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.

Hi Motorhead,

I'm not sure if it was carpet freshening powders that wrought the demise of the Constellation because during the 1970's the company tried the same idea on a later low-end model of it's saucer shaped series -- name and number escape me.  The Constellation had had a long run and lost its fascination potential.  (You'll note that the Hoover Convertible upright was basically the same vacuum but kept getting faceslifts every few years to make it interesting to buyers.  The same applies to Eureka.)  Anyway . . .

The real benefit of any of the company's "floating" vacuums was more Hoover's than the general public's.  Imagine the production money saved by not having to supply wheel sets in the name of "new convenience."  Air Rider also took a turn with the sames sales pitch and, not having heard much from them lately, apparently failed as well.  To such sales pitches I say -- "So sell me the Brooklyn Bridge too."

There should and must be benchmarks -- standards for good performance and practical use.  Any good portable vacuum have should reasonably enduring pulling power, satisfiable dust capacity, good emission levels, convenient weight, well-diffused air exhaust, an easily bearable level of sound and sensible maintenance requirements.  Though anyone certainly has the right to make 'em any way they want, product not in that league should never cost more than fifty bucks.

Regards,

Venson

THE WAY OF CORPORATE THINKING IT SEEMS, WERE NOT IN BUSINESS TO MAKE A GOOD PRODUCT WERE IN IT TO MAKE A PROFIT AND LOTS OF IT............

MOLE

Too true Mole, all too true.  Nonetheless, if that's problem we have the right to tell manufacturers to keep what they've got.  No voice speaks louder than money withheld.  We simply have to get past our "must have" attitude and become more observant as to what we're buying.  Do many Americans drop $20,000 or more just on say-so when they purchase new cars?  It's the same deal.

Corporate heads are just as big floozies as politicians are and you now how they begin do backflips and somersaults when they think they may not get the vote.

Venson

Hi Venson, the saucer shaped machine your talking about was the HOOVER celebrity,some versions of this model [floated on air]...Decent suction, HUGE BAGS,type H,

as usual hoovers lousy attachments,but by todays standards [they would be amoung the best of them].

MOLE

HOOVER's Constellation gets the worse rating designation of all the canisters tested by Consumer Reports in October 2008 with a dismal Fair in 2 of CR's big 3 Tests: Carpets and pet hair removal. 

Carmine D.

Talking about HOOVER canisters, the Constellation is selling for $145 new.  A host of HOOVER products are on sale as a year end clearance/inventory sale.  The HOOVER WT Supreme is selling new for $100, regularly $150.  Have to ask the local HOOVER store about the WT Supreme's price tho, since the discount is not reflected on the HOOVER Web Site.

http://www.hoover.com/product.aspx?model=S3345&ds=true

http://www.hoover.com/Product.aspx?model=U5468900&ds=false

Carmine D.

I came across this ad from 1952 and thought I'd share by posting.  I could not get the print larger, but you can vaguely see the price is $97.50, not exactly cheap for the early 50's.  Enjoy. 

Carmine D.

   

we have the stainless steel model at the shop...1 sold in 3 months..and just like the hoover z that also sits in our showroom,,[a couple yrs ],intresting to look at ..and thats it...i like the ideas behind them...edgy looks....,but in the end an okay looking vac with really good performance wins everytime..imo

retardturtle1 wrote:

Hello retardturtle1:

The "Connie" as HOOVER reps called them has a long storied and starried history unlike the HOOVER Z.  I was surprised to see HOOVER reintroduce this model in 2005.  The model in the ad is an 82 and does not have the "floats on air" feature which soon followed in the Constellations.  Amazingly, with the large felt pre-motor filter in these old Constellations, the motor stayed clean and cool during operations.  With all the these Connie models made over a generation of production years, I can't recall ever having one with a bad motor.  Despite the users who improvised filters and/or didn't use one at all at times.   Good suction for a straight suction cleaner and "wow" design that passed the test of time.  Certainly a signature HOOVER canister model for the ages.

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:

hi carmine

the hoover we have is the 700z ,the one that never sold yet the owner wont put it up on ebay..would rather let it oxidize i guess?...the const. at the the store kinda justs bumps into everything as u vac. ..not sure what kind of WOW factor i was expecting from the FLOATER..guess i was wanting to see it HOVER...guess i set myself up for that one tho...but i dont ever recall ever getting one in for service either...not once. ...