Thread Number: 13770
best hoover vac ever made.
[Down to Last]

Vacuumland's exclusive eBay Watch:
scroll >>> for more items --- [As an eBay Partner, eBay may compensate vacuumland.org if you make a purchase using any link to eBay on this page]
Post# 146047   8/6/2011 at 16:08 (4,647 days old) by hoover1 ()        

overall what vintage hoover do you think was the best ever? I think it would be the elites.

Post# 146053 , Reply# 1   8/6/2011 at 16:48 (4,647 days old) by dwhdarren97 ()        

Personally, I would say the Convertible series. But that's kinda biased seeeing how I love the old metal Convertibles ;) .

Post# 146056 , Reply# 2   8/6/2011 at 18:40 (4,646 days old) by thevacuumman (Borger, TX)        

Hard to beat a Hoover Model 800

Post# 146057 , Reply# 3   8/6/2011 at 18:40 (4,646 days old) by Brandon_W_T ()        

The best. As in performance?

Concept or conquest in my mind.


Post# 146061 , Reply# 4   8/6/2011 at 19:23 (4,646 days old) by gottahaveahoove (Pittston, Pennsylvania, 18640)        
Convertible (metal)

gottahaveahoove's profile picture

I mean,  heck,  just pick one!


Post# 146062 , Reply# 5   8/6/2011 at 19:25 (4,646 days old) by gottahaveahoove (Pittston, Pennsylvania, 18640)        
the selection is

gottahaveahoove's profile picture

endless.  I AM partial to the 1070 and the 1076


Post# 146073 , Reply# 6   8/6/2011 at 20:50 (4,646 days old) by suckolux (Yuba City, CA)        

suckolux's profile picture
I never stop being impressed with the cleaning power of my Concept 1. Carpet only of course.

Post# 146096 , Reply# 7   8/6/2011 at 22:03 (4,646 days old) by eurekaprince (Montreal, Canada)        

eurekaprince's profile picture
It has to be the Hoover Dimension Power Nozzle canister....nicest canister design they ever came up with. Stored their great floor brush on board too!

Post# 146101 , Reply# 8   8/6/2011 at 22:08 (4,646 days old) by suckolux (Yuba City, CA)        

suckolux's profile picture
Now that was NICE! Good one.

Post# 146104 , Reply# 9   8/6/2011 at 22:20 (4,646 days old) by kenkart ()        
Absolutely!!

No comparison...a 150, if you have never used one, they are still ahead of todays vacuums in many ways...but one important one in particular, the automatic height adjustment has never been equalled yet, it is still amazing how perfectly it will adjust from one carpet to the next, and too the workmanship on a 150 is unexcelled,they put everything they had into it, and boy did they have a winner....second pick, a 63, or a Citation, I know convertibles are good and popular, but overall the 60 series is overall built a little better, but really, the most world changing machine, and to my mind the most historically significant machine is the Dial a Matic,it is the model for most modern machines today, its as good or nearly as good as most built today, and it was made nearly 50 years ago!

Post# 146109 , Reply# 10   8/6/2011 at 22:29 (4,646 days old) by kenkart ()        
BUT,,,,,

Let me say this, im 45 years old, when I was a teenager, the plastic convertibles were new, so to me they are not a vintage vacuum, and again, its just how I see things, ive always been drawn to the 50s and 60s, now if I were a teenager or young adult, it would stand to reason that I would look for machines from the 80s and 90s,but I urge the younger guys , find someone with some of the older machines,really compare them and I think you will be amazed just how really good the products were from the days of Roosevelt Truman Ike or JFK! Especially the 150 and its over 70 years old1

Post# 146115 , Reply# 11   8/6/2011 at 22:47 (4,646 days old) by magnumpi ()        

it is a tie Elite, Concept 2, Caddy Vac, Portable, and of course, The convertible

Post# 146118 , Reply# 12   8/6/2011 at 22:58 (4,646 days old) by compactelectra (Palm Springs)        
I Have To Agree With Hans

compactelectra's profile picture

The Hoover 150


Post# 146119 , Reply# 13   8/6/2011 at 23:01 (4,646 days old) by compactelectra (Palm Springs)        
But I Have

compactelectra's profile picture

A soft spot for this era as well.  Excellent product,  built to last and perform.


Post# 146120 , Reply# 14   8/6/2011 at 23:06 (4,646 days old) by suckolux (Yuba City, CA)        

suckolux's profile picture
A think of beauty there!

Post# 146208 , Reply# 15   8/7/2011 at 18:01 (4,645 days old) by vacu-finder ()        
I mean, heck, just pick one!

What a fine collection of Vacs.......!

Post# 146213 , Reply# 16   8/7/2011 at 19:29 (4,645 days old) by xraytech ()        

For meit would bethemetal base Convertibles with the 4 height adjustment.
For something more modern my vote would be for a Concept One


Post# 146244 , Reply# 17   8/7/2011 at 21:37 (4,645 days old) by floor-a-matic (somewhere)        

Model O
1100 Dial-A-Matic
33 Convertible


Post# 146258 , Reply# 18   8/7/2011 at 22:06 (4,645 days old) by vacman1961 (North Babylon, New York)        

I feel the best cleaning Hoover is the Commercial Soft Guard Model C1702-900, those machines really dig down deep in the carpet.

Post# 146268 , Reply# 19   8/8/2011 at 01:49 (4,645 days old) by BrianKirbyClass (Eudora Kansas)        

briankirbyclass's profile picture
Sorry to say but after cleaning a large 2 story house many times with wall to wall plush carpet with one, the WORST cleaning vaccum i ever used was a Hoover Dial a Matic.
With the suction path only being on one side of the brush roll, the opposite side only made the dirt and dust jump (on the no suction side),and didnt suck it away. Cleaning up to the baseboards of a room or hallway was a joke with no suction on the one side.
The strength of the suction itself was pityful, even with a fresh bag. The "Check Bag" light never worked.
The machine blew and belched dust out of its front exhaust like crazy, and the bag was a mess to take off and change. No way of holding the dirt in the bag when taking it off,(unless you lay the entire vac on its front and slowly open the back, all the while trying to undo the bag),dirt and dust always fell out and leaked out all over.
The tool suction was pityful, especially if the bag was even partially full.
I found the machine to be loud, obnoxious,clumbsy, heavy and hard to push, especially on thick carpet.
It even burned a hole in the carpet one time from standing too long while using the hose.
Not my idea of the best vacuum , but hey, to each his own! Wish we would have had a Convertible!


Post# 146337 , Reply# 20   8/8/2011 at 15:15 (4,645 days old) by gottahaveahoove (Pittston, Pennsylvania, 18640)        
Although the DAM is not my favorite oamong the HOOVERS

gottahaveahoove's profile picture

I NEVER had any of that trouble  with any of mine.  The tools work  great,  (better than our beloved Convertibles). They are great for Chinese rugs or any rug with fringe, it NEVER gets stuck. I will admit,  it doesn't "swing"  on a rug as well as the Convertible,  but, then  what cleaner DOES? It is amazing, that they

aRE the forerunner to all of these current day cleaners.  Too bad  they never "tweaked" it a bit. Suffice it to say,  if there were  a fire, (God forbid),  I'd take my 1076  before the DAM. Still like it, though.


Post# 146338 , Reply# 21   8/8/2011 at 15:23 (4,645 days old) by gottahaveahoove (Pittston, Pennsylvania, 18640)        
and, I'd NEVER "bash" another brand, I MUST s

gottahaveahoove's profile picture

I was at my cousin's house.  She  was vacuuming  with a vac   with a "ball".  She used to swear by it.  Now, she swears because of it.  That  absloutely belched dust everywhere.  She then asked me about my collection.  Hinting in a rather sarcastic manner,"How many "sweepers"  do you really have?" All I could think was, "Hmmmmmmmmmmmm, I'll have to get back to you on THAT one".If she had a brain in here head, it would be lonely.  Her first mistake  was marrying my cousin.  I'd guess another was buying that "ball". Nothing in my house, including me, belches anything.


Post# 146344 , Reply# 22   8/8/2011 at 16:54 (4,644 days old) by pinkge (Indianapolis,Indiana)        
Best cleaner would be...

the Hoover 26,27,28,then the 60 series.They were very well built and cleaned you carpets and floors.

Post# 146349 , Reply# 23   8/8/2011 at 17:13 (4,644 days old) by vacbear58 (Sutton In Ashfield & London)        
I agree with Hans & Fred

vacbear58's profile picture
In my opinion the 150 wins hands down, with the DAM a close second - both in their ways revolutionary cleaners. The 150 was not in sale here, and I have always found it odd to see with the "fork" handle but I have used my friend Jack's and it really is the most well balanced cleaner for ease of use, not to mention the suspension and other such innovations like the bag full indicator.

Al


Post# 146368 , Reply# 24   8/8/2011 at 20:26 (4,644 days old) by gottahaveahoove (Pittston, Pennsylvania, 18640)        
Alistair,

gottahaveahoove's profile picture

you are very correct.  I never ran a 150 until recently.  I ran Rick Benedikt's in CAlifornia,  then the one at The Historical Center.  For a cleaner THAT old,  it runs like a dream.  a very "comfortable" feel to it,  plus stellar performance.  Now,  if thew could make a retrp  type  cleaner modeled after it,  you'd have something.


Post# 146370 , Reply# 25   8/8/2011 at 20:56 (4,644 days old) by xraytech ()        

John,

I too have to agree about the One-Fifty cleaner. I just used one for the first time at the Historical Center on Friday, it is such a dream to use so quiet and maneuvers so well, and I'm sure gets all that deep down grit. That machine is so ahead of its time. I am now on the lookout for a One-Fifty.

Sam


Post# 146373 , Reply# 26   8/8/2011 at 21:19 (4,644 days old) by bagintheback (Flagstaff, Arizona)        

bagintheback's profile picture
Sadly, I haven't used a great number of Hoovers in my life, but the best Hoover for the consumer, I think, was definitely the Caddy Vac from the late 90s. The tools were easily accessible, had good filtration for the time, and was a great cleaner. It had a look that told you it was ready to destroy the dirt.

My grandparents owned a Caddy Vac from 1999 to 2008 and survived shag, small stones and a lot of dust. The fan needed to be replaced and the brush roll was going bad, so when I told my grandpa the price of replacement parts, they got a new vacuum. Which ended up being a 1989 Sears Hoover Convertible! I still miss the Caddy Vac.

Here's a picture of the Caddy Vac, operated by me when I was 5 years old!


Post# 146377 , Reply# 27   8/8/2011 at 21:38 (4,644 days old) by Brandon_W_T ()        

You know the 150 really wAs so far ahead of it's time.


I wish I could use a nice one. My 2 model 150s are missing bags and don't run yet. But I'm getting there. ;)


Post# 146390 , Reply# 28   8/8/2011 at 23:01 (4,644 days old) by silverlux (Des Moines, IA)        
All this '150' talk made me- - - - - -

silverlux's profile picture

Get mine out and give it a spin through the house.  I have a few different kinds of carpet in the house, and it handles them all with great ease.  No fatigue for the user, either!  It's truly a 'star' in the Hoover crown!  The second you turn it on, you know it means business.  A joy, indeed!


Post# 146391 , Reply# 29   8/8/2011 at 23:20 (4,644 days old) by vacman117 (Chicago, IL)        
For me,

vacman117's profile picture
It would be the Hoover Decade 80. It has the Power Surge feature, bright lights, long cord, air freshener, and a very sturdy feel. With all that combined makes a fantastic cleaner in my eyes.

Post# 146456 , Reply# 30   8/9/2011 at 19:51 (4,643 days old) by Air-WayCharlie (USA)        
I'm in the...................

air-waycharlie's profile picture
150 crowd. The design is perfect. The 2-speed motor is perfect. The cushion handle grip is perfect. The color scheme is perfect. The use and ease of attchments is perfect. The length of the cord is perfect. The weight is perfect. The height adjustor is perfect. The bag full indicator is perfect.

All in all, a wonderful piece of functioning artwork that holds up today......and CLEANS!

My runners up: 63,Citation 64, Slimline 66 and rare and beautiful 67.


Post# 146460 , Reply# 31   8/9/2011 at 20:06 (4,643 days old) by kenkart ()        
Charlie...

Don't you think it was much further ahead all the way around, than any other brand.

Post# 146464 , Reply# 32   8/9/2011 at 20:26 (4,643 days old) by electrolux~137 ()        

 

 

 

No offense to anyone, but I am not the huge, hope-to-die Hoover Fanatic that some people here are. And that's entirely because I saw so few of them growing up.

 

By a =huge= majority, most of the people in our area had Electroluxes. I'd say Kirbys came in second, and after that Hoover, Kenmore, Eureka, etc., and then the oddballs - Bee-Vac etc. (n.b., I never saw a single Fairfax or Compact until I moved to Los Angeles in 1980.)

 

I will say, having met Stan Kann and spending so much time with him when he lived in Hollywood, I came to appreciate Hoovers in a way I never had before, and it was in his collection that I first saw (to my recollection) a Model 150.

 

Of all the Hoovers, to me who, again, is not at all an expert or aficionado of that brand, I'd have to agree that -- all things considered -- Hoover's apex was reached with the Model 150.

 

There's really not a single fault to be found with it, whether in terms of workmanship & construction, the groundbreaking design & appearance, its gently purring motor, or its efficient performance which, as some have noted, would stand up against almost any other vacuum cleaner from any era. Even the advertising for the 150 was top-notch.


Post# 146485 , Reply# 33   8/9/2011 at 21:54 (4,643 days old) by Air-WayCharlie (USA)        

air-waycharlie's profile picture
I am at times perplexed by the advances of the Hoover 150 and the Air-Way twin motors at same, (or nearly the same), time frame.

The Dreyfuss designed Hoover 150 is, as I said is a functioning piece of art from the art deco era. It's simplicity, with wonderful performance, makes it a gem.

However, the pioneering design of the Air-Way Chief and Super Chief are right up there in terms of brillance. The fact that Air-Way had TWO motors with a beater bar type agitator and the incredible wood pulp cellulose disposable bag............well, where does one draw the line? (Hoover was shaking out cloth bags for years to come.)

Argruably, the Air-Way had more engineering but still maintained ease of use and with the hose sliding onto the hollow handle...........it was poetry in motion. I think the Hoover was better designed in terms of durability and that is why we see so many survivors today. It also had better marketing and a better sales force. Plus, the price was less than the Air-Way.

In cleaning contests at past conventions the Air-Way twin motored vacuums have tied or surpassed the Hoovers of the same era. Since the club does not differentiate between pre WWII uprights with beater bars, the Air-Way's had a competitive edge with the 2 motor system.

In terms of visual pleasure combined with design, I do think the Air-Way twin motors are unique and very much a, "one kind of machine". Put side by side in original,(or restored condition), I find the Hoover 150 and Air-Way Super Chief both just beautiful. That is why I have both and appreciate each for their uniqueness and wonderful cleaning abilities.

These two vacuums and companies will always be like comparing Cadillac and Imperial. Cadillac had the volume and survives today with a very good product line that has kept up with the changes and made it a survivor. They are now manufacuring cutting edge automobiles with innovative changes for 2012 and beyond. (Although TTI acquired Hoover and, "dumb downed", the product, the Hoover name is still VERY powerful with those making a vacuum purchase.)
Imperials were, like the high end European imports, hand made, hand built, hand crafted automobiles into the 1970's, but, were always lagging behind in sales and marketing. Ultimately, Imperial faded into the sunset like Air-Way has.

Was Hoover, "better"? That is subjective. The Imperials of yesteryear in mint shape draw huge sums of money..............as do the Air-Ways. You be the judge.

Charlie


Post# 146488 , Reply# 34   8/9/2011 at 22:12 (4,643 days old) by 1926700 ()        
i will say in responce.....

as some one once told me....Hoover used a basic formula and stuck with it for years and years, but at the same time made little adjustments and improvements. so when someone went to buy another Hoover i may be sightly better but is still was the same easy to use, and easy to maintain machine that was before it....and the Air Way might have been close or surpassed the Hoover....but the Hoover was Still so much better than other things on the market....like the Eureka Challenger, that was made to compete with the hoover head on, and Eureka believed that it could do just as good as the 150. but the 150 had a better designed fan and a better brush roll, and Eureka did not really clean as good as a Hoover till the Automatic upright was released in 1947....and Hoover certainly out cleaned Delco, GE, Westinghouse, Premiere etc.....

Post# 146515 , Reply# 35   8/10/2011 at 09:16 (4,643 days old) by Oreck_XL (Brooklyn, New York 11211)        

oreck_xl's profile picture
That's all very true, but companies like G.E., Westinghouse, Delco, etc. manufactured other electrical appliances besides vacuum cleaners, so it wasn't their main focal point. Hoover dabbled in appliances, but it was never the backbone of the company. Other makes competed with Hoover by offering vacuum cleaners in the low price field. And to an extent, it worked. I'm sure there are dozens of makes that went out business due to the depression. But for me, I'd say the best Hoover vac was the Dial-A-Matic. Despite its flaws, it was the originator of the clean air design, and the suction is adequate.

- Hershel



Forum Index:       Other Forums:                      



Comes to the Rescue!

Woops, Time to Check the Bag!!!
Either you need to change your vacuum bag or you forgot to LOG-IN?

Discuss-O-MAT Log-In



New Members
Click Here To Sign Up.



                     


automaticwasher.org home
Discuss-o-Mat Forums
Vintage Brochures, Service and Owners Manuals
Fun Vintage Washer Ephemera
See It Wash!
Video Downloads
Audio Downloads
Picture of the Day
Patent of the Day
Photos of our Collections
The Old Aberdeen Farm
Vintage Service Manuals
Vintage washer/dryer/dishwasher to sell?
Technical/service questions?
Looking for Parts?
Website related questions?
Digital Millennium Copyright Act Policy
Our Privacy Policy