Which company first used power drive?

[funvacfan]

I'm curious which company first used power drive. I just replaced the belts on my DAM power drive, and WOW, it sure is responsive!

Guy

 

[myhooverco]

Guy...for household use...I am fairly sure it was Hoover who used the automatic drive on vacuums first. They introduced it on their model 1170 in 1969. There was a lot of fan fair when this machine was introduced. This first model did not have a headlight as that was added later.

--Tom

 

[myhooverco]

Here is the 1170 "in use"

 

[myhooverco]

Here are some specs on this machine...

 

[myhooverco]

Here are some more specs...

 

[constellation86]

Great pics!

Thanks for posting these Tom.
I think the literature on old vacuums is as much fun as using them.
Nicholas

 

[swingette]

wow, had no idea the phrase "clean air system" had been used so early on...and combined with the antiqueish "positive agitation"!

 

[alexb1186]

thanks for posting these, now i know the purpose of that metal bit on the brushroll between bristle rows

 

[petek]

Anyone know when Eureka and Sears came out with their power drive models? Sears had a powerdrive twin-fan model in the early 70's prior to the duo-power models.

 

[seamusuk]

And if you look in........

The see it clean section you can find Jeff P demoing the 1st 1170 to come off the production line!!!!

 

[williamr1248]

thanks Tom for the pictures

Thanks Tom. I bought my parents what I thought to be the first power drive Hoover. We had a model 33 for a very short time and then a Air-Way88. I bought the Hoover from the Hoover store on North Keystone in Indianapolis. It was so new that the Hoover store gave her a fold-out from his book. She is still using that Hoover today along with the Air-Way. I remember that when we got it home it was a different color from the paperwork the Hoover store gave us. He demonstrated a dail-a-matic that was not power drive and told her to NEVER lift the machine by the handle. It has all the tools and he gave her a brush for the sofa that had brushes much like the tools for the old 28 Hoover. I want to say it cost over $150.00 but I may be mistaken. It was quite deluxe compared the the Hoover 33. She has always loved that Dail-a-matic and still uses it several times a week.

 

[funvacfan]

Thanks Tom! Great vintage brochure. Mine must be newer. It is blue with a flourish on the front and it has a headlamp. I think the model starts with a U.

Guy

 

[myhooverco]

Guy,

Sounds like you have a U6039-030. These were built from '75 to the end of production. They came complete with tools. This model was one of the most popular made.

--Tom

 

[kirbyvacuum]

Dial-Matic

Hi Tom Was nice talking to you as always. Your collection as well as your dial-a-matic material is wonderful. Enjoy those cookies. Doug

 

[petek]

Guy/Tom
I have the blue one as well and it's a U6043 made in Burlington model.. last patent date on it is 1976. The Cdn models used different model numbers didn't they?

 

[normvac]

Eureka Self-Propelled

Petek
Back in Feb. 1979 when I started with Eureda as a Sales Rep.
here in Columbus, Ohio. I got on a plane with the branch
manager, sales manager and 3 other sales people. The week
I started work,It was major for me as my first week and they
introduced the "new Eureka Self propelled. Can not remember
the model number, but it was the blue one!! The selling point was the fact that the rear wheels were the propelling
mechanism. As oppossed to Hoover DAM with the front drive.
The pitch was. Hoover is "on" going forward, and "off" going
back. So not as smooth as Eureka which was a reo-stat which
was more responsive. If you pushed fast it went faster, but
if you pulled back more slowly, the drive was slower.
Then Kirby came out with there rear drive in what the early 90's. They did a really good job, after much talked about
and the business they would/could take from the other two!
I am trying to remember what Sears had and it completely escapes my mind. I'm sure I saw them some where along the way.
Norm

 

[myhooverco]

Thanks Doug...cookies were great. Keep us posted on the 918 situation. You should post some before pictures and after pictures. Most of those great old machines suffered a terrible fate. I am glad that one is in your care.

--Tom

 

[myhooverco]

Pete...

Yes, Canada had different numbers than the US models eventhough many of the models were very similar. Usually it was a color difference.

--Tom

 

[henrydreyfuss]

I must say...

That first Dial-a-Matic with power drive is a very pretty vacuum. Very cool.

Corey