Which Portapower was Better?

[kirbyclassiciii]

Does anyone have any ideas as to which motor assembly was the better one for the Hoover Portapower series canisters?

The first one was the Dial-a-Matic motor assembly, which also was used in the Swingette (the Portapower's predecessor), the Slimline, and the Portable canisters, and, of course, the Dial-a-Matic upright. Its usage in the Portapower lasted through 1983. As Portapowers, these were models S1015 and S1029. These two use the rocker switch from the Convertible upright line.

The S1049 QS (Quiet Series), introduced in 1981, was perhaps the first Portapower to adopt the Celebrity/Spirit/Dimension series motor assembly, due to its black slide-type motor switch. The Dial-a-Matic motor-equipped S1015 and S1029 Portapowers continued to be sold through 1983, when they were superseded by models S1075 and S1077 respectively.

I may or may not be right, but I believe the S7065 Heavy Duty (orange body) unit probably uses the Celebrity/Spirit motor due to the power switch, as would the red-body C2093 Office Machine Cleaner.

So, fellow Hoover fanatics, what's your favorite Portapower motor?

~Ben

 

[thevacuumman]

I like the Celebrity/Spirit motor in my Hoover Office Machine Cleaner

 

[gottahaveahoove]

I have BOTH! (big surprise)

Being a purist,  I think I prefer the first, original. Afterall,  look at how well that motor works in ALL of those machines.

 

[chan55]

porta power

I have the orange commercial model. I hate the hose that came with it. TOO short. So I use an old DAM hose fits perfect.. I had the original swingette and I think it had better suction and better tools

 

[electrikbroomgu]

Motors

As a guy that often services and repairs these machines I like the newer style motor for ease of service and dis-assembly. The older Dam motor units are quieter (when in proper tune)but also more involved to service.

 

[guardsman69]

excuse me but the potapower motor was never used in a celebrity.....only the spirit low end motor was shared .....a celebrity motor would never fit between the housing halves....spirits of 1.7 and 2.2 hp were portapower cousins...3.1 and 3.7 and 4.0 motors were larger due to the suction fans.....as for the dimension their motor could never fit in a portapower...as i am looking at all my new northcanton motors on my parts shelf....get your facts straight gentlemen ....you would not want to give our members false information that may lead them down the wrong path......;as far as which motor was better for the portapower the second edition motor rules....it made more suction and was more efficient for it was truly designed for the unit and last forever....in all its applications .....the spirit bolstered the portapower to where it is today.....the spectrum futura line destroyed hoovers canister business...lowering the tool suction to 55 inches of water lift.....thanks maytag....the real murderer of the hoover company .....thank God they killed themselves....i think of the proud people of north canton ohio i could cry for what maytag did to that awesome community

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

TIMELINE OF SWINGETTE AND PORTAPOWER MODELS

SWINGETTE

1. Model 404, Medium Taupe with Flamingo Pink accent, toggle on/off switch, older style combo rug/floor nozzle, telescoping aluminum extension wand (1970-1973)

2. Model 409, Medium Taupe with Ceylon Yellow accent, toggle on/off switch, newer style combo rug/floor nozzle, telescoping aluminum extension wand (1973-1975)

------------

PORTAPOWER

1. Model S1015, Oyster White with Poppy accent, toggle on/off switch, older (1973) style combo rug/floor nozzle, telescoping aluminum extension wand. (1975-1976)

2. Model S1015-030, as above except with two separate aluminum non-telescoping extension wands and fingertip suction control on tool end of hose. Aluminum wands would be replaced by plastic wands in late 1979. (1976-1981)

3. Model S1015-075, as above except with black slide-type on/off switch on carry handle, new Spirit 1.7 peak HP motor. (1981-1983)

4. Model S1029, Frost Beige with Rust Brown accents, toggle on/off switch, older (1973) style combo rug/floor nozzle, two plastic extension wands, wheel dolly, tool garden. (1979-1981)

5. Model S1029-075, as above except with black slide-type on/off switch on carry handle and new Spirit 1.7 peak HP motor. (1981-1983)

6. Model S1049, QS (Quiet Series), Pastel Gray (overall) and Colonial Blue (accents), Spirit 1.7 peak HP motor, black slide-type on/off switch. (1981-1987)

7. Model S1049-060, QS (Quiet Series), Platinum Gray (overall) and Colonial Blue (accents), Spirit 2.2 peak HP motor, black slide-type on/off switch, new combo rug/floor nozzle. (1987-1989)

8. Model S1075, same as S1015-075 except with disposable bag system and a slightly different color scheme of Oyster White (overall) and Colonial Blue (accents). (1983-1987)

9. Model S1077, same as S1029-075 except with disposable bag system, new model ID (silver background) and a new color scheme of Oyster White (overall) and Poppy Red (accents) which uncannily match that of the original S1015. (1983-1984)

10. Model S1077-033, same as S1077 but with newer ID decals reading "Hoover Portapower Cleaning System" (black background) and a slightly different color scheme of Oyster White (overall) and Deep Blue (accents). (1984-1987)

11. Model S1077-060, same as S1077-033 but with new, improved combo rug/floor nozzle. (1987-1989)

12. Model S1127, Heavy Duty, see S1049-060 for color scheme and motor details, improved combo rug/floor nozzle with wheels. (1987-1989)

13. Model S7065, Heavy Duty, Fireglow Orange (overall) and Frost Beige (accents), Mahogany Brown tools, black slide-type on/off switch, Spirit 1.7 peak HP motor (1981-1987)

14. Model S7065-060, Heavy Duty, Safety Orange (overall) and Raisin Brown (accents), Spirit 2.2 peak HP motor, new design combo rug/floor nozzle. (1987-1993)

15. Model C2093, Office Machine Cleaner, Crimson Rust (overall) and Black (accents), black tools/gray hose, Spirit 2.2 peak HP motor (1987-1993)

The base Portapower model S1075 seemed to disappear after 1987.

Any additions and/or corrections to this timeline are welcome.

~Ben

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Ben!!

 "IMPRESSIVE"

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

John,

I forgot to point out that the initial (1979-80 season) run of the S1029 had the aluminum wands; thus all Portapowers except the S7065 adopted the white plastic extension wands in late 1980.

The combo rug/floor nozzle seen in the attached picture has the newer black Hoover medallion logo/text; I believe Hoover made the switch from the red Hoover medallion logo/text during 1979. The pre-1980 text says "WITH EDGE CLEANING" and encircled the bottom half of the Hoover logo, rather than as a straight line of text as seen on post-1979 models (no "WITH").

~Ben

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

1975 Portapower Brochure (Front)

Not dated but does look to be from 1975 going by the Hoover logo text. Front cover.

~Ben

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

1975 Portapower Brochure (Back)

Back cover. Note that at that time, the Portapower attachment kit still featured the prior Swingette's telescoping aluminum wand.

~Ben

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

1977 Portapower Brochure (Front)

Model S1015-030. Dated December 1976. Note the refined text in the Hoover logo.

~Ben

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

1977 Portapower Brochure (Back)

Note that instead of a single telescoping aluminum extension wand in the attachment set, it's now two separate aluminum extension wands. This also marks the debut of the fingertip suction control on the hose.

~Ben

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

1981 Portapower Brochure (Front)

Models S1015-030 and S1029. Dated March 1981.

At this point, Hoover switched from aluminum extension wands to plastic aluminum wands. When the S1029 originally showed up in late 1979, however, it still used the aluminum wands (both it and the S1015-030 made the transition a few months before this revision of the brochure was printed).

This would be the final year that these two models would use the fabled Dial-a-Matic motor unit; it would switch to the 1.7 peak HP Spirit motor unit in late 1981, which is visibly notable by the black slide-type motor switch. The newer models can be distinguished from the earlier ones, as they will have the "-075" suffix after their basic model #s (S1015-075, S1029-075).

The front cover shows the pre-1980 version of the combo rug/floor nozzle as it has the '50s-style Hoover medallion logo and the words "WITH EDGE CLEANING" encircling its bottom half (all in red text). But by 1980, it actually switched to the '70s-style Hoover logo with the words "EDGE CLEANING" (no "WITH") below in a straight line (all in black text).

~Ben

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

1981 Portapower Brochure (Back)

Back side.

~Ben

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

1981 Portapower QS (Quiet Series) S1049

Hoover's mid-1981 addition to the Portapower lineup. Note the new slide-type power switch and the 1.7 peak HP Spirit motor unit. With the exception of the Commercial S7065 version (Fireglow Orange body), this variation continued to use the dump bag system beyond 1983 until being dropped in 1989.

~Ben

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

S1049 Back Cover

Back cover.

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

1983 Portapower S1075 Brochure (Front)

Featuring the new disposable bag system. This replaced the S1015-075.

~Ben

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

1983 Portapower S1075 Brochure (Back)

Back cover. Trim colors changed from Oyster White (overall)/Poppy Red (accents) to Oyster White (overall)/Colonial Blue (accents).

~Ben