What's Your Favorite (American) Hoover Junior?

[kirbyclassiciii]

What is your favorite American-market Hoover Junior, or as we call it, Lightweight Upright? From 1953-57 it was known as the Lark upright.

Chronology:
1950 to 1953 - Model 115 (brown/gold hammertoned look)
1953 to 1956 - Lark Model 12 (mostly red, with gray cover plate)
1956 to early 1957 - Lark Model 14 (light blue and white)
1967 to 1968 - Model 1330 (Swedish green or jonquil with gray cover plate)
1969 to 1972 - Model 1340 (shades of seal greige, or taupe - color scheme not too unlike the U.K.-issue Junior model 1346)
1973 to 1977 - Model 1348 (garland green and seal greige/taupe)
1978 to 1980 - Model U1025 (pale honey and almond)

To sum it all up: my favorites would be the Lark Model 14 mainly because of its short production run, and the final Lightweight Upright (1978-80) that is model U1025 which closed the chapter of the Hoover Junior in the U.S.A.

~Ben

 

[samotronic]

1330

Interesting question. I was fairly young when the 1330 came out. Growing up in a typical American 60s home with a Hoover Convertible and an extended family with other Convertible models as well as Kirby's, I was fascinated by the small size of this that looked more like a toy to me (and a toy that I wanted badly, but was overruled by my parents at every turn!!).

I have a very vivid memory circa 1967 of seeing a display of these at Horne's Downtown Pittsburgh dept store, and being fascinated by the red nob on the base of the cleaner that I pushed only to be shocked when it turned the vacuum on. No Hoover that I had ever seen could be turned on at the bottom of the unit.

Anyhow, a vote for the 1330 as it was where I learned that such a vacuum existed.

Chris

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Maybe Its Small Size Was No Selling Point

Chris,

Maybe the small size of the Junior could've been another point as to it not selling as well as the Convertibles. It was great for smaller homes and condominiums, but for the average Joe, a cleaner of this size won't do except as a collector's piece.

The prior Lark uprights I'd mentioned in the list also had the motor switch on the main base.

~Ben

 

[joe22]

find it interesting the lark switch is on the back of the motor head like the kirby classic and others, and the height lever is on the left like a kirby height adjuster.

i have a non working lark 12 in purple, and the 1330 green.

joe

 

[thevacuumman]

the lark model 14 is my favorite

 

[vintagehoover]

Hoover Lark Model 14:

 

[normvac]

Lark 14

It is my favorite Hoover Junior. It would be just perfect for
my current 2 bedroom apartment. If I were a one upright person. I have all my other Hoovers to play with 2 !
It is so easy to use, has a paper bag. If I just had a
set of Attachments for it !! I keep looking but they are
few and far between. If anyone has some to sell or if you
see them for sale. Keep me in mind !!
Norm

 

[kenmore81]

Id have to say Lark 14 also, because it BLUE =).My second would be the 1025 of the last of the us production.
Did any of the US versions ever have a headlight?(im thinking no) I love the blue UK version with the headlight.

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

No Headlight on the U.S. Version

There were no headlights on any of the Hoover Lightweight Uprights in the U.S.

The only one of these vacuums that did have a headlight, produced for 110/120V operation, was a version of the model 1354A Dirtsearcher Junior that was sold in Canada.

~Ben

 

[chestermikeuk]

Junior

Favourite US Junior version is the 1348, those psychadelic bags where something we didnt have over here!!!

heres the Junior with the headlight, the 1354a..

 

[xraytech]

My favorite would be the Lark model 12

 

[hygiene903]

I Agree, the Lark 12!

Here's a picture of mine, given to me by Norm Brown when he was downsizing his collection (Thanks again, Norm!). It looks, runs, and maneuvers great. And like Norm said, I wish I had the attachments to go with it! I also like the 115.
Jeff