I've wanted one of these for years...

[gizmo]

I finally got my hands on a Hoover Constellation. Model 865. Australian made, 240 Volts 680 Watts.

I found it at the recycle shop.

In good working condition, a few minor marks, but unfortunately no hoses or accessories.

I had a tapered plastic hose from something newer (Possibly Miele?). The wide end of the tapered hose fits in the Hoover's inlet and the other end fits some old Electrolux attachments I had on hand, including a flip-over head from a Volta (Aussie Electrolux) that is quite similar to a Hoover flip-over from the same era as the Constellation. So I have a Frankenstein machine of a Hoover vac with Electrolux attachments, probably as sacrilegious as putting a Ford engine in a Chevy.... It's ugly but it works till I can get a correct hose.

It works beautifully, the motor purrs with no rumbles or vibration. I had a pack of the correct bags that were given to me years ago, before I ever owned a vac to use them in... Never throw anything out...

I love it. I haven't used the Dyson since it arrived...

 

[vacbear58]

Constellation

Congratulations, it sounds like these are quite rare in Australia whereas they are still quite common here in the UK. I understand these were assembled from kits supplied by Hoover in North Canton, rather than from the UK.

It is interesting that the Australian Constellations retained the "step-on" switch from the earlier 822/822A models (where the hose attaches at the top) where UK (and I believe US models) used a red toggle switch through most of their production. I must say I hate that hose in it but I would have thought you could get a Hooverflex hose and tools with a bit of searching and patience - originally they had quite a long hose.

When you look at the advert below there are a couple of other interesting points:
That telescopic wand is like noth I had seen before. In Australia they were also supplied with a "buffing mop" tool, you can just see it at the back of the tool caddy and finally the sprayer, I had never seen a sprayer EVER supplied with a Hoover and did not even know there was such a thing untill a fellow collector showed me one. Hope you enjoy the advert, I think this was rather earlier than the cleaner you have.

Enjoy

Al

 

[simpsomatic]

Walks on air

My mother had a Hoover constellation, same color as your acquisition. Our house had a speckled pattern axminster woolen carpeting that always looked dirty after vacuuming. Small particles of dust that got through the then cloth bag were forced out through the underside back into the carpeting as it floated around. Yuk. BTW do not know which came first, the Hoover constellation or the Hoover twin tub. The vacuum used the same motor as the spin basket in the twin tub.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Users complained that on bare floors the vac blew the dust and dirt around and, of course, being a plain suction machine, they were not that great on carpet.

 

[gizmo]

complained that on bare floors the vac blew the dust around

I am finding there is a knack to it. I am lucky that we have a couple of power outlets near the centre of the house. Cord + hose reaches the whole downstairs.

I start at the centre and vac that area first. Then I try to keep the Connie on clean floor, "leading the charge" with the hose/wand whilst keeping the body of the vac on floor that has already been vacuumed. I don't use it on carpet, I have uprights for that. We have all hard floors downstairs, and carpets upstairs.

 

[vacerator]

Odd floor nozzle!

Must be unique to the Aussie and or UK variants. I had one many years ago. It was grey/blue and still worked. I think it got trashed.