I like the new line-up very much!  Especially the "compact" and "professional" models.  I could see the former being especially popular for older people who find the regular Henry too heavy and cumbersome to use.

If it wasn't for modifying and evolving design, responding to market trends and customer needs, your beloved Hoover Turbomaster would never have existed. That's what ALL products do. Nothing can stay the same forever. If it did, we'd all still be vacuuming with Hoover Model O's, or old crank and bellows manual machines.

I'm wondering when Numatic is going to redesign Henry and put the motor in the BASE of the unit, so he isn't so top heavy.  With the dirt compartment on TOP, it would be easier to empty.  

Also, he needs to have a bagless insert for those who chose to use such an option.  

It would be good if he had a built-in turbo dust collector to cut down on bag use.

And where is Henry electric floor brush, or OPTION for one? 

I think if they took the iconic Henry tub, as he looks now, and rearranged the inside ONLY, people would not care.  

A Henry that is easier to empty, who could complain about that?  With his bag/dirt chamber on the top, all one would need do is lift it off to empty.  No need to first remove a heavy top, put it down, detach the hose, then remove the dirt or bag, then replace everything.

It's true, all canisters should have NON obtrusive tool storage, and I applaud the recent improvements.  It could be better though.

As for pns, they should offer the choice to add one by putting a receptacle on the front and offering a pn and electric hose sold separate.  It's reasonable to believe that more Henrys will be sold in other places than just the UK.  I'm seeing them on Ebay and have considered buying one too, in the U.S..  The lack of a pn is a negative.  It isn't a big deal to install a receptacle on the machine.   I'm surprised too Henry doesn't have an electric furniture brush.  Brits have a lot of stairs and those work great on that.

I wonder how feasible it would be to install a dual voltage motor in these.  So all one would need to do is slide a switch to get it to work on 230 or 115 volt.  That would streamline manufacturing and make a single Henry usable for more markets. I wish the U.S. and Canada would convert to 230 volt.  It's a better system.

Numatic has slapped Henrys face and colors on many versions over the years.  It would be foolish to think they are still making the same vacs as they were 30 years ago.  The changes haven't been as extreme as say Hoover or Electrolux, but they have changed, and they will no doubt continue to make improvements.  Any change has the possibility of losing customer.  It also has the chance of greatly increasing customers.  Failing to make changes can bring similar results.

I think it's a neat vac and I keep going back and forth about possibly adding one to my collection.  I like his simple flex retraction system.  Numatic seems like a good company and one Brits, I'm sure, are proud to call their own.

So, do we think Henry will ever get a sophisticated remake?  Something complete with a variable speed digital read-out on his forehead.  Perhaps a gas pump wand with numerous finger-tip controls?  A dirt sensor.... on a 2 speed power nozzle?

Now, I'm joking because I know a vacuum should not have electronics in it.  It's just silly and a waste.  Still, Henry needs to be reshaped so he doesn't take up so much room in Brits limited closet space.  Also, Brits have more stairs in their homes, and a vacuum that can't be set on stair steps seems awkward.

I had a Eureka Mighty Mite a while back, and when the hose is removed, it can be set ON END like an Iron, on an upper shelf, with one hand.  It was about 50% larger than an iron.

I'm really sensing that Brits like the IDEA, or perhaps the PERCEPTION, of simplicity, at least in regards to vacuums.  I emphasize perception because, Numatic is clearly a diversified company with sophisticated marketing.  It's not like Numatic has thoughtlessly been making the same models for the last 30+ years.   "The trusty brand just trudges on" kind of attitude.  

As I said earlier,  Henry may still exist after 30 years, which is rare for a company to keep a model that long, at least in the U.S., but he is in name only.  He's been redesigned numerous times now.   Also, all these other brethren in the gang: James, Charles, Hetty, Rutger, etc. There is slight variations between most.  That's marketing.  That's creating the illusion of many choices.  Hoover, Kenmore, Eureka, and similar U.S. brands have done the same in the past. Not the names of Royalty, but they've attempted to create a hierarchy of sorts. 

It's interesting because, in the U.S. we'd see a product company try and make a product seem, and in some cases actually BE, more sophsticated.  Numatic has done the opposite.  Essentially painting a cartoon face on a product is almost mocking it.  In the U.S., I think it would probably be a laughing matter to have such down playing of a product.  I think Numatic could compete in the U.S. with the models that don't have the cartoon face on the front.  Perhaps, that's why we don't see that many Henrys here.

Frankly, when I look at the Numatic vacs that don't have the cartoon face and name on it, it seems like something I would buy.  It really should say "Numatic" on the side, and perhaps have a model number after the name.

"Just ugh", is that a technical description, Emma? :P.

Delaneymeegan, the whole point of the Henry shape is that it's a face with a hat. It looks like a person. Change the shape and you lose the characterisation. In the case of the Eureka above, it's a generic shaped vacuum with a face on the side of it. Funny because despite your criticism, even though I gather you've never actually owned or used one, it's still the biggest selling vacuum in the UK, the most widely recognised and the most popular commercial vacuum in Europe. So it can't be that difficult to store or awkward to use.

Emma, I wasn't talking to you there, I was talking to delaneymeegan. Edited to make it clearer.

On aboard tool storage is necessary, really for any vac.  It needs to be Non-obtrusive though.

Henry's are obtrusive and it isn't all the tools.   Non-obtrusive means the tools are not easily knocked off the vac and they are in a compartment or in form fitting recessed areas.  

We had vacuums with obtrusive parts holders in the 1970s on vacs like Kenmore, Eureka, and Hoover Celebrity.  Its annoying when the parts fall off and stick up.

See....

A cordless Henry.   Now I want one......