OK Hoover Experts...

[scott55405]

This is probably one of the better innovations Hoover ever came up with. I have one too, that I use both for cleaning the floors and shampooing the carpets, it's so convenient and does such a great job, it just can't be beat.

 

[tlee618]

Fred I never realized that they had one with a head-light! How neat is that. They are such great looking machines. For sure on my watch list for the future!! Thanks for sharing all the neat pictures.

 

[brettsomers]

what cool pics, Fred. that red squeegee on the floor-max is a nice touch.

Fred, a friend mentioned that the regular Floormax has been discontinued. i went to hesco and they show it as discontinued as well. do you have any details?

 

[mattl]

Had a F-A-M since '73

I've had a FAM since '73, the first a Lime Green, the second a Maroon. Funny, the one from '73 is still somewhat operable, the newer one died a decade ago. I've had both versions of the Floormate, definitely like the second version better. One trick is you want to soak/scrub your floor - it's easy with the Floormate - is simply to remove the pickup tank! You can put as much solution down as you want and scrub to your heart's content. I use this trick when I want to strip my kitchen floor, but I use the FAM to do the scrubbing, MUCH better brushes for that task.

I two ongoing problems I had with the FAM were the rod in the tank disintegrating, I don't know how many I replaced over the years, and the brushes not syncing up. That's what caused my second FAM to bite the dust, I'd have to do a quick on/off to stop the "chattering". Other issues I had with the FAM is the fact it would leave black skufmarks on my baseboards, really irritating and I grew to dislike the metal snap in filter in the squeegee. The filter would never catch enough of the lint and such and I'd have to remove the entire assembly from time to time to clean it out, after some time the screws would corrode and it'd be a mess.

All in all a nice machine, I wouldn't be without some version, but the FAM did have it's issues for me.

 

[Unimatic1140]

Ugh, what great pictures Fred! I had no idea that there were so many different models. Love the Floor-a-Matic glam shots by the way

Yes you are totally correct I definitely needed an "Automatic Floor Laundry" in this house. Even better now that the Bali Green has become one the 3 colors of the flag, (pink, yellow, turquoise), I love that. Two days later I still can't get over how clean both floors are, I can now throw my Swiffer mop away (did I just admit that out loud?). Now I have to tackle the 1100 square foot basement floor, uhhh talk about dirty discard water.

Yay for Hoover is right and yes you betcha, it sure does look dreamy parked right next to my Constellation.

 

[hooverwheelaway]

David-

I know that a few years ago they did in fact discontinue the FloorMax... then they brought it back, because it was still verymuch in demand. We very steadily sold them when I was at Hoover, once they started making them again.

I'm not sure if they've gone away yet again... I can shoot an email to my old boss, and find out. Wouldn't surprise me, now that TTI is in control of the reins.

Robert-

I can now throw my Swiffer mop away (did I just admit that out loud?).

Let's have a picture of it in the garbage can, just to be sure.



MattL-

I two ongoing problems I had with the FAM were the rod in the tank disintegrating, I don't know how many I replaced over the years

...Never hear of that happening--I mean it's a metal rod. Maybe what you used in it? If your water was too hard/soft?
I don't doubt it could happen, though.

...And the brushes not syncing up. That's what caused my second FAM to bite the dust, I'd have to do a quick on/off to stop the "chattering"

From my understanding the "chattering" was fixed by replacing the little black rubber o-rings that are at the end of the brush driving plate, behind the piece that the brush snaps on to. If they would dry out, the brushes would bounce up and down and the head of the machine would bounce around.

and I grew to dislike the metal snap in filter in the squeegee. The filter would never catch enough of the lint and such and I'd have to remove the entire assembly from time to time to clean it out, after some time the screws would corrode and it'd be a mess.

I've gotten used to cleaning my FAM out really well after each use. I've been told that is one of the best ways to keep them pristine. That, and letting everything dry really thoroughly when done using it. Cleaning the FAM is a bit more labor-intensive than cleaning out the FloorMate; and that's probably another reason why it was discontinued--just like the TwinTub washers. Nowadays, people don't want to spend any amount of time doing anything.. They want to push a button and walk away, so to speak... But, yes, I can see how on a very regular basis, it could get tiring...

Oh--David--

In the time that it took me to type all of this, I emailed my old boss at Hoover, and got this response:
"Yep, discontinued, no longer available, etc.
And we sold through all we had including
what we got from Art [who ran another store in the area] before he closed."

'Tis sad, indeed.

~Fred

 

[petek]

Robert, I didn't know you had a Connie as well.. Hard to remember who has what and/or how many especially with vacuums. Got a picture of it. I use mine almost exclusively now on the lower deck lido lounge and laundry here where it's all ceramic tiling, floats right along and the Connie is one of the quieter canisters out there. At least the vintage ones are I don't know about the new ones, haven't tried one.

 

[andyelectrolux]

Love it! I wish they still made the Floor a Matic. The new Floormates are just so flimsy, they're not even worth repairing.

 

[Unimatic1140]

Hmmmph, Swiff this...

Let's have a picture of it in the garbage can, just to be sure.

Just for you Fred, here's the ol Swiffer put out in the back alleyway just where it belongs...

 

[Unimatic1140]

Robert, I didn't know you had a Connie as well.. Hard to remember who has what and/or how many especially with vacuums. Got a picture of it.

Yup, here's me with my fabulous Connie last summer from one of the Vacuumland Photo Threads...

 

[brettsomers]

That is a sad shame about the last polisher-shampooer going nla. And there is such consistent demand for these machines. Wonder if people lost their jobs...

 

[hooverwheelaway]

David!

Of course people lost their jobs!!

That was one of the last things they made in North Canton...

**Sniff**

~Fred

 

[mattl]

Fred, thanks for the input on the FAM. The rod was aluminum if I recall correctly. I use typical city water, not a problem with anything else around here. In years past I used Spick and Span in it, as well as other cleaners. I used an ammonia mixture when stripping the floors, perhaps that's what did them in.

Interesting about the rubber bushings, I wish I knew that years ago. I still have both machines, if I could come up with a rod assembly, and some of those rubber bushings, I might be back in business with one good unit.

I like the latest Floormate, but I'd like a bit better brush set. I use the tile brushes for everything, maybe I'm just used to the stiff brushes of the FAM. Sad to here it's gone again.

 

[chestermikeuk]

Floor Washer

Are the brushes the same as on the Hoover polishers produced here?? Is the squeegee pickup at the front of the polisher?? anyone got picks of the tanks??

 

[tomturbomatic]

Congratulations Robert. Have fun with it. I don't know if you have a copy of the instructions, but it is important to remove the little guard in the squeegee to clean out any small particles it traps during the wet pick up operation.

Mine is blue and white. I found one of the brown and orange ones for John. On wood floors, I use a mild Ph neutral cleaner like Simple Green to go with my Simple Mind. I rinse out and fill the tank with clear water to rinse the floor after washing. When I am through using it, after I rinse it well underneath, I place it in the bath tub or laundry sink with about a half inch of water and set it to vacuum up the water to make sure none of the internal parts have detergent left on them. I repeat this until the pick up water runs clear. I like the way the scrubbing and buffing pads attach to the brushes with those little yellow rings.