I saw this model on Hoovers web site just before it came out and there was a special video clip about the machine. I also saw them on sale in Target. What happened to this model? Why was it discontinued? It seemed like a good idea but why did it go off the market so quickly? It was the most expensive Hoover upright, I would think the company would want to save it and keep it on the market longer. Just wondering if anyone has some info
-Steven

I have seen the Hoover "Z" vacs at Best Buy-last time I saw one-it was on special sale for $240-the "White" colored one.The machines didn't become popular because of their VERY HEAVY weight and just awkward.I tried both of the models at Best Buy and walked away-pushing one is like pushing a wheelbarrow full of bricks.And lifting it -its got to be the HEAVIEST consumer vacuum.They almost need to provide a forklift with the thing.also the "Bagless " design turned me off.Maybe if they made a "bagged" version?The LED headlights on the more deluxe "blue" model were pretty neat.Forget the model numbers.

They weren't discontinued...

I wonder what Whirlpool or whomever gets Hoover will do with the design?-Either continue it or discontinue?Will check on the "Z" again when I go to BB this weekend.Its been there for a LONG time.also Sears sells these machines-wonder how theirs are doing.I don't think the BB in my area has ordered anymore of the "Z"s for stock.One of the vac dealers here had one traded in for a Sebo upright-the dealer sold it to a church for $40.

In my humble opinion, it's a contraption! When I first saw the "Z" in Target last summer I was dumfounded. Who would clean with this and how? It says AWKWARD all over it. What in the world was Hoover thinking?

The earlier Hoover cleaners had style, elegance and grace --both functionally and asthetically. Especially those from the mid to late 50's like the Citation, the Constellation and then the Convertable -- they looked like all the parts belonged in a complete whole. And they were very maneuverable.

Seems like they were trying to create a cleaner with the "Z" that would be both upright and canister They would do better to do a retro Convertable in stainless steel to match the new Constellation. A combination like that would be asthetically pleasing and it would be more functional to use. Because even the Windtunnels are bulky and difficult to maneuver; not at all like the elegance of a Hoover Convertable.

I think that the idea behind it is good, to combine both canister and upright, but it does look weird and it seems like it would be akward to use. I would love to see a modern Convertible. That would be something to clean with! I had a Windtunnel self propelled, and i returned it. It was so bulky and soo difficult to manuever! And not to mention, the thing was so loud that by the time you were done cleaning the house with it you could go deaf. I don't understand why they cant make their machines to be quiet or at least bring them to a more bearable noise level. It blows my mind that such a huge and successful company can make a machine that is such a flop like the Z. Don't they do research in design and get feed back from test units? Im sure they did but in my opinion some of their current machines are poorly designed for easy cleaning.
Steven

i was dismayed as well at the Z. it doesnt take a focus group to realise it is clumsy! from the awkward cord storage to the revolving pleated filter... dont let it happen to you!

Yeah and don't get me started on the "self cleaning" filter... what a joke...

The Z was quiet and fun to use, but it had so many flaws. It was a cheaply made monster :(

Ah, but not cheap to the consumer!

I think the Hoover engineers were smoking something wicked when they came up with the idea for the "Z". And then, to get it past the marketing department, what kind of drugs are they doing in North Canton? Didn't anyone, from the board of directors on down, say to the engineers "what were you thinking?"

Last I heard, the Hoover Company took all the "Z"'s that were returned (and literally EVERY Z was returned to the store) and sold them to the Princess Cruise Lines to be used as anchors for the cruise ships. Would only take two or three to stop a ship load of Kathy Lee impersonators.

If this is true, it's quite possible that someday the Hoover Z will be as rare and coveted as the 1937 Air-Way Dirtmaster. I'm sure there will be someone out there who appreciates the aesthetics of the machine. It's too bad Hoover won't recondition some and sell them at a lower price point, like Oreck does.

I didn't realize that the DirtMasteR was all that rare. I have one and so does Stan Kann. So does Mike Pletcher, and several others in the club. The difference between the DirtMasteR and the Hoover Z is that the DirtMasteR actually works PROPERLY and does indeed clean, unlike the behemoth Hoover Z. It wouldn't bother me one bit to see every Hoover Z end up in the Crusher. Along with the Regina Housekeepers and all the Orecks (which actually work Better than the Hoover Z).
I bought a Hoover Z at Sears (it had been sold and returned twice) for $75. I used it once, laughed at it with a bunch of fellow club members (what a Joke), then gave it to someone I didn't like.

I have always thought the DirtMasteR was one of the rarest vintage vacs of all time, since it too had a short production run. I have never seen a DirtMasteR for sale on eBay, and only a handful of the twin-motor AirWays. I have several straight-suction models and one twin-motor in my collection but sadly, it's useless because the seller didn't do such a good job packing it, and the swivel coupler (which seems like some sort of pot metal) is broken. He did reimburse me for what I paid, so it wasn't a total loss. I would love to have a DirtMasteR in my collection.

We had the Hoover The One introduced in 2004, which sounds very like the UK equivalent of the Z. It was ripped to shreds by Which? magazine (our equivalent to the Consumer's Association), for picking up only 34% of dust from carpets, and 5% from hard floors!

Since then, they've developed a reputation for numerous faults - the handle stay fails, the hose nozzle fractures, the wheels fall off, and the filter pops out. And if the filter stays in, the cleaner overheats and cuts out. It's since been replaced by modified (and much improved) versions.

I just think it's funny that both Hoover Europe and Hoover USA have both produced duds at about the same time, even though they are no longer connected!

Reminds me of the failings of the Turbomaster/Turbopower Freedom Permabag system! Another misguided attempt at modernisation...

of course, rare is relative. you could say the DM is rare, certainly more rare than a Hoover model 61. although most Hoover collectors have a 61, some might say ITS rare since you cant easily find one on ebay or a thrift store.

The DirtMasteR was made in two different versions, and they made it for almost four years. It cost less than a twin motor (Super Chief) model. It was the VERY FIRST twin fan upright in the world. Singer would later copy that feature. It was also the VERY FIRST side mounted hose for attachments (Hoover would copy that feature 2 years after the DirtMasteR launch for the 150).

Air-Way would have continued to make that machine, except for the fact that they lost the lawsuit from Hoover over the beater bars.

At the time of the DirtMasteR, Air-Way was also making the Twin Motor Super Chief, as well as the Green Godess deluxe upright (straight suction) and well as the standard straight suction upright. So, the customer had 4 uprights to chose from. Since it was the middle of depression, most of the salesmen just took in the standard $69 upright, because getting the customer to buy anyting at that time in history was like pulling teeth. In 1937, the Sanitizor was launched, and the rest, as they say, is history. Air-Way actually sold MORE Sanitizor 55's than Electrolux sold model XXX's.

Seems like whenever a vacuum comes along that's promised to be equal parts upright and canister, something gets compromised in the final product. In this case it was the hose end suction, weight and maneuverability. I think this thing actually weighs more than an Advance Carpet-Twin! As for the "self cleaning" filter, I don't see how this thing actually works because even if the filter keeps turning through that self cleaning mechanism, how is the dust going to fall out of the filter when there is still a constant pull of suction on the filter? Oh nevermind! I think too much!

I hate to admit that one of my most heinous indulgences at VCCC conventions is getting quite stoned with Ms. LaToure and philosophizing about vacuum cleaners. And at our worst we could never have dreamt up something so ridiculous and useless as the Z........

Clay:
Tell us you didn't. Until her untimely death, Miss (no Ms.) LaToure was a terrible influence on people. But she did love vacuum cleaners. In fact, she was an unofficial Hoover spokeswoman, using a Hoover model 63 in her one-woman shows. And what a woman she was. Who would have thought she would burn up in a house fire, caused by cooking something? Well, she did say she could burn down a house with her flamable personality. And she did. But while she was with us, she was a heck of a gal. Always so full of life and vigor. Always doing something (or someone) to the fullest extent possible. I hear that somewhere, burried under the rubble of her old homestead, is a basement crawl space full of the most fabulous old vacuums on earth. Maybe someday, you and I can go excavating.

Recently, it was revealed that an underground tunnel runs from under the pantry staircase of my house to Ida Corwin's in Chicago. This is where I have hidden vacuums from my spouse for years.

I would never have mentioned this until Charlotte Hollis in Wilmington spilled the beans to several blabbery people. You can only imagine the horror and chagrin I have had to face.

That tunnel has been crawling with vacuum treasures for quite a number of years now that only Ida and I know about. Dozens of Air-Way Dirtmasters, Chiefs and Scouts line part of it. There are Hoover model O's, and Hoover Babys. Why at least one 1/2 acre is nothing but pristine GE Rolleasys. They are next to 10 feet of Hoover 972's new in the box.

Anyway, during the initial excavation, I came across the remains of Ms. Roxie LaToure! She was brought back from the dead with some motor oil and an electric current from a Kirby Omega that caught fire from continous operation.

Last seen, Ms. LaToure was still roaming that tunnel wearing a somewhat dirty and burned French maid's uniform and humming the famous Donna Summer song, "She Works Hard For The Money." A green Hoover 69 handle grip has been permanently burned into her hand from the Kirby fire-----the rubber melted into her.

When I walk the tunnel from Charlotte to Chicago I keep my eyes wide open on the lookout for her. In her good hand she is wielding a Filter Queen one piece curved wand from a Majestic Triple Crown and has vengence on her mind.

Now you know the story and have been forwarned.

Charlie:
I also understand that she is quite 'brute-a-full'. A somewhat hard looking, and rather large gal, with her womped up hair and those awful tattoos on her arms. And she DID fancy herself to be a french maid, at least that's what she told her dozens of 'clients'. She was a 'full figured' lady, shopping for her designer gowns at the Goodwill. I once saw her throw a Hoover PortaPower at a clerk at the Ace Hardware, because they didn't carry her 'shade' of pantyhose. What a temper she had. But ultimately, before her untimely death, she managed to touch many lives. A kind, and giving young lady, she would give, and give, and give some more, until it hurt. Everyone loved her, and she is sorely missed. Maybe one day, at one of the conventions, we can can lure her out of her crawlspace and ask her to perform her signature one-woman show for us again. She does, indeed, work HARD for the money.

Tom,

You are generous of spirit when it comes to Roxie. I do hope we can lure her from the tunnel at some point so she can once again entertain her minions in the club.

Interesting about the Hoover Port-A-Power. Did she learn this tossing skill at the famous, "Clay Floyd's Professinal Vac Store & Charm School?" I understand that Molly Garcia was first in her class there one year.

I'm sure she has lost weight skulking about that tunnel. And, I did see her sewing together a Bison cloth bag with a Kirby Classic III plaid bag. This combo would make a fabulous house dress. Now for some cute kind of hat.............maybe I could toss the top half of a green Compact down there and she could make a helmet ala R. J. when he was the Hoover police with the model 28 motor cover on his head.

Good old Roxie. What a woman!

Charlie:
We definately need to invite her to next year's meeting in Omaha. I'm sure that, with a record player and a large flashlight, she'd feel like she was on the broadway stage. She could perform her hits "Love Only Hurts For a Little While" and "It Should Have Been Me". Now, if only Max Factor still made sky blue eye shadow....

Well I bit the bullet and bought a Hoover Z700 today from a Ebay seller on a bin. So I will see when it arrives my thoughts on it. the only thing I heard negitive about it the mini power head really doesn't work well on it as the vacuum didn't have enough suction to properly run it. but the mini power head works extremely well with the New constellion. I do agree too that this Z will become a very rare vacuum cleaner and that's another reason I bought it too.

Skip...

And that's exactly the reason why I bought mine off eBay as well :-) Glad to see someone thinks as I do. I received mine (a Z700) just before Christmas. Somehow, the telescopic wand disappeared during shipping, so I ordered a new one from Hoover. I will agree, it's very heavy and difficult to maneuver. It does, however clean very well. I find the mini turbo tool to do a satisfactory job (it works about the same as a Windtunnel). I don't think I'll be using it as my daily driver, though. Maybe if I lived in a ranch....