Your Thoughts On Turbopowers!
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vacuumlover
Well-known member
No problem.
turbo500
Well-known member
only soft bag Turbopower was the Turbopower Junior
Ah, not quite true Emma. We had the Hoover Turbolite in 1988-89 as a replacement for the Junior. Didn't last very long, but it essentially is a US Elite.
Credit to Alex for the photo.
Ah, not quite true Emma. We had the Hoover Turbolite in 1988-89 as a replacement for the Junior. Didn't last very long, but it essentially is a US Elite.
Credit to Alex for the photo.
turbo500
Well-known member
Anyway, Turbopowers.
Whilst I've always felt that the Turbopowers were excellent carpet cleaners (and even more so with the Turbomaster), compared with what Hoover made previously and with what was on the market at the time, it wasn't half over priced and very flimsy. Pretty much everyone was offering something more sturdy at the time. You'll hear many models being refered to as "glass" models because the plastics were so britle, they were forever splitting, cracking and shattering. Most notoriously, the TOL 2nd generation U2336.
I always found that the Softbag TP's cleaned better, due to the outer cloth bag giving a larger surface area for the exhaust air, so it kept the airflow more constant in comparison with the hardbag models.
Everyone seemed to be copying eachother in the 1980's - the Turbopower was essentially a rip off of the Moulinex Major and the Goblin Commander was a rip off of the Turbopower (although less so, since it was designed by the same person). It's amusing looking at the catalogues and brochures of the time, watching them all try to out-do eachother.
However, despite being flimsy and overpriced, they sold and sold and sold and sold in their millions. The rarer models tend to be between 88 and 91 when Hoover sales were in decline, but after the Free Flights fiasco, they were common as muck. People were buying the cheapest Turbopower's that they could just to get a free flight ticket, so they were absolutely everywhere once again.
I was never a fan of the Turbopower 2, 3 and 1000's. I loathe the autosense feature with a passion and the cleaners were very top heavy to use. Even though they were far sturdier than the TP1, they seemed to have more issues with narrow hoses and air channels blocking and the bag doors splitting. They didn't groom as well either - the activator was much better when attached to the slower 400w motors of the TP1. It span too fast to actually groom on the TP2/3/1000 and instead just skimmed over the carpet fibres.
Whilst I've always felt that the Turbopowers were excellent carpet cleaners (and even more so with the Turbomaster), compared with what Hoover made previously and with what was on the market at the time, it wasn't half over priced and very flimsy. Pretty much everyone was offering something more sturdy at the time. You'll hear many models being refered to as "glass" models because the plastics were so britle, they were forever splitting, cracking and shattering. Most notoriously, the TOL 2nd generation U2336.
I always found that the Softbag TP's cleaned better, due to the outer cloth bag giving a larger surface area for the exhaust air, so it kept the airflow more constant in comparison with the hardbag models.
Everyone seemed to be copying eachother in the 1980's - the Turbopower was essentially a rip off of the Moulinex Major and the Goblin Commander was a rip off of the Turbopower (although less so, since it was designed by the same person). It's amusing looking at the catalogues and brochures of the time, watching them all try to out-do eachother.
However, despite being flimsy and overpriced, they sold and sold and sold and sold in their millions. The rarer models tend to be between 88 and 91 when Hoover sales were in decline, but after the Free Flights fiasco, they were common as muck. People were buying the cheapest Turbopower's that they could just to get a free flight ticket, so they were absolutely everywhere once again.
I was never a fan of the Turbopower 2, 3 and 1000's. I loathe the autosense feature with a passion and the cleaners were very top heavy to use. Even though they were far sturdier than the TP1, they seemed to have more issues with narrow hoses and air channels blocking and the bag doors splitting. They didn't groom as well either - the activator was much better when attached to the slower 400w motors of the TP1. It span too fast to actually groom on the TP2/3/1000 and instead just skimmed over the carpet fibres.
turbo500
Well-known member
<blockquote>
Adding onboard tools to a cleaner that was never originally designed to have them always seemed like such an afterthought to me
</blockquote>
That's because it WAS an afterthought
.
The "total system" only came about as a solution after Electrolux and Panasonic had huge succcess with their on-board tool models. Hoover were, once again, 2 steps behind the competition and the Turbomaster Total System launched in 1989 (I imagine) didn't quite sell in the numbers that Hoover were expecting.
Despite being awkward, added weight and not that nice in appearance, the first total system's - the U2798 and U2602 - were VERY popular models.
Adding onboard tools to a cleaner that was never originally designed to have them always seemed like such an afterthought to me
</blockquote>
That's because it WAS an afterthought
.The "total system" only came about as a solution after Electrolux and Panasonic had huge succcess with their on-board tool models. Hoover were, once again, 2 steps behind the competition and the Turbomaster Total System launched in 1989 (I imagine) didn't quite sell in the numbers that Hoover were expecting.
Despite being awkward, added weight and not that nice in appearance, the first total system's - the U2798 and U2602 - were VERY popular models.
vacuumlover
Well-known member
@turbo500
*Facepalm* I feel so stupid for forgetting that now!
I completely forgot about the Turbolite. Sorry! Thank you for the correction.
I agree with what you said about the 2,3 and 1000,on the Activator.
Also ~ Personally I think the Total Systems look quite nice. But everyone is entitled to their opinion
.
*Facepalm* I feel so stupid for forgetting that now!
I completely forgot about the Turbolite. Sorry! Thank you for the correction.
I agree with what you said about the 2,3 and 1000,on the Activator.
Also ~ Personally I think the Total Systems look quite nice. But everyone is entitled to their opinion
.
turbo500
Well-known member
Fast forward to 1983 when the TP came out, knowing what I know now, I would much rather have had a Moulinex Major, Hitachi CV50, Lux 550 or even a Junior or Powerplus. They were all much better built.
The Turbopower is another example of how an eye catching ad campaign can really determine the success of a product
The Turbopower is another example of how an eye catching ad campaign can really determine the success of a product
turbo500
Well-known member
turbo500
Well-known member
vacuumlover
Well-known member
Thanks for the videos. It's nice to watch them again when I've not seen them for ages.
alexhoovers94
Well-known member
My faveourite Turbopower 1 style was the Total System versions, they just look so cool with the hose draped over the side and the tools made the machine look more stylish and complete if you ask me. I disagree that they looked like an after thought, they did a good job at making them look like they were supposed to be there.
I love the Turbopower 2's even though the performance on them is very average compared to Turbopower 1 I find them more pleasant to listen too, nicer to use and better built.
I prefer the Turbolite and any of the other American Elites over the Turbopower 1's. The performance of an Elite is almost identical to a Turbopower 1 but since the Elites are more sturdy, stylish, (in my opinion) easier to use, service and are much taller I kind of like them better.
To be honest I have no idea why there is yet ANOTHER thread reviewing these same issues about cleaners that have not been on sale for over 12 years.
[this post was last edited: 7/31/2015-22:45]
I love the Turbopower 2's even though the performance on them is very average compared to Turbopower 1 I find them more pleasant to listen too, nicer to use and better built.
I prefer the Turbolite and any of the other American Elites over the Turbopower 1's. The performance of an Elite is almost identical to a Turbopower 1 but since the Elites are more sturdy, stylish, (in my opinion) easier to use, service and are much taller I kind of like them better.
To be honest I have no idea why there is yet ANOTHER thread reviewing these same issues about cleaners that have not been on sale for over 12 years.
[this post was last edited: 7/31/2015-22:45]
vintagerepairer
Well-known member
"To be honest I have no idea why there is yet ANOTHER thread reviewing these same issues about cleaners that have not been on sale for over 12 years"
Well if you felt that way you shouldn't have replied. You've only made it longer. Is there a rule against starting threads which provoke interest and discussion?
Well if you felt that way you shouldn't have replied. You've only made it longer. Is there a rule against starting threads which provoke interest and discussion?
vacuumlover
Well-known member
@AlexHoover94
Thank you for your input.
First off,I didn't know there are other threads regarding this. Also, I didn't start this thread to go bashing them, I started it because I am curious as to what other people think of them.
Aren't I allowed to do that?
Thank you for your input.
First off,I didn't know there are other threads regarding this. Also, I didn't start this thread to go bashing them, I started it because I am curious as to what other people think of them.
Aren't I allowed to do that?
alexhoovers94
Well-known member
Vintagerepairer, urgh, just...urgh.
alexhoovers94
Well-known member
Yes Emma, you are, I was just saying I have seen it all before and all the drama it causes over peoples opinions.
I am having one of those weeks, very low moral at work, at the moment and very stressful. Then I have to come home and trip over a load of old vacuums, makes me feel like trashing them all and washing my hands with collecting.
I am having one of those weeks, very low moral at work, at the moment and very stressful. Then I have to come home and trip over a load of old vacuums, makes me feel like trashing them all and washing my hands with collecting.
spiraclean
Well-known member
Well, you know, this IS the Vintage forum. And to be fair, I didn't notice any drama in this thread until the final paragraph of reply #30.
JUST SAYING.
JUST SAYING.
vintagerepairer
Well-known member
"Vintagerepairer, urgh, just...urgh."
Dare I even ask for a translation?
Dare I even ask for a translation?
alexhoovers94
Well-known member
That was hardly drama was it. That was me making a point about this thread being a repeat of previous threads, with the same people saying the same things.
alexhoovers94
Well-known member
"Dare I even ask for a translation?"
As in "sigh, no comment"
As in "sigh, no comment"
