Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

of  all the hoovers ive come across..the runabout[ u-5064930]./.convertble[u4119]...are the least liked..

yet its performance is on par with what some have considered great deep  cleaners..

..or  powerhouse vacs of same time period....so could those of you who have some knowledge of these units

 please give some first hand input as to why or what were  the flaws in these units...nobody at the shop

even remembers them ,,so no help  there.....and what were the features of the others of this time period

that made them so much better than the above....nobody seems to know?

Hiya turtle,

I'm not sure that I know of the run-about but the convertible, in general, is a landmark direct-air upright vacuum. No matter what color they painted it or change the mold of the top, it was basically the same cleaner from day one 'til the day they took it off the line. It cleaned well and was also more affordable.

However, on many models, its carpet height adjustment in comparison to some other brands on the market seemed a little limited with just two or height three settings over the years as I recall. Tools were of little use even with the change in adapter set-ups and it took way too long for the guys in engineering to work out a top fill bag. AND they broke my heart by going plastic.

Nonetheless, the convertible was a simple, easy to use and easy to maintain machine. All you had to decide was whether you wanted yours with a headlight or without.

Venson

HI "turtle1"  and Venson:

Starting with the Convertible.  Here's a Youtube video on the U4119 Convertible:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPg3YbCs72g

I don't know the narrator and I don't vouch for the information he provides.  He sounds like a collector as opposed to a vacuum professional.  Here are some the "cons"  of the U4119 vice the traditional HOOVER Convertibles:

• All plastic, no aluminum base as on the earlier HOOVER Convertible models
• No high speed for tools.  Only one speed for rug and tools and the tool converter fits under the brush roll opening of the sole plate.  Hard to use tool converter and not very effective for tool suction power.
• Old style bottom fill bags [C] which allowed the dirt to fall back down into the bag tube and fan housing after shut off
• Noisey
• Short cord
• Bumper only half way around
• Snap bottons for the outer bag, not zipper
• No handle grip
• Cheap price vice the traditional HOOVER Convertibles

Here are the "pros"

• Cheap price, much less than the traditional HOOVER Convertibles at an MSRP of $50-$60 in the 1980's usually sold at the big box retailers.
• 4 rug adjustments opposed to 2
• Lighter weight than Convertibles with the aluminum bases

The HOOVER Convertibles had a long production run.  From the mid 1950's until mid 1990's.  The U4119 was toward the end of the Convertible run but lacks the top fill bag that HOOVER offered on the Decade 80's  and the Convertibles of the 1990's.

Carmine D.

Hi CArmine,

The video is priceless. I love teh part where the guy says he uses it to vacuum so he won't get his bagless vacuum's filter dirty.

The model shown is exactly what a lot of peole wanted back in the day and probably would not mind -- cheap and not fancy. I guess it ranks as a "disposable."

What's the longevity factory regarding the plastic convertibles? Personally, I have never seen one with serious damage to the housing.

Venson

THANKS...VENSON & CARMINE

on the convertible it has a top fill f/g bag...or is that considered bottom fill?..perforated  bag outside..

.5amps....rather quiet.

runabout i hear is based on elite model..not sure..takes A-bags..hardcover 7.2 amp...not too loud

i tested each against  a eureka bravo 12amp and a sanitaire comm..6.5amp.......just not seeing the

wow factor in performance diff...the elite is supposed to be great..yet thats what  runabout is/renamed i think,

id rather take advice and exp over a collector....hands down....its seems that  most everybody i know hasnt

a clue abt the older models.....i just prefer the knowledge of someone whos gotten their hands dirty...you guys

.if you know what i mean....b4 the CYCLONES AND DIRTFINDERS,,,

Venson wrote:

Hi Venson:

Glad you enjoyed the YT vid.  Most definitely disposable at the low MSRP.  But very much repairable too, sharing many of the very same parts and pieces with the traditional HOOVER Convertibles.  Per the video, this U4119 uses a metal soleplate.  But many of these vintage use a plastic bottom plate.  Cracks and breakage were common on these models on the bases primarily due to the metal bails and handle releases and metal agitators.  Over time cracks developed on the undercarriage of the vacuum and the ends of the agitator well.  But all things considered I'd say 7-10 years of average use [with user care] for these Convertibles is very likely.

Carmine D.

retardturtle1 wrote:

Your welcome 'turtle1'  I should have said this model was noisier than the metal base HOOVER Convertibles.  The U4119 uses the traditional C style bottom fill bag.  A nuisance.  Tho a top fill converter bag could be added at the time for about $25, half the price of the new vacuum.  Kudos for EUREKA having the top fill paper bag [Style F&G] going back to the late 40's and early 50's.  Took HOOVER a long time to catch up.

The Runabout [model name still in use by HOOVER today on an upright and canister] is to the HOOVER WT's what the U4119 is to the traditional HOOVER Convertibles.  A less expensive entry level disposable model.  HOOVER was savvy with these big box retailers' specials.  Offered at very low low prices (probably for college students, singles, young married couples), these entry brand models [like the U4119 Convertible, Runabout ,and even the HOOVER Elite upright (not the older Elite Convertible upright but the no tools on board straight rug cleaner)] often got HOOVER customers to buy the higher price HOOVER store models.  Vacuum consumers were so impressed with the performance of these cheap HOOVER priced models, they often traded up to the more expensive HOOVER models when circumstances and facts allowed.

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:

 
HI CARMINE

thanks so much for your help...all my questions got answered.

i put those 2 up against some tough tests..side by side with some of the best ...these are the real hoovers...entry level perhaps..

but a DYSON KILLER...INDEED....once again we see  hoovers  from the past - present -and future have made  a meal out of all DYSON has created.

guess its a good thing for dyson that hoover doesnt make hand driers.....

Hi 'turtle1"

Interesting observations about that ceratin d brand vacuum.  Some here like to compare that d brand with HOOVER for the many different models and types.  I don't like the comparison.

HOOVER offered low end to meddlin to high end in all price ranges and budgets for all persons regardless of their lifestyle situations.  As I said, the U4119, the Runabout, and Elite uprights along with a host of others like these had entry level prices.  The intent of these cheap models was to impress and solidify their performance in the customers' minds with the HOOVER brand.  Expecting that as the facts and circumstances of the entry level buyers changed, they would trade up to the higher price HOOVER models.  Not unlike GM and their 5 brands: The chevy for the hoi polloi, the pontiac for the poor but proud, the oldsmobile for the comfortable, the buick for the striving, and the cadillac for the rich.

The d brand can't say the same.  It's high price, higher price and highest price.  Okay for good times and buyers.  Bad strategy in poor times with cash strapped buyers.

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:

Hoover was the GM of vacuums.  Numerous models and more introduced every few months.  No improvement, just another model name.  It went the way of GM.  Had to be bailed out to survive.

Dyson is the Lexus of vacuums.  Expensive and worth it if you can afford one.  Slower sales in bad economic times but surviving.  No bilout/buyout requested to date.

HARDSELL wrote:

Sorry HS have to disagree with your comparison.  HOOVER was SOLD by MAYATG to Whirpool.  No bail out.  Arm's length transaction with several suitors in the running.  Then TTI bought HOOVER from WP.  As I told/showed here Warren Buffett, the Oracle of Omaha, has invested money in TTI since its purchase of HOOVER. 

Do you own a Lexus and/or dyson? 

Slower sales?  More like non-existent in 2009, probably dyson's worse sales year EVER!  Note the retailers' stores in the top 10 for revenues in 2008.  I posted on the thread that Venson started called Research.  Few if any are currently selling dyson's latest models in their stores.  On line only sales if they are.  Others carry discontinued dysons at huge discounts from MSRP just to clear them out of the storerooms, warehouses and shelves.  Don't have to be a genius to know the reason.  Expensive and not worth it compared to competition.

Carmine D.