New tristars

Mmm, this sounds like familiar territory.

Compacts & Tristars have always had a magnesium/aluminum alloy body shell. But they were not the first to employ this strong light alloy for vacuum cleaners.

I believe it was Hoover under the design & engineering leadership of Henry Dreyfus that raised this material to it's high desirability in lightweight appliances. Up until Dreyfus was hired Hoover's chassis were diecast aluminum highly polished. For all it's superior strength and resistance to torsional forces, magnesium is lighter and the casting can be thinner for the same structural rigidity.

"In the mid-1930s, Hoover USA pioneered the use of professional industrial design in vacuum cleaners by employing Henry Dreyfus, one of the first industrial designers, to consider the design, manufacture and ease of use of their vacuum cleaner as a whole. The result was a new generation of cleaners, starting with the model 150 (1936)/160 (1938), which used less components, new light alloys and plastics and more benefits for the user. This development indicated the fact that by the late-1930s, at least in America, the electric vacuum cleaner was a common-enough product and required a 'design overhaul' to stimulate the next generation of sales. The basic component layout and manufacturing approach of these new models continued until the first 'clean-fan' plastics uprights in the mid-1960s, such as the Hoover Dial-A-Matic.

1936 Hoover model 160 Cleaning Ensemble - UK version of innovative US Hoover model 150(1936); prime example of modern 1930s streamlined design. Designed by pioneering US industrial designer Henry Dreyfus, 1933-36. Stove-enamel grey magnesium chassis. Aluminium and 'stratosphere blue' streamlined trim. Wide use of phenol plastics for motor, motor hood and tools. Tools in portable storage rack can be inserted while motor running. Modern handle and bag graphics. Additional grip halfway up handle for carrying. Big 385 watt two-speed motor, automatic height control. Hoover's luxury model, sold as 'Cleaning Ensemble' alongside model 262 (from 1939); both replaced by UK model 612 (1949).

1939 Hoover model 262 - Cheaper, lightweight version of Hoover model 160, based on US model 26 (1938). Designer: Henry Dreyfus, New York. Exhibited on Bakelite stand at 1939 New York World's Fair. Beige stipple-finish stove enamel magnesium chassis (final examples have gold hammerite finish from model 612), brown phenol plastic shroud enclosing plastic motor casing and headlamp, brown bag. Rare 1939 version has full wrap-around band on motor casing; common post-war version has specification panel on front only. Phenol plastic and 'duralium' tools with portable storage rack. Single-speed motor. Produced 1939, 1945-49. Replaced by Hoover UK model 612 (1949)"

Evidence of the durability of the material is that I have never seen a shattered Compact casing and I've seen one fall off a truck and bounce down the hiway with nothing more than a shallow dent. This is also attributable to the body's egg shape. Plastics will never provide such structural integrity and the newer Tristars are more and more loaded with plastic outer fittings and internal components. Gawd knows what screaming girly motors they are putting in them now...

I don't care for the TriStar re-design of the Compact basic shape and prefer the uber ugliness of the Vortech Force, Miracle Mate or Haley's Comet to round out my evolutionary display of this type of powerful vacuum cleaner styling.

To sum up I don't know nuthin' 'bout no EXL A101, MG1 and MG2. :-)

Dave

A Hoover 160 being used on the Queen Mary in the late 1930s.

CLICK HERE TO GO TO aeoliandave's LINK


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Post# 70343 5/25/2009 at 18:01 (5,449 days old) by airway88 ()
Checkrate/Likes So what does everyone think of the new magnesium tristars. The EXL and newer. Are they good? Are they as durable as some of the older models? What are the suction ratings of the A101 and newer? I was wondering if people here have pictures of theirs. I have only really seen the canister in whole along with the top of the PN. I am interested in seeing more of the machine. I have my eye on a $40 A101. But I have heard ups and downs on these. So I now leave it to the experts! Thanks! R.

Post# 70344 , Reply# 1 5/25/2009 at 19:15 (5,448 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)
Checkrate/Likes *OK, I'll bite...* Mmm, this sounds like familiar territory. Compacts & Tristars have always had a magnesium/aluminum alloy body shell. But they were not the first to employ this strong light alloy for vacuum cleaners. I believe it was Hoover under the design & engineering leadership of Henry Dreyfus that raised this material to it's high desirability in lightweight appliances. Up until Dreyfus was hired Hoover's chassis were diecast aluminum highly polished. For all it's superior strength and resistance to torsional forces, magnesium is lighter and the casting can be thinner for the same structural rigidity. "In the mid-1930s, Hoover USA pioneered the use of professional industrial design in vacuum cleaners by employing Henry Dreyfus, one of the first industrial designers, to consider the design, manufacture and ease of use of their vacuum cleaner as a whole. The result was a new generation of cleaners, starting with the model 150 (1936)/160 (1938), which used less components, new light alloys and plastics and more benefits for the user. This development indicated the fact that by the late-1930s, at least in America, the electric vacuum cleaner was a common-enough product and required a 'design overhaul' to stimulate the next generation of sales. The basic component layout and manufacturing approach of these new models continued until the first 'clean-fan' plastics uprights in the mid-1960s, such as the Hoover Dial-A-Matic. 1936 Hoover model 160 Cleaning Ensemble - UK version of innovative US Hoover model 150(1936); prime example of modern 1930s streamlined design. Designed by pioneering US industrial designer Henry Dreyfus, 1933-36. Stove-enamel grey magnesium chassis. Aluminium and 'stratosphere blue' streamlined trim. Wide use of phenol plastics for motor, motor hood and tools. Tools in portable storage rack can be inserted while motor running. Modern handle and bag graphics. Additional grip halfway up handle for carrying. Big 385 watt two-speed motor, automatic height control. Hoover's luxury model, sold as 'Cleaning Ensemble' alongside model 262 (from 1939); both replaced by UK model 612 (1949). 1939 Hoover model 262 - Cheaper, lightweight version of Hoover model 160, based on US model 26 (1938). Designer: Henry Dreyfus, New York. Exhibited on Bakelite stand at 1939 New York World's Fair. Beige stipple-finish stove enamel magnesium chassis (final examples have gold hammerite finish from model 612), brown phenol plastic shroud enclosing plastic motor casing and headlamp, brown bag. Rare 1939 version has full wrap-around band on motor casing; common post-war version has specification panel on front only. Phenol plastic and 'duralium' tools with portable storage rack. Single-speed motor. Produced 1939, 1945-49. Replaced by Hoover UK model 612 (1949)" Evidence of the durability of the material is that I have never seen a shattered Compact casing and I've seen one fall off a truck and bounce down the hiway with nothing more than a shallow dent. This is also attributable to the body's egg shape. Plastics will never provide such structural integrity and the newer Tristars are more and more loaded with plastic outer fittings and internal components. Gawd knows what screaming girly motors they are putting in them now... I don't care for the TriStar re-design of the Compact basic shape and prefer the uber ugliness of the Vortech Force, Miracle Mate or Haley's Comet to round out my evolutionary display of this type of powerful vacuum cleaner styling. To sum up I don't know nuthin' 'bout no EXL A101, MG1 and MG2. :-) Dave A Hoover 160 being used on the Queen Mary in the late 1930s. CLICK HERE TO GO TO aeoliandave's LINK

Post# 70348 , Reply# 2 5/25/2009 at 20:04 (5,448 days old) by ridgidvac ()
Checkrate/Likes *Not sure* if I'll buy the MG Series TriStar; I don't think its as durable as the older Compacts. I'd take my old Tristar for repair.

Post# 70357 , Reply# 3 5/25/2009 at 20:13 (5,448 days old) by airway88 ()
Checkrate/Likes *haha* Thanks Dave. Neat neat neat picture. I would take that hoover over any amount of tristars! I will see what comes up. I am finally getting my electrolux Golden J soon. so i may be short of some $$$.

Post# 70364 , Reply# 4 5/25/2009 at 20:43 (5,448 days old) by ridgidvac ()
Checkrate/Likes *vintage Hoover or Compact* I'd be happy if I had every vintage vac instead of any of them going 2 the dump.

Post# 70384 , Reply# 5 5/26/2009 at 01:18 (5,448 days old) by vacuumfreeeke ()
Checkrate/Likes I hear the new Tristars are made by Electrolux (Aerus, not Eureka). I'll take a CXL please and thank you!

Post# 70392 , Reply# 6 5/26/2009 at 07:38 (5,448 days old) by dirtfinder1 ()
Checkrate/Likes *New TriStars* Well I guess I can chip in because I have both the new and old style TriStars. While the EXL, MG1 and MG2 may not be a "True" TriStar to purists I find them to be VERY good machines. In fact my EXL is my daily driver and does an excellent job! The bodies of the machines are still made of metal as is the power nozzle itself. The hose has been switched over to a ergo pistol grip style with an on/off switch in the handle and of course the wands are now quick disconnect. The machines run very well as they pull right around 80" of lift which while isn't the best it certainly is very far from the worst and the machines are very quiet. They use the same style TriStar/Compact bag thats been used since day one. As for the power nozzle it does share its brush roll with its Aerus siblings, however, it still works very well....even a little better in my opinion then the Aerus power nozzles. I believe this is because of the metal construction of the body of the power nozzle. While it does have a plastic bottom the entire rest of the body of the power nozzle is metal which makes it one of the heaviest power nozzles you will ever find. This weighs it down so it makes excellent contact with the carpet and really can bring up the nap. As for the attachments I really do feel they have been improved over the older gen tools as they now are a little better made and are clones of the top end Aerus tools. In all I believe these machines to be worthy carriers of the TriStar name.

Post# 70393 , Reply# 7 5/26/2009 at 07:54 (5,448 days old) by vintagehoover ()
Checkrate/Likes *From that famous little booklet...* 'A Totally New Idea in Electric Cleaners'... BTW, dave - I'd guess the Hoover upright in the Queen Mary picture would be a 960:

Post# 70399 , Reply# 8 5/26/2009 at 11:53 (5,448 days old) by retardturtle ()
Checkrate/Likes vintage hoover.....really nice collection in the pic...sweet....what are the specs.top to btm...

Post# 70414 , Reply# 9 5/26/2009 at 16:16 (5,448 days old) by airway88 ()
Checkrate/Likes Oh Jack dont do this to me!!!! Your machines are far to beautiful!!!! I cant look at them... I start drooling! lol very beautiful!