Thread Number: 44140  /  Tag: Pre-1950 Vacuum Cleaners
Hoover Baby Model C
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Post# 459672   1/22/2023 at 15:18 (459 days old) by Centralvacs1928 (Chicagoland)        

Recently I acquired what has surpassed my Model 102 to become the earliest Hoover in my collection, this Baby Model C. Not to be confused with the later Baby Model 103, this one was made between 1916 and 1918 (the town of New Berlin was renamed North Canton in 1918 as a result of anti-German sentiment following World War I).

This came from Kyle Krichbaum, who (I believe) found it in Illinois several years ago. He included a length of twisted black cloth wire as I mentioned that the modern gray vinyl power cord would be the first thing to go once I received it!

Many thanks to my friend Ray Machen, who hunted down not only a sewing machine belt that would fit (it's in between the size of a Hoover 115/Junior belt and a Convertible belt), but also two of the Edison screw type cord caps that this machine would have originally had. One light bulb hanging in the middle of the room was the standard if you were lucky enough to have electricity, and you had to unscrew the light bulb if you wanted to connect anything else! Wall outlets, at that time, were an uncommon luxury.

The machine works and looks nice, to me...I hesitate to start repainting and polishing and get rid of all the patina that one would expect a 100+ year old appliance to have, so I polished the brass badges and I'm leaving it at that. The original push switch has had a newer one fitted inside its housing, and the bag appears to be a very old, skillful copy of the original.

The Baby Model C had serial numbers ranging from 78,000 to 99,999, and from 600,000 to 614,999. This one's serial number of 86,027 places it early- to mid- run.


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Post# 459675 , Reply# 1   1/22/2023 at 20:31 (459 days old) by bikerray (Middle Earth)        

bikerray's profile picture
What a beautiful piece of history.

Post# 459684 , Reply# 2   1/23/2023 at 08:26 (458 days old) by rugsucker (Elizabethton TN)        
Hoover Baby

Looks great and even more rare with the New Berlin address.
Polishing-I would say NO as these were not highly polished when new.Tom knows much more.They,like cars,are only original once.Patina can be a good thing.
Happy Hoovering


Post# 459691 , Reply# 3   1/23/2023 at 13:48 (458 days old) by Gottahaveahoove (Pittston, Pennsylvania, 18640)        
Great machine

gottahaveahoove's profile picture
Everyone must have one.

Post# 459695 , Reply# 4   1/23/2023 at 14:32 (458 days old) by watsonw (Newport, Shropshire, UK)        
Rare find

....even in the US?


Post# 459702 , Reply# 5   1/23/2023 at 19:49 (458 days old) by royalsuper (france )        

royalsuper's profile picture
superb baby Owen, I will also hesitate to restore it or not! I am a big fan of electrolux eureka and royal, but the Hoover vacuum cleaners with the big powerful motors and their famous rotating brush were the most efficient in the world and had no rivals at that time .... their only fault maybe it was to be a heavy and cumbersome ,but it was also a guarantee of quality!
Romain


Post# 459718 , Reply# 6   1/24/2023 at 09:35 (457 days old) by Dysonman1 (the county)        

dysonman1's profile picture
An even earlier, Hoover Baby. Notice how the motor “sits up“ on the fan case.

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Post# 459835 , Reply# 7   1/29/2023 at 06:22 (452 days old) by Centralvacs1928 (Chicagoland)        
Beautiful, Tom!

When is that one from? 1912-14 or so? I'm assuming it's contemporary with the larger ones behind it.

Earlier still would be the "Friction Drive Baby" and even smaller "Hooverette" (that probably still weighed 30lbs...)



Owen




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