Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

Have any of you gentlemen heard anything about the performance on "New" Hoover Constellation.  There seems to be more on Ebay to purchase then in the stores. It seems the novelty has worn off.

retardturtle1 wrote:

Hello retardturtle1:

The Z 700 is the deluxe model with the LED lights.  The owner is waiting for someone to come in and specifically ask for the Z, then he'll command top dollar for it! 

For its time, the early fifties, the global shape of the Connie was a wow factor.  It was futuristic.  Some early ads even called it the 'flying machine." The double stretch hose with telescopic wands were new.  It was in my opinion the first popular selling  vacuum that sold on looks.  Suction wise it was decent.  By all measures it was a fad because most vacuum buyers were hooked on uprights.  The floatation system on the Connie would have been better served with a sensor to avoid collisions with furniture and walls.  But no such thing existed for vacuums at the time so the best substitute was the large full wrap around bumper in the middle of the vacuum.  Easy to work on.  Rarely required any service save a new hose, switch, cord, filter and bag.  All inexpensive on most Connie's except the 87 which has an electric hose with a switch on the hose end. 

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:

hi carmine.

a few strips of led lights on the floater here and there..along the circular bottom might be a pretty cool  addition...that would add some pop to it.

retardturtle1 wrote:

Hi retardturtle1:

I like that.  You have the makings of a new age vacuum cleaner designer, erhh, I mean engineer.

On the old Connies, 4 screws less than a 1/2 inch long [agitator brush screws] held the entire machine together including the motor mounted in an inverted position with the commutator end of the motor frame at the bottom.  Simple design and function.  The motor's fans were directly under the pre-motor filter and paper bag drawing the expelled bag air circulating around in the huge half globe bag compartment directly into the motor cavity for motor cooling.  An important feature.  Why?  With the vacuum's weight atop the exhaust [for floatation] the Connie motors would have a predisposition to overheat.  Never did if bag and filter were maintained properly.  Excellent bypass motor design despite the added imposition going back over 50 years. 

Carmine D. 

CarmineD wrote:

hi carmine

you would think that because of the possibility of overheating the motor,despite the 'dome' of air ..that they would add a small cooling fan...just in case....i say this because ive heard that back in the day is when stuff was built to last....quality over quantity.

retardturtle1 wrote:

Interesting that you say so, retardturtle1.  However, it wasn't needed.   Plenty of air flow and circulation throughout the global Connie bag and motor cavities.  Cooling fans on the other hand were standard and staples in most all fan first uprights. 

Also interesting to note is that the HOOVER portable canisters, all using bypass dirt motor systems, used a cooling fan on the commutator end of the motor, with an outerstage housing cover, to increase the cool/clean airflow circulation around the motor. 

Carmine D.