Hello Vernon:
 
My response about the hole is the same: Huh?  I presume you have the S3341 Pearl White.  And its been awhile since I scoped it out.  But I can't recall a hole under the handle grip.  That's not to say that one may have been added to the vacuum since then.  Looking at the Users Guide on-line, there is no hole and/or discussion about one.  The Forum has a HOOVER expert with the new Connie and the other 50 different canisters that HOOVER made and sold.  Tom may be able to answer you and provide more info.
 
If there is (a hole), my sense is that it reduces the air build up in the bag compartment.  Why?  To reduce the amount of air exhausted under the vacuum for floating.  But don't quote me on this yet.  Since the air escaping through the top will not be filtered by the secondary filter.  Just the filter bag.  Not a good design feature IMHO.
 
Ironically I had intended to buy the new Connie cann in August 2006 when I bought the HOOVER WT Supreme.  The Connie was not in stock yet.  I still might buy the Connie especially if I can get a deal on it now.  I am buying, if I do, from a HOOVER factory store and I've been meaning to stop in for months now and haven't.  I need Y filtrette bags for my WT.  (SEARS did not have them yesterday and ironically there were 3 customers including myself that asked).  Considering the HOOVER WT Supreme is on sale at SEARS I would have thought they have the bags in stock.  But the WT is a popular seller.  And of course, SEARS sells their own brand bag: Ultra Care.  I prefer the HOOVER 3 M filtette.
 
When I make my stop into HOOVER, I'll post with my findings.  If I were you, I'd do some more investigation on that hole.  Sounds very strange to this old vacuum man.
 
Carmine D.
 

Hi Vernon,
 
I take it the hole on top of the machine is a not large and goes all the way through.  I'd slap a small piece of tape on it there is air traveling in through it.  Sounds like a maufacturing mistake.  Maybe it was a screw hole for a modified carrying handle that didn't get used.  
 
The original Constellation was born at a time when there was no big fuss being made about dust capture down to the nth micron nor was there as much fuss about noise levels or machine weight.  Filter Queen is the main brand that I can think of that focused the subject of its sales pitch on near total dust containment and low noise.  (Yes, Rexair/Rainbow claimed the same as far as dust capture goes but lied.)  Anyway, the idea of a vacuum that "floats on air" hints at even less effort for use of a machine that you still have to flog some folks to bring out of the closet.
 
Mind you, Hoover thought of just about everything else.  It knew the ball-shaped Connie would be difficult on stairs and it incorporated a stretch hose to faciltitate easier management when cleaning them. The earliest had a latch at the base that allowed you to tip the cleaner's body to one side for access to the blower port.   Its rug nozzle evolved to a rather elaborate but good-performing rubber covered wheeled device with the lint-picker that was carried over to later Hoover rug nozzles styles and made it one of the better straight suction machines for surface litter pick-up.
 
The Constellation sold for many years without much being mentioned or thought of when it came to the dust disturbance issue.  But what's amazing to me, after its disappearance from the market and all the carrying on about filtration and air quality, is its come back to the market where a large part of sale may hang purported on air quality issues.  This speaks more plainly to what consumers here are willing to buy than to the worth of the machine.
 
For those not concerned and who just want a "fun" vacuum the new Connie is not a bad choice though I thoroughly do not recommend it to those with high sensitivity to air-borne dust.  As for the lack of an electrically powered nozzle, I  think its a shame that a noted name in vacuums had to nickle-and-dime the re-introduction of a popular "legend" with a ten buck turbine job.  Nickel-and-diming may also explain the plastic base.
 
I wish you luck but I can't imagine that a hand-rigged power nozzle would keep anyone happy for long.  If you really want to keep the machine I'd suggest taking it to a vacuum shop to see if you can get them to "make up" an electrical port on the machine.  I'm sure it can be done but don't know if vacuum service shops are likely to embellish machines with non-UL approved add-ons.  (Please note however that many originally straight suction Electrolux automatic machines in past were fixed up for resale with added on electric ports for power nozzles.)
 
Regards,
 
Venson