Thread Number: 1101
Lady Luck has paid me a visit!! 		[Down to Last]

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Post# 11070   3/18/2007 at 21:56 (6,240 days old) by vacuumkid3 ()        

Greetings to all!

My friend Toby, a vacuum cleaner collector, was kind enough to invite me over to his beautiful house in Jefferson, GA. He has around 100 vacuums, 2 in his room (Lewyt Electronic and GE Roll-Easy) with all the others being in his insulated shed. Anyways...we had a great lunch at a great BBQ place about 10 miles down the road. After lunch, I got to go on the BIG TOUR!! He told me that before I came that he had a few surprises for me. I could hardly imagine what they would be. But...before I could tour the shed, he brought out a very special machine...a BISON CENTURION!! And it was for me!! He has all of the attachments for it, too! He had plenty of vacuums he was saving for me, including a Hoover 105 Special (factory reconditioned) and a Hoover Constellation. My dad would only let me take 3 home, and those were the ones. All of them work PERFECTLY! So...here are some pictures for ya'll to enjoy!

~~K~~ :-D

Post# 11071 , Reply# 1   3/18/2007 at 22:01 (6,240 days old) by vacuumkid3 ()        

I have since cleaned up the Hoover 105. Can someone tell me anything about this one? Does anyone have any pictures of the correct bag/in general? I'd love to see someone else's. I got some attachments for my Air-Way as well as some bags. He also gave me an Electrolux PN-1 power nozzle. Toby is the lucky owner of a Lewyt 40/44 (I can't remember) in its original box, a Model B Rexair in its original box (and attachments!!), a GE Swivel Top in its original box, and a Bison Mark III in ITS ORIGINAL BOX!! Wowzers! He has quite a collection! All of his vacuums are in working condition! Anyways...here are some more pictures!

~~K~~

P.S. Yes, that is a microscope in front of the Constellation. And YES! That is my newly restored model B Rexair without the cord...(gotta get me another one!)

Post# 11072 , Reply# 2   3/18/2007 at 22:03 (6,240 days old) by vacuumkid3 ()        

Here is the nameplate to the Hoover 105.

~~K~~

Post# 11073 , Reply# 3   3/18/2007 at 22:05 (6,240 days old) by vacuumkid3 ()        

Here is HIS collection! In the center of the picture you can see the two boxes of the Model B!! I got to see the vacuum and the attachments! They are great! Tip-top shape, as expected! :-D

~~K~~

Post# 11074 , Reply# 4   3/18/2007 at 22:09 (6,240 days old) by vacuumkid3 ()        

Here are a few Air-Ways he has...and yes, that is the NIB Lewyt I was referring to! Neat little box, isn't it? Alrighty...I think that is enough pictures for now! :-D

~~K~~

Post# 11075 , Reply# 5   3/18/2007 at 22:12 (6,240 days old) by vacuumkid3 ()        

Ok, ok...just ONE more! ;-)

This is my little "display" of my Bison! It is in my room so I can admire (and smile) every night! :-D Just kidding...not to admire...or is it?? :-D

~~K~~

Post# 11083 , Reply# 6   3/19/2007 at 07:41 (6,240 days old) by hoover1060 ()        
very cool

 Congrats Kyle, especially on the Bison, those are rare birds!
Fred N has one of those Bison's, fun to play with for sure!

Post# 11101 , Reply# 7   3/19/2007 at 16:20 (6,239 days old) by myhooverco ()        

Kyle...

Your 105 Hoover dates from 1920 originally. However when it was reconditioned here in North Canton, there was another date stamped on the bottom. It will be a month and a year. The original bag was a silver or dirty looking white bag that was round. The "special" bag that was added upon reconditioning said on it "Hoover Special" and they made many varieties of that bag. Your "Special" machine would have had a green bag probably with white lettering. The Special models were produced from the late 20's to the early 50's and were sold in the $40 range. They were an inexpensive alternative to a brand new Hoover. The program was discontinued when the model 12 Lark came out. Hoover realized that they should just make a cheaper cleaner instead of fooling around with ancient machines and all of those different parts and accessories. The 105 was the oldest machine that Hoover would recondition. It is possible to find everything from your 105 to a model 28 or 61 that has been reconditioned. Buffalo Joe in New York has a reconditioned model 60 which is the newest one that I have ever seen. Hoover wanted your Hoover trade and paid you for it when you bought a new machine. This way they could recondition it and resell it for profit.

Congrats on all of your great finds. I like your 105 the best though. Thanks for the pix!!!

--Tom

Post# 11103 , Reply# 8   3/19/2007 at 16:50 (6,239 days old) by rexaircollector (Loganville, GA)        
Kyle

 VERY nice!! Those Bisons are different. I have only seen the green model in person but never the brown. Enjoy.

Robb

Post# 11104 , Reply# 9   3/19/2007 at 17:49 (6,239 days old) by ohio_tuec ()        
Not Quite True....

 I do have a Hoover Special model 102, which was the predecessor to the 105. Unfortunately, I bought that machine and a 105 Special on eBay, and both arrived without handles. Do you know anywhere I could locate a spare? If nothing else, I would like to have my 102 complete as it's the oldest in my Hoover collection. I guess as the years went on, it got harder and harder to sell the older specials. I mean, after all, even in the early '50's a 102 looked antiquated. Did Hoover ever offer these early specials to accept paper bags?

Post# 11106 , Reply# 10   3/19/2007 at 18:11 (6,239 days old) by vinvac (Dubuque IA)        
Congratulations!!

 vinvac's profile picture
Kyle,

I love that Bison... well I love all of the vacuums you came home with.

Your friend has a wonderful collection. Perhaps we can get more picturs posted.

Morgan

Post# 11107 , Reply# 11   3/19/2007 at 19:43 (6,239 days old) by vacuumkid3 ()        

Well, thank you all! I do enjoy them all myself! :-P Tom, do you have a bag that I could make mine original with? It has the slider bar on the handle that the bag could slide with. Is that original? I would LOVE to make mine as original as possible, minus the cord. I will go with some level of safety on a machine this old. Also, the brush roll is of the wrong model. Does anyone have a brush roll in good shape that works for this machine? The brushes, minus the ones on the ends, are in FANTASTIC condition! It has been rebristled. The belt is very small but I got it to fit. The age of the machine is: "7 37" so I'd say it is from 1937. Still, since the machine was originally made in the 1920s, I can brag to my brother that my oldest vacuum beats his oldest pen from the 1930s. :-D And if he insists upon it not counting, I still have a Kodak A-1 Autographic which is from the 1900s for sure.
I digress...back to the vacuum! Does the switch box goes on the left or right side? I can't remember when I took it apart. My guess is if you are looking at it from the front, it goes on the right. The switch box top part is black, while the bottom part is white. The top is plastic, which is chipped so severely that it is exposing the wires. Does anyone have a replacement? Also, the motor runs slowly. Anyways...Does anyone have a picture of this oldie? Thanks again!

~~K~~

Post# 11108 , Reply# 12   3/19/2007 at 19:50 (6,239 days old) by vacuumkid3 ()        
More pictures??

 Well, here you are! More of his collection! He has a lot of goodies!

Post# 11109 , Reply# 13   3/19/2007 at 19:51 (6,239 days old) by vacuumkid3 ()        

He has the same two Lewyts I have! The Golden (it is in shipping right now, I think...or hope...) and the Leader! Very ironic, indeed!

Post# 11110 , Reply# 14   3/19/2007 at 19:52 (6,239 days old) by vacuumkid3 ()        

Oh, boy! More pictures!

Post# 11111 , Reply# 15   3/19/2007 at 19:53 (6,239 days old) by vacuumkid3 ()        

You guessed it! MORE PICTURES!!!

Post# 11112 , Reply# 16   3/19/2007 at 19:54 (6,239 days old) by vacuumkid3 ()        

YAY!! MORE IMAGES!!

Post# 11113 , Reply# 17   3/19/2007 at 19:55 (6,239 days old) by vacuumkid3 ()        

Must I explain? :-D

Post# 11114 , Reply# 18   3/19/2007 at 20:10 (6,239 days old) by vacuumkid3 ()        

Does anyone have any other ideas for what to put here?

Post# 11115 , Reply# 19   3/19/2007 at 20:11 (6,239 days old) by vacuumkid3 ()        

Ok...this is most tiring! LOL!

Post# 11116 , Reply# 20   3/19/2007 at 20:12 (6,239 days old) by vacuumkid3 ()        

Grr... :-D

Post# 11117 , Reply# 21   3/19/2007 at 20:13 (6,239 days old) by vacuumkid3 ()        

MEOW!! LOL! Exciting!

Post# 11118 , Reply# 22   3/19/2007 at 20:14 (6,239 days old) by vacuumkid3 ()        

I think I am going to go crazy!! Ok...enough with the silly captions...they are unnecessary, right? :-D

Post# 11119 , Reply# 23   3/19/2007 at 20:15 (6,239 days old) by vacuumkid3 ()        

Last one...I think...

Post# 11120 , Reply# 24   3/19/2007 at 20:15 (6,239 days old) by vacuumkid3 ()        

Nope...HERE it is!

Post# 11121 , Reply# 25   3/19/2007 at 20:16 (6,239 days old) by myhooverco ()        

Karl...you are right about the 102 my bad! There was some but very little difference between the two models. The 105 introduced the tilting bar for the handle and the 102 did not have that feature. Some 102s could have the Robbins and Meyers motors too.

Here is a shot of my "regular" 105 that has not been rebuilt by the company. I made the bag and the cord is not original at all. The switch has been replaced because it is plastic. The original switch would have had a metal top to it but located in the same place.

--Tom

Post# 11122 , Reply# 26   3/19/2007 at 20:19 (6,239 days old) by myhooverco ()        

Here is the top view of the motor which is made by Hoover. These are just sleeve bearing motors which makes them open to build up in the bearings. Try to add a little oil to the top and bottom bearing to see if it will speed up. There is also an adjustment that you can make to the motor. I have done it but it is a little complicated. These motors do turn slower than modern machines so it may seem as if your motor is "broken". In reality they just turned slower and used a larger fan to compensate for that.

Post# 11123 , Reply# 27   3/19/2007 at 20:21 (6,239 days old) by myhooverco ()        

This is the tag on my machine. It reads "The Hoover Suction Sweeper Company". The name was not officially changed until Boss Hoover's son became president in 1922 at which point it became simply known as the Hoover Company. This one is made after 1919 when the town went from "New Berlin" to "North Canton" officially. This machine is a North Canton machine.

Post# 11124 , Reply# 28   3/19/2007 at 20:23 (6,239 days old) by myhooverco ()        

This is the underside...these were still sand cast. The next machine the 541 would be die cast which made them faster and cheaper. The 105 still relied on the converter over the brush roll set up for the tools. The 541 would allow the customer to put the converter right over the fan for greater suction. The brush on this one is right for the machine but very worn down. These machines just hum along cleaning rugs. The beater bar version of the late 20's was better in my opinion.

--Tom

Post# 11125 , Reply# 29   3/19/2007 at 20:36 (6,239 days old) by vacuumkid3 ()        

Oh, wonderful, Tom!! Yours really looks great! Oil did not do the trick, but you are right about it being slow in general. Would you happen to have an extra brush roll? Even in not-so-good shape? And you said that the switch cover YOU don't even have? Thanks again, Tom! If I need any Hoover questions answered, I know who to ask! ;-)

~~K~~

P.S. Please email me about what I can do to the motor! I'd love to do it! Thanks!

Post# 11126 , Reply# 30   3/19/2007 at 20:38 (6,239 days old) by vacuumkid3 ()        

OH!! I nearly forgot! Does the switch go on the right or left side when looking at the machine from the front? The last picture --I-- posted shows both Hoovers with the switch on the right, but your pictures shows the switch being on the left. Which is correct for the machine? Thanks again!

~~K~~

Post# 11127 , Reply# 31   3/19/2007 at 20:57 (6,239 days old) by myhooverco ()        

Kyle...

You do not have a choice on the matter. I think that they were made both ways if you ask me. The switch is cast as part of the base of the motor on mine.

--Tom

Post# 11129 , Reply# 32   3/19/2007 at 21:04 (6,239 days old) by hoover28 (Oneida N.Y.)        

Kyle I enjoyed the pictures veary much I see several vacuums I have in my vacuum cllection to.


chris

Post# 11143 , Reply# 33   3/19/2007 at 22:39 (6,239 days old) by vacuumkid3 ()        

Hey Tom!

Don't you mean "I DO have a choice on the matter"? You said that it could go both ways...just checking. Now that I look at your machine next to mine, the two top screws on the motor are parallel to the front of the vacuum. So...the motor must have been made two ways...left and right! A somewhat perplexing mystery! Ahh, but it really doesn't matter after all...I will let it go! :-D

So, Tom...what spare parts in the way of the 105 do you have? If I could purchase a brush roll, the top switch cover, and a screw for the switch cover, would that be all right? I think those are the only things I need.

Could you email me about the motor and how to change the speed? I'd love to "rev it up" a notch! That is, as long as it would do no harm to the motor as well as that it can be reversed if necessary.

And just ONE last thing...(sorry for asking so much! I am just an inquisitive kid!) How do I reblacken the handle? Just to make it look pretty! Simply enamel paint? Thanks SO much Tom!

And Chris! No problem about the pictures! My pleasure! He has a few vacuums that I have, like the Lewyt Leader, Lewyt Golden, Rexair model B, Rainbow D chrome top (but his has the power nozzle...mine doesn't), Air-Way 88 (I have the Mark II; he just has the 88), GE Roll-Easy, GE Swivel-Top...he has a similar model to mine, Electrolux AE, Electrolux L, Bison, although he has the Mark III; I have the Centurion...I think that is about it! He has the elusive RED Royal canister that many desire, I believe! Although his has wheels...are they equally as desirable? Anyways...enough said! He has a lot of good ones! :-D

~~K~~

Post# 11147 , Reply# 34   3/19/2007 at 23:06 (6,239 days old) by hygiene903 (Galion, OH)        
Kyle,

 hygiene903's profile picture
Sounds like it was your lucky day. Looks like Toby has a fine collection, and sent you home with some great treasures to add to yours. Thanks for sharing the pictures, and congratulations!
Jeff

Post# 11149 , Reply# 35   3/19/2007 at 23:14 (6,239 days old) by bisonian (Where the buffalo roamed! (Ocala, FL))        

Kyle, great pics.

Congratulations on the Bison. I have two green ones, a Mark I and a Mark II, although only the Mark II runs. I'm still looking for a Centurion, and I live three miles from the plant where they were made!

Rick

Post# 11151 , Reply# 36   3/19/2007 at 23:23 (6,239 days old) by vacjwt ()        
grate finds

I never liked bisons but they are very very very hard to find thay vacuum very good but I just never liked the way thay look my frend has one I have bin around it since I was 3 I liked evry vacuum but that one it allways looked evil to me and I know it sonds nuts but I still find it creepy today

Post# 11155 , Reply# 37   3/19/2007 at 23:48 (6,239 days old) by bisonian (Where the buffalo roamed! (Ocala, FL))        

Yeah, there's a certain menacing look to the Bisons, like they're a Kirby's evil twin, or maybe something out of a Stephen King novel.

If you ever want to have a little fun with your neighbors, take one outside on a nice warm day when people are out and run the speed control up and down a few times. The thing's so loud, they're liable to think it's a jet crashing into your street.

Post# 11173 , Reply# 38   3/20/2007 at 16:08 (6,238 days old) by myhooverco ()        

Kyle...

I do not have much for the older models. I will check but I probably do not have anything worthy of display at this point...it does not mean that I won't find one in the trash tomorrow though! You just never know when one of these older models will come out of the wood work. I would paint the handle with spray paint but sand it first. I bet your running 105 is at its peak now. I do know that there is an adjustment but I won't gaurantee that it will help much. When the beater bar machines came out, then they beefed up the motors a bit. Again great pictures!

--Tom

Post# 11175 , Reply# 39   3/20/2007 at 17:07 (6,238 days old) by vacuumkid3 ()        

Rick, I completely agree about the "evil twin to the Kirby!" They definitely look like it!

Thank you for planning on looking, Tom! Probably right about the peak power of the 105. But that is ok! I like the way it sounds and operates! Could you PLEASE tell me the adjustment? I would love to try it (maybe)! No problem at all about the pictures!

~~K~~


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