The Vintage Hoover Emporium

A full set of dusting tools, for 'above-floor cleaning', was essential in making Hoover cleaners a success. Interestingly, a set was available at extra cost for every upright model Hoover sold, right back to the first ever Hoover cleaner, the Model O. This was an important factor in Hoover's sales successes, because the tools allowed the user to suction-clean areas that were previously hard to reach, and required laborious dusting by hand.

The suction power generated by Hoover's early uprights wasn't especially strong, and although they were great as carpet cleaners, they were less good at above-ground work. However, their tool-cleaning power was better than that of later Senior cleaners, because the early design of convertor sealed more closely with the fan chamber than the later quick-fit type. 

The tool kit, stored in a sturdy cardboard case, included a converter, a flexible hose, 2 extention tubes (one straight, one angled), a 'narrow nozzle' for crevices, and an upholstery brush. The budget Junior cleaner accessory set lacked the straight extention tube and the crevice nozzle, although these were available at an extra cost. Below, the development of each componant is examined.

Shown below is the patent document for the tool conversion system for the first Hoover, Model O:

1) Models 541, 700/543 (early). This was the first of the non-pan-style converters, introduced with Model 541 in 1923. With the belt guard and belt removed, it fit closely with the underside of the fan chamber, and created a good seal, so little suction was lost. Its design meant it could also be fitted to the exhaust air outlet on the cleaner, so the powerful stream of air could be used - Hoover suggested this would be useful for airing pillows, blowing dust from behind radiators, etc.

2) Models 700/543 (late), 725/575, 750, 800, 825, 875. Very similar to the early design, but the blower fixing-lugs were strengthened, and the angle of the suction inlet was slightly altered.

3) Model 425. When creating Model 425, Hoover redesigned their basic machine from the chassis up. The new chassis required a new style of converter. It functioned in the same way as the older-style converter, but was a totally different shape. It could not be used as a blower - Hoover supplied a separate fitting for this purpose. Models 450, 475 and 300 (U.S) used a very similar converter, but the 425's converer was unique to that machine, due to the higher position of the fixing lug.

4) Junior 370/375 (pre-war). All-new in 1935, the Junior required another new style of converter. With the belt guard and belt removed, it sealed with the fan chamber, while the spring-section held it firmly in place. The hose then clipped in to the neck.

5) Junior 375 (post-war). A simplified version of the pre-war design. It functioned in the same way, but the method of attaching the hose was simplified. The new fixing method also meant the hose - minus converter - could be attached to the air outlet and used for blowing. The pre-war design made no provision for this.

1) Models 700/543 (early). This upholstery nozzle was similar to the one supplied with Model 541, but the clip which fixed it to the hose was slightly altered. The brush bristles were mounted on a wooden section, and held in place with a metal clip, which could be unlatched to allow the metal nozzle to be used without the brush.

2) Model 700/543 (late), 725/575, 750/425, 800/450. This nozzle was a big improvement on all the designs which came before it. The metal section of the nozzle was very similar to the earlier ones, but the brush section was all-new. The bristles were held in rubber casing, which could be easily removed from the metal part, and did not need a clip to hold it on. The main improvement to the funtionality of the nozzle was the inner rubber membrane, which focussed the airflow at the point of contact with the article being cleaned. This stopped the suction being lost through the bristles, thereby creating a much more effective tool.

3) Models 825/475, Junior 370/Junior 375 (pre-war). This tool was introduced in around 1935.  The 2 sections were held together with 2 screws, and the brush could not be removed in use. The brush was held in a rubber-covered metal section, and like older brush, an inner rubber membrane focussed the suction at the point of contact. It was lighter than the older upholstery nozzle, and its rounded styling made it look more modern. 

4) Junior 375 (post-war). Very similar in appearance to the previous tool, but made of sturdy black bakelite. The bristles were still held by a screwed-down metal section, but the suction-sheath was bakelite, rather than rubber. The method of holding the tool on the hose-end was greatly simplified; the neck of the nozzle simply had a square hole in it, through which a spring-clip could pop up and hold it in place. There was a square hole either side of the neck, so the tool could be used at 2 different angles, as needed. Depressing the spring-clip released the nozzle.