So this package arrived today from North Canton. I was not expecting anything, but man was I surprised when I opened the box and viewed the contents!
SO without further delays, meet model U7047, serial number 0001116, born on April 24, 1978.

Thanks Tom for the awesome Christmas present, and for all that you've done for me over the past 8 years. It is an honor to call you my friend!

I felt paper in the bag. Behold it was the owners manual! WOO HOO!

I love the black bag! This color scheme debuted in 1975, replacing models 344/348.

totally cool!

with the bottom plate removed, and the very stretched out 29 year old belt!
This would also be an early 4-brush model too!

of it running. This machine will see minimal use, I want to keep it just as it is.
I did fire it up to hear it, after being silent for almost 30 years it deserves to be heard and run a bit. There was some bearing noise for a few seconds, and then everything smoothed out and it runs beautifully!

Click on the link to hear this beauty run!

AMAZING Jeff. C-O-N-G-R-A-T-S!!!

Use her nice. LOL

I was managing a Jo-Ann fabric store back in 1978 and I killed a GE upright. Sent it back to Cleveland to Jo-Ann's
warehouse and they sent the store a brand new Hoover just
like yours. It was in the summer of 1978. I loved that
Hoover Commercial so much more then the GE household vac.
Enjoy your awesome gift!
Norm

That is a lovely Hoover... and it has "Carpet Groomer"!!

I used to have that same model. One of my costomers gave it to me because she never vacuumed (she had wall to wall carpeting but never used a vacuum) YUCK!!! anyhow the vacuum was in very bad condition (she found it in the trash) I saved what I could and had to trash the rest. I saved the motor, hood, and cord.

because they are so rare!!!
There is special significance with this model for Tom & I..."Oh Virginia its time for a new depends now dear...!"

David the carpet groomer was the 4-brush agitator, which I believe to have been a new thing for this model.
Funny they had a separate owners manual for it...

Hoover's Commercial models are always such nice looking machines. You and Tom are so fortunate to be in posession of such fantastic pieces of Hoover history.

Alan, you are correct. IMO Hoover's heavy and lightweight commercial machines of this era are gorgeous! This one with its painted black handle and glamour-bag is really nice.

I wonder exactly when Hoover started to notice and react to Eurekas popularity in the commercial upright arena. Perhaps "Carpet Groomer" was influenced by Eurekas Vibra Groomer? And still no dirt pocket!?!

What's not to love? They look so formal in black and grey trim. The orange is rather Halloweenesque, but not overdone fortunately.

I think this cleaner came along as Hoover's share of the commercial market was fast shrinking. I don't remember seeing too many of these in use, in comparison to the older models 334-344-348 and the 913-918 which were all over.
Eureka's commercial cleaners really took off when they came out with the 6.5 amp motor...
The carpet groomer was for short pile rugs and runners, glued down stuff. It worked very well.

Jeff...

Glad you liked the cleaner. You need a little piece of the vault for your fab collection. I know that this piece of North Canton history has a very good home with you. The commercial cleaners especially the vintage ones are just non-existent these days. Hoover really seemed to just give up on this market. I have the sister to this model that Jeff and I found some years ago. Jeff made some ole dame very happy that day! Virginia indeed needed a depends change after our visit to her shop!!!

By the way, Jeff, I really like the black bag on that machine. It really sets off the color scheme better. The red Hoover lettering looks right at home on it.

The best part is that you found the instruction booklet in the bag! Enjoy!!!!

--Tom


Oh did you convert it to use type C bags yet???

Thats VERY cool !!

Seamus

P.S I see one of a certain persons followers has commented on the video- dont ya feel sorry for the sad jeallous tw@t lol!!!

That's a neat cleaner Jeff. I've always loved Hoover's commercial line. I guess it's because I envision them being used in a posh hotel cleaning beautiful rugs.

I installed a tube and bag even before the maiden run, I don't want to dirty the cloth bag at all.

Seamus: what comments? What am I missing? Maybe you'd better email me...

Now for the story behind this model: I think it was 5 years ago when Tom was here on a visit. We walked into the Marklund Resale shop over in Addison and sitting just inside the doorway to the back room was one of these commercial cleaners. We both shrieked at the sight, and proceeded to seek out a store employee to get us that cleaner. Well the person who would make the descision was Virginia, a cantankerous old woman working the front register. At first she said "Not for sale"...Then I made her an offer she could not refuse. I think she did pee herself too!
The end result was that we saved a cleaner that might otherwise have been used to clean the store some, then just tossed when it broke.

Jeff...I will never forget that day. The machine that I still have was sitting next to the Coke machine in the employee breakroom. It was just a matter of time before the bag got full and it was thrown out. We really did save a great machine that day. Yes, Virginia, vacuums are collectible and have a real following! They are not just for sweeping thrift stores anymore!

--Tom