Why I need to stay the hell out of the thrift stores!
- Thread starter swingette
- Start date
Help Support VacuumLand:
Before anyone scoffs at the Elite, think about this, Hoover has now been making this series of machines for TWENTY YEARS!. (maybe longer, Hoover guys?)
When my HESCO package arrives with the new brushroll... oops... AGITATOR, and motor retainer thingy, I will have a machine that will clean deeper than Oreck or Dyson. And sold for a fraction of the price way back when. (what did they sell for?)
The Convertible I'm not too excited about. It just hurt to see it sitting, probably to be ignored then thrown out. The Goodwill where i got it specializes in stuff on the verge of going to the dumpster. Price? Ninety-nine cents. One dollar and seven cents with tax. Fair deal?
Thanks for watching!
When my HESCO package arrives with the new brushroll... oops... AGITATOR, and motor retainer thingy, I will have a machine that will clean deeper than Oreck or Dyson. And sold for a fraction of the price way back when. (what did they sell for?)
The Convertible I'm not too excited about. It just hurt to see it sitting, probably to be ignored then thrown out. The Goodwill where i got it specializes in stuff on the verge of going to the dumpster. Price? Ninety-nine cents. One dollar and seven cents with tax. Fair deal?
Thanks for watching!
vac-o-matic
Well-known member
Leave no Hoover Behind!
I hear ya David, I've a acquired a few myself, even rescuing a couple from people's trash in front of their homes. People seem to just throw away what is good and solid for today's throw away vacs. I never discounted the Elite, my neighbor had one, bought it when they came out and after I vacuumed with it, became a fan, they do indeed clean very well, and lightweight as well. Great finds, both of them keepers. I'll bet you could fill the bag on that Elite pretty quickly if you do your "hotel" test!
I hear ya David, I've a acquired a few myself, even rescuing a couple from people's trash in front of their homes. People seem to just throw away what is good and solid for today's throw away vacs. I never discounted the Elite, my neighbor had one, bought it when they came out and after I vacuumed with it, became a fan, they do indeed clean very well, and lightweight as well. Great finds, both of them keepers. I'll bet you could fill the bag on that Elite pretty quickly if you do your "hotel" test!
hoover1060
Well-known member
- Joined
- Aug 26, 2006
- Messages
- 1,093
make no fun of Hoover Elites here please...
David I remember when the Elite came out, I never really thought much about it, only that it was one step closer to disposable.
I know Tom A. and I have had this conversation before, and we both chuckle, yes we've made fun of Elites before, BUT, now almost 20 years later there are still early Elites out there in use and working just fine.
A testement to quality, and being well cared for by their owners.
Your have an early model, made in September of 1988. That model sold new with a front conversion tool set for about $125 if I remember right.
Replace that brush roll with a dual row brush and that Elite will clean as well as any Concept One!
David I remember when the Elite came out, I never really thought much about it, only that it was one step closer to disposable.
I know Tom A. and I have had this conversation before, and we both chuckle, yes we've made fun of Elites before, BUT, now almost 20 years later there are still early Elites out there in use and working just fine.
A testement to quality, and being well cared for by their owners.
Your have an early model, made in September of 1988. That model sold new with a front conversion tool set for about $125 if I remember right.
Replace that brush roll with a dual row brush and that Elite will clean as well as any Concept One!
Hoover Elite 350
I remember that model Hoover Elite being used in the 1992 film "Hocus Pocus" where one of the witches used it to ride around on. I believe I saw it on display at Disney's MGM studios, but for some reason it was in deplorable condition. I have an early Elite 200 (which I remember being sold at Woolworth's for $69.99) and attachments were extra.
I remember that model Hoover Elite being used in the 1992 film "Hocus Pocus" where one of the witches used it to ride around on. I believe I saw it on display at Disney's MGM studios, but for some reason it was in deplorable condition. I have an early Elite 200 (which I remember being sold at Woolworth's for $69.99) and attachments were extra.
earlieone
Well-known member
I swear in Hocas pocas she was riding an old style Eureka upright. There was something funny about it though - the light was on the very front of the machine if I remember right
myhooverco
Well-known member
- Joined
- Aug 25, 2006
- Messages
- 1,516
David...
Congrats! You did quite well. I too would have bought them both. If I don't need them, then I will find someone who has been looking for one. I try to find all of the old Hoovers a good home one way or another. Jeff is right. I have laughed at Elites, but now must take them more seriously since the new stuff is such junk. An older Elite (they were made from 1988 to 2002 sometime) will outclean many of the more expensive uprights like dyson and oreck. They were made very well and had long lived motors. They did not need 12 amps to make them good vacuums. The result was that they lasted much longer. At 12 pounds, it packs a punch. I have two of the very early Elites thanks to Jeff. I proudly display them along with all of my other Hoover items. I most recently found a very nice 80th anniversary Elite. I think that my favorite incarnation of the Elite was the "Caddy Vac" of the late 1990's.
Wow...Congrats on your finds!
--Tom
Congrats! You did quite well. I too would have bought them both. If I don't need them, then I will find someone who has been looking for one. I try to find all of the old Hoovers a good home one way or another. Jeff is right. I have laughed at Elites, but now must take them more seriously since the new stuff is such junk. An older Elite (they were made from 1988 to 2002 sometime) will outclean many of the more expensive uprights like dyson and oreck. They were made very well and had long lived motors. They did not need 12 amps to make them good vacuums. The result was that they lasted much longer. At 12 pounds, it packs a punch. I have two of the very early Elites thanks to Jeff. I proudly display them along with all of my other Hoover items. I most recently found a very nice 80th anniversary Elite. I think that my favorite incarnation of the Elite was the "Caddy Vac" of the late 1990's.
Wow...Congrats on your finds!
--Tom
eluxomarty
New member
David
I like that model Elite! I have an early model also. Also have a box of early front attaching tools.
BTW, the other Covertible that you saved was one that the Brady Bunch had. Model 1020 i beleive it is.
Marty
I like that model Elite! I have an early model also. Also have a box of early front attaching tools.
BTW, the other Covertible that you saved was one that the Brady Bunch had. Model 1020 i beleive it is.
Marty
glad yall like my Elite, guys.
Rick, if i do one more hotel test, i swear they will take me out in a str8-jacket! nobody vacuums those rugs like i do (lol)...
Jeff, i remember when Elites came out as well.. a little fuzzy on things like price and exactly what year. Didnt the Eureka Ultra come out just a bit before? I remember thinking how weird it was to have a slide on the bag on such a modern machine.
Tom, so true about the power these have. i remember first using an Elite at a job many years ago. it was an orange commercial model, maybe six amps. i remember how surprised i was at the airflow that thing had. in my mind, six or seven amps is a lot for a vacuum.
Hey Martin, hope ur well. for your information, when i took the hood off my Elite for the first time, it had plenty of hair "down there"!
You might keep your eyes peeled for a five amp Elite, like mine, Pete. one or two amps can make a big difference in noise levels. think they are quieter than a Singer twin fan. and quieter than many Concepts.
little secret for yall... when i spotted my Elite it wasnt for sale yet, it was in that forbidden "employees only" area where the newly arrived merchandise is before it is tested and priced. i looked around... no cameras... nobody watching! in .25 seconds i had the machine upside-down to see the amperage and condition of undercarriage. i saw the clean (but worn) brushroll, original cord, nice bag and no yucky smells.
i turned it on. it runs very smooth, like new. any vacuum that lasts long enough to wear out its original brushes and still run smooth is a good machine IMO.
the store has signs that say "no unpriced merchandise will sell". i meekly and innocently say to the cashier " hi, sorry to bother you... i cant find the price on this vacuum... can you help me?" the young girl says "hmm... well how about four ninety-eight?" i said "ring it up!"
Rick, if i do one more hotel test, i swear they will take me out in a str8-jacket! nobody vacuums those rugs like i do (lol)...
Jeff, i remember when Elites came out as well.. a little fuzzy on things like price and exactly what year. Didnt the Eureka Ultra come out just a bit before? I remember thinking how weird it was to have a slide on the bag on such a modern machine.
Tom, so true about the power these have. i remember first using an Elite at a job many years ago. it was an orange commercial model, maybe six amps. i remember how surprised i was at the airflow that thing had. in my mind, six or seven amps is a lot for a vacuum.
Hey Martin, hope ur well. for your information, when i took the hood off my Elite for the first time, it had plenty of hair "down there"!
You might keep your eyes peeled for a five amp Elite, like mine, Pete. one or two amps can make a big difference in noise levels. think they are quieter than a Singer twin fan. and quieter than many Concepts.
little secret for yall... when i spotted my Elite it wasnt for sale yet, it was in that forbidden "employees only" area where the newly arrived merchandise is before it is tested and priced. i looked around... no cameras... nobody watching! in .25 seconds i had the machine upside-down to see the amperage and condition of undercarriage. i saw the clean (but worn) brushroll, original cord, nice bag and no yucky smells.
i turned it on. it runs very smooth, like new. any vacuum that lasts long enough to wear out its original brushes and still run smooth is a good machine IMO.
the store has signs that say "no unpriced merchandise will sell". i meekly and innocently say to the cashier " hi, sorry to bother you... i cant find the price on this vacuum... can you help me?" the young girl says "hmm... well how about four ninety-eight?" i said "ring it up!"
eluxomarty
New member
LOL!
I can't believe you remember that! Why is that I wonder? Static? Or just like everyone, it happens after a certain period of time? Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.
Marty
I can't believe you remember that! Why is that I wonder? Static? Or just like everyone, it happens after a certain period of time? Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.
Marty
dial-a-nap
Well-known member
These were good vacs, I've had a few over the years to use for work. Lightweight, good cleaners. One client had a BOL model (no height adjustment) that was one of my favorites. My parents had one until about two years ago in the basement - I probably should have kept it!
