Hoover Harlequin
Now to try and make a long story short ....
In 1948 Hoover introduced its first cannister cleaner to the UK - Model 402, a derivation of the Hoover Model 40 in the US. In 1953 it was updated to the Hoover 417 a model which persisted until about 1971, when replaced by the 427. When the Conestellation was introduced the 417 was taken down market and indeed hardly featured in any promotional literature beyond Hoover brochures - for example it did not feature in any of the early TV advertisments although all the rest of the products did. The Constellation featured as the "mainstream" suction cleaner.
In around 1964 Hoover produced a more upmarket "traditional" cannister (although the pre Connie 417 was actually quite an upmarket machine), no doubt to try and take some of the runaway success of the Electrolux 65, the 419 or Harlequin.
This cleaner had a higher wattage motor (650W, without checking), had a hard floor brush as well as the combination floor nozzle, a long hose and a more sophisticated LOOKING suction control than the Connie. It also had a metal rather than cardboard tool rack. With white plastic ends, it also came in a choice of three body colours - Red, Blue and Green - later supplemented by Black Watch Tartan.
Unfortunatly it did not have the hoped for success, partly because the Connie (and of course the Junior & Senior models) remained heavily promoted for many years and partly because almost at the same time Electrolux raised the stakes when they introduced the 90 - physically bigger with a self winding flex and bag full indicator, creating a whole new market segment in the process, as it was at a price band previously occupied by rare brands such as Nilfisk - or on the upright side the Hoover Senior (US Convertable). It took Hoover until late 1967 to come up with a competitor (by which time the 90 had become the even more elegant 100) - the 507 Conquest.
However the 419 soldiered on until 1969 when it became the 429 - now only in Black Watch tartan and sporting a bag full indicator along with the flip-over floor nozzle. This model continued until 1973 when replaced by the all new Freedom range.
The 417 previously mentioned was updated to the 427 which looked very similar in styling to the 429 although it was almost completely different being a physically smaller machine. Although officially dropped when the Freedom range was introduced, it carried on a an "Exclusive" for many years - indeed if I recall correctly, a model turned up on French ebay a couple of years bag with twist ring locking and plastic wants rather than pip & clip, which dated it to around 1981 or so, although the serial number was not disclosed to confirm that.
Here is the complete 419 lineup with the 417 at back - 1967, note how the Connie has a much larger picture, even over the (not popular here) Hoover Portable
