Carmine,
The biggest problem with the Dial-a-Matic Hoovers was the too narrow hose into the housing.
The Panasonics, Riccars, and Simplictys do well without a height adjustment. What made the Hoover dials problematic?
Trebor
Hi Trebor:
Biggest problem[s] for the Dials: I can think of a few: The "floating head" in concert with full suction on med-high rugs; the handle breakage at the top of the bag compartment housing; the smallish plastic motor mount under the vacuum that breaks from hard pushing/pulling on rugs; the electrical plug connection in the handle that comes undone; the small dust bag, to name a few. Not a perfect vacuum despite it's technologicl advance of 2 vacuums in 1: upright and tools.
Panasonics, RICCARS, and SIMPLICITY uprights, all post HOOVER Dial, don't use a "floating head nozzle" [reused by dyson in DC07 and 14 models] that drops down into the medium and high pile carpets. Making them hard to push and pull. Like I said, a failed concept from 4 decades ago quickly corrected by HOOVER with rug height adjustments and automatic transmissions..
Carmine D.