Hey Guys

Am I seeing things or does it have a square section handle???

Im guessing its a model 60? would love to see a close up of the handle top/release if anyone has one ;)

Seamus

I second that Seamus, I'd never heard of this feature until I saw the video in the 'see it clean' section...

and i though the model 60 used the handisac-style bag. all of the images of the 60 ive seen recently seem to have a shakeout bag?

I just got a hoover model 61 i love it it is so quite and easy to push!!!

Kyle

Yes the VOD is a model 60, and the one pictured features the shakeout rather than the Handisac(Hygenisac) bag. Model 60 was a totally new cleaner for 1940, designed "without protruding knob or gadget" by Henry Dreyfuss.
I should have noted it for the "see it clean" video that the model 60 in the HHC also has the shakeout bag rather than the disposable.
Model 60 did have a square handle with the handle release lever on the side of the grip, easily operated by the thumb. It was clever, but not very good as there were problems.
Attached are some pictures of my model 60, the poor thing had been painted badly at least once in its life before it came to me, so I totally stripped everything off the base and handle and repainted it with automobile paint. The end result looks pretty good, and darn close to what it would have originally, save for the shiny finish.
Here is the glam shot:

on the upper handle...
This originally featured a long rubber upper handle with "HOOVER" embossed in it, such as on the previous model 150

with my thumb...
The handle release and on/off switch were within easy reach of each other anc could be operated while holding the grip...

Great pics Jeff! Your machine looks great...you are modest! The paint on it is superb as I have seen it in person. The handle grips on all of them just rotted away from the oils in the skin. The thumb latch was not as sturdy as Hoover had hoped so they went with the cost reduction on the 61 and also improved quality as well. Jeff is right, at the Hoover Historical Center the model 60 has the optional (at slight additional cost) dump bag. The standard bag was the Hygienesac reusable paper filters. I think the Hygeinesac was available on other models...does anyone know for sure? I know that you could get the paper bag setup on the 28 after the war...but did any other models use this setup?

--Tom

Hygenisacs were first introduced in 1930 with the Models 575 and 725, although I don't think they became popular until much later - click the link below and scroll to the bottom of the page to see a picture...