The Case of the Mystery Hoover 61

[fnelson487]

OK - This is the first time I have started a thread. I took a beauty shot of that chrome 61. Did a little tune-up and took a picture with the 6200 tool set which goes beautifully. This machine would have been sold with the 6100 set with the braided hose. First question Mr. Hooverland Jeff - was the belt on the 61 different than the Convertible. I stopped at the Hoover Store today and that's what they gave me but it appears too short. Jeff - what is the serial number range on these machines? I think this was stripped of it's paint and buffed up. I don't think that they were sold this way.

 

[hoover1060]

Ask and ye shall recieve

Fred,
I can definately tell you that 61 was not sold that way new. I can tell from the pic the bumper is not original, and that beautiful polished aluminum is the work of a vac shop.
Someone spent ALOT of time making that 61 look like that.
Its beautiful!
Now for stats:
Model 61 was in production from August 1946 to January 1950, replaced my model 62. By itself it sold new for $89, with tools $107
Total sold: 383,972 units. The serial numbers start at 1,300,001 and end at 1,687,300. The end number in my book is hard to read.
I have an extra set of 6100 tool I will be happy to give you.
Jeff

 

[fnelson487]

Wow! This is an early one!

Serial Number 1,360,215. Definitely restored.

 

[petek]

Was the machine originally painted gray in that model series, this one having been stripped and polished then?

 

[hoover1060]

serial numbers

Its fun to have all those numbers and see where they fall in the run.
Not sure how many 61's they made at a time, but at the same time they were also cranking out model 28's as fast as they could too.
In the first 60,000, Its reasonable to guess thats the first 9 months or so of production.

 

[hoover1060]

OOPS belts

Fred I forgot about the belts!
Today model 61 would use belt #49258, the standard convertible belt.
years ago there was a larger belt for the 60-61-62-63-64 and 29, they standardized and went to just the 49258 belt when they started shipping cleaners from the factory with the belts attached.
I have more info on this to show you when I see you.

 

[air-waycharlie]

The original belt

Jeff,
I had trouble posting earlier about the original belt that went to almost everything pre the 31 and 65 and all the later models.

That earlier one was #44783. I have been told that it was slightly thicker than the later one. I have a bunch of those but I do not use them as they are too hard the bearings.

I did tell Fred I would bring him some next month so he would have some original belts for those earlier models. I use the standard convertible belts and Eureka belts and I leave them unconnected unless I use the vacuum regularly since the pull on the bearings is just too much for those old babies.

 

[gansky1]

I love the 61!

Fred, I can't wait to see that vacuum - what a shiny girl! You and Charlie saw these at the convention here in June, but here are a couple pics of my Hoovers. I just love the styling and that H O O V E R logo just gives you a shiver...

 

[gansky1]

Here are my three Hoovers, I have attachments for both 61's and the original storage box for the middle 61.

Love 'em all!

 

[tolivac]

I have a similar vac to the first one in the lineupa 425 or something -always forget what its # was. Got it from a neighbor in my area.Was his mothers.-and got a #28 from him. Both work well.

 

[hoover1060]

belts

Charlie,
The 44783 has a slightly smaller diameter, but is also much softer than the 49258.
Today the 44783 is specified as the lightweight commercial belt.
I use 49258's for everything, they stand up to the all bristle brush rolls I like so much.
I used the stretched out ones on the older cleaners, and on my Sanitaires.
Believe it or not, a stretched out Convertible belt gives awesome service on a Sanitaire!

 

[tolivac]

The polished Hoover 61 is really cool.

 

[tlee618]

Fred that 61 is just beautiful. Can't remember if you have told us where you got this beauty or not. One would just wonder why someone would go to the effort that it must have taken to do this. Terry

 

[air-waycharlie]

Softer?

Jeff,
It sure doesn't seem softer but I trust you on what you say. Those 44783s seem really tuff but the ones I have are later models direct from the factory and maybe after a few turns they get softer!

I did try to use the Kirby Omega Miracle Head last night, (ON THE CARPET!), and the belt snapped within less than 60 seconds. It was an older, original belt and I guess it had to happen. Horay, that Kirby still makes the orignal belt for that machine and for that attachment.

 

[drmitch]

Beautiful machines Fred and Greg! I know you guy`s are really proud of these and who wouldn`t be?

 

[fnelson487]

Beautiful 61s Greg

With everything I saw during the gathering at your house, my attention was drawn to all the fabulous washers, dryers and dishwashers and all the great people. When I was in that part of the basement (now I remember you had one at the bottom of the stairs) I was waaay to preoccupied with that fabulously organized set of appliance literature you have. Those are beautiful. It is hard to find them in that kind of condition since the paint is usually scraped somewhere along the way. All of your toys are well-kept and organized. What a great kid you must have been.

 

[gansky1]

I too was amazed to have found both 61's within a few months of each other, and come to think of it, both at houses in relatively the same area of town. One of the attachments sets had been nailed to a wall in the basement but I ripped it down and dragged it home. I haven't brought home that many vintage vacs, are you implying they aren't all this nice? ;-)

 

[fnelson487]

Indeed Greg

That's the fun about vintage vacs to find them in pristine condition or restore them to pristine condition. We do those restorations the same way you do with the washers, etc. Sometimes it takes a few machines to make one good one. I know collectors who get the old machines and pile them up all over unrestored. Yuk! Nothing worse than a dirty old sweeper. I was trying to determine if you were thinking I said all of YOUR stuff was not that nice. Absolutely not! Everything I saw at your house was perfect. Great job!

 

[gansky1]

No, no... I thought all vintage vacs should be found in mint condition - joking of course. I've done nothing to one of the 61's pictured, but I did disassemble, clean and restore the other (with the replacement bag). The other one I've never even touched, dusted it and put it downstairs - I don't think I've ever plugged it in! Thanks so much for your glowing compliments on my collections, if you were here now you'd have a different tune to sing however - I've sort of let things slip a bit...