slight odor from years past of prior owners usage. I'm guessing accessing and cleaning out the motor chamber and fans is a very hard task for a novice?
 
I know of only a few non-professional servicemen who can service a DAM properly. They are of the most difficult to service machines.
I don't have the brushroll...I have a standard Helix brushroll. I'll check one of the other shops. He's good about having these items
Andy
 
DAM

My DAM was my first vac I owned, and still is my favorite. I wish I would have kept it and just kept getting it fixed. It broke down twice so I traded it in for my first Kirby.
The best thing about the DAM was it was so easy to use with the hose, and it had suction.Plus, you could pull it behind you like a canister and it would not tip over. Excellent tools,the best I ever used and they locked on.
 
Thank you! I often hear of how great the tool suction was on these machines, but when I turn the dial to tools... on high suction... and put my hand over the hose opening it feels awful weak. I will make sure to double check all accessible areas for any clogs.

That's kind of why I was wondering about a dirty motor/fans. Would this seriously impede the suction as well?
 
Not sure why one person thinks they're difficult to service. It's a vacuum cleaner. A motor and a belt driven rotating brush. No different to any other vacuum.
 
I take it you've never had to take the motor out of one of these. They come apart one way, you need to very forcefully, and also gently, remove the base by going up and over the handle to remove the motor cover. It is quite a pain if you have never done it before.
 

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