I picked this up today with all its tools for $20.00. I am assuming it is a newer than 1980 model, because of the strange hose and the chrome wands on it. It has a pretty good pick up, and is my first PortaPower. The hose is ultra short, and the orange heavy duty cord is ultra long.

Ah i've got one of these, but it's (of course) a UK domestic model, cream colour with "Portapower" in orange with "Hoover in dark brown" which amusingly was pretty much the 1980s European Hoover Commercial colour scheme.

Not as complete as yours mind, I use the hose on my Dial A Matic as the Portapower hose uses the same coupler.

Ian

Nice find, those chrome wands are so much nicer than the alumuminum and/or plastic ones. Not sure when they stopped those, was after 1980 I'm pretty sure. You got the shoulder strap with it too eh

I had just returned from a wonderful trip to Virginia for a reunion, and my handlers wouldn't let me buy anything. To counter the heartbreak, I went shopping today and got the Hoover at The Mustard Seed. I can't say enough about that place. I'll be looking for more.

That porta-power is a nice find. Hoover still sells that commercial model, so that one may not be too old. Did you get the reusable cloth bag with it? They work fine unless you have pet hair to deal with. I believe the vac suppliers sell these for around $120.00 so you got a great deal!

Oh I did't know they still sold them. One of the two regular Porta powers I got this past week is missing its inner cloth bag...

Yes, my Portapower has the cloth bag. It has the worst dusting brush/corner cleaner piece I've ever seen. I'm going to upgrade. I (temporarily) have 8 extra cats with about 4 months worth of hair to clean, and it lost suction rather quickly during its test run. Fortunately it's not the primary cleaner. The hose is a short, rubbery job that handles like a Slinky.

those are very nice, IMO. similar to the compact Oreck canister that everyone pays big bucks for, but more powerful and more durable.

most any respectable vac shop will sell the replacement cloth bags for around 10 dollars. you can also get the cloth bag on eBay. you can also get a handy little gizmo that allows the use of fit-all tools.

Hoover has been making this cleaner for over 35 years!

I definately want the home model, also. It looks to have a better hose, for starters.

Yes, Hoover came out with the Swingette model 404 in 1970. It originally used a DAM motor until the early 1980s. They would take off the hose and stick the entire unit to a wall and it would stay there defying gravity. Hoover renamed it Porta Power sometime in 1975 or 1976. There were only two Swingette models the orange 404 like in the above ad and the yellow doored 409. The first Porta Power was white with blue and red stripes. The Porta Power is still available and it is still a very good unit much much better than the Oreck version. I would not be surprised if Hoover made the Oreck version at some point in history. So for an old design, it still looks good today. Congrats on the find.

--Tom

Just dug this up. It's nice to know they are still putting out old type products.

Yes, Tom you're sure right about that. In the mid-1970's Hoover DID make the PortaPower/Swingette for Oreck, and Oreck simply put their name on it. Oreck called it the PowerPak, I have one such machine. The unit is all black with a white door, and the attachments lack the Hoover logo.

Have one of the Commercial Hoover Porta-Powers here at work.Used it to vacuum burned tube socket parts out of one of the transmitters.Also used it to vacuum glass from a blown cap out of another.Its handy when you have to be on a ladder.Have to replace the tiny paper bag frequently though.Glad they have a CASE of 'em here!Have found the machine PACKED with copier-printer toner!

The Webmaster

At the little grade school in Summerfield, IL, where I went to 5th and 6th grade, they used one to clean erasers (maybe not a good idea). I'm pretty sure it was white with red accents. That was 1986, and it seemed to be in well-used condition at the time.

That's an interesting application for a Portapower. I wonder how long it lasted.

I miss my heavy Duty porta power
I threw it away what was I thinking. that machine put up with a lot of hell from the previous owner of the machine. I would have fixed it but it was too old. it also was orange with a 55 foot heavy duty corv. Man soo many good memories with that machine. it was one of the best. also they use use them on the celebrity cruise ship The Zenith

I miss my heavy Duty porta power
I threw it away what was I thinking. that machine put up with a lot of hell from the previous owner of the machine. I would have fixed it but it was too old. it also was orange with a 55 foot heavy duty corv. Man soo many good memories with that machine. it was one of the best. also they use use them on the celebrity cruise ship The Zenith

Would you pay $176.00 for this vacuum? That is the actual retail price through a janitorial service online. It could be had at a discount of about $30.00 at the same place.

We sold those at the Hoover store for $126.

I think employee/dealer cost was $86.

~Fred

Trust me-I wouldn't pay $176.00 for a big vacuum. Yes, I saw a listing for $126.00 on the Hoover site. That seems steep too. I got mine for $20.00.