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Thread Number: 18257
AWESOME $4 Find This Morning |
[Down to Last] |  |
| Post# 200520 , Reply# 1 9/13/2012 at 13:06 (4,234 days old) by vacumaniac () | ||
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powers up, bearings sound a bit dry, but I suppose that is to be expected.... Is this the original bag? 
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| Post# 200521 , Reply# 2 9/13/2012 at 13:07 (4,234 days old) by vacumaniac () | ||
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what about the cord? It seems rather thick.... it may be an older replacement??? Other than needing as cleaning, the cord is in great shape! 
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| Post# 200525 , Reply# 3 9/13/2012 at 14:13 (4,234 days old) by s31463221 (Frenchburg, KY) | ||
Derek | ||
| Post# 200527 , Reply# 4 9/13/2012 at 14:27 (4,234 days old) by vacumaniac () | ||
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Actually, the green convertible was picked up a few weeks ago on my way home from work. It was in the garbage!!! | ||
| Post# 200528 , Reply# 5 9/13/2012 at 14:44 (4,234 days old) by eurekastar (Amarillo, Texas) | ||
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| Post# 200561 , Reply# 6 9/13/2012 at 18:16 (4,234 days old) by kirbykid (Horseheads,New York 14845) | ||
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it kind of looks like a old extention cord..... | ||
| Post# 200603 , Reply# 7 9/13/2012 at 20:45 (4,234 days old) by hygiene903 (Galion, OH) | ||
Nice Find Derek!
After a good polishing it will be a real beauty! The Special designation means it was a factory rebuild, and if you look on the bottom you should find the rebuild date stamped somewhere. The original idea of the Specials was twofold, first to eliminate the trade-ins that Hoover had collected over the years, and second, to put like new Hoovers in the hands of folks who couldn't afford the price of the brand new current model. In the course of the rebuild all worn parts were replaced and they were given a spa treatment and usually painted in the colors (if any) of the then current model, and guaranteed to perform and look like a new cleaner. And yes, that IS an original Special bag on your 543, and the cord is probably original as well.
The Specials were especially popular during WWII. Even though regular production had stopped and all US factories were producing goods for the war effort, Hoover could still rebuild existing machines. So even though new models were not produced for the duration of the war, consumers could still buy a Special. The Special program was phased out in the early to mid 50's, but after the Convertible was introduced the Special name was brought back for the lower priced line, with shorter cord, no headlight, snaps instead of zipper on the bag, etc. I have 2 Specials in my collection, a 541 and a 700. Here is a pic of the 541. Cord and bag are both replacements, and although you can't tell by the pic, the motor cap, yoke, and badge are green. Jeff 
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| Post# 200605 , Reply# 8 9/13/2012 at 20:48 (4,234 days old) by vacumaniac () | ||
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Wow Jeff!!!! Thanks for the insight into this!!! I was very curious about the "Special" program and how it worked. I will post pics when it is all cleaned up! | ||
| Post# 200607 , Reply# 9 9/13/2012 at 20:53 (4,234 days old) by hygiene903 (Galion, OH) | ||
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And here's the 700 Special. Rebuilt in 1952 and the color scheme is the same as the 61, 28, and 115. I do have the original Special bag for this one, but it is in need of repair, so I currently have a Hoover replacement bag from that era on it. And I forgot to mention with the 541 pic that it was rebuilt in 1938.
Jeff 
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| Post# 200608 , Reply# 10 9/13/2012 at 20:58 (4,234 days old) by vacumaniac () | ||
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So, in the picture I have attached... would this mean the vac was rebuilt August of 1934?? If so, that was pretty soon for a rebuild I would say! 
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| Post# 200691 , Reply# 11 9/14/2012 at 15:49 (4,233 days old) by vacumaniac () | ||
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Would a customer back in the day have been able to send in a vac to Hoover for a rebuild? Similar to Kirby? | ||
| Post# 200843 , Reply# 13 9/16/2012 at 00:11 (4,232 days old) by hygiene903 (Galion, OH) | ||
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That's Right, Derek!
The rebuild date was August of 1934. And although it wasn't that old when it was rebuilt, it was probably traded in for a model 800 or 450. As I said before, that's how the Special program worked. Hoovers that were traded in for newer models were rebuilt at the plant, then sold as a Special at a considerably lower price than their lower priced model, so that those who couldn't afford a new Hoover could buy a like-new Hoover Special.
As Jimmy said, service, repair, and rebuilds of customer machines were taken care of by the local service center, and the factory rebuilds were for resale. Jeff | ||
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