Hi everyone - I found the picture below in my computer files, I can't remember where I saved it from, although I think it may have been from someone's yahoo group photo file...anyway, I wanted to know if I could use it on my website? If the mystery photographer is among us, is it ok if I use it? It's the only picture I've found of the Model 425's flatbelt setup (one of my 425's has been converted for round-belts, the other had the flat-belt spindle but was missing the brushroll!)

I'd give you credit on the site, of course!

Thanks

Hey! That is a picture from Jeff Parker in Chicago, IL. He took that photo of his 425 sometime in 2000 so this picture has been around awhile. I am sure that he would not mind if you used it on your website.

This is a very unique design on Hoover's uprights. It was a one model only feature and it must have been troublesome for them to discontinue it so soon. I would like to talk to the engineer that came up with the flat belt idea that is now so common.

--Tom

...thanks very much for the info, I've added a slightly enhanced version of the pic to my site now, and given full credit to Jeff, although I will remove it if he wishes.

The 425 represented a lot of firsts - new chassis, new motor, new brushroll,unique baseplate/flatbelt system/tool convertor...a very interesting machine, and a favourite of mine as it was the first pre-war Hoover machine in my collection!

very nice range of ads, Jack.

Jack, great page! The 425 is another Hoover that intrigues me.

Tom, you mentioned about how the flat belt design must have been troublesome. I'm curious to see how it was troublesome, though...perhaps it was due to the vertical motor more suited for round belts? Although a lot of horizontal-motor machines use flat belts, so that really can't explain anything...

The 425 was the only upright from Hoover to use this design...the model 450 after it was more "conventional" which leads me to believe that they had trouble with the 425 design. It could be too that it was more economical to make the design uniform across the line. The round belt configuration could have been more efficient too...these are just some of my thoughts on why the flat belt disappeared so soon.

--Tom