Thread Number: 24726
The complete history of the Hoover Junior
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Post# 277519   4/22/2014 at 07:32 (3,628 days old) by Turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK)        

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Hey folks,

Since there's been a LOT of drama between the UK members recently, some of us were chatting and thought this might be an interesting, fun way to pull us all back together again.

As a team effort, lets pull together the complete history of the Hoover Junior. This should certainly get very interesting into the 1960's - 1980's when the exclusive and unusual models start cropping up. I think between us, we've got them all. Lets try and keep it in order too?

I'll start us of with the Hoover Junior 370.

The 370 was a complete departure for Hoover as it was designed and built exclusively for the UK market and the first cleaner to not be sold on either side of the Atlantic simultaneously. There was considerable demand in the UK for a smaller cleaner. In many cases, the Hoover was just too large to be maneuvering around British homes.

The 370 arrived in 1934. It has a 225w motor, along with the famous "beats, as it sweeps, as it cleans" action. As well as being smaller, the 370 was cheaper than the larger cleaners, which is why it is fairly widely considered to be the first affordable vacuum cleaner in the UK. Before this, only the upper classes would have been able to afford a vacuum.

Here is a video courtesy of vintagehoover.


CLICK HERE TO GO TO Turbo500's LINK


Post# 277522 , Reply# 1   4/22/2014 at 07:59 (3,628 days old) by Ultimatevacman ( Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK)        

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Good idea Chris!

 

If anyone has any info on the 375 which is the model which came after the 370, it would be greatly appreciated!

 

Joe



CLICK HERE TO GO TO Ultimatevacman's LINK

Post# 277530 , Reply# 2   4/22/2014 at 08:20 (3,628 days old) by beko1987 (Stokenchurch, United Kingdom)        

No idea about 375 history but here is a picture of one!

From My Collection



Post# 277535 , Reply# 3   4/22/2014 at 08:31 (3,628 days old) by Turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK)        

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Hi Sam,

That 375 is lush!

The 375 was the first redesign, and arrived in late 1935. Some of the styling changes brought it more in-line with the larger Hoover cleaners, marking the beginnings of the Junior/Senior styling combo.

It's certainly more common these days, I think mainly because it had a 5 year run vs the 18 month run of the 370.

The Junior 119 followed in 1949 and production/sales of the 375 overlapped until it was discontinued in 1950.

See link to the 119 thread. There are 2 styles - the earlier style with the gold lettering on the hood and the later style with red lettering.


CLICK HERE TO GO TO Turbo500's LINK


Post# 277536 , Reply# 4   4/22/2014 at 08:34 (3,628 days old) by ultimatevacman ( Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK)        

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Here's a photo of my 119, it's not very original!

Post# 277538 , Reply# 5   4/22/2014 at 08:36 (3,627 days old) by ultimatevacman ( Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK)        

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Here's a photo of my 375.

Post# 277539 , Reply# 6   4/22/2014 at 08:38 (3,627 days old) by Ultimatevacman ( Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK)        

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Neither my 119 or 375 are very original! Apologies for the photos being the wrong way round.


Post# 277540 , Reply# 7   4/22/2014 at 08:38 (3,627 days old) by dysondestijl (east midlands, UK)        

Lovely, Joe!
Did the 1224 come after the 119?


Post# 277544 , Reply# 8   4/22/2014 at 08:50 (3,627 days old) by Turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK)        

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Spot on, George. The 119 ran from 1949 to 1957, when it was replaced by the last of this style, the 1224. The 1224 ran from early 57 to late 58, one of the shortest runs of any Hoover cleaner. It's basically the same as the 119. but in a much more striking and modern colour scheme.

Photo here courtesy of chestermike, showing the 1224 alongside the later style 119 with the red writing on the hood


Post# 277545 , Reply# 9   4/22/2014 at 08:51 (3,627 days old) by Turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK)        

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Another pic courtesy of Mike...the 1224 with the hose setup.

Post# 277548 , Reply# 10   4/22/2014 at 08:57 (3,627 days old) by dysondestijl (east midlands, UK)        

Wow, that is a lovely colour!
Then was it the red 1334 style Junior after the 1224?


Post# 277574 , Reply# 11   4/22/2014 at 11:02 (3,627 days old) by andy-lux ()        

The 119 for me was a pleasure to use. Manoeuvrable and enough power to do a fairly decent job.
in a uk home it was easier to use than the larger senior


Post# 277590 , Reply# 12   4/22/2014 at 13:11 (3,627 days old) by Turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK)        

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Spot on again, George. The 1334 was launched in 1958 and ran until 1962. The second major design overhaul Photo courtesy of vintagehoover (again).

Post# 277592 , Reply# 13   4/22/2014 at 13:16 (3,627 days old) by Turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK)        

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The 1334A followed in 1962. Originally in a rather dull off-white and grey colour scheme, but was revammed to a more pleasant olive green colour early in the run. No major design differences between this and the 1334, the biggest difference is just the colour scheme.

Video below courtesy of Ryan.






Post# 277593 , Reply# 14   4/22/2014 at 13:23 (3,627 days old) by AlexHoovers94 (Manchester UK)        

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I had a 1334E but the baf was the same as the 1334A, were some of them released like that or was it replaced.


Post# 277594 , Reply# 15   4/22/2014 at 13:24 (3,627 days old) by Turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK)        

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Sorry folks, jumping back a few cleaners here, but just stumbled across the manual for the 119 in my collection. If anybody wants it, feel free to save it.

Post# 277596 , Reply# 16   4/22/2014 at 13:25 (3,627 days old) by Turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK)        

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Page 2

Post# 277597 , Reply# 17   4/22/2014 at 13:26 (3,627 days old) by Turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK)        

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Page 3

Post# 277600 , Reply# 18   4/22/2014 at 13:28 (3,627 days old) by Turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK)        

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Page 4

Post# 277601 , Reply# 19   4/22/2014 at 13:31 (3,627 days old) by vintagerepairer (England)        
1334 differences

The white & pink 1334 junior had at least 2 styles of bag, the earliest having a metal slide across the top as pictured on here, but later still it had a zip. Also, the cover plate on early models was metal, and later on plastic.

When the grey colour scheme was introduced, the on/off foot switch cover was changed from square to round. The main hood was metal on a lot of grey cleaners, but I am not sure whether this was changed to plastic during the grey run, or whether that came when the colour was changed to Hop Green & Jonquil.


Post# 277602 , Reply# 20   4/22/2014 at 13:31 (3,627 days old) by Turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK)        

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Alex, that 1334E looks gorgeous! I'm glad you asked about that, as this is where my Junior knowledge goes a bit squew-wiffy.

I believe the 1334E was launched alongside the 1346 in 1968. The 'E' stood for 'economy' and as the 1334E was the budget model, based on the old design. I've not seen one in that colour scheme before though. My Great Grandma had one, but that was 2-tone grey.

Anybody else care to pitch in here? Al? Seamus?

EDIT:

Sorry, Benny, I missed your post. Think we must have posted at the same time. Thanks for the info regarding the 1334 differences. I wonder at which point did they become more plastic. I know by the time the 1346 arrived, the hood was entirely plastic. It seems even at that earlier point, Hoover had cottoned onto plastic being cheaper and were making cuts. There'd be an absolute out-cry if that situation were to happen today.


Post# 277614 , Reply# 21   4/22/2014 at 14:58 (3,627 days old) by borusa (Edinburgh)        

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Mum had a 1334e as above but with grey bag and not green which didn't have the cord clip on the handle but my auntie had the two tone grey version which I'm sure had the clip. Benny - any ideas which came first?

Post# 277619 , Reply# 22   4/22/2014 at 15:14 (3,627 days old) by andy-lux ()        

Both my 1334A's had the metal hood but plastic belt covers. One in white and one in the dull grey colour.

Post# 277623 , Reply# 23   4/22/2014 at 15:28 (3,627 days old) by vintagerepairer (England)        

I'm afraid I know little else, other than what I already wrote. By the time I bought my shop (1979) the mainstream Junior cleaners on sale were all the style with the flat-belts. The older round-belt cleaners had been discontinued, except of course for the U1012 exclusive cleaners and the same style with hard-bag unit. Because of the passage of time, a lot of the older Juniors which came in for attention had already had bits & peices from other cleaners (or indeed new parts) fitted to them, so it was hard to tell what was what.

The plastic hoods were very prone to splitting, so that rendered a good deal of them useless for reconditioning, as did the metal hoods, which although fully functional, often looked a disgrace in places where the paint had worn away against furniture etc. To that end, I often used to keep the metal hoods to repair those cleaners which had split plastic hoods. Selling a reconditioned cleaner in that state is one thing; that is not on. But telling a customer up-front that their machine can be repaired for very little money so long as they don't mind a 2nd hand scratched metal hood was quite another.

And so the merry-go-round of Hoover cleaners went on. Repairing Hoover cleaners was great for me as they could pretty much always be fixed up. I always said it was a very poor business decision on the part of Hoover to make their cleaners so repairable.


Post# 277625 , Reply# 24   4/22/2014 at 15:39 (3,627 days old) by andy-lux ()        

Grey 1334A

Post# 277642 , Reply# 25   4/22/2014 at 16:32 (3,627 days old) by anthony (leeds uk)        
i have this

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it was a wreck when i got it

Post# 277643 , Reply# 26   4/22/2014 at 16:35 (3,627 days old) by anthony (leeds uk)        
dont

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you think these two are very much alike

Post# 277648 , Reply# 27   4/22/2014 at 16:47 (3,627 days old) by vacbear58 (Sutton In Ashfield & London)        
Juniors

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Ok guys, here goes :)

Post# 277649 , Reply# 28   4/22/2014 at 16:50 (3,627 days old) by vacbear58 (Sutton In Ashfield & London)        
The Stairway of Juniors

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Post# 277650 , Reply# 29   4/22/2014 at 16:52 (3,627 days old) by vacbear58 (Sutton In Ashfield & London)        
More Juniors

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Actually there are a couple more since these photos were taken

Post# 277653 , Reply# 30   4/22/2014 at 16:56 (3,627 days old) by vacbear58 (Sutton In Ashfield & London)        
1334E

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The 1334E was something of a hotch-potch of parts - up against the newly restyled 1346 (then denoted as Junior DeLuxe by the way), looked very old fashioned although the main body was the attractive smoke pine/swedish green combo. It did have a grey bag, and i think the old grey style which was used back in the days of the second series machines - it did seem like they were using up old bits - those bags are like hens teeth now.

Post# 277655 , Reply# 31   4/22/2014 at 17:00 (3,627 days old) by vacbear58 (Sutton In Ashfield & London)        
You will not have seen this before

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I recently received this inside another piece of Hoover ephemera I recently bought, showing just how popular the 370 was. its in three parts

Post# 277656 , Reply# 32   4/22/2014 at 17:00 (3,627 days old) by vacbear58 (Sutton In Ashfield & London)        
page 2

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Post# 277658 , Reply# 33   4/22/2014 at 17:05 (3,627 days old) by Turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK)        

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Hi Al,

I knew you'd chip into a Junior thread :). The info is much appreciated. The 1334E certainly wouldn't be the last time Hoover made a model just to use up old parts.

That's some very interesting reading regarding the 370, thank you for sharing. I wonder why, even when the cleaner was such a success, it was redesigned within the first 2 years of production? For a Hoover of that time, 2 years seems a rather short production life.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the next cleaner in our line up is the original 1346 with the brown bag and orange belt cover?


Post# 277659 , Reply# 34   4/22/2014 at 17:05 (3,627 days old) by vacbear58 (Sutton In Ashfield & London)        
And finally,

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Page 3

I have always made it clear my belief that Hoover were not market leaders by accident, it was a combination of good product, clever marketing and extensive sales support. Note how though, the concern was not to use the 370 as a basis to trade up to the 450 or 750, but rather a trade down if the more expensive machine was beyond the means or not appropriate to the house it was being sold into.

Note that last sentence, because I have recently been made aware that part of the Hoover sales technique was not necessarily to sell the most expensive machine, but the best machine for the household


Post# 277661 , Reply# 35   4/22/2014 at 17:07 (3,627 days old) by Turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK)        
but the best machine for the household

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If only Currys staff thought the same, eh?

Post# 277662 , Reply# 36   4/22/2014 at 17:09 (3,627 days old) by vacbear58 (Sutton In Ashfield & London)        
1346

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Chris,

That would be correct :), but I am not done yet LOLOLOLOL



Post# 277663 , Reply# 37   4/22/2014 at 17:11 (3,627 days old) by vacbear58 (Sutton In Ashfield & London)        
The three enemies

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Even back in the 1930s

Post# 277664 , Reply# 38   4/22/2014 at 17:12 (3,627 days old) by vintagerepairer (England)        
If only Currys staff thought the same, eh?

If this were true today, Currys would sell very little! I am not being flippant, Turbo500, indeed what have said is very interesting, because it highlights so clearly the difference between sales of vacuum cleaners in 1935, and sales today, almost 80 years on.

Post# 277665 , Reply# 39   4/22/2014 at 17:13 (3,627 days old) by beko1987 (Stokenchurch, United Kingdom)        

Fascinating!

Post# 277667 , Reply# 40   4/22/2014 at 17:15 (3,627 days old) by Turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK)        

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Those are fantastic, Al, thank you for posting! I can think of a few of us now who simply MUST have a Hoover for spring cleaning this year.

To add to what Al has already posted, here is a TV commercial for the 1334 (or possibly 1334A? Either way, it's fun viewing!)






Post# 277668 , Reply# 41   4/22/2014 at 17:19 (3,627 days old) by vacbear58 (Sutton In Ashfield & London)        
375

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As we all know, or we should know, the 370 was given a styling makeover by Henry Dreyfus, although I have always been curious as to where the design of the 370 came from. Along with being more in keeping with styling of other models it was also easier to manufacture and to service - service was an important part of the Hoover operation.

I can tell you on good authority that when Hoover operated a fleet of sales/service men (up to the end of the 1950s) they had a target of 21 service call and 10 sales calls per week. of course not only was service an important generator of income in its own right, it was equally important as a means of generating sales leads.

This is a favorite ad of mine for the re-launched 375 in 1945



Post# 277670 , Reply# 42   4/22/2014 at 17:26 (3,627 days old) by vacbear58 (Sutton In Ashfield & London)        
119

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Even in 1946 the 375 was looking a bit long in the tooth, but it soldiered on until 1950 when it was given a design brush-up to become the 119 - although the US had it as the 115 before we did. by the way, although the 375 was not sold in USA a 115V version was sold in Canada - the 376.

I actually don't have many pictures of the 119, so here is a picture of the line up up to 1958


Post# 277671 , Reply# 43   4/22/2014 at 17:31 (3,627 days old) by vacbear58 (Sutton In Ashfield & London)        
Lark

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There was a sort of intermediate version of the Junior which was sold in the US called the lark, originally with the same foot print as the 119 - 12", and later widened to 14". Although manufactured in the UK, it was only sold in the US and Canada. We had to make do with the updated 1224 (in blue0 although it was similar to the 119. What WAS different was the tool set which had the lightweight blue stretch hose and restyled all purpose nozzle as has been shown previously.

Her are the cleaners above in action


Post# 277672 , Reply# 44   4/22/2014 at 17:33 (3,627 days old) by Turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK)        

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Not to get sidetracked from the Juniors, but just for those who are wondering, here is The Lark.

I also believe this was filmed at your place, Al? Is the Lark essentially a larger 1224?






Post# 277673 , Reply# 45   4/22/2014 at 17:34 (3,627 days old) by vacbear58 (Sutton In Ashfield & London)        
1334

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1958 was an exciting year for Hoover, for not only did it have the all new Hoovermatic washing machine, they had a completely new design Hoover Junior as well.

This is what they had to say about it


Post# 277674 , Reply# 46   4/22/2014 at 17:41 (3,627 days old) by vacbear58 (Sutton In Ashfield & London)        
Lark again

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Chris,

Indeed that was filmed at my home in what has now been christened the "Launderetta Conservatoire" by ChesterMike - yes, my conservatory is now full (almost completely full) of washing machines!

I do not think it is correct to call it a restyled 1224, if anything it is a restyled 119 as it pre-dates the 1224. Although it shares some components (motor etc) there are some significant differences. It might have been intended as a replacement for the 119, but I believe it was difficult to manufacture as well and in effect, they went back to the drawing board on it.

This meant that in some ways the 1334 was just as revolutionary as the 370 some 23 years before for it completely changed the landscape for vacuum cleaner styling in that category of cleaner just as the 370 did - note how many cleaners looked like the 370 in the 1940s and 1950s



Post# 277675 , Reply# 47   4/22/2014 at 17:42 (3,627 days old) by vacbear58 (Sutton In Ashfield & London)        
production line

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Post# 277678 , Reply# 48   4/22/2014 at 17:44 (3,627 days old) by vintagerepairer (England)        

3RD Picture. The tool room. Man in the middle. Had to clean my spectacles as for a moment I was sure as sure he was wearing a dunces cap. Have a look for yourself.

Post# 277679 , Reply# 49   4/22/2014 at 17:45 (3,627 days old) by vacbear58 (Sutton In Ashfield & London)        
Bag cutting and more assembly

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Note that when the 1334 was launched they got a new factory to manufacture it (it was close by to Perivale) just as they did with the Constellation (Wembley)

Post# 277680 , Reply# 50   4/22/2014 at 17:46 (3,627 days old) by Turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK)        

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Al, you are, as always, a Hoover genius!!

I do have a quick question regarding Henry Dreyfuss. Might seem a bit daft, but hey, you never get anywhere in life by not asking.

I know who Dreyfuss was and the machines he was involved with, but what was his relationship with Hoover? Was he brought in for a specific reason to streamline the Hoover range or did things happen more by chance than that?


Post# 277681 , Reply# 51   4/22/2014 at 17:46 (3,627 days old) by vacbear58 (Sutton In Ashfield & London)        
Testing

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I have loaded this before but it still deserves a second look

Post# 277682 , Reply# 52   4/22/2014 at 17:48 (3,627 days old) by vacbear58 (Sutton In Ashfield & London)        
The complete 1958 line up

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this picture was published in early 1959, which was also going to be an exciting year with the launch of the Hoover De-Luxe cleaner (Senior) and the Constellation


Post# 277683 , Reply# 53   4/22/2014 at 17:49 (3,627 days old) by Turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK)        

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Benny, I see what you mean!! The 1958 equivalent of an Instagram candid fail. I bet that bloke never for a moment thought we'd be talking about that photo all these years later.

Post# 277685 , Reply# 54   4/22/2014 at 17:52 (3,627 days old) by vintagerepairer (England)        
So which came first?

The blue polisher or the burgundy?

Post# 277687 , Reply# 55   4/22/2014 at 18:04 (3,627 days old) by vacbear58 (Sutton In Ashfield & London)        
Genius

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Thank you for that Chris, I wish I was - as far as I am concerned that mantle still rests with our good friend VintageHoover.

My understanding (note understanding) is that essentially he worked with the Hoover design team as a stylist, putting exciting and up-to-date bodies on the considerable technical developments of those designers. That said, its is my OPINION, that the technical development reached their zenith with the model 150 (or perhaps the model 60) and it was not until the launch of the Dial-a-Matic in the 1960s that such leading edge development was again seen in the market place.

It seems (source: The Vacuum Cleaner - A History, Carroll Gantz) that by the mid 1950s Dreyfus started being edged out of the design process until it was all done in house.




This post was last edited 04/22/2014 at 18:25
Post# 277688 , Reply# 56   4/22/2014 at 18:04 (3,627 days old) by vacbear58 (Sutton In Ashfield & London)        
Polisher

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The burgundy one came first, in 1952

Post# 277689 , Reply# 57   4/22/2014 at 18:09 (3,627 days old) by vacbear58 (Sutton In Ashfield & London)        
And back to the Junior

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And with the 1334, that was basically it as far as I can see. There were colour changes and a style update in 1967 and of course the dirt searcher but it really did not change that much at all until the end in around 1986 or so

Post# 277690 , Reply# 58   4/22/2014 at 18:11 (3,627 days old) by vacbear58 (Sutton In Ashfield & London)        
10 years on

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One of many now but still soldering on

Post# 277692 , Reply# 59   4/22/2014 at 18:13 (3,627 days old) by vacbear58 (Sutton In Ashfield & London)        
1979

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Updated a bit further but essentially the same cleaner

Post# 277694 , Reply# 60   4/22/2014 at 18:14 (3,627 days old) by vacbear58 (Sutton In Ashfield & London)        
Now with hard bag as well as soft

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Post# 277695 , Reply# 61   4/22/2014 at 18:16 (3,627 days old) by vacbear58 (Sutton In Ashfield & London)        
More colour changes

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Post# 277698 , Reply# 62   4/22/2014 at 18:22 (3,627 days old) by vacbear58 (Sutton In Ashfield & London)        
And in the end

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Curiously it ended up (sorry no picture) in a black and grey colour scheme (no lights or hard bags) almost in a tribute to the first Junior models of 50 years before.

Of course in that time the surrounding market place had changed out of all recognition and Hoover had already launched their all new Turbo power models, wherein the Junior name lived on for another 15 or so years.

But for all that, at least as far as the UK is concerned, the Hoover Junior can lay claim to being the most popular cleaner for a great many years. It was not the cheapest by any means (Hoover had the cylinder and constellation cleaners which were considerable cheaper for the time) but throughout its life it brought market leading carpet cleaning to millions of homes in the UK, not once but again and again

Woopps - everyone has fallen asleep now :)


Post# 277700 , Reply# 63   4/22/2014 at 19:21 (3,627 days old) by guido (ITALY)        
WHAT A NICE THREAD !

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Very interesting subject - the juniors ! Al has lots of information about it, as I can see... and also lots of Juniors too ! Really nice machines, Al !
I wanted to share my experience about the Junior line ! Well, back in 1986 I was 11 years old ( and already heavily in love with vacuum claners ! ) and finally managed to convince my mother to buy our very first HOOVER for our house at the sea...I had seen many SENIOR cleaners around but by 1986 the 652 line - my favourite EVER - was already out of production so the JUNIOR TURBO POWER was the only possible alternative left on the market and we got that one. I "played" with it for almost one year, but it was a very loud and disturbing machine...so over-powered that it used to walk on its own, it even warmed-up the carpet and "peeled" it so much that every time there were entire "balls" of stripped carpet in the bag...the rubber often fell on the side of the beating-bar, leaving terrible black signs on the floor. The hood would soon overheat after few minutes of use and the cable was ridiculously short ...Well if compared to the senior line, the junior was a real disaster ! I was wondering if it has always been so "cheap" or maybe only the last models were such poorly built machines ?! Many years have passed, my mother has passed away and the house at the sea was quickly sold with the Hoover Junior and all. Last year I spotted the very same cleaner in a second hand shop and of course I bought it , for 15 euros I think. Curiously enough, the vacuum worked well when I came home - with its distinctive scream that I still remembered soooooo well - but after I polished it ( just outside ) it would wouldn't switch-on again and is still waiting for a check-up. I suppose I am unlucky with juniors....


Post# 277733 , Reply# 64   4/23/2014 at 02:09 (3,627 days old) by Turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK)        

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Hi Al,

Thanks again for all the info.

Are you sure the black and grey Junior was the last? I had always understood that the all beigh U1104 was the last Junior. I had one dated January 88. Was the black and grey an exclusive?

I have some brochures and videos to share when I get home tonight, so watch this space.

In the meantime, if anyone has any Junior's or Junior-related bits and bobs to post, then let's seem em! :).


Post# 277734 , Reply# 65   4/23/2014 at 02:15 (3,627 days old) by Turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK)        

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Guido,

The Turbopower's and Turbopower Juniors were considerably more plastic than the Junior line up and certainly not as well made. Shame your experience with them was not great as they're actually brilliant cleaners.

If you click the link, you'll find an excellent Turbopower and Turbopower Junior thread which might make for interesting reading.


CLICK HERE TO GO TO Turbo500's LINK


Post# 277735 , Reply# 66   4/23/2014 at 02:33 (3,627 days old) by beko1987 (Stokenchurch, United Kingdom)        
Going to be controversial here

But I think this

From Hoover Junior U1650

is the last 'Junior' before that stupid stick vac.

Yes we all know its a TP Junior, but no-where on it does it say Turbopower! The TP Juniors always had Turbopower on them somewhere. March 2001 someone kindly dated it to for me!


Post# 277736 , Reply# 67   4/23/2014 at 02:44 (3,627 days old) by Turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK)        
The TP Juniors always had Turbopower on them

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Not quite, Sam. After the TP2 and 1000 came out in 1992, the TP Juniors were all branded "Junior" only. But they're still Turbopower designs, despite the branding.

Post# 277737 , Reply# 68   4/23/2014 at 03:40 (3,627 days old) by vintagerepairer (England)        

Vacbear thank you for all the information.

Turbo500, reading Beko's message as I did, he was saying that when the Turbopower style Junior was on sale as part of the Turbopower line up, the cleaner always said "Turbopower" and "Junior" on it, unlike in later years when the Turbopower style Junior was sold simply as a "Junior", as per his photograph above.

Frankly, when the Turbopower Junior went into production in 1983, I felt the time had arrived to finish making the original Junior as we knew it. Granted that countless Juniors were sold between 1983 and 1988, however, had it not been available, consumers would have likely purchased the Turbopower Junior instead, particularly as there was nothing else really quite like the Junior by then, save for perhaps the Electrolux 410. Even the Goblin Commander and Moulinex softbag cleaners were competing against the Hoover Turbopower Junior and not the U1104 style Junior.

How Hoover could afford to keep making so many different models and also exclusive versions of the same is beyond me.


Post# 277738 , Reply# 69   4/23/2014 at 04:19 (3,627 days old) by vacbear58 (Sutton In Ashfield & London)        
Junior

vacbear58's profile picture
I am sorry if it appears I went on something of a rant last night, it was not my intention to take over the thread, and I hope other members will post their own pictures and experiences. It was such a popular cleaner that I am sure there are few of us who did not come into contact with one at some point or another. And certainly from the 1970s there were lots of exclusives and other variations so get posting please, there is a lot more to be said in the subject.

Chris, I am surprised you actually got a Junior as late as 1988, I am not doubting your word, just surprised it went on so long although perhaps yours was an exclusive as of course we know that many Hoover models carried on for many years as exclusives long after they had been dropped from the main product line. I believe the black/grey model was the last mainline one but that might not be correct.

I have never really felt that the Turbopower style Junior was a "proper" Junior, but that they were cashing in on the legacy value of the name. That said I have a Junior which looks identical to Sam's (purchased for the princely sum of £1.20 and I was able to pick it up) and I consider it an excellent cleaner, certainly as good as anything else Hoover produced. It does not get much use although I should dig it out for a while - I have been using a Junior Deluxe (not unlike the Starlight Juniors in reply 58 above) as a daily driver for some time now. Of course it is not a "proper" Junior either, although again, it is an very good machine.

So, enough of me for now, lets get posting more Juniors folks

Al


Post# 277739 , Reply# 70   4/23/2014 at 04:23 (3,627 days old) by vintagerepairer (England)        

"I am sorry if it appears I went on something of a rant last night, it was not my intention to take over the thread"

May I say I didn't think you had? I found your excellent input most interesting.


Post# 277743 , Reply# 71   4/23/2014 at 05:15 (3,627 days old) by Turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK)        

turbo500's profile picture
Al, you didn't hijack it at all! Thank you for posting everything you did, it's fantastic to see so much info on the beginnings of the Junior run.

Of course, as we get into the 70's and 80's, there were absolutely loads of Juniors on sale - exclusives, budget models etc. It will certainly be interesting to see what some folks have stashed away in their collections in terms of rarer models.

Regarding the U1104, I actually have a brochure at home for the very last, all beigh style cleaner, the same as the one I had. Joe has this now. It's all beigh and fitted with the activator brushroll and comes with a black pan-converter style toolkit. I always assumed it was part of the main run, but could be wrong. I'll dig the brochure out when I get home. The serial number dated it to January 1988.


Post# 277765 , Reply# 72   4/23/2014 at 11:05 (3,626 days old) by gottahaveahoove (Pittston, Pennsylvania, 18640)        
My quest , now, is to get a

gottahaveahoove's profile picture
'Dirtfinder'. I have 3 Juniors. One MUST have a few different models, right?


Post# 277768 , Reply# 73   4/23/2014 at 12:03 (3,626 days old) by vacbear58 (Sutton In Ashfield & London)        
DIRTSEARCHER!

vacbear58's profile picture
John

Of course you must have a few models if only to prove the consistency of the excellence of the performance over 50+ years :)

Believe it or not I have actually been keeping an eye out for a DIRTSEARCHER for you in my regular ebay searches but they have generally been too expensive and too far away to go for. But I will still keep looking.

Not that there will be much dirt to search for in a home that is already a HOOVERCLEAN home :)

Al






Post# 277770 , Reply# 74   4/23/2014 at 12:56 (3,626 days old) by Turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK)        

turbo500's profile picture
did someone say "dirt searcher"??

Post# 277772 , Reply# 75   4/23/2014 at 12:59 (3,626 days old) by Turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK)        

turbo500's profile picture
Page 2

Post# 277773 , Reply# 76   4/23/2014 at 13:01 (3,626 days old) by Turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK)        

turbo500's profile picture
Al, this is the U1104 that I had. I had assumed it was the last one, but possibly not?

Post# 277774 , Reply# 77   4/23/2014 at 13:03 (3,626 days old) by Turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK)        

This post has been removed by the member who posted it.



Post# 277775 , Reply# 78   4/23/2014 at 13:03 (3,626 days old) by gottahaveahoove (Pittston, Pennsylvania, 18640)        
AL!!!!!! Aren't you kind!!!!!

gottahaveahoove's profile picture
Yes, I keep saying 'dirtfinder' when I KNOW it's DIRTSEARCHER!! Thanks, so much. I'm also searcing for that 'flip floortool', SIMILAR to an Electrolux...we NEVER had them on this side of the pond. Isn't it fun to find things on yoiur 'list'?
Shall I keep an eye on something for you as well?
John


Post# 277815 , Reply# 79   4/23/2014 at 14:59 (3,626 days old) by beko1987 (Stokenchurch, United Kingdom)        

Ha my gran had curtains the same as that bag in the last picture!

Such was the Britishness of the Hoover Junior that someone must have painted one up for I imagine a queens jubilee...

Because I saw one looking all sorry on eBay a few years ago and bought it for a laugh!


Post# 277817 , Reply# 80   4/23/2014 at 15:00 (3,626 days old) by beko1987 (Stokenchurch, United Kingdom)        

Will try and reveal the full serial number one day so someone can work out what it originally was!



Post# 277818 , Reply# 81   4/23/2014 at 15:02 (3,626 days old) by andy-lux ()        

Ive always found a junior easy to use. The tool set was ok if not the hose was a bit short and had a diving fit when balanced on stairs on the way down. But that aside. Great machines

Post# 277861 , Reply# 82   4/23/2014 at 17:06 (3,626 days old) by moojuiceuk (Southampton, England)        
My 119

moojuiceuk's profile picture
As we're on the topic of Juniors - I was wondering about my little 119. I'm guessing it's a late one, but I wondered how late. I've has it for years now. A car boot sale find for £20. Came with instructions and boxed tools (only the dusting brush was missing).

Also, the cloth bag on this doesn't look like the usual 119 bag. Mine has the Hoover round logo, whereas all the 119's Ive seen seem to have HOOVER written vertically or VACUUM CLEANER for aftermarket bags. Were late 119's supplied with these bags or has this been replaced later on in life?

In any case, it gets used to clean my attic bedroom and that's about it. Lovely little thing.


Post# 277862 , Reply# 83   4/23/2014 at 17:07 (3,626 days old) by moojuiceuk (Southampton, England)        

moojuiceuk's profile picture
And the serial number.......

Post# 277866 , Reply# 84   4/23/2014 at 17:14 (3,626 days old) by whirlpolf ()        
I just love this thread ;-)

Been following it for some while, just as I have been observing Juniors for quite some while. But just recently I got myself my own Junior Dirtsearcher 1334 (is it?) in blue and white with a headlight in the front cover.

Some childhood "being home" feeling is spreading: Back then almost half of the households of my school mates had Hoovers, most of them Juniors (sure thing that I'd be crawling their cellars, kitchen cabinets or laundry rooms for "what appliance sort of a family am I in here?" ;-)

Hey, here in Germany the last Junior was called "Hoover Turbopower, Junior Edition (= no hard body but a cloth bag)." (The "real" Juniors still being sold and being called "Hoover Junior, classic version" or Hoover Junior "hardbody, classic Junior" (as opposite to the Turbopower motor base).


But to me a "real Junior" is still the little crouched turtoise shell motor with the side vent for the outer bag. But this is just my feeling.
One thing I have never managed to get over is the suction space above the brush roll: So much room there, so many long minutes for heavier bits to be kept floating in some randomly swirling suction streams of air (until they finally come close to the belt spindle or in other words: to the circular fan opening thus being sucked in). Why hasn't there ever been a try to streamline this? It is just a square hollow space, basta.

Other than that I just love my Hoovers, the Ranger&Remember Shake-n-Vac mustard monster just the same as my little smurf-coloured Junior with its trustworthy (and ever so reluctantly speeding-up) little hum and air rush.

I wish we had such versatile and energy-modest vacs today. Yet lightweight, any grandmom could and would use them for years.
Where are the old "dirty air" blower motors that did so well with their outer bags for decades for just a fraction of the mains power used today?
What is so difficult today to have an internal rubber gasket in the wands (like the Hoovers had it?) to really transport a suction force over a distance of 2 metres to do a decent job right down there at the point of action? I mean WHAT?








Post# 277867 , Reply# 85   4/23/2014 at 17:16 (3,626 days old) by vintagerepairer (England)        
The bag

Is a much later genuine replacement. Those which said "Vacuum cleaner" were none-genuine replacements. I don't know if I ever stocked any genuine bags in my shop as the none-genuine bags were no worse.

Post# 277871 , Reply# 86   4/23/2014 at 17:31 (3,626 days old) by vacbear58 (Sutton In Ashfield & London)        
119 Date

vacbear58's profile picture
Wes

As Benny says, the bag is a replacement, unfortunately the original bags, unless emptied after every use did tend to rot if the dirt was left lying in them. Thanks for posting the serial number, your cleaner is amongst the last them to be made, it is from the second half of 1956, with the 1224 replacing it in late 1956.

Its a nice tidy looking example though, and these do go on and on :)

Al


Post# 277872 , Reply# 87   4/23/2014 at 17:32 (3,626 days old) by moojuiceuk (Southampton, England)        
The bag

moojuiceuk's profile picture
I kinda suspected it wasn't the original. Looks in too good a condition to be 50's vintage, especially with the white locking collar.

As for serial numbers, a little searching on the forums here has revealled some serial numbers!

www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-... - post #10.

Model 119 Hoover Junior, Bronze & Dark Brown, Produced October 1950 - December 1956
Serial Numbers:
K 10,000 = October 1950
K 100,000 = january 1951
K 200,000 = June 1951
K 300,000 = November 1951
K 400,00 = May 1952
K 500,000 = December 1952
K 600,000 = July 1953
K 700,000 = December 1953
K 800,000 = May 1954
K 900,000 = December 1954
KG 100,000 = March 1955
KG 200,000 = August 1955
KG 300,000 = January 1956
KG 430,430 = July 1956 Production End

As mine is KG438852, I guess it was made in the last few months of production in '56.


Post# 278257 , Reply# 88   4/26/2014 at 05:08 (3,624 days old) by ricky5050 (Durham UK)        
great thread!

Hi i dont often post here, only because my vac collection has been left out due to more recent washer \ dishwasher tinkerings; which is ironic as it was vacuum cleaners and more specifically Hoovers that got me interested in collecting appliances as a child.
It was the Hoover junior that started that fascination!

If you werent around in the UK in the 70s, you would not have seen how popular this little machine was, everyone i knew owned a Junior of some sort. It seemed you either had a Hoover Junior or Electrolux cylinder vac ( generalisation i know but to a child at the time it seemed true ) to see an electrolux 502 or moulinex or goblin house maid seemed exotic !

My parents owned a green junior, my aunt a dirt searcher, one gran a 119 they other dark blue junior, neighbours orange one, blue one etc etc.

what i loved about these machines was that it was a insite in to engineering, there were pulleys belts fans agitators bearings tool attachments, all things which a child could ( although probably shouldnt !) dismantle and re fix. Friends and family became quickly aware how good i was at repairing them, and were often amazed at the difference a simple belt brushes and bearing clean would make to there sweeper! I got a reputation about my obession with hoovers! so much so i was warned off asking about them at peoples houses from my parents. I even got a huge stash of Hoover stickers and emblems off the "Hoover man" when he came to fix our family washing machine as a bribe to get out of his way. ( i remember being so upset that i promtly lost them !)

What makes this thread so apt for me at the moment is that ive been selling some of my collection of old radios, tape players etc as its spread over 3 house ( the shame ! lol) and i found this 1334 i forgot i had, I've decided to use it as a daily driver for a while.

I've always thought they were friendly looking little fellas with the big Hoover roundel grin and like the color, as you can see its an early one.

I bought it from our local rubbish tip when you could buy things, i spotted it was all original but required re painting. It has aluminium front and early bag its serial number is K L 279623 but i don't know as to what year that makes it.

I've discovered the supressor is missing and i fear the motor is running slow, it spins freely but fear it may need a new armature etc. What do you guys suggest to do , buy new bearings armature etc and restore motor? or buy another machine and nab motor, does any one have a good / new working one for sale? Would a later one fit if i swapped over pulley as i think they have a bit more power?

i also have the boxed tools and instructions that were given from a relative but no pictures of them.

thanks again Richard


Post# 278258 , Reply# 89   4/26/2014 at 05:16 (3,624 days old) by ricky5050 (Durham UK)        
some of my other juniors

As i said my collection is in my house and both my parents homes, (sheds garages and bedroom!) so i only have a few in my house. Here is a picture of the ones i consider my best lol. I do have a dirt searcher, regular blue junior, later model dirt searcher with screw on front ( sorry i don't know numbers like you guys ) at my dads.

As you can see this picture shows a nice early 375 with slim wheels, a complete but short cabled 119, and a nice green junior that reminds me of my childhood.

Oh one thing i noticed in one of Als pics of the 1334 assembly line they looked like they were fitted with little pink plugs! how cute and how rare , i have a black one that says hoover but never knew they made pink ones! I remember when appliances never came with plugs, as it was always the bit i wasn't allowed to do !


Post# 278262 , Reply# 90   4/26/2014 at 07:59 (3,624 days old) by vacbear58 (Sutton In Ashfield & London)        
Hoovers

vacbear58's profile picture
Hi Richard

That's a grand selection of Hoovers you have there and you are very wise not to keep the cables tightly wound.

I cannot comment on the best way forward to your 1334 (its funny how, although the bags were quite delicate sometimes these 1334s turn up in superb condition) but there are plenty of recent threads on here which will take you step by step through the process.

All Hoovers cleaners were fitted with a two pin plug up until 1961 which was actually matched to the colour of the flex to which they are attached, the main colours are black, brown, light and dark blue and pink

Like your other bits in that picture too, you don't see many of those square faced Teasmades, I have one with the round face myself

Al



Post# 278264 , Reply# 91   4/26/2014 at 08:24 (3,624 days old) by vintagerepairer (England)        
motors

All 1334 "style" juniors produced from 1959 up until production of the "round belt" style finally ceased around 1983, used the exact same size motor. Over the course of time, suppressors, terminal blocks, foot switches, and fans may have varied in design (in the case of the latter, the most recent cleaners had plastic fans), but the entire motor as a whole remained the same size. So, no matter what 1334 "style" Junior you lay hands on, the motor will fit yours no problem.

It was the flat-belt U1036 "style" motor which was different. Although the motor casing was the exact same size as used on the 1334 "style", the armature was longer and the pulley a different size & shape also. These motors ran at 300 watts instead of the 250 watts used by the round-belt motors. These motors will not fit your cleaner at all, although the motor casings and suppressors can be used to repair the round-belt motor. But that's about all.


Post# 278346 , Reply# 92   4/27/2014 at 04:11 (3,623 days old) by ricky5050 (Durham UK)        
Thanks

Hi thanks Al , I thought the plugs were from the 1930s they looked so cute , the attention to detail would have been great. Hoover in the 50s 60s etc were really top notch when you think of the constellation and keymatic washer. I'd love a pink plug ! Any one got one ha ha ? And thanks vintage repairer, I'll look in to motors I just thought I could swap the pulleys over from a later model, but to be fair the regular motors do a good job. Plus for someone who collects vacuums I've only got carpeting in one bedroom and the stairs and a small rug in the lounge! As Barbara from the Royal family would say " I've been laminated right through! "

I've asked at my local appliance shop , he laughed and said god we had crate fulls they got wet so we binned them!

Cheers Richard


Post# 278348 , Reply# 93   4/27/2014 at 05:27 (3,623 days old) by vacbear58 (Sutton In Ashfield & London)        
Plugs

vacbear58's profile picture
Richard
The plugs always had the same general style, I have seen them in both 5amp (the most common) and 15amp two pin varieties.

They crop up on ebay reasonably often although mostly black and brown, the pink and blue not so much so unfortunately.

I am in the same situation in my house regarding carpeting too, not much carpet to keep trying out the cleaners on :(

Al


Post# 278350 , Reply# 94   4/27/2014 at 08:17 (3,623 days old) by vintagerepairer (England)        
plugs

Vacbear, it is interesting what you say, that the blue and pink plugs show up the least. I think by the time these cleaners went on sale, 3-pin plugs -be they round or square pin- would have been the norm, thus quite likely that the original 2-pin plug was immediately disposed of in favour of a 3-pin which fitted the majority of the sockets in the house. The older cleaners with their brown and black plugs were possibly used in homes with wiring which still supported that type of plug, long after the nation had switched to fused square-pin plugs!

Post# 278848 , Reply# 95   5/1/2014 at 02:36 (3,619 days old) by vacbear58 (Sutton In Ashfield & London)        
Orangey/Red

vacbear58's profile picture
While browsing through ebay this morning I noticed the Junior on the link (yes, I know its missing its front cover) and I wondered if this was a main line Hoover colour or an exclusive?

And wasn't there a dark blue one but with a similar grey bag?

I had been trying to think what Sam's Union jack Junior reminded me of this morning. If I remember it right in the late 1970s series (I would hesitate at calling it a comedy as it was very bitter sweet) Butterflies the sons of the family had a mini which I think was pained union jack colours or maybe it was just the roof. Anyway, I still think the UJ Junior was a great idea

Al


CLICK HERE TO GO TO vacbear58's LINK on eBay


Post# 278852 , Reply# 96   5/1/2014 at 04:09 (3,619 days old) by vintagerepairer (England)        

Vacbear that was an exclusive. There is a version where the orange bits were blue. A very odd colour combination I always thought, you know, something cheery as the main colour, with white accents. Would have been better (and cheaper) to have white as the main colour.

Post# 333885 , Reply# 97   9/13/2015 at 12:52 (3,118 days old) by PhilH ()        
HOOVER JUNIOR

The Hoover Junior 370 was in production from 1935 not 1934 and was in production until 1936 when it was replaced by model 375. Model 375 was in production until 1949 when was it was replaced by model 119. Model 119 was in production until 1955 when it was replaced by model 1224 which was in production until 1958.

Post# 333889 , Reply# 98   9/13/2015 at 13:53 (3,118 days old) by paulinroyton (Royton, Lancashire)        
Hoover Junior

Here are my 2 Hoover juniors, never been used.

  Photos...       <              >      Photo 1 of 9         View Full Size
Post# 333911 , Reply# 99   9/13/2015 at 20:46 (3,118 days old) by kirby519 (Wisconsin)        

I know someone here that had one many years ago. Late 70's early 80's. was always curious as to how well the suction was thru the hose. I like the direct connect to the fan. She also had a Kirby 519. But didn't have the hose set up for the Jr. How did or does the suction power with the hose compare to a 4 amp Kirby or 5 amp Kirby Dual Sanitronic? I know what a commercial and domestic Royal can do with the hose attached. Not quite as good as the Kirby's of the 70's and beyond. I was never impressed with the slide in adaptors or front converter of the convertibles or eureka up rights. There was a huge loss of suction because you couldn't make a tight seal. in spite of the fact you can pick up an area rug off the floor and pull it along using the machine as an upright.

Post# 333928 , Reply# 100   9/14/2015 at 04:08 (3,118 days old) by Vintagerepairer (England)        

The seal of the hose to the fan on a Hoover Junior was ok, but never the less the suction was poor.

Despite this, one often saw tools that had been used to an inch of their life, so clearly some Junior owners used the tools a lot. Perhaps they knew no different when it came to suction power, or maybe they did but owning a cylinder cleaner as well was not an option.

I have of course seen many tool kits that have hardly been used, if indeed at all. Again the possibilities are many; did those people have another cleaner to use, or did then simply not bother with any sort of tools and relied on hand brushes to supplement their upright cleaner?


Post# 333929 , Reply# 101   9/14/2015 at 05:33 (3,118 days old) by Nate94 (Sydney, Australia)        

@Vintagerepairer I think most people back then had a Dustette to supplement the cleaning tools, which I do believe we're optional, as the suction was much greater on the Dustette and the tools could be attached much easier. I hope this is relevant to the question.

Nathan


Post# 333930 , Reply# 102   9/14/2015 at 06:08 (3,118 days old) by Turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK)        

turbo500's profile picture

Nate94, of all the people I knew of who had Juniors, not one of them had a dustette and all of them had the Junior tools. You have to remember at the time of the Junior, vacuums were not the throw away items they are today and we much more expensive to buy, so having 2 cleaners was not always an option for a lot of people.


Post# 333948 , Reply# 103   9/14/2015 at 18:37 (3,117 days old) by Vintagerepairer (England)        

The whole concept of two vacuum cleaners is something of a conundrum for me, because up until my mother bought an Electrolux 302 around 1978 or so to supplment her Electrolux 504 which was still very new at that time, I was not aware of people owning two vacuum cleaners. I didn't purchase my shop until 1979 and before then I didn't take much notice of what people were cleaning with.

My mother was a housekeep for numerous people over the years and was well liked by those she worked for. One family bought her an automatic washing machine; another -a Doctor- bought her the Electrolux 504. Up until that time she had been saving for a new vacuum cleaner, but when the 504 was given to her, she didn't go out and squander what she'd saved. Her old vacuum cleaner, a Hoover 262, was sent to live upstairs and when it finally died my mother -who by now was getting older and had found having a cleaner on each floor most satisfactory- used some of her savings to buy the Electrolux 302. She went for a cylinder as she really liked the advantages of both types and liked the idea of having one of each.

But when I had my shop I quickly realised that more and more people seemed to have another cleaner tucked away somewhere - in many cases people told me they inherited a vacuum cleaner when a relative died. But I know some did say they purchased two at different times.

But as Turbo500 says, it was not really the "done thing" at one time to have more than one of anything like that. Heaven knows some households didn't have a vacuum cleaner at all!



Post# 333959 , Reply# 104   9/14/2015 at 21:03 (3,117 days old) by kirby519 (Wisconsin)        

Ok. Would you equate "poor" to the suction power of a hoover convertible with the slide in adaptor? You could feel air moving but it was like a light breeze out side. I realize the machines had small motors by todays standards 2 and 3 amp motors. I forget what the watt conversion is to compare watts to amps. My Kirby Heritage II has a 4.5 amp motor for floors and 5.5 with the hose. Much better air flow than the 50's and 60's Kirby's with 4 and 5 amp motors. just goes to show the advances in technology. At the time they were exceptional performers and still do a respectable cleaning job today. Never got to try the Hoover Jr. as I always opted for the Kirby. She had the Kirby set with the hose and used the Jr for the carpet as it was easier to push.

Post# 333966 , Reply# 105   9/15/2015 at 03:05 (3,117 days old) by paulinroyton (Royton, Lancashire)        
Hoover Junior

@Chris Turbo 500.

Chris just wanted to say I love this thread. For some reason I never noticed it until the other day.

I think the Hoover junior was one of the best selling vacs in the UK, not only that they lasted for ever. I would like to see a modern Vac last for years.

Paul


Post# 333967 , Reply# 106   9/15/2015 at 03:39 (3,117 days old) by Vintagerepairer (England)        

Kirby519 I have seen comments on here from UK members who say they feel the suction of the Junior was slightly better than that of the UK Senior (your Convertible), given the arrangement with the hose connections.

Post# 333969 , Reply# 107   9/15/2015 at 04:50 (3,117 days old) by Hoovermatic (UK)        

Seeing Vintagerepairers post earlier in this thread it reminded me, My Mom had a Hoover Junior from new, the first one with the top fill bag. We never had tools until a few years later in the 80's after some badgering from me so I could hoover the car. I'd be about 7 at the time. Even then Mom never once used the tools, too fiddly to fit, instead she used to use a hand brush with stiff bristles to do the edges of the carpet and the edges/corners of the stairs. Then she would use the Junior locked in the upright position to hoover the stairs, always starting from the top. Years later with a Turbopower Junior the stair cleaning was still done in the same way and I have to admit its very quick and effective so I can see why she used to do it that way.

Post# 334029 , Reply# 108   9/16/2015 at 03:31 (3,116 days old) by Nate94 (Sydney, Australia)        

By the way, here's my Junior 1346A, which was released as the Lark in Australia, with the set of cleaning tools. This model is from 1974.

  Photos...       <              >      Photo 1 of 2         View Full Size
Post# 334030 , Reply# 109   9/16/2015 at 04:28 (3,116 days old) by Turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK)        

turbo500's profile picture
Paul, it was probably THE best selling vacuum ever. It ran from 1944 - 1988/89, and from its launch until the early 80's was the best selling vacuum in the UK, only knocked off the top spot by the Turbopower's.

Post# 334077 , Reply# 110   9/16/2015 at 10:22 (3,115 days old) by boxer_rules (Switzerland)        

boxer_rules's profile picture
German add from the 70ties

  View Full Size
Post# 334087 , Reply# 111   9/16/2015 at 21:08 (3,115 days old) by kirby519 (Wisconsin)        

Vintagerepairer
Thanks for the insight. I kind of thought it maybe along those lines. Some times tough to "get a visual" when you aren't talking in cubic feet, watts etc. My so called Yard stick of measurement has ways been based on the Kirby performance as that is my brand of choice and have used the various models. I have also used other brands as well.

One time I saw mentioned that the Kirby's you have there in the UK and European market are all single speed motors. In comparison to our two speed. Low for floors high for hose use. Is that accurate? If so any reasoning for only having one speed on the machines in your market?


Post# 334099 , Reply# 112   9/17/2015 at 04:09 (3,115 days old) by Vintagerepairer (England)        

Hello again

Sadly I can tell you very little about Kirby as they are not at all popular in the UK in the same way other makes are, and it did seem that those who had them would take them to the offical dealerships to get them repaired. I only ever had experience of repairng a Hertitage Legend II once and that was 2-speed.


Post# 334100 , Reply# 113   9/17/2015 at 04:41 (3,115 days old) by Turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK)        

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Kirby519, that's not correct. My parents Legend 2 was 2 speed.

Post# 334128 , Reply# 114   9/17/2015 at 07:39 (3,115 days old) by kirbymodel2c (Nottingham, England)        
Hi,

kirbymodel2c's profile picture

Steve (Kirby519) What I believe your referring to is the UK's Tradition's eneded up being single speed. It's possible that happened when they altered the saftey switch from the headlight back to the bottom again. But I'd need to check that before confirming if that was the case.

Classic III's back and the Heritage onwards all had two speeds. The same as yours in the USA.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Jamescool


Post# 334130 , Reply# 115   9/17/2015 at 08:48 (3,114 days old) by kirby519 (Wisconsin)        

Thank you.

Not sure where I saw or heard that the machines were not the same in both markets. Thought that sounded odd. But then anything is possible.

That could be that the single speed was in reference to failing safety switches

When the G3 came out the tech drive failed in many machines here. Did you have the same issue or had the bugs been worked out by the time it was rolled out there?


Post# 334131 , Reply# 116   9/17/2015 at 09:19 (3,114 days old) by kirbymodel2c (Nottingham, England)        
Hi,

kirbymodel2c's profile picture

Steve, We didn't get the Generation 3 till 1992 over here and the G4 quickly replaced it.

So most of the issue's were sorted out by time we got it. I seem to remember Ken (a distributor) telling me that on the Generation 3 if you attached the hose and sat on the floor and pulled the cleaner towards you sharply when the techdrive was on, the handle would move making the drive go in to reverse and you could have a game of tug of war with it. Never tried it myself. Apparently from the G4 onwards you can't do that.

 

If you have any more questions about Kirby over in the UK market feel free to message me direct so we don't end up highjacking this thread.

 

Jamescool


Post# 334156 , Reply# 117   9/17/2015 at 19:04 (3,114 days old) by kirby519 (Wisconsin)        
@kirbymodel2c

I know I was thinking the same thing about hijacking the thread. I will try and contact you thru private messaging.

Post# 378986 , Reply# 118   9/27/2017 at 20:11 (2,373 days old) by Sillysid123 (Lincolnshire )        
My hoover junior 1334s

Hi there. Glad ive joined. I own a olive green and white 1334A with a replacement cloth bag. And grey and white 1334. Could anyone rectify dates for these machines? The serial no for the 1334A ends with 67 . So I'm guessing that's 1967 but no serial number on the grey and white 1334. Any help cheers.

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Post# 379100 , Reply# 119   10/1/2017 at 15:34 (2,369 days old) by Turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK)        

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The grey and white Junior is a recon model - they were very popular as a second hand/budget alternative for many years throughout the 70's into the early 90's. Crawfords were the most popular and there still seem to be many around - there isn't much original left on it at all.

Post# 379122 , Reply# 120   10/1/2017 at 22:30 (2,369 days old) by AlexHoovers94 (Manchester UK)        
Going from the mid 70s to the early 80s...

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There were these two models, available in several colours, although, most commonly known in black and orange...The earlier, "Starlight Junior" and later, "Junior de luxe" were the final redesign of the Hoover Junior, before going to the Turbopower range in 1983. The more traditional styled Junior model U1104 ran alongside the Turbopower range in the 80s, however, that wasn't a new design and didn't sell as well as the all "new" Turbopower range.

The Starlight Junior/Junior de luxe is, in my opinion, the most important lost/forgotten connection for basic upright vacuum design, between the 80s and present, it certainly influenced the Turbopowers and in all intents and purposes, it IS.


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Post# 381340 , Reply# 121   11/14/2017 at 21:22 (2,325 days old) by KirbyCollector (Columbus Ohio USA)        

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I saw this long thread about Hoover Juniors, and wanted to talk about the one I’m getting soon. I’m not sure if this one is common or not. It’s a Model 1340. I’ve never heard of that particular model. Anyone have any info on the 1340 they would like to share?

Here are some pictures of it.
Thank you
-Thomas


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Post# 381350 , Reply# 122   11/14/2017 at 23:31 (2,325 days old) by Gj3476 (Prosper,TX)        

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I wish we have the the starlight/junior deluxe here in the USA. If we did, it would've been called the lightweight deluxe upright.

Post# 381357 , Reply# 123   11/15/2017 at 03:18 (2,325 days old) by tolivac (Greenville,NC)        

There was a similar Hoover Jr at the Sew&Vac place for repair.Mike was trying to get it as a trade from the customer-It was in really nice condition.It was built in England as the one shown-but had "Lark" on the nameplate.I wanted it for my collection.But alas it got away-the lady would NOT give it up no matter what new vacuum was offered to her.

Post# 381375 , Reply# 124   11/15/2017 at 13:37 (2,324 days old) by Oldskoolguy (Chicago and Orlando)        
My input on the junior...

I find the junior to be quite an interesting design. I see it as part hoover, part sanitaire, and part Kirby/Royal. First off, it has that well known all steel Hoover beater brush with replaceable brush strips; second, unlike the majority of brush rolls designed as such, the belt path is off-center, much like a sanitaire brush roll; and then finally there’s that bag-to-the-side and front-facing fan design found on many early uprights, but now commonly seen as the design that Kirby and royal use (albeit, Kirby has the emtor instead of the bag directly connecting via a collar like a royal). I am very curious to see how a junior (or Lark as they call it in the US) compares to a Kirby and or royal.

Post# 381392 , Reply# 125   11/15/2017 at 19:03 (2,324 days old) by AlexHoovers94 (Manchester UK)        

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“It would've been called the lightweight deluxe upright”

The Junior Deluxe certainly isn’t light compared to the regular Junior. It is VERY good though, it was the predecessor to the Turbopower.





Post# 381393 , Reply# 126   11/15/2017 at 19:05 (2,324 days old) by AlexHoovers94 (Manchester UK)        

alexhoovers94's profile picture

I think the Junior is comparable to a Kirby in performance, I wouldn’t say either one was better.


Post# 381396 , Reply# 127   11/15/2017 at 19:11 (2,324 days old) by AlexHoovers94 (Manchester UK)        

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Hoover really were the best for carpets back in the day...It is a shame we don’t see this performance now! That belt needed replacing too, in that demo below, which features a 1346 Junior.

Look at that cushion of air IBAISAIC action!





Post# 381397 , Reply# 128   11/15/2017 at 19:19 (2,324 days old) by AlexHoovers94 (Manchester UK)        

alexhoovers94's profile picture



oh and just for laughs and giggles, here is the same ad that I recreated! 😂😂






Post# 381425 , Reply# 129   11/16/2017 at 08:40 (2,323 days old) by josh (Forest Park, IL & Spring Grove, IL)        

josh's profile picture
That was awesome! Nice work on that ad!

Post# 381426 , Reply# 130   11/16/2017 at 09:45 (2,323 days old) by gsheen (Cape Town South Africa)        

gsheen's profile picture
Some of my ones from South Africa



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Post# 381427 , Reply# 131   11/16/2017 at 09:55 (2,323 days old) by gsheen (Cape Town South Africa)        

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Love this one , was a real wreck when i got it

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Post# 381428 , Reply# 132   11/16/2017 at 09:57 (2,323 days old) by gsheen (Cape Town South Africa)        

gsheen's profile picture
one of my two dirt finders

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Post# 382140 , Reply# 133   12/4/2017 at 13:02 (2,305 days old) by midcenturyfan (Kings Lynn, Norfolk, England)        

midcenturyfan's profile picture
It would be great if, between us, we could compile a list of all versions of the Hoover Junior.

I have attached a photo of some of my Juniors. This is nowhere near a complete set.

Robin.


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