Hi Carmine,
 
I only bought the Z.  I'm just curious about the Mach 5 and its possibilities as a real contender on the market.  Prices can be vey nice for this model and from the online demo videos I viewed on the Hoover site.  The company says it's quiet and that the HEPA never has to be replaced, just brushed clean.  That would have to mean one heck of a great pre-filtering system for a bagless vacuum.
 
Manuals for current cleaners can be downloaded at the site.  That is how I became aware of the two belts.  However, does a mechanical "clutch" like this last long without problems?
 
Venson

Quote from Carmine_Difazio on 07/03/07 at 10:48pm:

 
This principle has been used previously, in the UK-manufactured Hoover 'Turbomaster' series. The flat belt links the motor spindle to an idler pulley, and the V-belt links the agitator to a secondary shaft.
 
When upright, or when 'Hard Floor' is selected, the flat belt is guided onto the idler pulley.
 
When carpet cleaning (normal handle position), the flat belt is allowed onto the secondary shaft. This shaft has the V-belt on it.
 
Turbomaster belts were sold as a pair, pre-packed: one flat belt, and one V-belt.
 
The Turbomasters were initially seen as the superior range, above the Turbopower range. Appeared in the mid 1980's. They were wider path cleaners, but used the same paper bags. Latterly they were discontinued, as the Turbopower range spawned the 'Turbopower 2' series, then 'Turbopower 1000', then 'Turbopower 3'.
 
Purepower series took over in the mid-nineties.

NO ONE KNOWSA THAT BETTER THAN ME I LOVED THE TURBOMARSTER THEY WERE DECCENT MACHINES

Quote from guess_who on 07/04/07 at 4:58pm:

 
Hello Venson:
 
So far, I have only seen the HOOVER Mach 5 at Wal*Mart stores.  This may change soon.  And the HOOVER Mach 5 may appear in stores like Kohl's and Target.  I think this would be a good move for HOOVER upright vacuum sales.
 
Wal*Mart just replaced it's head of home decor after a huge management shake up that started right before Christmas 2006.  The woman in charge now is Linda Hefner [no relation to Hugh] and a Wal*Mart outsider.  She came from Kraft Foods. Vacuums come under her management in the home decor unit.  
 
The home decor unit and the apparel unit were cornerstones of Wal*Mart's failed effort in 2005 and 2006 to broaden its customer base to include more trend-conscious, affluent shoppers (remember the dyson DC07 All Carpet and Original for $378).  I suspect Wal*Mart is reverting/converting to the past marketing and retail strategy for the home decor unit [and apparel].
 
The Mach 5 is an impressive upright vacuum for the price, about $160 retail.  Wal*Mart is staying in this price range for its top of the line vacuum cleaner sellers at least for in-stores sales: Like the new GE canister as well.  It learned something over the last 2 years with sales of the HOOVER Fusion for $100-$119.  Vacuum customers buy and like them.  [Despite and/or in spite of the Consumer Reports ratings].
 
IMHO, I think this marketing strategy of keeping and holding down new vacuum prices [even below the average new vacuum retail price at the big box stores--about $200-$250) will serve Wal*Mart well, especially on well known brand names.  At least in the current market and economic conditions.
 
I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to see a new "cheaper upright model" arrive from the high price big box brand bagless--just for Wal*Mart stores.  
 
Carmine D.

Quote from Carmine_Difazio on 07/05/07 at 7:29am:

 
When I worked in Currys in 1990, I came across a spare tool-set for (I think!!!) the Concept 1 cleaners. I asked the in-store Hoover representative about it. She said that the Concept cleaners were on sale in the UK for a time, then production stopped. However, apparently there was a clearing out of some stock warehouse a few years later and they (Hoover, I presume) came across a sizeable stock which they sold prior to 1990.
 
Another salesperson had sold a standard "Turbomaster", with the optional "Concept" tools. Of course the customer came back with the  tools that didn't fit! I located the correct set, of course.
 
The Concept tools had a 'pan converter' and one of the American style hoses (not double stretch, but flexible with additional reinforced braid/mesh along the pvc hose. The upholstery nozzle had a red/orange rubber insert, rather than bristles or velvet 'litter-pickers.
 
I always presumed that the "Concept" model had power-drive. I could well be wrong, as I have never encountered that model personally. I also presumed that the Concept models were sourced from the USA, like the "Celebrity" range.
 
Carmine: Separate topic: You stated some time ago that one of the old Hoovers had dual beater bars on each side of the agitator. It wasn't the only one, the Hoover "Junior" 375 had that distinction too.