Thread Number: 3465
when did Hoover get so crap? |
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Post# 39061   4/28/2008 at 13:16 (5,842 days old) by turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK)   |   | |
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US/UK question here. When do we all think was hoover's downfall. I love every Hoover cleaner right up to the PurePower range. For me, PP was the worst possible thing hoover could have made. But what started it? Also, what was the first shite american Hoover? From what i've heard, the Elite's are not bad vacuums. I suppose it varies but I was just wondering what everyone else thought? |
Post# 39077 , Reply# 5   4/28/2008 at 15:47 (5,842 days old) by williamr1248 (USA)   |   | |
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I forgot to add we are very lucky to have members in the club like Tom Anderson,Fred Stachnik and Jeff Parker who have helped to honor the past of one of our greatest American Companies. |
Post# 39099 , Reply# 8   4/28/2008 at 18:42 (5,842 days old) by eurekaboy (Raleigh,NC)   |   | |
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Post# 39117 , Reply# 10   4/28/2008 at 21:20 (5,842 days old) by gottahaveahoove (Pittston, Pennsylvania, 18640)   |   | |
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that convertibles, (most) were terrific. Truly, Made in China, assembled in Mexico, A Division of Maytag were the deathtolls. The first nontufflex hose, no bristles on the upholstery brush, Switches halfway down the handle were signs of CHEAP.Some of the attachment hoses, etc are awful.Details were slipping, the very things that made us so proud. Anyone agree with any of this? I also feel that closing the N Canton plant was a sin and a crime. |
Post# 39137 , Reply# 13   4/29/2008 at 00:45 (5,841 days old) by camelotshadow (Valley Village)   |   | |
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I haveone hoover the 63 mid century not a bad cleaner for its day think it cost close to $90 then that's about $1000 now so for $10 I'm happy with it |
Post# 39139 , Reply# 14   4/29/2008 at 02:57 (5,841 days old) by gottahaveahoove (Pittston, Pennsylvania, 18640)   |   | |
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the end of the convertible as we knew and loved it was detrimental. Runabout, etc...... silly, and for years we used bags. None of us died. That "bagless " nonsense. I have a fantastic set of Maytag washr/dryer. But, they were bought BEFORE the "invasion". They were made here also.I curse the new Maytag.... for what they did to HOOVER. so unfair..... And, then there's CHINA. It's a good thing i don't drink. Because, if I did........ |
Post# 39140 , Reply# 15   4/29/2008 at 03:03 (5,841 days old) by gottahaveahoove (Pittston, Pennsylvania, 18640)   |   | |
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the end of the convertible as we knew and loved it was detrimental. Runabout, etc...... silly, and for years we used bags. None of us died. That "bagless " nonsense. I have a fantastic set of Maytag washr/dryer. But, they were bought BEFORE the "invasion". They were made here also.I curse the new Maytag.... for what they did to HOOVER. so unfair..... And, then there's CHINA |
Post# 39231 , Reply# 19   4/30/2008 at 14:19 (5,840 days old) by kirbymodel2c (Nottingham, England)   |   | |
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I do like the early pure powers as they had the Hoover activator brushroll like the older turbos. Now they a a very cheap brush roll. The motor wattage is so high it just eats electric. And because the motors so high they burn out quicker than the early models. I think Hoover could do a high end market vacuum £1000 vacuum cleaner made out of metal etc. Just have to be sold through in home demostration like with the Kirby. Can't see them doing it. Hay ho! jb |
Post# 40825 , Reply# 22   5/18/2008 at 21:42 (5,822 days old) by kirbyultimateg (Troy Ohio 45373 USA)   |   | |
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Hoover got crap when they introduced the WindTunnel line in the late 1990s. Hoover should have kept the PowerDrive hardbag case dirty air upright in production. |
Post# 372172 , Reply# 23   5/14/2017 at 18:13 (2,539 days old) by crazykirbydude (Lexington, KY)   |   | |
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Post# 372177 , Reply# 24   5/14/2017 at 18:59 (2,539 days old) by gsheen (Cape Town South Africa)   |   | |
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This is actually a interesting question and it depends who you ask.
After Leaving Electrolux I went to work for a appliance repair company called Lanzon which had its roots based on been a Hoover service centre in the early 50's . I got a chance to meet one of the original owners , Who had a passion for vacuum cleaners. If you asked him were Hoover lost the plot with vacuums, he would tell you straight out , The Concept one , biggest pile of S#!T he had ever seen, ( only time I had ever heard him swear ) Now my boss in those days would tell you the Hoover turbo power was the worst hoover vacuums, were they started making cheap junk, ( funny both the concept one and turbo power made that company and its owners very rich from all the repairs. I like the wind tunnel , I own about 10 of them in various models, which I love because apart from on small 1300 model the rest were never sold in my country. Even their current range has some gems in it, My current daily driver is a Hoover air windtunnel which is also from the USA and has been doing duty in my home for 2 years with no issues, and it does not lead a privileged life.I ther was ashamed when I cleaned the filters the other day after my son said it was not sucking as well as normal. Its the one of the right,pic from just after I got it.
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Post# 372182 , Reply# 26   5/15/2017 at 06:01 (2,538 days old) by tolivac (Greenville,NC)   |   | |
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I am with KenCart-the BEST Hoovers were those classic all metal ones-Have some of the "plasticonvertibles" the metal ones are MUCH better!Do the job with less noise!The plastic ones are noisier-the plastic acts as a sounding board for the motor. |
Post# 372184 , Reply# 27   5/15/2017 at 12:27 (2,538 days old) by kloveland (Tulsa)   |   | |
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Post# 372188 , Reply# 28   5/15/2017 at 16:19 (2,538 days old) by suckolux (Yuba City, CA)   |   | |
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Post# 372206 , Reply# 29   5/16/2017 at 02:47 (2,537 days old) by gsheen (Cape Town South Africa)   |   | |
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The point is that for everyone here their is a point at which Hoover got lost the plot, For me I love the windtunnels and Elites, yes sure they creak as you use them but I still love them, I can imagine that way back in the day their were allot of people who thought Hoover's quality had gone down with the launch of the Convertibles , I mean Compare a 750 to a convertible, The quality is hugely different.
A better point is is Hoover the market leader is always was. In the 50,s 60 ,s 70,s Hoover was the dyson of its day, The vacuum all the housewives wanted, THe vacuum all its competitors wished they had. In my market place Hoover lost its edge in the 80's , When Electrolux launched the 506 and 560 range it was light years ahead of anything hoover had, By the time Hoover caught up on our market with the turbo power, Electrolux launched the 610 and 612 with their on board tools again leaving hoover out to dry. Today though I think allot of their products are better than the norm, Better than their direct ( cost ) competitors. |
Post# 372250 , Reply# 31   5/17/2017 at 09:35 (2,536 days old) by gsheen (Cape Town South Africa)   |   | |
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Post# 372258 , Reply# 32   5/17/2017 at 11:31 (2,536 days old) by gottahaveahoove (Pittston, Pennsylvania, 18640)   |   | |
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That vacuum was declared 'over-engineered' at the time. True... it can clean a rug of today not even dreamed of back then.
I DO have a special fondness for Convertibles, however....especially the metal ones...1960--1970+. They were made to last...and have lasted. Everyone is competing now, reinventing the wheel, as it were. Sadly, Hoover's finest hour is not right now. But, when things were humming on Maple Street in North Canton...........it was a different thing all together. Now....cookie cutters with badges on them . John |
Post# 372272 , Reply# 34   5/17/2017 at 15:57 (2,536 days old) by Shrink1982 (Indianapolis)   |   | |
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Hoover went crap around the time everyone else did. And it wasn't just with vacuums. Most appliances are not built to last as long as they once were. My grandmother had her Whirpool dryer for 35 years. After it finally died, she went through three other dryers in 10 years. They don't make appliances to last anymore. Apparently, it wasn't a good business model. They make more money when you have to replace something every few years. And because everyone does it, no reason for anyone else to be the exception to the rule. I will say, at least with vacuums, Kirby, Miele, Sebo have been the exception although I am worried Miele may take a dip south. I have heard some of their components are now made in China and the build quality, while still good, isn't as good as Sebo.
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Post# 372329 , Reply# 36   5/18/2017 at 17:14 (2,535 days old) by Turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK)   |   | |
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Post# 372358 , Reply# 37   5/18/2017 at 22:19 (2,535 days old) by fan-of-fans (USA)   |   | |
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I like the older Hoovers in general, but to me the 70s ones were better before they went to all plastic canisters and Convertibles in the 80s. The attachments were also better in the 70s. I think some of the 90s Hoovers were still good though.
The Concept series and PowerMax were still good machines, good performers. I like the design of the Elites but they were TOO LOUD. The machines sold today sound better to my ears at least. Though Hoover still had some interesting models like the revived Constellation in the late 2000s, there weren't a lot of great ones, IMO after Maytag took over. No more bagged machines other than commercial. The Z was an interesting machine I have to admit. Have seen a few at Habitat Restore and they are HEAVY! I'm glad the Convertibles are still made in commercial lines at least. That's one of the good things. And the Portapower as well. So at least some old models live on. |