Hoover Constellation 858

Dan, the one in the 1959 ad with the electric hose feature is the Model 87, produced for 16 months only from January 1 1959 (SN 0000001) through April 4 1960 (SN 0085297), when the electric hose was discontinued. The colour, that matched the 66 Convertible and Pixie, is officially Garland Green
I have SN 0025275.

Yes, there were several engineering flaws with the Electric Feature but if you find one intact they are easily adjusted and fixed. The idea is that it was easier to turn off to answer the phone or pesky child/husband. It was not developed initially to power a power nozzle (although is could have done down the road). However, the 120 VAC contacts just inside the inlet are too easily touched by accident or curious fingers, giving a guaranteed nasty shock. Many of these 87s had their wiring disabled and a Hoover fliptoggle added. There is no toggle switch hole on an original 87. You swivel the intake bezel slightly to the right to close the contacts - a primitive knife switch setup - for hoseless use or to connect the blower port to the hose.
Full AC Voltage Current is carried along the single Ultraflex wire coil with an insulated soft copper single strand ground wire laid next to the coil before the vinyl jacket was molded on. Intake socket contacts being the weak link, the hose is well made and would have done for powering a power nozzle.

But, at the same time Hoover's Model 87 was on the market Lewyt's re-engineered Big Wheel Electronic system to feed power down the hose and wands to the Motorized Beater Sweeper power nozzle was raising safety concerns...

The 2nd Lewyt Electronic 1958 Big Wheel Model 111 and 3rd & final 1960 Model 121 had Housewife Shock capabilities too from low voltage high amperage motor windings shorting out, sending full voltage through the inlet contacts, down the hose, electric wand contacts and into the power nozzle. Their massive lawsuit problems clearly influenced Hoover to stop making the Constellation 87.
The 1957 first Lewyt Electronic Model 107 did not have this problem as a 120 VAC cord was clipped to the hose, running back to a 120 VAC socket on the canister body.

By mid 1960 clip-on cords were falling out of style and fully integrated electric hoses were the future for PNs. Electrolux introduced it's electric hose with pigtails somewhere around 1969/70 in Canada on the 87E and 89E. I don't know when Electrolux USA introduced its first pigtail electric hose but the late Model 1205 had blade contacts inside the hose inlet bezel in 1972, as did the all new plastic body Canadian AP100 in 1973.

Dave, I luv this stuff!


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Post# 120756 1/9/2011 at 17:22 (4,848 days old) by mieles7 (TX)
Checkrate/Likes I have never seen a hoover constellation in this color. Does anyone know anything about it?

Post# 120759 , Reply# 1 1/9/2011 at 18:26 (4,848 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)
Checkrate/Likes That's a puzzler, Ian. May be a replaced top dome. My info is that the 858 was one of the last two Constellation models and produced until January 1975, as an entry level cleaner priced ~$30. The thing is the 858 when introduced was painted Pumpkin over Seal Griege (to match 1120 DAM). After 1971 the 858 base colour is Medium Taupe and in 1974 top colour was Poppy Red. That Lime Green is very much a Canadian Colour of the mid 1970's Consumers Discount store all green Model 888 Connie which came with a white cord, hose and tools. Your cord, hose and tools look Griege or Taupe to me. What colour is your base? Maybe Fred will have some insight into this 'bastard child', eh? I haven't heard that Lime (or Sour Apple) Green was a USA Hoover colour. Regardless, Constellations are fine strong vacuums. Dave Canadian 888 below.

Post# 120760 , Reply# 2 1/9/2011 at 18:39 (4,848 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)
Checkrate/Likes But wait! Then I found this YouTube that says it's an 858. Looks like yours? and it's not Garland or Avocado green. What gives? CLICK HERE TO GO TO aeoliandave's LINK

Post# 120763 , Reply# 3 1/9/2011 at 19:14 (4,848 days old) by kirbyloverdan (Egg Harbor Twp . NJ aka HOOVERLOVERDAN ❤️)
Checkrate/Likes *Here is another ad* This was a popular color here in the Northeast. My grandparents had the first one that came out in the 5o`s it had a switch on the hose to power it on and off . A first for a canister back then . It was sold throughout the years as different models as I remember but it only had the switch on the hose on the model form the 50`s I think they had problems with it and put the switch on the front as all others had . Not sure of model numbers though .As you see it matched a few of the other hoovers out then .

Post# 120770 , Reply# 4 1/9/2011 at 19:45 (4,848 days old) by mieles7 (TX)
Checkrate/Likes *YouTube Video* Actually, that Hoover is the one I have.

Post# 120788 , Reply# 5 1/9/2011 at 22:38 (4,848 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)
Checkrate/Likes Dan, the one in the 1959 ad with the electric hose feature is the Model 87, produced for 16 months only from January 1 1959 (SN 0000001) through April 4 1960 (SN 0085297), when the electric hose was discontinued. The colour, that matched the 66 Convertible and Pixie, is officially Garland Green I have SN 0025275. Yes, there were several engineering flaws with the Electric Feature but if you find one intact they are easily adjusted and fixed. The idea is that it was easier to turn off to answer the phone or pesky child/husband. It was not developed initially to power a power nozzle (although is could have done down the road). However, the 120 VAC contacts just inside the inlet are too easily touched by accident or curious fingers, giving a guaranteed nasty shock. Many of these 87s had their wiring disabled and a Hoover fliptoggle added. There is no toggle switch hole on an original 87. You swivel the intake bezel slightly to the right to close the contacts - a primitive knife switch setup - for hoseless use or to connect the blower port to the hose. Full AC Voltage Current is carried along the single Ultraflex wire coil with an insulated soft copper single strand ground wire laid next to the coil before the vinyl jacket was molded on. Intake socket contacts being the weak link, the hose is well made and would have done for powering a power nozzle. But, at the same time Hoover's Model 87 was on the market Lewyt's re-engineered Big Wheel Electronic system to feed power down the hose and wands to the Motorized Beater Sweeper power nozzle was raising safety concerns... The 2nd Lewyt Electronic 1958 Big Wheel Model 111 and 3rd & final 1960 Model 121 had Housewife Shock capabilities too from low voltage high amperage motor windings shorting out, sending full voltage through the inlet contacts, down the hose, electric wand contacts and into the power nozzle. Their massive lawsuit problems clearly influenced Hoover to stop making the Constellation 87. The 1957 first Lewyt Electronic Model 107 did not have this problem as a 120 VAC cord was clipped to the hose, running back to a 120 VAC socket on the canister body. By mid 1960 clip-on cords were falling out of style and fully integrated electric hoses were the future for PNs. Electrolux introduced it's electric hose with pigtails somewhere around 1969/70 in Canada on the 87E and 89E. I don't know when Electrolux USA introduced its first pigtail electric hose but the late Model 1205 had blade contacts inside the hose inlet bezel in 1972, as did the all new plastic body Canadian AP100 in 1973. Dave, I luv this stuff!

Post# 120791 , Reply# 6 1/9/2011 at 23:00 (4,848 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)
Checkrate/Likes Yes guys, I need a Garland Green Hoover floor nozzle to complete the 87, if anyone has one for sale... The other tools were white and I have the proper telescopic wand with the metal clip. Have also found the yellow floor polisher and of course, the amazing Floor Washer Dryer. All I need is a Garland Green 66 Convertible to pose that ad but I don't know where I'll find the perfect baby blue day dress. Perhaps I'll dye a lab coat for that masculine touch:-) Dave

Post# 120824 , Reply# 7 1/10/2011 at 10:37 (4,847 days old) by kirbyloverdan (Egg Harbor Twp . NJ aka HOOVERLOVERDAN ❤️)
Checkrate/Likes *Wow Cool Dave* Thanks for the info Dave . My grandfather had to drill a hole into his to ad the toggle switch . He was an electrician so he knew how to do that stuff . Dan

Post# 431198 , Reply# 8 9/3/2020 at 17:57 (1,323 days old) by Real1shep (Walla Walla, WA)
Checkrate/Likes *Very much......* a shame, as that was the precursor to having a PN down the road. I guess they figured with a PN, it might compete too favorably with the higher end Hoovers.....being an entry level vac and all that. Kevin

Post# 431209 , Reply# 10 9/3/2020 at 22:48 (1,323 days old) by gottahaveahoove (Pittston, Pennsylvania, 18640)
Checkrate/Likes 1 *I actually have one.* I also have the matching Handivac. It IS an odd color, indeed.

Post# 431201 , Reply# 9 9/3/2020 at 18:41 (1,323 days old) by fan-of-fans (USA)
Checkrate/Likes Did anyone ever figure out where this green 858 fits in? This color 858 doesn't show up on any of the timelines I've seen.