Your favorite Hoover Convertible

[gsohoover]

My favorite convertible would have to be the U4331

 

[ohio_tuec]

Mine would have to be the highly coveted gold model 65. Were I to find one, I'd spraypaint the bag gold just like Chad's!

 

[compactelectra]

First

The Model 65 - The First!

 

[compactelectra]

The Model 32

Beautiful!

 

[vacman117]

If it counted it would be the Decade 80, but my favorite CONVERTIBLE is my 1070

 

[kirbyotronic]

Did somebody say Golden Model 65? Sorry for the bad picture.

~Alex

 

[xraytech]

My favorite would be the Convertible model 1020 in the beautiful spring green, followed by a model 33 Convertible special in the lovley dusky lavender

 

[ohio_tuec]

Yup, that's the one!

 

[lux1521]

Since I don't own any, I'd have to go just by appearance. I think the model 70 would be my choice. Blue is a good color. I might also like the light blue full hood model, don't know the number for that one.

 

[hygiene903]

Hard to single out one Convertible, they're all great machines! But I would include the 65, 66, 70, 32, 33, 35, and 1070 as some of my favorites. The 35 and 1070 are the only ones of these I actually own.
Jeff

 

[constellation86]

The favorite one I own is my model 36. I'd love to have a 68 or 70.
Nicholas

 

[pr-21]

Favorite Hoover

Model 70. I bought my mom one in the late 60's.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

here are mine

the 1076 is number one, but they are all here

 

[normvac]

Favorite Hoover Convertable

Models 584 (Green and white, no headlight, zipper bag and full bumper)
Model 707 (all over green, plaid bag, 3 positions, with Headlight)
Norm

 

[vintagehoover]

Ok, technically it's a Hoover De Luxe Model 652, not a Convertible...

 

[hamiltonbeachbo]

Jack,
You model 652 is gorgeous!!
Love the color .... and an original bag to boot.
Doesn't get much better.
Pat

 

[electrolux~137]

He's baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack

Yep, it's meeeee, the one and only (Thank God) Charles Richard Lester -- returning from a refreshing 8-month sabbatical. Lots of stuff has been going on -- some great, some awful, some just a matter of "life is session."

I am hoping all the various hard feelings and difficulties that formed the basis for my self-imposed exile have dissolved with the passage of time. For myself, I am here to "wave a white flag" to one and all, raising a plaintive cry "Can't we all just get along??!"

Okay, okay, enough emo....... Let's get to the subject matter.

When I saw this thread I knew that "Now is the time" for me to jump back in.

Now, I am not really a big-time Hoover Convertible fan, actually preferring the older Hoovers up to the 150, 28, etc. However, back in mid-May, I came across a very beautiful Hoover Convertible Model 704-01 on eBay, in beautiful two-tone ivory and yellow and with an automatic cord winder -- with the original cord, and ... a cord winder ... that works!!

This model is quite rare inasmuch as it is, I believe, the only Hoover-badged Hoover to have an automatic cord winder. There were several models sold under the Penncrest label (J.C.Penney) that had cord winders, including a turquoise beauty that I'd love to find someday. But I believe this is the only Hoover-branded machine with such an accessory.

Here are the photos from the listing:

The seller had a very low buy-it-now. Scarcely believing my good fortune, I "bought it now" and paid for the machine before I pinched myself and awoke from this magnificent dream, and began counting the minutes for it to arrive. I sent my usual "please pack carefully" message:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Dear mid-century-way,

Hello, just a follow-up on this auction. Since you are a dealer of mid-century merchandise, I am sure you are aware that this vacuum cleaner is pretty scarce, and that it's also very brittle and fragile due to its age.

You will need to wrap the machine in several turns of bubble wrap and ship it in a large, sturdy box full of styro peanuts. A few wads of crumbled newspaper won't do it. I will be willing to send you some extra money for packing materials if you did not figure them into the shipping cost. I'd rather do that than shed tears when the machine gets here smashed to bits because it wasn't packed properly. THANK YOU.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~




Well, the following email from me to the seller tells the tragic twist this lucky find took:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Dear mid-century-way,

Here I sit in a puddle of tears because once again, an eBay seller chose to disregard my clear and specific packing instructions; and, yes, of course the vacuum cleaner arrived damaged -- irreparably damaged.

The lower portion of the handle, the "fork" part that attaches to the motor base, got snapped right in two. There is absolutely no way to repair that because it's made of pot metal; to say nothing of never being able to get a perfectly clean repair and touch-up paint job.

You will please issue a damage claim with UPS for whatever amount of insurance you stipulated, at the very least the minimum $100 that UPS carries on all packages. I have attached photos of the damage, and will, if necessary, arrange for UPS to come to my house to inspect the damaged machine and pick it up.

But please note that no insurance claim, no matter the amount, will not even begin to cover the true loss of this vacuum cleaner. It's quite rare -- I'll not likely ever find another one, particularly in this condition.

One of these days -- after, what, a dozen such heartbreaks -- I'm gonna learn my lesson and stop buying stuff like this on eBay. It's just not worth the frustration and disappointment. And this disappointment is particularly acute given the rarity of the machine. It survived in excellent condition all these years, clearly having been lovingly taken care of by its original owner. All it took was one careless person to irreversibly ruin it.

Sign me,

"Not Happy in La-La-Land"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The following three photos are of the Hoover's condition upon arrival:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Well, things got ugly when the seller resisted my brokenhearted demand for a refund. So I had to file a PayPal complaint. Then things got even uglier. But as it turned out, I decided not to pursue a refund from the seller. I just cut my losses and then started looking for a replacement handle fork.

I sent an SOS call out far and wide, to all the sweeper buddies in my email address. Seemed no one was going to be able to come through for me until Fred Stachnick stepped up to the plate and saved the day! He sent me not just a matching replacment handle bale but the entire motor unit of another 704!

When you see the photos, you'll understand why I have been smitten by this beauty.

The following seven photos were taken after its undergoing the transplant and receiving a Spa Treatment Deluxe. The operation and makeover were a stunning success!


THANKS FRED!!!!!!!


~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~


P.S.: The paper bag in this machine, which only had a couple bits of schmatta in it, is the old-color-scheme Type C bag in gray with dark blue lettering. I am wondering if it might be one of the original bags concurrent with that model.

Given its condition, this Sweetie appears to have hardly been used at all. The brush roller is in perfect condition and the bottom plate is nice and shiny, not at all scratched or banged up, and it's all just as clean and fresh underneath as it is all over.


P.P.S.: I also recently found a Model 63 in a local vac shop, but will save that story for later.

Cheers from Eeeeeee-137!!

 

[eurekaprince]

Just curious Charles....

I know that Singer was one of the first manufacturers to offer a cord reel on an upright. I always thought Eureka was next with a round cord reel on one of their early 1960's Automatic uprights. This Convertible makes me think Hoover offered this before Eureka. Any idea what year this beauty is from?

Eurekaprince Brian

 

[lux1521]

Glad to see you back around Charles.

With that Hoover, I'd go so far as to say that not only are Hoover Convertibles with cord winders rare, but cord winders are a rare feature on uprights in general. The only other brands I can think of that included cord winders are Eureka and Singer.

Its also too bad to hear about the damage. Luckily, I've never had serious problems like these, but they sound all too common these days. I'm wondering if its a growing trend. I have not bought any larger items lately, so perhaps I've just missed out on the new wave of careless sellers.

Once again, glad to have you posting here.