Thread Number: 34060  /  Tag: 50s/60s/70s Vacuum Cleaners
1958 Hoover Model 31 Restoration Help
[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# 369094   3/24/2017 at 15:41 (2,561 days old) by INTV1980 (Tucson, Arizona)        

intv1980's profile picture
Hello fellow vacuum collectors,

I need your help with the restoration of a family heirloom I acquired last year: an all original 1958 Hoover Model 31 Special upright with Model 64 attachments. Last summer I traveled to my paternal grandma's hometown of Apollo, Pennsylvania (a small town north of Pittsburgh, where my dad's side has lived since the 1750s) and I discovered this early (one of the first 2000 off the line) Model 31 Hoover in the closet of her childhood home. After I showed it to her, she told me that her brother Herbert (my late great uncle) bought it in 1958 and she remembered using it often. I asked my great uncle Ed (my grandma's brother), who owns the house now, if he cared that I took it back to my hometown of Tucson, Arizona so I could restore it and add it to my collection. He told me that he did not mind and I took it on the plane home.

Once I got home and started to restore it, I noticed that the original lacquer on the hood was coming off and a nice shiny layer was coming through underneath (photos below). A fellow collector told me I should place painter's tape over the white lettering and place it in the dishwasher, so that the old film will rinse off and reveal the new layer. Alternatively, my dad thought I could get some type of surface stripper and use that to clean the old layer off (I am worried this would melt the plastic). What do you guys recommend? I know these early convertible hoods (primarily the model 65) had manufacturing issues, so I want to be extremely careful not to damage this one that I cherish so much. Any help would be appreciated. :)


  Photos...       <              >      Photo 1 of 8         View Full Size
Post# 369104 , Reply# 1   3/24/2017 at 18:51 (2,561 days old) by vacuumlad1650 (Wauponsee, IL)        

vacuumlad1650's profile picture
Your bag is on backwards!
The 31 was my favorite lower their Convertible! I really can't help you with the cosmetics. I just know Mechanical work on these.
Best of luck!
Andy


Post# 369175 , Reply# 2   3/25/2017 at 15:11 (2,560 days old) by Paul (USA)        

That is so cool that you acquired your Great Uncle Herbert's Model 31 (not to mention your family's history) - congratulations!


I've never had to remedy the finish issue that your hood has, but here are some initial steps I might take if I were to encounter it:

1) Dip a hand towel in hot water and wring it out. Then lay it on the hood and leave it set for a few minutes to loosen the finish, and follow that by wiping the surface with the towel. If inneffective try: a longer wait time ... adding a towel or two to give it more pressure ... adding vinegar to the water). Repeat as necessary.

2) Use a hair dryer to soften the finish in small areas (start with low heat and increase to higher settings if needed). Remove with a plastic putty knife.

3) Sprinkle some baking soda on the hood and use a damp towel from hot water to try to scrub it off in a circular motion. If that is ineffective Bar Keepers Friend cleanser.

I hope you're successful in your restoration.



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