Hoover Model 68 Convertible

[polkanut]

After church this morning I stopped at an estate sale and picked up a very nice Model 68 w/ headlight, in turquoise. Today everything was 50% off so I got it for $5 along with 3 pkgs. of bags. I want to know if this machine is a good performer overall? It does have a sticker on it from one of the vacuum shops here in town, so it must have been serviced within the last few years. I did try it once I got home, and it worked great. When was this particular model produced?

P.S. It looks like the cord was replaced at some point. [this post was last edited: 9/12/2010-12:32]

 

[washernoob]

I had one!

I used to have a model 68. Awesome machine.

Mine was found in original condition, almost unused for over 30 years. It was my great, great uncles and he passed away. He kept a, to put lightly, "not-so-clean" home, so the machine was just never used. The belt was petrified in the machine.

They are quite rare. Most convertibles with the non-white/brown handles are rare.

 

[polkanut]

Mine has the turquoise/aqua handle. Are there any attachments for this vacuum? If so, I didn't see them at the sale.

 

[washernoob]

Yes

All convertibles had attachments.

Although hose suction is quite poor. Not nearly as good as the upright suction. It was a pan converter style, you slid it into the back of the machine, and it engaged the high speed.

 

[xraytech]

Your machine would have been from around the very early 60's assuming it is a 68 which was blue as Brandon showed. Going by your color description you may have a 69 which had a turquoise hood and bag, but had a white handle it wa sthe TOL Convertible and was from around 63 or 64. It is a much better performer than current machines in my opinion.
As for dusting tools, they were a seperately sold option and the converter slid into the back of the machine, under the bag, Hoover touted the Automatic Shift which when tools were inserted and the handle was upright the motor automatically shifted to high speed. Unfortunately the suction was very dismal and was only good for light dusting at best.

If for any reason you wanted to get rid of the machine at any time, I'd be interested in it.

Anyways, great buy and do you have a pic to share?

 

[washernoob]

Color

Actually the machine is turquoise. The bag is a bit different in color than the rest of the machine.

A better picture of another all original one

http://www.vacuumland.org/TD/ARCHIVE/SANDBOX/2007/345x23.htm
http://www.vacuumland.org/TD/ARCHIVE/SANDBOX/2007/345x23.htm

 

[paulg]

Early memories

As a child in the early 1960s I remember going to resort hotels and they used those turqoise Hoover Convertibles. However, I remember that the power switches were red. When did they use those red switches?

 

[washernoob]

H

Hoover changed things on various machines during their run time. The constellation 86 ran with a metal toggle switch, and a light switch toggle, changed colors, and changed base design.

Vacuum manufacturers often did that. Kirby had 3 different bags and 3 different logos on the Classic Omega model. So thats 6 different bag combinations on one vacuum cleaner!

Probably the same thing with the power switch. Just a different manufacturing date.

 

[polkanut]

Sam,

This vacuum has a nameplate on the bottom which has the model no., patent nos., attachment part nos., and the company's location: North Canton, Ohio. It clearly says "Model 68". The hood and bag do match. There are some scuffs on the hood which I would expect from a machine this age, and from the amount of use this vacuum saw.

I think I'm going to like this vacuum alot, especially for $5. lol