Hey everyone...I'm working on my website at the moment, I'm trying to make an accurate record of Hoover's early history, and I have a couple of questions:

What year did Model O production stop, and what took over from it?

Currently, the years between 1908 and 1919 are a bit of a blur to me! I know at sometime during these years, there was a Hoover Baby 103, Special, Model N, Model 102, Junior and Senior...can anyone put these in order for me, and better still, provide rough production dates? Also, if anyone has pictures of any of these models, it would be very helpful!

Thanks guys!

Jack

PS - The link below shows how I have things worked out at the moment...very vague!

The early Hoover history is a bit fuzzy. They were not standardized yet and they were hand made one at a time. Each one I dare say was slightly different than the other. We are talking about wood after all! The model O was produced until 1909 and an "improved" version was available in 1909. Beginning in 1909 they developed a R+D program which made for more models. In 1909 the Senior side outlet was made until 1916. A model 2 was produced in 1909 as well. In 1910 the model 1 was built until 1912 when the model 1 improved was made. The 10 inch Junior models were built beginning in 1913. Then there are the "baby" models. There was a friction drive baby built from 1913-1915 and a baby model C built from 1916 to 1920 not to be confused with the 103 baby from 1920-25. The special models began in 1914 and ultimately became the Hoover cleaner that we all love. The special model "N" was introduced in 1916-19. It was replaced by the model 102 in 1919-1920.

Those early years used many different designs and used many different types of materials. One of the most important design changes was moving the wheels behind the agitator. I am not sure if it happened on the model O improved or the models 1 and 2. They were playing around with the sand casting which was a huge improvement over the wood. At some point Robbins and Myers took over building their motors. Hoover began building their own electric motors in 1919. The main challenge was to lighten the weight of the cleaner which they effectively did with the Special models and the Baby models. Even the "junior" models were a beast to use because of the heaviness of the machine. It was still easier to push around 40 pounds than it was to take out that rug and beat it on a line!

I wish that I had photos of these models. Some of these cleaners still exist at the Hoover Historical Center. The rarity of these early machines adds to the confusing nature of the company's beginning years. Not to mention that records are difficult to find.

Does anyone else have anything to add?

--Tom

Tom - I'm hugely grateful for your input, you've helped me enormously!

That's the main reason I'm creating this section of my website - to clear up the fuzziness! I'd love to be able to provide other collectors with a single, reliable resource for information, but it's not very easy when so little information is currently available - it doesn't help being on the other side of the Atlantic from where it all happened, either!

So many thanks once again, and does anyone else have anything to add?

There is this cleaner, pity the photo's so small - and I think it may be the same one which can be seen in the background of the Model O's 'See It Clean' video...I wonder which one this would be...

Then there was this leaflet on eBay a while back, which I was outbid on...it shows the Baby, Special, Junior and Senior - if anyone has a copy of this leaflet, I'd be very grateful if you had any scans I could use!

Oops,was wrong about the cleaner in the small photo above...the one in the Model 0 video has a much smaller cleaning path - making it a Junior, perhaps?

Wow, this is confusing!

Then there's this one - the badge denotes it as a 'Special'...and it's not the same Special which became the standard-size Hoover, either, so it must be an early version...

This is like trying to put together a jigsaw puzzle when most of the pieces are missing!

The "special" in the last photo is of a very early version I am not sure of the date. The "special" in the leaflet is a model "N" special. The special above predates it by at least two years. The leaflet dates from about 1916-17 I would say. I would be more than happy to help you with your site. I viewed it yesterday and I think it will turn out great! This early stuff is very interesting too don't you think? Email me privately and I will be happy to scan some things for you.

--Tom

Hi there Tom, I emailed you last week - just wondering if you got it or not, because I've been having some trouble with emails recently!

Vintage Hoover...I emailed you tonight...see if it came through. Otherwise I will try again.

--Tom

In picture above is this your Hoover? If so is your switch on the back of the machine? I have one that is why I am asking...Tom G. and Clay do you remember? Mine came with a screw in plug which I still have it one there, I have a light bulb adaptor to run it with.


David

Nope, it's not mine (although I'd love one!!) - I believe that photo was taken at Stan Kann's house (you can see his 972 in the background!)