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Very interesting Jeff, we can only hope that there are brighter days ahead for Hoover. Terry
 
what they don't mention

I nothing went out of North Canton without Newton's stamp of approval.
Blaming Hoover for their slump is just idiotic.
 
China is right!!

I have just finished reading the current issue of ''Choice'' magazine which is our leading consumer information magazine here in Oz and they have just tested vacuum cleaners for performance and so forth, would you believe that 11 out of the 13 models tested were made in China. The other 2 were made in Thailand and Korea.The list follows;
1.L.G.-China.
2.Samsung-Korea
3.Volta-China.
4.Wertheim-China.
5.Nilfisk-China.
6.Hoover-(speaking of them)-China.
7.Pirhana-China.
8.Genius-China.
9.Airflo-China.
10.Hitachi-Thailand.
11.Kambrook-China.
12.Sanyo-China.
13.Tiffany-China.
It is almost enough to make you cry isn't it?
Steve.
 
Yes, I am saddend by the fact that maytag says that Hoover has been a burden to them. In fact living in the same town as the Hoover company, it was in reality the other way around. Hoover carried maytag for years. All of the while, maytag kept picking away at Hoover cutting manufacturing and staff...cheapening products. Believe me they sold off plenty of Hoover's assets over the years too like real estate and an entire plant...where did the money go? Into maytags pockets and they have the nerve to say that Hoover has been a drag on their pocketbooks...funny! Our local Kmart here in North Canton now sells maytag products...they keep them in the back where they belong! maytag is a dirty word in this town. I think deep down we all knew it would happen eventually. It was partly the Hoover family's fault for selling out and running with their inheritance! Oh well...the town is holding its breath to see the fate of our beloved company. I am all too happy to see maytag bought up and get what it deserves. Maybe it too will be whittled down to nothing but a made in China pile of junk...just my two cents worth! It has been hard as a Hoover fan to see this happen to a once great company that not only became a household name but built a town recently named one of the 100 best places to live in the US. Who knows what the future holds? Happy Hoovering!!!

--Tom
 
this is prolly common sense, but i suspect us Hoover enthusiasts should start stocking up on older Hoover parts NOW, Convertible, for example. it frightens me to think that bags and such parts might be chopped. and am i the only one starting to develop a feeling of hostility toward all chinese manufacturing? btw, just realised my super afffordable danby washer was made in china. but i dont want my Hoovers made in china. im hispanic, so mexico is ok, china, no.
 
Speaking of missing parts....

The vac repair shop I work at is no longer able to get switches for old convertibles and dial-a-matics. Apparently they've been discontinued my boss says...it made me really sad. Bad sign.

Corey
 
Discontinued Parts...

Hey Corey-

Yes, it is sad that the Convertible Switch is no more--Especially since it was used on so MANY machines for the better part of 50 years... The Convertible, Dial A Matic, Portable, Constellation, Slimline, Handivac, Pixie, Swingette/Portapower, Celebrity. The switch, according to our Hoover parts list on the computer, was 'inactivated' on May 3, 2005. In addition to the switch, I know the fan for the Concept One and Two was discontinued on November 9, 2005. The outer bags--both the jacket and assembly, for both top fill and bottom fill machines have all been discontinued (in August, and October of 2005 says the computer). I can't tell you how many people come in, in need of a switch.. and we have to tell them they are no longer available--their machine is junk.

Slowly but surely, as [Maytag] is running out of these parts, they are just axing them. My assmption is that no one is left in North Canton to manufacture these components (or sew the outer bags)... so they are left to die.

In July of 2004, when Maytag decided to move Hoover's parts distribution center out of North Canton, and have it join Maytag's distribution center in Tennessee, there was a list of HUNDREDS of parts, many for older machines, that were all discontinued (so they wouldn't have to move them) and sadly, I'm sure, they were all scrapped.

If we didn't live in such a throw-away society; and have a Wal Mart on every corner, pushing 39 dollar vacuum cleaners, I'm sure things might be different. The more sensible part of the argument says that it really isn't very profitable (anymore) for many companies to make these old parts because people don't fix things anymore (as crappy as that is for people like us..), and when weighing the option of profit or no profit, they choose profit.

Back to those switches... Don't worry that they aren't available (new) any more. With as many MILLIONS of machines out there, there's definitely going to be a plentiful supply of used switches for years to come.

-Fred
 
What about aftermarket parts?

I'm thinking back to my vacuum-cleaner repairing days back in the late 1970s (while in high school, no less!) when you could easily get many common wear parts like outer bags, fans, and, yes, those ubiquitous Hoover switches through aftermarket suppliers. Have patent and trademark issues put an end to that route?

With that out of the way, it's "time for Hoover" to stop making vacuums that suck (in the slang sense) and get back to making vacuums that suck (in the functional sense).
 
Aftemarket...

I think, to a certain degree, there is a handful of "popular" aftermarket parts available... But, again, if a machine is getting up there in years, and people aren't swarming vacuum stores to get these older machines fixed--there's not much incentive for companies to keep manufacturing them.

I have seen, at our larger local Ace Hardware stores, a bojac replacement switch for Convertibles and the like... If I remember correctly it was black, and around 6 or 7 dollars. It was in the electrical department, near all of the toggle switches, etc...

As a matter of fact, today--after my earlier posting, a gentleman came in needing a switch for his model 1020 Convertible. We had to tell him that it wasn't available, but we did tell him about the switches at Ace.

There is also a "Genuine" and "Replacement" section in the ESSCO catalog, for popular parts... mostly bags, belts, carbon brushes, agitators, etc.

-Fred
 
How long before the entire Commercial Convertible line is discontinued? i predict soon. this thread is making me sad!
 
Hooverwheelaway:

I also recall the term "bojack" for aftermarket parts and was about to use it in my earlier post but thought it was just some made-up term by the owner of the appliance parts store where I repaired vacs back in the day. How long has that word been around?

In Googling "bojack" I could only find one appliance-related site that used the word (once) and not in a good light, not surprisingly...

 
Maytag shouldn't throw stones!

They said Hoover was a burden to them, but they've been a burden to consumers! One specific case is the 8000 BTU A/C unit I had from them. Great that it had a 5 year warranty! Trouble is, the nearest place that was authorized was an hour away, and I had to deliver it as they were so busy... even though it was IN HOME service for the 5 years! So, they found one closer. I still had to deliver it, but I wouldn't get it back for a month! After no less than a dozen phone calls, and having been told by the District Service Manager that I needed to "just get it to the repair shop and let them fix it," they finally sent me a brand new one as a replacement. In the meantime I went to Best buy and bought a floor model that was much quieter for $100! I've heard more than a few horror stories about the new Maytag-branded products!!!

Chuck
 
The Bojack...

This is the definition of "Bojack" as written in the book "Fabulous Dustpan, the Story of the Hoover" by Frank G. Hoover.

The "Bojack" is a tough, worthy, dedicated opponent. He is usually fair, but hard boiled. He makes a good product. He wants to make money. He is used to weighing the risks and is he is willing to pay the price. If you beat him, there will be no whimpering, but if he wins, he'll press his advantage.

He is an enemy, and yet he is the great benefactor of mankind. You see, "Bojack<b/>" is the nickname that grew up in the Hoover Company for all competitive vacuum cleaners.

Whatever business you're in, you've got to fight the "<b>Bojack.
"


I, and other collectors I know, tend to use the word moreso as a definition for generic/aftermarket parts--bags, cords, switches, etc.

-Fred
 
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In one of those articles-"we would like to (Maytag) get rid of that unprofitable floor care division" Who was the one that made it "unprofitable"???---MAYTAG!!
Yes--there is going to be a big "aftermarket" "Bojack" parts sources of older Hoovers-in the meantime-take care of the ones you have.Would think HESCO,ESSCO,would have the parts-but "bojack" ones.Would be better than none.Maybe if someone could buy up Hoover-bring it back to its fomer glory--and bring back those METAL machines--built in North Canton Ohio!!!They would be worth the cost over those "Bojack" overseas built vacuums!I would love to be able to buy up Hoover! Any other takers out there?You could do so much with them.Most of that work is undoing the damage Maytag did to Hoover.
 

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