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Thread Number: 12271
What's your favorite Hoover Constellation color? |
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| Post# 131384 4/8/2011 at 22:46 (5,031 days old) by Automatic-Shift () | ||
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I like the orange best, but would love the European poppy one. And, I prefer the latter handle, than the first ones. | ||
| Post# 131389 , Reply# 1 4/8/2011 at 22:53 (5,031 days old) by Brandon_W_T () | ||
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I think the two-tone blue 82 was the best color combo. Then the infamous Garland green 8?7?, and finally my next personal favorite is the mustard yellow 86. Probably because it reminds me of saturn. :) 
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Post# 131390 , Reply# 2 4/8/2011 at 22:54 (5,031 days old) by gottahaveahoove  (Pittston, Pennsylvania, 18640) |
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Hard to  | ||
| Post# 131430 , Reply# 3 4/8/2011 at 23:46 (5,031 days old) by electrolux~137 () | ||
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Turquoise!!
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| Post# 131469 , Reply# 5 4/9/2011 at 09:46 (5,030 days old) by HooverCelebrity (Germany) | ||
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Hard to pick just one...... Tell me about it! 
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| Post# 131470 , Reply# 6 4/9/2011 at 09:48 (5,030 days old) by HooverCelebrity (Germany) | ||
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But... If I had to... I think the model 85 wins. I love the whimsical-ness of it. It's the only model that had a nameplate like this, and the pink/white color combination it just so pleasing to the eye. Don't forget about that pink rug-tool, too. 
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| Post# 131471 , Reply# 7 4/9/2011 at 09:49 (5,030 days old) by HooverCelebrity (Germany) | ||
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Kind of fuzzy, but you get the idea.. 
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| Post# 131473 , Reply# 8 4/9/2011 at 09:55 (5,030 days old) by HooverCelebrity (Germany) | ||
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It also has one of the most fabulous ads of all time... one of my favorites... too bad it's not in color. 
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| Post# 131474 , Reply# 9 4/9/2011 at 10:06 (5,030 days old) by henry200 (Saint Paul MN) | ||
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I have to agree Fred, the 85 definitely has to win on the grounds of whimsy! Do I see TWO of the new steel models on the shelf? One just wasn't enough? | ||
| Post# 131477 , Reply# 10 4/9/2011 at 10:14 (5,030 days old) by kenkart () | ||
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I m with Fred! PINK 85! | ||
| Post# 131478 , Reply# 11 4/9/2011 at 10:14 (5,030 days old) by HooverCelebrity (Germany) | ||
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Do I see TWO of the new steel models on the shelf? One just You'll just have to come and investigate that one for yourself...! :-) | ||
| Post# 131482 , Reply# 12 4/9/2011 at 10:29 (5,030 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada) | ||
Submitted for your approval;
The very pretty Canadian kin to the North Canton Model 434 is this striking combination of Pearl White sphere Model 438 with Canton Red handle, bumper and base - manufactured in the Hamilton plant from October 23 1963 to October 21 1964. The earlier USA 434 was painted & trimmed differently as seen in Fred's extreme left example - produced from August 9 1961 to October 20 1961. Is it possible this is the only Constellation model to feature colour-coordinated handle bumper and base? I can't recall ever seeing a Connie with anything other than a white handle... Dave 
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| Post# 131486 , Reply# 13 4/9/2011 at 10:36 (5,030 days old) by henry200 (Saint Paul MN) | ||
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You'll just have to come investigate..... Yes I will, before the curiosity turns fatal! | ||
| Post# 131487 , Reply# 14 4/9/2011 at 10:49 (5,030 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada) | ||
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It looked pretty sad when I found it in Petrolia buried in mud and grass in the rain outside along with the Eureka. This was my first meeting with PeteK in October 2007 and I think he was surprised that I just had to rescue all of these. LOL
But it cleaned up really well with no scratches or dents. This is the trip where I also went koo-koo over the Monitor cylinder. Whatever Fred's tale about the two SS Connies is I understand completely. When these New Connies went on online sale as Hoover was shutting down I ordered two myself at $100 each and had them shipped to Syracuse where I picked them up. Kept one for myself and the other Pete has. I also snapped up the Pearl White model for $20 at a Bibles For Missions store. Except for the terrible vacuum-contracting hose these are an excellent re-iteration of the hallowed Constellation - a fine last gasp effort from North Canton. Dave 
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| Post# 131492 , Reply# 15 4/9/2011 at 11:12 (5,030 days old) by HooverCelebrity (Germany) | ||
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Yes I will, before the curiosity turns fatal! Ok, ok, ok... Neil... you twisted my arm hard enough...
Please see the thread, linked below: CLICK HERE TO GO TO HooverCelebrity's LINK | ||
| Post# 131554 , Reply# 16 4/9/2011 at 16:03 (5,030 days old) by pinkge (Indianapolis,Indiana) | ||
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Fab color... the orange and brown.And the turquoise | ||
| Post# 131571 , Reply# 17 4/9/2011 at 16:56 (5,030 days old) by DysonAnimal () | ||
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The 822/822A, and the 862, would probably be my favourites! 
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| Post# 131572 , Reply# 18 4/9/2011 at 16:57 (5,030 days old) by DysonAnimal () | ||
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822A with tools... 
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| Post# 131701 , Reply# 21 4/10/2011 at 08:44 (5,029 days old) by vac-o-matic (Saint Louis, Mo.) | ||
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Fred, how many different versions were there of the 85? I have one, but it's trimmed out differently. | ||
| Post# 131707 , Reply# 23 4/10/2011 at 10:07 (5,029 days old) by Brandon_W_T () | ||
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Actually now that I think of it. Maybe I was thinking the doughnut was really the tool rack.... hmm. I STILL WANT IT! lol. I really want it for the cool floor tool with wheels. And pink is my favorite color ever. :P | ||
| Post# 131716 , Reply# 24 4/10/2011 at 11:12 (5,029 days old) by kenkart () | ||
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DAVE!!! What I want is that Viking you have pictured!!! Im going to have to come to Canada, I never see anything like that here!!! | ||
| Post# 131732 , Reply# 25 4/10/2011 at 13:59 (5,029 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada) | ||
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Rick, there's only one version of the 85 but that's not to say that many Constellations haven't been 'modified' by well-meaning DIY-ers and Service Depots salvaging parts and transferring them to other machines. Within Series ranges bottom shells from one model can be intermixed with differently coloured tops to create colour combos the factory never produced.
Then you have the official variations put out by the Hoover Canada concern in Burlington (later Hamilton) Ontario and the Perrivale UK/European versions. With that all said my Survey info on Constellations goes like this: The Constellation was built from November 17 1954 to Jan 30 1975. The same basic Henry Dreyfus spherical machines were produced to the end with only colour changes and tweaking of the original design. There are TWO Series if you will...the First with hose at top center, Second with hose entering near the top and sub-series Two which has the same hose coupler but the cleaner body tilted in relation to the base ring. (Three Series if we include the mid-2000 Maytag/Hoover Opalescent White or Stainless Steel Satellite Constellations...) Series One: The hose is attached to a heavy steel arm that swivels 360 degrees around its top center mounting. The debut model is the two-tone blue Model 82 with dusty blue rubber bumper ring, Ultraflex hose & cord, which does not float. A 4-caster dolly was available for easy trolleying from room to room. Within months, if not weeks, floating Models 84 in two-tone Mulberry and the 85 in White over Heather Rose, both with matching coloured rubber bumper rings but off-white ultraflex hoses, were introduced. These fulfilled the Market Strategy of Bottom, Middle and Top of the Line versions. The base donuts are the same shape with the floaters having a hole in the bottom corresponding with the vacuum's exhaust port. All three bases are hinged on one side to swing away allowing the hose 'pipe' to connect for blowing. Under the lid, the bag collar support is a one piece curved steel stamping and the slub-felt motor filter disc is held in place with a steel 'hat' band joined with a short spring. Minor differences between the three other than colour is the trim ring applied around the hose inlet and the Bug badging on the side. The debut 82 has a very decorative wide aluminum ring festooned with shooting stars and Hoover Constellation script with a single round bug badge on the side. The mid-line 84 has a thin chrome ring set into the hose inlet and again a single bug badge on the side but Constellation script in red silkscreened just below it. The top-of-the-line 85 goes a decorative & utility step further with a plain wider aluminum scuff ring 'donut' around the hosepipe inlet and the bug is incorporated in a trim piece that runs down the side to the bumper trim, as shown on Fred's 85. It adds some wire frame tool posts attached to the base ring and little ear tabs above the bumper for cord winding. All three versions were in production from 1954 to 1957. Series Two: The fixed non-swiveling Ultraflex hose coupler moves to a side location and a new handle setup design incorporates a rear tailfin for winding the cord around. The floater base is now a flared trumpet-shaped ring that is permanently riveted in place. You simply tilt the entire vacuum over sideways to connect the hose to the exhaust port. The hose now stores very neatly nested inside the flare. At some point on some models wire tool support posts rise from the base above the hose winding area for on-board tool storage & trundling. The bag support becomes a shaped wire frame with a steel fitting welded on that accepts the bag collar. The filter clamp becomes a steel wire coil that is a bit trickier to put on. These changes continue to the end of the run. The second series began in 1958 with the gold coloured Model 86 (which later in its run became Porcelain Blue), followed by successive coloured models, thus: Model 87 - 1959 - Garland Green with electric hose On/Off feature (discussed here many times - do an archives search for this singular model) Matches the Model 66 Convertible. Model 88 - 1960 - 'Pank' officially known as Fawn - matches the Model 67 Convertible. Model 434 - 1961 - Canton Red and Pearl White - matches Model 574 promo Convertible. Model 444 - Bittersweet orange - matches Model 34 Convertible Special. Model 454 - Nassau Blue - matches Model 36 Convertible Special. Model 843 - Autumn Gold & Seal Griege - This is the tilted model - matches Model 1060 Convertible. after 1971 base colour changes to Medium Taupe. Model 858 - Pumpkin & Seal Griege - matches Model 1120 DAM. after 1971 base colour is Medium Taupe and in 1974 top colour is Poppy Red. The last two models, 843 & 858 were both in production until January 30 1975 when the Constellation was discontinued in North Canton. At the beginning of the 1970s the Constellation was promoted as an entry level Economy cleaner which sold around the $30 price point.Keep in mind that Hoover also badged the machines for JC Penney (Pencrest) and other stores so there are many variations out there. The Canadian Hoover factory put out variations in colour combos not available in the USA. Here in Canada around 1974 for instance, at Consumers Distributing Outlets a stripped down Connie Model 888 could be had for $54.97. Other exclusively Canadian Models: Model 821 - clone of blue Model 82 swiveltop. Model 841E - clone of Mulberry Model 84 swiveltop. I don't think we had a Heather Rose 85 variant. (?) Model 862 - white top. side hose over orchid mauve (Mulberry-ish) bumper, bottom and base ring. Model 866 - all over Fawn Pink w white trims. Model 867A - 1964 - White dome over pale Pea (not Garland) Green handle, bumper trim, base and lower dome. (I guess that answers my Canadian-only other colour coordinated handle/bumper trims question) Model 869 - Robin's Egg Blue all over w white trims. Model 438 - Pearl White w Canton Red handle, bumper and base ring. Model 451 - all over Mustard Yellow w white trims. Model 888 - 1971/73 - all Sky Blue w white trims, later 1974/75 all Bilious Lime Green...er...Apple Green w white trims. Then, around 2006 came the 'Series Three' Maytag Satellite in Stainless Steel which was brought over to North America via China as the Hoover Constellation S3345 in SS & Black trims & clear hose or painted shimmering Opalescent White with Gray trims & a shorter gray hose. Around 2007/08 these were both sold in Canada at Home Hardware stores and others for a short time until late 2008 when Internet Mail Order Closeout became the only way to get one. The price gradually plummeted from a high of $299 to $149, to $99 on the Hoover Website when I ordered mine. On a road trip in 2009 as Hoover Outlets were closing I saw some in stores marked down to US$75. Any corrections or confirmations gratefully received, please. Whew! That's a wrist-wracking heap 'o Sunday mornin' typing! Dave. No Constellation Survey is complete without the Patent Drawing: CLICK HERE TO GO TO aeoliandave's LINK 
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| Post# 131754 , Reply# 27 4/10/2011 at 17:39 (5,029 days old) by electrolux~137 () | ||
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I wonder why they only "tilted" one model. Did they try it out and then find out it flopped? Too bad, because I think it looks really cool that way.
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Post# 131849 , Reply# 28 4/10/2011 at 23:06 (5,029 days old) by gottahaveahoove (Pittston, Pennsylvania, 18640) |
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Dave!!!!! | ||
| Post# 131967 , Reply# 31 4/11/2011 at 19:34 (5,028 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada) | ||
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No precise answer, just a good guess. I shot this picture at the Hoover Historical Center in North Canton which I have to assume is an all original 1956 Constellation Model 84.
I've been looking for one of these wheeled floor nozzles for years...they always seem to be attached to complete machines... :-( The Telescopic wand is the same length as two joined single wands so all you can do is add a third section...but then you'd be grasping the wand at shoulder height to keep the fixed floor nozzle in flat contact with the floor or vacuuming with the head angled sideways. Then again, maybe the third wand will be just right for the low angle nozzle with your height...yeah, I don't like that low angle Hoover Nozzle either, for the same reasons and I'm 5'6". Dave 
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| Post# 131972 , Reply# 32 4/11/2011 at 19:42 (5,028 days old) by HooverCelebrity (Germany) | ||
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I have a mint, unused Model 444, and it's so Bittersweet Orange, that is!
So are you the one who forked over $$$ for the one on eBay a few weeks ago? 
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| Post# 132023 , Reply# 33 4/11/2011 at 23:33 (5,028 days old) by Automatic-Shift () | ||
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Maybe I did, Maybe I didn't I can't say for sure... I can't say yes or no, but I can say that is one fine example though :) | ||
| Post# 132141 , Reply# 35 4/12/2011 at 23:44 (5,027 days old) by BrianKirbyClass (Eudora Kansas) | ||
I absolutely agree that the Connie is a cool and unusual vacuum cleaner. But from someone who actually had to use one to clean a large home, back in the 70s both with thick carpet and bare floors, I have to say the Connie failed miserably. (It was my job as a kid to do all the vacuuming of course.)
Not only did it blow dust around the bare floors, it also left "hot spots" in the carpet wherever or if ever it sat running in one place for very long. So hot infact the carpet would often have a burned smell. I never felt like the Connie was actually doing much cleaning,,more like just blowing dust around. ALOT of dust. Didnt seem to matter if a new bag or clean filter was used,,there was always dust blowing out from underneath. Isnt the idea of a vacuum cleaner to TRAP and HOLD the dust inside the bag as much as possible? ( i often thought while using the Connie) I also found the "Rug and Floor" tool to be very hard to use. Could never seem to get it at the right angle to brush the carpet,, or the brush inside to work right. Id usually just end up keeping it the setting so that the brush was always up and out of the way. Our home had a long carpeted staircase and the Connie was very hard to use on stairs. Yes the stretch hose did help, but would not reach the last few steps, no matter which direction up or down you went. So, you would have to try to hold the Connie with one had balancing it on a stair tred, and vacuum with the other,,all the while dust was blowing all over. Of course Hepa bags and filters were unheard of back in the 70s,,,too bad,,i know our house was very dusty,,the Connie didnt help much,,but sure was a cool looking vacuum. Sure was an excellent garage vac or for taking out on the driveway and cleaning out the car! I finally traded the old Connie for a used Rainbow D2 with the Eureka style PN. You should have seen how dirty and thick that water was in the Rainbow pan after all the yrs of dust blowing from the Connie. Id have to stop every 5 min or so of vacuuming with the Rainbow and dump the water,,which wasnt even water anymore,,it was thick MUD! | ||
| Post# 273197 , Reply# 37 3/23/2014 at 20:40 (3,951 days old) by Kevin (Livonia) | ||
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1956 Constellation ad: 
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| Post# 273285 , Reply# 38 3/24/2014 at 15:45 (3,950 days old) by Ultimatevacman ( Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK) | ||
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| Post# 340905 , Reply# 39 1/7/2016 at 23:50 (3,296 days old) by Vintagevaclover (Athens, GA) | ||
I've never even seen one in person but... | ||
| Post# 398979 , Reply# 41 9/30/2018 at 12:29 (2,299 days old) by Vacuumdevil (Vacuum Hell ) | ||
Thanks | ||
| Post# 425678 , Reply# 42 5/18/2020 at 18:14 (1,703 days old) by JHiggs (Los Angeles ) | ||
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Gorgeous Machines! These are amazing! My mom had one when I was a kid and I remember loving it. Any idea how to find a decent one other than ebay which seems hit or miss. I have tried vacuum shops and one recommended this site. | ||
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