Thread Number: 16928
Views on new Hoover constellation?
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Post# 180798   5/13/2012 at 12:18 (4,336 days old) by luxlover (Halifax NS Canada)        

Ive always wanted a vintage Hoover contsellation but can not find one, But i knowest on there site they still make them and i was wonder what you guys think or if you know anything about the new ones? are they worth buying? and also i heard the hoses arnt that good?

Post# 180803 , Reply# 1   5/13/2012 at 12:45 (4,336 days old) by vacman117 (Chicago, IL)        

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I really like mine. I bought it about 4 years ago from Hoover's website. It has an insane amount of suction. The tools are really great as well. I was surprised to find that it came with an actual dusting brush and a stiff bristle upholstery tool. The telescoping wand is also pretty nice. Not very many people like the turbo nozzle, but I really like it. You just have to make sure that the wand is pushed all the way into it. It also comes with a very nice bare floor brush. Not many people like the hose, but I do. The handle is very comfortable to use, and it has a suction relief. It can stretch all the way up my stairs, which I found surprising. I really only have two complaints: since the exhaust shoots out the bottom, it blows my kitchen rugs upside down, and it shoots pet hair and dirt all around bare floors.

Hope that helps,
Chase


Post# 180837 , Reply# 2   5/13/2012 at 17:03 (4,336 days old) by director12 ()        

I found it obnoxious that Hoover wouldn't add a power nozzle to the Constellation.

Post# 180839 , Reply# 3   5/13/2012 at 17:13 (4,336 days old) by twocvbloke ()        

From speaking to a couple of people who have had them in the past, they're good at invading your personal space, thanks to the stretch-hose, so unless you like bruised shins, I'd avoid it... :\

Plus, there's the problem of the hovering bit that made it unique, it blows all the loose, fluffy dirt about on hard floors before you can get to it, so that's quite a drawback, and there's the turbo-nozzle which can clog up pretty easily, and not actually pick up much (hence the need for a Power nozzle, which doesn't restrict the airflow to power a turbine)...

So, as a novelty, yeah, maybe, but as a serious vacuum for proper cleaning, there are better makes and models...


Post# 180877 , Reply# 4   5/14/2012 at 02:42 (4,336 days old) by jmurray01 (Scotland)        

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HOOVER are still making them!? That's the first I've heard...

Post# 180879 , Reply# 5   5/14/2012 at 02:44 (4,336 days old) by jmurray01 (Scotland)        

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Good point David (about it slamming into your legs), I never thought of that.

I personally never saw a problem with a wheeled cylinder, but maybe I'm just too boring (your answer to that is "of course not!").


Post# 180882 , Reply# 6   5/14/2012 at 04:33 (4,336 days old) by williamr1248 (USA)        
Views on new Hoover Constellation

As stated earlier in the thread as a "novelty vac" it is great but as a vac for everyday use no.
Mine has very good suction,quiet,long power cord and fun to see operate but it blows the dust EVERYWHERE. I think it would be very hard to use if you had pet hair or allergies.
Both of my machines arrived with defective hoses. The attachments or ok. I wish they had used the old Hoover style tools and for me,the turbo nozzle is useless.
I would have preferred either a regular power nozzle or a straight suction floor tool. I also did not like the oversized floor brush or the fact that the tools are friction connect which to me was very un-Hoover style.
They started out very good with the canister itself but the hose and tools fall short.

I


Post# 180892 , Reply# 7   5/14/2012 at 05:58 (4,336 days old) by jmurray01 (Scotland)        

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Not just that, but the stainless steel body, although looks nice, takes it away from its heritage of yellows, blues and pinks etc...

Post# 180912 , Reply# 8   5/14/2012 at 07:09 (4,336 days old) by williamr1248 (USA)        
Views on new Hoover Constellation

Jamie,
I agree with you. I have both the painted off white and the stainless. I was just shocked that Hoover came out with a metal machine! The life of Hoover products and the Connie took a different turn for us in the USA from the mid 1950's unto the 1960's.
When I was very young,ONLY the finist department stores,best electric appliance shops and high end furniture stores sold the Hoover. When the Connie was first out it was right up their in price with the other Hoovers. I have seen adds for it at about $89.95 which would have been a lot of money in those days. By the end of the 60's it seemed Hoover had chosen a different route. They were selling their products in every outlet possible,even discount stores. Of course a product can ride on it's name for a few years but in the end they were selling the Constellation for as low as $29.95. Hoover's days of being a high end product were over.
I think a lot of collectors had a glimmer of hope when we saw that new metal Hoover Connie!
Something interesting to me was that in our area we had a HUGE beautiful building that was the place you could take you HOOVER to be serviced.
It is such a shame of what became of the Hoover name and reputation.


Post# 180916 , Reply# 9   5/14/2012 at 07:23 (4,336 days old) by twocvbloke ()        
"HOOVER are still making them!? That's the first I&#

I don't know if they still are making them now, but they did have them for sale a few years ago, and here in the UK, as the Hoover name is owned by the Candy Group, TTI had to market it as the "Maytag Satellite", same thing, just a different name... :)

I'm surprised they didn't call it a Vax though as they do with all the other Hoover-US products that come to the UK as Vax... :\


Post# 180919 , Reply# 10   5/14/2012 at 07:32 (4,336 days old) by jmurray01 (Scotland)        

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Yes, it is such a shame that HOOVER is no longer the desirable much sought after brand it used to be.

Back years ago (my mother informs me) when you needed a new Vacuum Cleaner you initially went in search of a HOOVER, regardless of the costs, but now we just go for the cheapest possible Vacuum Cleaner.

It is a shame people don't still have the brand loyalty they used to, like back in HOOVER's golden years.


Post# 180920 , Reply# 11   5/14/2012 at 07:34 (4,336 days old) by jmurray01 (Scotland)        

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"I'm surprised they didn't call it a Vax though as they do with all the other Hoover-US products that come to the UK as Vax... :\" That's very true David. So does Candy own Vax too then ?

I never knew of this Maytag Satellite - I'll have to look it up!


Post# 180922 , Reply# 12   5/14/2012 at 07:40 (4,336 days old) by twocvbloke ()        

No, TTI owns Vax, hence why they offer Hoover-US products (owned by TTI) in Europe & the UK as Vax products with some minor alterations...

I think there are the odd one or two Maytag Satellites on ebay now and then, obviously not being sold under the familiar Hoover Constellation name, people didn't really know it was on sale, so there's not too many about... :\


As for brand loyalty, for those who haven't been conditioned by the worldwide anti-free thought movement, there is a lot of brand loyalty still out there, as can be seen on this forum with people preferring specific brands (even if the reasoning is somewhat questionable), so it's still there, though it's mainly from the few, as the many prefer just anything that makes a whiney-whirring noise and pertains to pick up dirt... :\


Post# 180925 , Reply# 13   5/14/2012 at 07:42 (4,336 days old) by twocvbloke ()        

I should also point out, it's easier to just search the "Cleaning, Laundry and Vacuuming" section for just "Maytag" as nobody on ebay seems able to spell "satellite" properly....

Post# 180927 , Reply# 14   5/14/2012 at 07:45 (4,336 days old) by jmurray01 (Scotland)        

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Very true. I'll admit I do have a brand loyalty, if you wish to call it that, to HOOVER. I do very much like Electrolux and Numatic, but nothing beats (pun intended) a HOOVER in my opinion.

Where exactly was the Satellite sold ? I don't remember seeing a Connie style machine in any Argos catalogues etc... I think I'd have noticed! Ha ha.


Post# 180928 , Reply# 15   5/14/2012 at 07:47 (4,336 days old) by jmurray01 (Scotland)        

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That is also true David, the amount of times I've seen it spelled "sattelite" is unbelievable.

Post# 180929 , Reply# 16   5/14/2012 at 07:49 (4,336 days old) by twocvbloke ()        

I not too sure who sold the Satellite, a lot of Maytag products here tend to remain well under the radar when it comes to retailing them, I think I once saw them at T. K. Maxx, or TJ Hughes, or one of them stores who piles high and sells cheap stuff that went out of business in the past 5 years, it's just one of them things that's been missed...

Post# 180930 , Reply# 17   5/14/2012 at 07:51 (4,336 days old) by sebo_fan (Scotland, UK, member AKA ukvacfan, & Nar2)        

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The Hoover Satellite/Connie was never intended to be sold at Argos. It arrived at Comet and eventually sold at Currys and then Miller Bros before they went bust. Same with Maytag upright vac - sold at John Lewis, Currys and Comet before disappearing.

In the UK, not all the franchise sellers sell all the same vacuums. Dependent on the market and the type of consumer they are trying to attract, brands offerings are divided between them all. This is why if you were to go through several of the catalogues like Kays catalogue or Littlewoods online you might find an exclusive Hoover vacuum that hasn't been added to the home brand UK websites yet


Post# 180932 , Reply# 18   5/14/2012 at 07:54 (4,336 days old) by jmurray01 (Scotland)        

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A bit like the Whirlwind which is (the name at least) exclusive to Argos ?

Post# 180938 , Reply# 19   5/14/2012 at 08:14 (4,336 days old) by eurekaprince (Montreal, Canada)        

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I owned one for several years and here are my comments:

Pros -
-very powerful
-very quiet
-very long hose that stretched to almost 10 feet
-excellent turbo carpet nozzle that really cleaned surface litter well (Consumer Reports rated its carpet cleaning as "good")
-very long cord
-easy to change cloth HEPA bag

Cons -
-downward exhaust kicked up too much dust before you were able to remove it
-came with a "kinked" hose that needed to be replaced twice
-so called "horse-hair" bristles on tools were actually very rough and abrasive
-if you used the on-board tool caddy, you could mar your walls or furniture when the floating canister went sailing into the walls because the tools jutted out too far from the machine (the bumper did not prevent damage to your walls in this case)
-when the removable brush part was removed, the upholstery nozzle had such sharp edges as to make it dangerous to use on fabric
-the suction "relief" hole in the bag chamber drew in dust from the air around the machine, allowing dust to accumulate inside the bag chamber (bypassing the bag) and potentially allowing it to be blown out the exhaust

I finally sold the Connie to a newlywed couple for $60. They loved it. But ever since then, I refuse to buy any canister cleaner that does not blow the exhaust upward from the machine like my new Electrolux canister does.


Post# 180939 , Reply# 20   5/14/2012 at 08:25 (4,336 days old) by jmurray01 (Scotland)        

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I admit, up facing exhaust ports are the best.

I was vacuuming the hard flooring the other day with my 2008 JMB SC1056 cylinder and as I pulled it into the kitchen it kicked up lots of fine dirt and dust I was just about to suck up, making quite a mess. It has the exhaust port on the back.



Post# 180942 , Reply# 21   5/14/2012 at 08:46 (4,336 days old) by sebo_fan (Scotland, UK, member AKA ukvacfan, & Nar2)        

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Id really like to know who is responsible for the knowledge you've built up JM! I'm really trying here! No Whirlwind is NOT an exclusive name to Hoover vacuums sold in Argos, it is just a sub-name given to many of Hoover's products. Whirlwind branded machines either replaced older machines that were the same save for colour changes on the bodies, slightly higher power and different "livery". The Whirlwind series was first sold through catalogues before reaching Amazon and then Argos.

Exhausts facing upwards have their disadvantages too though - the best one is the Airbelt design on the Sebo cylinder vacs, diffusing air away from the owner. The worst exhaust in my experience is that of the Electrolux cylinder vacs (Powerplus models) where the central vent is on the rear heel of the vacuum. When made to go upright and left there for some time when cleaning stairs, stairs can get hot because of the exhaust.


Post# 180945 , Reply# 22   5/14/2012 at 08:54 (4,336 days old) by eurekaprince (Montreal, Canada)        

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You are correct, Jamie.

It seems that the majority of canister cleaners made in North America in the last 50 years blew exhaust out the back of the machine, or worse, down from the bottom of the machine. North America's Electrolux vacs may have been the only ones not to - even those made by the company that split off from the European "mother" corporation.

It seems that Europe "got wind" (pardon the pun!) of the problem by the 1970's and began to show canister vacs with top-side exhaust ports.

Even to this day, top-rated Panasonic and Kenmore canisters blow exhaust out the back of their vacs (often through their cord reel ports) - sending any surface litter flying!

I even prefer canisters that rewind the cord into a port on top....like the unique design of the Eureka Rally in the early 1990's :-)


Post# 180949 , Reply# 23   5/14/2012 at 09:08 (4,336 days old) by jmurray01 (Scotland)        

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The reason I stated that I thought the HOOVER Whirlwind was an Argos exclusive is because in the Argos catalogue it says "Whirlwind - Only in Argos!".

As for the positioning of the exhaust port, the second worst thing about having the exhaust on the rear is that, as you said, when it is placed in an upright position for stairs etc, the flow of air is blocked and thus it will overheat quickly and easily if left for too long.

That's what I love about having the exhaust ports on the top of my Electrolux Tango, because I can sit it on the stairs in an upright position without fear of overheating.


Post# 180950 , Reply# 24   5/14/2012 at 09:13 (4,336 days old) by eurekaprince (Montreal, Canada)        

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Sebofan,

Just wondering about the Sebo airbelt exhaust diffusing design:

Is the air diffusion so effective as to eliminate any "wind" coming out of the belt? It would seem to me that no matter how well it diffuses the air, there will still be some blowing effect around the sides of the canister. Just curious....


Post# 180951 , Reply# 25   5/14/2012 at 09:17 (4,336 days old) by jmurray01 (Scotland)        

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Hold on, what are you talking about ? A belt on a cylinder ? I'm befuddled...

Post# 180952 , Reply# 26   5/14/2012 at 09:25 (4,336 days old) by eurekaprince (Montreal, Canada)        

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Jamie - Sebo calls one of their canister designs an "AirBelt" design because the bumper "belt" around the perimeter of the canister body is also the exhaust mechanism. It seems the exhaust is directed into a very long "belt" around the canister body which decreases the "blow" effect of the exhaust. :-) Just wonder if it works well or at all.

Post# 180953 , Reply# 27   5/14/2012 at 09:28 (4,336 days old) by jmurray01 (Scotland)        

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I see!

Post# 180956 , Reply# 28   5/14/2012 at 09:48 (4,336 days old) by sebo_fan (Scotland, UK, member AKA ukvacfan, & Nar2)        

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Eurekaprince et al (who are interested)

The vacuum air exhaust is diffused to the sides of the Sebo canisters - even the old C larger canister has the Airbelt. As you will see from the diagram it diffuses air outwards to the sides. SEBO did this for two reasons - one to provide a viewable thick cloth bumper to protect the home and the machine from scrapes, two to diffuse the air to the sides so that you don't ingest a face full of "clean air" from top exhausts like Miele and other brands.

It's quite an ingenious design though because the bumper is a Lycra cloth that is stretched over a foam bumper with viewable vents. You can replace the Airbelt quite easily but must be cut to size for the smaller K canister, so air gets through the foam vent holes and further absorbed by the Lycra belt. There are various colours you can buy too, so you don't have to put up with the default blue.


Post# 180959 , Reply# 29   5/14/2012 at 09:54 (4,336 days old) by jmurray01 (Scotland)        

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Very interesting!

Post# 180970 , Reply# 30   5/14/2012 at 11:49 (4,335 days old) by jdrums0789 ()        

I actually just bought one on Craigslist. Ill be picking it up tonight. :)

Post# 180972 , Reply# 31   5/14/2012 at 11:52 (4,335 days old) by jmurray01 (Scotland)        

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Let us know what it is like!

Post# 181060 , Reply# 32   5/14/2012 at 21:20 (4,335 days old) by JDrums0789 ()        

So I got it home. It looked very clean but man was the inside dirty. The previous owner used the paper bags, Im gonna look into getting the hepa bags. The premotor filter was caked with dirt, but it washed out pretty good. My biggest complaint is the turbo brush! I took it apart, cleaned it out and lubed it up, but it still stops as soon as it touches the carpet. The impeller seems very tough to spin, compared to handheld turbo units Ive used. Also, the post motor filter is very dense. It reduces airflow dramatically.

Does anyone have any experience with the turbo brush? Also, since the post motor filter is just held in place by being sandwiched together in the base, think I could replace it with some HEPA filter media instead of the super dense foam chunk?


Post# 181096 , Reply# 33   5/15/2012 at 07:52 (4,335 days old) by sebo_fan (Scotland, UK, member AKA ukvacfan, & Nar2)        

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If the Turbo brush supplied is the same as shown as here, then it's based on a generic design that Hoover also used (code J19) and other brands, like Numatic. I had one and it is easy to get the brush moving again. Check that the toothed wheels have been lubricated, but also check that when you open it up the turbine moves freely - if not then the holding bolt (usually a small white or black square bit of plastic) will need to be cleaned as this can clog up easily. If you've lubricated the small toothed wheels already, then it should move freely with just your finger. If you have another vacuum sitting around that has a 3.2mm sizing, try the turbo brush on that to test if it is working. It is possible to get this turbo brush working again but it also requires a lot of cleaning if it has seized up.





Post# 181105 , Reply# 34   5/15/2012 at 08:41 (4,335 days old) by sebo_fan (Scotland, UK, member AKA ukvacfan, & Nar2)        
Argos - they lie and misprint!

sebo_fan's profile picture
Here is a screenshot of an interesting claim that you won't find on any other website who sell vacuums, currently the Miele vacuums. As you will note, Argos claim that this Miele vacuum has "no loss of suction," yet they all use bags and they do eventually lose suction. Argos better watch out as Dyson could easily get in on the act and do another court action. So you see, JM, Argos may well claim "Whirlwind," is an exclusive range to Argos - and they could well have been BASED on the fact that Argos are a high street franchise compared to the online only sales that the catalogues and Amazon.co.uk can't claim.

www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/pa...


Post# 181279 , Reply# 35   5/15/2012 at 23:32 (4,334 days old) by JDrums0789 ()        

Well, I put it all back together today, after washing all the filters and the insides. Floats much better now, and the turbo nozzle is working much better! I guess the WD40 soaked in to the turbine driveshaft. Moves very easily now.

This thing is going to be great for my area rug.


Post# 181301 , Reply# 36   5/16/2012 at 05:56 (4,334 days old) by sebo_fan (Scotland, UK, member AKA ukvacfan, & Nar2)        

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Oh that is good news! I must admit when this new Connie came to the UK, the asking price of £250 was a bit steep at the time and eventually it fell to £199. I very nearly bought it because I was so excited that Hoover had at last come to their senses and re-released the similar design with a modern take. However, I knew (by reading reviews and reading posts by those on Yahoo group hooverland) who had bought it that it wasn't all it was made up to be. Of course this wasn't the first time that Hoover had gone down the route of bringing a "similar design by looks" model to the masses. Anyone remember the Galaxy? It was like the Connie by shape but had castors underneath.

(see thread www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-...)


Post# 181303 , Reply# 37   5/16/2012 at 06:02 (4,334 days old) by jmurray01 (Scotland)        

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I wouldn't personally bother with HEPA bags, I don't have a problem with paper ones, but it's up to you!

As for that Argos screen shot, that isn't the first time (and I'm sure won't be the last) that there have been errors in what they have said.

Even in the catalogue there are discrepancies, such as the heading saying something but the description saying something else.


Post# 181344 , Reply# 38   5/16/2012 at 14:09 (4,333 days old) by Rolls_rapide (-)        
Miele "No loss of Suction"

Argos are probably alluding to the synthetic dustbags not reducing suction as they fill. Which is reasonable.

Post# 181590 , Reply# 39   5/17/2012 at 19:00 (4,332 days old) by massagemiracle ()        

JUST FOUND A SS CONSTELLATION ON CRAIGSLIST INDIANAPOLIS FOR SALE..

CLICK HERE TO GO TO massagemiracle's LINK on Indianapolis Craigslist


Post# 239084 , Reply# 40   7/5/2013 at 21:47 (3,918 days old) by director12 ()        

Gee, why did Hoover kill off the new Constellation?


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