How well does the Hoover Constellation suck?

[sarahperdue]

I'm looking at a Hoover Constellation at an estate sale. It's dead cute. Today is the last day, and I'm thinking about buying it if the price is right (read very low). I love the look, but I'm not collecting. I need a strong vacuum that works well for the country house. Will this one fit the bill? And are bags readily available?

Thanks in advance,
Sarah

 

[turquoisedude]

I guess like a lot of vintage vacuums, it depends on how the machine was used (or abused). My parents had a mid-60's Constellation that was awful but that vacuum was not treated kindly. Fast-forward to 1997 when I bought a house and contents which included one of the late-50's Constellations which worked (and still works!) Just fine.
Bags are still available - type 'K', I think.
Good luck!![this post was last edited: 10/29/2016-12:29]

 

[vacerator]

The later ones made last decade

are very strong cleaners. They came in black or stainless steel color.
The hose stretches and they came also with a turbo brush suction driven carpet nozzle.
The vintage ones were about 5 or 6 amps only, made in blue, grey, cream, and a butterscotch orange color.

 

[yogitunes]

I have one too.....probably its only downside is it doesn't have a beater bar....

I love how it 'floats' to follow you around....rather quieter than most....

very few vacuums you could find that you will hear the suction from the floor piece more than the motor itself....

these were from a time when the suction was so strong it could hold up a bowling ball....

I have to go look myself, but I think it takes a 'J' bag...

but as Paul mentioned, it depends on its condition....or how it was used

 

[ea56]

The vintage Hoover Constellation bags are type J, the new Hoover Constellation bags are type S. I have one of the newer Constellations that I bought in 2007. It works very well with the turbo carpet attachement. The suction is strong and the vacuum is convenient to use. We used it exclusively for about 2 or 3 years and we have a 1250 sq. ft. two story townhouse with wall to wall carpet. We still use the Constellation occasionally, but our daily driver vac is a Kenmore 29319 canister with a power noozle and this vac is the bomb. Its powerful, easy to manuver, works well on the stairs, makes the wall to wall carpet look perfectly groomed and emits no dust.
Eddie

 

[fan-of-fans]

I have a white and orange one. The suction IMO is not as strong as newer vacuums but probably strong enough. It would do for light dusting and bare floor cleaning, not something I'd use on carpets.

They do take a type J bag, which I think may still be made but not sure. They are readily available online but won't be found in the typical stores locally.

Filtration with those bags is not the best, but you can upgrade the filter material pretty easily.

I too like how the float and they have a great sound to them.

 

[turquoisedude]

Type J bags

Oops - I was wrong...again... LOL
Just checked the bag supply to be sure. Dang It, now I want to get my ol' Connie out to tinker with It!!

 

[sarahperdue]

Pink constellation 88

It's pink, it uses a J bag. The motor sounds good, but I can't figure out how to connect the hose to the body. Is it missing something? It has the matching pink floor brush.

 

[yogitunes]

probably the only appliance we give slutty names to are our vacuums....

most likely because they suck!!!....lol

 

[sarahperdue]

A hose that fits

I found a hose that fits; however it's an electrified hose, and this vacuum doesn't seem to have an electrical connection.

 

[tomturbomatic]

I have heard complaints that they can blow dust & debris across the floor, but if you make sure to only take them out on a clean or carpeted floor, you don't have that problem.

 

[fan-of-fans]

The first hose is a swivel type for the Hoover Slimline or Portable. The second is the correct hose type. It isn't actually an electric hose. They just used the same mold as a particular Constellation that did have an electrified hose. The on/off switch was on the end of the hose for that model. I forget the model number that had that. But, in your case this is the correct hose to use.

 

[simpsomatic]

Useless

My mother had one when we were growing up, many years ago now. The bag collection system was a frame with handle, you could use with or without throw away bags. Biggest complaint Mum had was the minute dust particles that got past the bag filtration's system, and there always are, went straight back into the carpet she had just vacuumed.Float on air my a** dumbest thing ever invented. Eventually replaced with Hoover Dial-a-Matic upright which really could suck

 

[sarahperdue]

Quick! Anyone have a picture of the onboard tool caddy?

Hey y'all, I'm still at the sale. I'm looking for the onboard tool caddy for this Constellation. I think it might be lost in a pile somewhere. Can someone send a picture?

 

[fan-of-fans]

I don't believe that model had an onboard tool storage. Mostly just the tilted models had one.

 

[sarahperdue]

Thanks everyone, I bought it at the end of the sale in a lot of other stuff for a song... It will be replacing a decrepit 1970s Electrolux with a busted hose. Of course, depending on how much junk it blows around, I might have to resell it. The one thing I can absolutely guarantee about its new home is that it will never be used on a clean floor...

 

[toploader55]

Mr. Charles has a New Constellation at his home in Melrose.

I fell in love with that Vac. It is Very Powerful and the floating phenomena is really cool.

 

[davey7]

I too, grew up with one (the sort of orange/butterscotch color). It worked well and was fun to pull around. When my grandmother moved we got her blue one, which my grandfather had thoughtfully put wheels on...

My mother foolishly got rid of ours to only find out it worked better than Babcia's immaculate one. I still have it, which has the accessory box. At some point I'll have to unload it, it's taking up too much of my minimal closet space.

(daily driver is a beat up Kenmore canister & occasionally a Miele upright)

 

[circlew]

My mom's friend Glenna C. had a Constellation that was Blue/Gray, and it was one that floated. Something makes me think that some versions had wheels instead.