and so it ends after 99 years

[danemodsandy]

Today's Hoovers

I have to agree with a couple of people about current Hoovers. We have a PowerMax canister, and while it has its strengths (mainly strong suction and a very aggressive brush roll, which I like), it has not been very satisfactory overall.

The latch for the tool compartment cover broke almost immediately, and we are not people who slam things around. More worrisome has been the cord on the power nozzle. It enters the power nozzle right at the level of the floor, and its insulation keeps fraying through. I've had to shorten the cord twice to keep insulation in this spot. The cord clearly should have been reinforced here. This is the last time it can be shortened, due to length; the next fraying-through will mean that the cord must be replaced.

I'm also no fan of Hoover's tool system, which requires you to operate those little latches every time you change tools. It certainly keeps tools in place, but it's hard for those of us with arthritis to operate. And you can't swivel the tools on the wand's end to get to tricky places.

I will say that suction is phenomenal, and that the carpet fluffs very nicely when it's vacuumed by this thing. But the other problems mean that as soon as it dies, it's getting replaced with another vintage Lux. We're in a three-storey house, and we like having a vac on each floor.

 

[seamusuk]

6525E

Hey Jeff/All

The 6525E was our 1st plastic chassis model- it was introduced in 73 along with the National U4002 Ranger as an exclusive line- initially to the CO-Op
and later to Currys in white/chocolate and Allders in white/yellow.

The Chassis is of an identical design to our metal version.

Unfortunatly mine suffers quite badly from Yellowing - the Chassis should be white!!

Seamus

 

[seamusuk]

Hood

2

 

[seamusuk]

Base

3

 

[seamusuk]

Rating sticker

4

Jeff- I dont own a U4186 maybe you could sort a few of that one

Seamus

P.s The serial dates this one to October 1976

 

[hoover1060]

Thanks Seamus

I'll get my U4186 pics taken tonight.

Austin how about some pics of your new Hoover Powerplus too?

 

[paulg]

I too loved the Convertibles...but...

Yes, I too loved the Convertibles and still own a Swingette that just will not die.
However, I will stick with the still-American ORECK and avoid the now-foreign Hoover.
It is true that TTI Techtronic has retained Royal's well known quality level. However IF I have a choice of very-foreign or very-American brands to choose from I will choose as American as I can get.
David Oreck and I are "best buds" now... and his products are good.

 

[westytoploader]

Seamus that 6525E is too cool. Too bad those plastic-base models with the rounded base weren't carried over here...much better looking than that boxy square base we had. Just goes to show you anything is possible. And it still has rear conversion and a 2-speed motor to boot, so I bet it purrs nicely. Some of the plastic-base Convertibles here were screamers!

Here's my dual-voltage U4298 Powerplus, given to me by Roger in Tucson. During the wash-in weekend, he was thinning out the vacuum herd, and this one along with quite a few others were looking for a new home. In addition to the Powerplus, I acquired a 62 (though unlike other 62s, this one has chrome lettering on the hood), 634, and a commercial Convertible 334. All great machines!

This machine has a few interesting characteristics. First, it is very substantial (the base seems to be made out of high-impact plastic) and quite heavy, on a par with the metal-base models. The switch is built into the handle release. When I first saw it at Roger's, I was wondering where the switch was, until I turned it over and saw it. Much more convenient than a machine that turns on when the handle is lowered...this functions like a regular footswitch and the handle release doesn't interfere with it. Also, the sound is MUCH different than an American Convertible. Believe it or not, it actually sounds like a Eureka or early Sanitaire with the "pancake" motor...pre-1400-series of course. When I first turned it on, I knew I recognized the sound somewhere but it wasn't on a machine I had, and then it hit me.

--Austin

 

[westytoploader]

Closeup of the base...has a few deep scuffs, but nothing too bad. Mother's mag wheel polish took care of most of them.

 

[westytoploader]

4-position height adjuster, and the combination handle release/footswitch.

 

[westytoploader]

The underside. A few more things of interest here. The beater bar is painted in an almond color rather than the usual black, and notice how the baseplate is held on by 3 screws...when you have to change the belt, better have a screwdriver handy!

 

[westytoploader]

Closeup of the switch activated by the handle release pedal

 

[westytoploader]

On and running!

 

[brettsomers]

i have never seen one of those models before, weird! so different from a regular Convertible.

 

[hoover1060]

Just for comparison

A US plastic Convertible, and my UK Senior U4186.

The difference in quality is like night and day!

Austin this U4186 sounds a little like a model 61 to me...

 

[seamusuk]

Very Cool...

Austin...

Thats a VERY nice one to have- the standard UK version is almost identical but has no headlight .

The serial # dates it to October 1985.

Im curious about the headlamp- is it a standard bulb or the low voltage push in type?. Our headlamp versions used a standard bulb, but not sure how that would work with the dual voltage!- Im presuming theres a voltage selector ?.

Jeff

Thats a very nice example of the U4186 as well

Seamus

 

[seamusuk]

Combined switches/handle releases

Austin

This arrangement was also used on our later design(flat belt) Juniors. It works pretty well on those as well. Will get a couple of pics this eve

Seamus

 

[seamusuk]

Dual Voltage Machines.....

Austin

I originally presumed this was produced for Military Personel(A UK collector has a US Dual volt Convertible that was made for this market....

HOWEVER

This one states 127v!- 220V- looking at this link Steve(Toggle) posted before im thinking it could have been for the Brazilian market(see 2nd post from top)?? as to why they imported UK rather than US machines is anyones guess lol!

Seamus

http://www.automaticwasher.org/TD/THREADS/SANDBOX/10943x30.htm

 

[seamusuk]

The only problem..

Hey Guys

The only slight weak point on the Powerplus design is the handle grip. This grip design was initially used on the Juniors and is fine on those- however the extra weight makes them quite prone to snapping on these machines .

That grip is NLA over here so be careful with them

Seamus

 

[seamusuk]

Another important point to remember..

Being the mind of information that I am when bored lol

NEVER!!! use WD40 or anything similar for lubrication anywhere on these(especially the handle bail piviots). Normal 3 in 1 oil is best

As good as the quality of the plastic on these is in general it reacts with the solvent in most lubricant sprays and goes brittle!- im sure I have a service sheet on this somewhere...

Seamus