What is it about the Hoover Convertible?

[bisonian]

I have to admit, I've never been wild about the Convertible. Older Hoovers, sure. The DAM, yes. But the Convertibles have never really interested me at all. They're fairly common in the thrift shops here, and I can't count the ones I've passed by.

Until Saturday.

I walked into a Salvation Army shop and they had three in a row -- one fairly new ('80s?), one older bright yellow one, and a hot pink 589. That one spoke to me somehow.

I didn't go for it right away, but went next door to another thrift shop. But I just had a feeling I'd regret it if I let this one get away. So I went back for it.

It's in great shape. The outer bag's kinda faded, and there's one scratch on top of the hood, but the body's spotless, and the bumper looks new all the way around. It just looks "right" in pink, somehow. Runs like a champ, and I'm happy I got it.

So what's the appeal of these little machines? I've ignored them for years. How did this one grab my attention?

Rick

 

[vacjwt]

it is a very good vacuum

until a year ago I never liked them much at all but I saw a blue one in the trash and picked it out and I am very happy now I think it is the the looks and the grate profomince that drives the demand buy the way I now have 7

 

[petek]

Well to me they're the quintessential vacuum, what most people think of when the word "vacuum cleaner" pops in their head. Besides they're excellent at removingdog hair that's been woven into the carpet.

 

[vegaslux60]

Hoover Convertibles!

Rick,
I'm certain that many of us 50something year-old vacuum collectors will tell you that the Hoover Convertible was an icon in the vacuum cleaner industry during it's time. It was very affordable to most everyone.....the design of the hood and appearance of the machine and the wonderful colors were synonamous with a very exciting time in American culture and style. Sort of like the tail-fins on the Cadillacs!
By that time folks already knew of the quality and performance of Hoover upright vacuums and aside from that, the Convertible also offered convenience, affordability and style.
I remember my Mom in particular, standing at a Hoover display in 1959. She was looking at both the pink model 65 and the green model 66. She just "had to have" the green one ! When her best friend saw it, she just had to go out and get the same one! She just loved the color of it and the large headlight !
The 50's and 60's were all about "style" and being "modern" ! I have always liked my Hoovers that were pre-Convertible, but the Convertibles are fresh in our memories as most of us remember them being "new" !
Kenny Lawrence
Las Vegas

 

[swingette]

convertibles clean so well... they run smooth and quiet...lightweight...attractive styling

 

[hoover1060]

Convertible

Was in its day the industry standard, and the for Hoover it was where it all came together.
It was/is Hoover's best made, best performing vacuum. Some might argue with that, but an old Convertible will clean just as well as a Concept One, if not just a little better.
My favorites are the old 2-position models, they sat squarely on the rug and cleaned like champs.
The rainbow of colors they came in during the 60's was cool too. Colors chosen by Faber Birren, the color expert.
Its opinion the Convertible reached had its finest hour with models 1010/1060...by the time they hit the market(1967) the design had been on the market 10 years, the bugs had been worked out, and they had been "tweaked" to perfection.
Never quite as good though when they went to the 4-position height adjuster.

 

[seamusuk]

2 Vs 4.....

Hey Guys

Im with Jeff on this one - for "normal" carpet I prefer the 2 position Senior/Convertible and also Junior models. Because on the normal setting there is a degree of "self adjustment" as it were they seem to clean well without the guesswork of setting the 4 position version. On the fairly short but quite dense pile carpet in my lounge they defiantly have an edge on performance. HOWEVER they dont work well on the stuck down cord type of carpet so the 4 position would be far better on this I would think!

Seamus

 

[seamusuk]

And despite some people would have everyone believe..

Id be more than happy to pitch a Senior/Convertible against one of the hideous plastic bagless piles of cr@p they were so in love with lol!!

Seamus

 

[hoover1060]

thats the one downfall

a 2-position Convertible won't clean glue down carpets at all...just skims across the top....

 

[myhooverco]

Just my two cents here...not that I am biased or anything! The Hoover Convertible series was just that affordable, versatile, reliable, lightweight, easy to use, and had a mark of quality. The most important reason people bought the things by the thousands was that they CLEANED carpet! I use my 4 position Convertible 1070 daily. It works the best on my floor coverings. I have the deluxe set of tools that makes this machine very easily turned into a "canister" of sorts. Growing up in our neighborhood, the houses were cleaned with Hoover Convertibles. They just seemed to be everywhere. Many around my neck of the woods are still in use after all of these years. The folks that bought them in the 50's, 60's, and 70's bought one and that one cleaner had to last so they took care of them. The only reason that I find them is when these folks have passed on and their children want all of this modern plastic junk with bagless this and hepa that and onboard those etc.... They do not realize what an amazing machine the Hoover Convertible is. Us collectors know the value of these great machines. One day maybe even Hoover will realize it and put the thing back on the market!

--Tom

Sunny North Canton, OH

 

[bisonian]

I guess I'm just more used to the look of the bigger machines like Kirbys and Royals, things that look more like a heavy duty power tool than an appliance.

In comparison, the Convertible seems kind of delicate, feminine if you will. I'm sure that was a part of its appeal, especially with all the different colors available. Wonder if they would have sold as well if they had all been black, or brushed aluminum?

Tom, always good to have your perspective. Can you give us some idea of how many different colors there were over the years? And when was the Convertible introduced and how long was the model run?

Thanks,

Rick

 

[tolivac]

The Hoover Convertible was just that-a simple light affordable vacuum cleaner THAT WORKED-and really works better than the 12A plastic bagless "wonder" made today-Hoover-Please bring back the Convertible-and in the original MAgnesium metal base housing-not cracking plastic.The Magnesium bases were lighter and more durable-plus they were easily painted in all of those Beautiful Hoover colors!The machine could be mordernized with Filtrete bags.

 

[myhooverco]

Rick...

The Convertible was introduced in the fall of 1957 and was continually produced in various models and color combinations until sometime in 1993. It still carries on as a commercial cleaner in black and chrome. It was Hoover's longest running most popular model to date. The color combos varied. If you name a color, Hoover made it. It was very easy to do. They only had to match the hood, bag, and bumper (sometimes a grip too). The bases were all the same. It was very easy to change models...just change the bumper, hood and bag...voila new model! There is no way of posting all of the color combos here.


--Tom

 

[vintageroyal611]

Convertibles are some of the best hoover ever made. In my opinion the only ones better were the DAM and Concept series

 

[bisonian]

Thanks, Tom. So the Guardsman upright on the Hoover website is a variation of the Convertible? That's pretty amazing that the same machine has been in production for 50 years. That says a lot for the quality of the design.

 

[vacjwt]

you have to love it

it is the best design and the vacuum will out last its owners

 

[petek]

Here's a pic of the last convertible I found before we made the big move east last fall. It was advertized in the newspaper as an older Hoover. The lady didn't know what it was so her husband came to the phone and said it was green with a green bag and of course I was cross town to grab it in an instant LOL.. They were an elderly couple now living in a newish seniors cottagy type enclave so it's probably gonna outlive them. It does have a bit of fan pinging right before the fan stops, I haven't gotten to it yet but otherwise it runs fine.

 

[swingette]

this is one of my best-cleaning machines!

 

[seamusuk]

"Drools over the STUNNING!! Guardsman"

Seamus