Thread Number: 40377  /  Tag: Pre-1950 Vacuum Cleaners
Hoover 450 Questions 		[Down to Last]

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Post# 428790   7/20/2020 at 09:36 (1,368 days old) by hillbillydan (SW-MO)        

Thanks in advance for your answers.

Who designed the Hoover model #450? Was it Henry Dreyfuss? I did a google search and did not find a definitive answer.

I am a 71 year old former shop teacher (1971-85) and for the first 2 years besides woods and metals, I taught classes on architectural drafting and design. Over the years I have developed a particular appreciation of the Art Deco / Streamline Moderne periods of design. I have remodeled a spare bedroom in our house to be my home office and have for the most part populated it with original Art Deco / Streamline Moderne items. I also have designed and made my impression of art deco crown molding and 3 false beams, etc. I say mostly art deco because I have other items that may not fit exactly in the aforementioned classifications of design, but yet they appeal to me......anyhoos I want to call attention to a few outstanding industrial designers of those periods and want to display a few of their designs/inventions. Henry Dreyfuss has been one of my favorite industrial designers of that period and I already have picked up a neat old Big Ben clock designed by Henry and I thought it would be cool to display an old vacuum also designed by him and also use it to clean the room. I really like the industrial design of the Hoover 450 so I purchased one that I am restoring presently and plan to keep it even if Henry didn't design it, but if he didn't design it I will try to find a Hoover model 27 and if that doesn't work then a Hoover model 28. I am currently restoring the 450 and need a Hoover item number 40939 wheel as one of mine has about 1/3 of it broken off and I will also post this need in the classifieds section. If I can't find one I will turn one out of black Delrin on my metal lathe.

I have never seen a desk top designed like the one I am going to discuss, but I have had this idea rattlin around in my head for a decade or so. It was never a priority until I got ready for it and that project was that I restored an old tanker desk and painted the mainframe a root beer color and the drawers a fine metallic silver. I then decided to use "rail and stile" construction and built a 3 layer/off-set series of 3 shadow boxes that inter-connect as a top for the desk. I used some beautifully "figured" quarter-sawn white oak that I handpicked and in the inside top edge of each of the "shadow boxes", I cut a 1/4" x 1/4" rabbit and that design was so I could flush fit 1/4" glass panels in each shadow box and be able to remove those glass panels with the proper tooling. All of the glass and white oak are on one "plane" to serve as my desktop. I can then place an antique knife collection down into one of the 3" deep shadow boxes........a collection of old pocket watches in another, etc. and while I am using said desk, I can glance down through the glass and into the the shadow boxes and enjoy some of my collectibles.

Thanks ~ Dan



Post# 428812 , Reply# 1   7/20/2020 at 17:31 (1,368 days old) by Lesinutah (Utah)        
You

 lesinutah's profile picture
Taught in guessing an AutoCAD class. I did enjoy my AutoCAD college course . Revitt did buy out Autodesk making it 3 dimensional.
I am not a Hoover guru. I imagine you will do just fine.
I'll.chime out and.let the Hoover guuru's take over. Best of luck.
Les

Post# 428850 , Reply# 2   7/21/2020 at 09:09 (1,367 days old) by dysonman1 (the county)        

dysonman1's profile picture
The model 800 was the deluxe Hoover at the same time the 450 was the standard model. The 'swoosh' of polished metal on top of the motor of the 450 was also on the deluxe 800. As far as I know, that was the first models designed by Henry D.
He is far more known for his work with the Hoover 150 deluxe and the standard 25 model.

Post# 428855 , Reply# 3   7/21/2020 at 09:30 (1,367 days old) by hillbillydan (SW-MO)        

Hi Les,

My father among many professions was a comercial artist/designer/dratsman after he got back from WWII plus my son is a graphic designer so I guess it runs in the family. My classes grew so much my first 2 years of teaching that the school system had to hire another tearher to either teach drafting or metals/woods/etc. and I told them to hire a drafting teacher. I did not enjoy teaching drafting nearly as much as the shop classes. CAD was just coming popular just after I quit teaching drafting so I taught the old method with drafting machines and a pencil.

I see you must like Kirby vacuums.........When our last 3 year old plastic vacuum quit a few months ago I went on the search for an old type and the first one I found was a Kirby Classic III at a recycle store. I took a chance on it and it ran after I got it home....so I cleaned it up.....put a new belt on it.....serviced the bearings.......etc. and my wife is using it in lieu of purchasing a new plastic piece of junk.

I hope that the Hoover 450 does a good job of vacuuming because I plan on using it in the room I mentioned.

Thanks ~ Dan

Post# 428856 , Reply# 4   7/21/2020 at 10:24 (1,367 days old) by hillbillydan (SW-MO)        

Hi Tom,

Thanks for the history lesson on Henry. I was aware that the model 800 was probably mechanically superior to the 450, but having taught design the use of the polished metal and black paint scheme of the art deco design of the 450 was what caught my attention. I think the combination "pops" more than the motor cap of the model 800 so that is what I searched for to buy and bingo I found one.

We have talked on the phone about my Rexairs/Airway, etc.....I am the guy that lives just "down the road" from you @ Carthage.

Thanks Again ~ Dan


















Post# 428859 , Reply# 5   7/21/2020 at 11:11 (1,367 days old) by gottahaveahoove (Pittston, Pennsylvania, 18640)        
Dan,

 gottahaveahoove's profile picture
I remember hearing the Hoover family members telling about how "Henry would be here for dinner on Saturday night".. Very casually mentioning him. You know about his demise, don't you?


Post# 428874 , Reply# 6   7/21/2020 at 19:42 (1,367 days old) by hillbillydan (SW-MO)        

Yes I know about his demise?

Post# 428888 , Reply# 7   7/21/2020 at 22:42 (1,366 days old) by gottahaveahoove (Pittston, Pennsylvania, 18640)        
O.K.

 gottahaveahoove's profile picture
I was just curious.

Post# 428890 , Reply# 8   7/21/2020 at 22:55 (1,366 days old) by Lesinutah (Utah)        
Demise

 lesinutah's profile picture
What happened he died? That would lead to anyone's demise.
Les

Post# 428893 , Reply# 9   7/21/2020 at 23:12 (1,366 days old) by gottahaveahoove (Pittston, Pennsylvania, 18640)        
Well, actually,

gottahaveahoove's profile picture
it was a suicide.


Post# 428907 , Reply# 10   7/22/2020 at 10:17 (1,366 days old) by dysonman1 (the county)        
Les

 dysonman1's profile picture
You're right. He died. Doesn't matter how.

Post# 428910 , Reply# 11   7/22/2020 at 10:48 (1,366 days old) by gottahaveahoove (Pittston, Pennsylvania, 18640)        
Well, Les,

 gottahaveahoove's profile picture
yes, it was interesting. Some historians might have been interested in knowing about his wife's terminal illness. He couldn't/wouldn't live without her, so....................
It is a piece of history, like one of the Hoovers jumping out of a hospital window to his death. In that town, especially, it was big news.

Post# 428913 , Reply# 12   7/22/2020 at 13:52 (1,366 days old) by kirbyklekter (Concord,Ca.)        

Hello Dan, if I may. Really enjoyed your thread and even more since you mentioned a Hoover model 27. It doesn't get mentioned nearly as much as the others from that time. I was gifted a #27 that I spotted in in the basement of a house my friends bought in 1992. I took it straight to a repair shop where I was able,then, to buy a new hood off the shelf and a new aftermarket bag and cord. The owner was excited to do the restoration.

For 80.00 plus 45.00 for said parts I had my own little piece of history. I wasn't collecting vacuums yet. Years later I read that the #27 was the first model to be produced and sold to the public after W.W.II. Something got dropped that landed on the hood of the vacuum that put a hole the size of a nickel and I can no longer run down and pick up another for 11.00 at the local shop! The wheels are perfect and if I wasn't attached to this as I am I would send you all four tomorrow.

I will keep an eye out for you because that's what we do! Had to share this with you. Our wood shop teacher in junior high was loved and admired by anyone lucky enough to have taken his class back then. He drove a little '64 VW Beetle that he had customized the interior of extensively. He replaced the dash and trim with "selected hardwoods" and of course it looked amazing. He kept the remaining wood that he sourced for his interior,just as Rolls Royce did in case a repair was needed.

I hope to see a pic or two of your desk some time and your #27. Like your username. One of my nick names is BillyBobJoFrank. Nuff said! Billy

Post# 428929 , Reply# 13   7/22/2020 at 18:15 (1,366 days old) by hillbillydan (SW-MO)        

Hi Billy,

Thanks for your reply.

I don't currently have a Hoover model #27, but as I said: "I really like the industrial design of the Hoover 450 so I purchased one that I am restoring presently and plan to keep it even if Henry didn't design it, but if he didn't design it I will try to find a Hoover model 27 and if that doesn't work then a Hoover model 28. I am currently restoring the 450."

The model #450 is my favorite Hoover, but as a second favorite I really like the model #27 due to the color scheme and plan to keep on the look-out for one.

You won't believe this, but the very Hoover model 450 that I am discussing I purchased off of e-bay and it came from about 1900 miles from Carthage, Mo. where I live. Now here is the odd part of this whole equation.... that Hoover 450 was located in Walnut Creek, California. After I glanced up and saw you were from Concord, CA I thought ....... gee that sounds familiar from when I looked up where Walnut Creek is ....... so I just looked it up and I believe you live about 6 miles from that town don't you?

It was a local pick-up only but I founded the Old Wood and Metalworking Machinery Operators / OWAMMOs (www.owammos.com/...) and had 3 or so friends that live fairly close to Walnut Creek that also collect old wood and metalworking machinery and had one of them pick it up and then drop it off at another friend's house and he shipped it to me.

Thanks ~ Dan



Post# 428941 , Reply# 14   7/22/2020 at 22:17 (1,365 days old) by Lesinutah (Utah)        
Dang

 lesinutah's profile picture
I wish my demise is as good. I read an article of someone who was friends of his son. He attended the funeral. He said the city didn't really care as He wasn't on the silver screen. The writer mentioned how los Angeles never had an exhibit for him. Ironically they had an exhibit in February of this year in new York. I don't think people are hung up on a person passing on his own terms. He lived how he wanted and died on his terms. He accomplished more than most people in 68 years.
The Hoover restored will work great once it's finished. Shop teacher and architectural drafting is cool. I imagine it will be easy with your background. I have no doubt the vacuum in the room will be a bit.
Les

Post# 428974 , Reply# 15   7/23/2020 at 18:14 (1,365 days old) by kirbyklekter (Concord,Ca.)        
You're right Dan

 Where I'm living is about 6 miles from W.C. I'm barely in Concord, just two blocks from Pleasant Hill. The home that my Hoover 27 came from is in Orinda, about 12 miles west of me towards San Francisco.

I queried Google about H.Dreyfus and Hoover. The two models listed that he designed were the model 150 and the Constellation, I doubt they were the only two. They were most likely two of the most popular. There were a lot of sources listed by google so if you haven't checked that out, you may be interested. He was on retainer with Hoover for 25,000 a yr. and lost the account in 1954.

I'll be keeping an eye out for updates on your 450 or other projects you post. It was great to hear back from you. Take care and stay well. Billy

Post# 429052 , Reply# 16   7/25/2020 at 20:44 (1,363 days old) by hillbillydan (SW-MO)        

Billy,

That is some surprise that you only live about 6 miles from where my Hoover 450 came from.

As per updates on the restoration of my 450.... I plan to remove the deep gouges in the housing next week and do my prep work before buffing the housing. I have found the parts that I need, but it will be a few weeks before I can get those.

Not to brag, but over the past 50 years I have restored hundreds of items such as antique furniture, vintage motorcycles, vintage cars, vintage hand tools, old gas and oil collectables, vintage wood and metalworking machinery, etc.

Here are the before and after pictures of one of the restorations that I did and it is a 1936 Delta 17" drill press. I added parts from several other drill presses besides the original pile in the first picture. I restored just about every piece on this old drill press including a period correct electric motor and it purrs like a kitten now and drills extremely accurate.

Thanks ~ Dan



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Post# 429479 , Reply# 17   8/4/2020 at 02:35 (1,353 days old) by kirbyklekter (Concord,Ca.)        
Sorry I came late to your post.

 Dan that is one beautiful restoration. I'm thinking it even looks better than when new. Having trouble picking my jaw up off the floor. About how long did this project take?I'm guessing over a year.Well over a year. Kudos to you. Oh Dan... the Smithsonian is on line two, care to take the call? Billy

Post# 429547 , Reply# 18   8/5/2020 at 15:10 (1,352 days old) by hillbillydan (SW-MO)        

Billy,

I am sorry for not getting back to you, but my 93-year-old mother had to have her right shoulder replaced and she is right handed so and my brother and our wives have been taking turns setting with her at home and caring for her after she got out of the hospital.

Thanks for the compliments on the old Delta drill press, but it is only 1 of about 55 or so restored machines that I have in my shop and that I have restored. I have enjoyed restoring stuff since the age of about 7. That machine took me about 65 hours or so to restore mainly because I have the machines in my shop that I have accumulated over the years that make restoration so much easier than my work some 50 years ago.

A few days ago I did have time to quickly sand out the deep scratches in the old Hoover 450 housing. Some of the scratches/scrapes were about .025 deep and I used a random orbital sander first starting with 80 grit then progressing to 100 then 150 then 220 then 320 and then 400 grit and it is now ready to buff. I have 5 buffing wheels that I sometimes use and all with different grits.......I do not ever use 2 differing grits of compound on the same wheel. I know that "wheel rakes" etc. are avaliable, but again after some 50 years of buffing various items it just is not a good practice to use more than 1 buffing grit per wheel. A word to the wise.......You always need to use very good ventilation when sanding or buffing.

When I have time I will post the before and after work on the housing.

I have plans to buff out the original black paint on the motor housing, etc. and I will use a much slower RPM method of doing that. I have made a series of radial buffing cylinders and they work great. I also collect antique electric fans and have used these home-made buffing cylinders on many of them as it is many times safer as I use a slow RPM variable speed electric drill with this process.

Thanks ~ Dan


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