“Hoover” the Hoover Constellation

I had just put a new “type J” filter bag in the vintage Hoover Constellation vunder machine. It seemed, um, quaint when I bought it in the early 70’s—a vacuum cleaner that floats on a cushion of air? I’ve got to have one! So I went to a guy’s house that fixed and sold old vacuum cleaners in his basement. It was the kind of place you hear about from a friend who knows a guy that knows a guy who will give you a good deal on a used vacuum cleaner—there’s no advertising involved, not even a hand written sign stapled to the telephone pole out front. I did get a good deal and the thing still sucks, which is a compliment when you’re speaking about a vacuum cleaner.

The Hover was trouble free for the first ten years, then crapped out when I fell asleep at the hose and vacuumed up some water. Needless to say it shorted out the motor, and that was that. The official Hoover repair centre wanted about $230.00 for a new motor. I toyed with the idea of having the motor rebuilt, but discovered I could replace the motor/fan unit for less than fifty bucks with an off-the-shelf industrial unit from a nearby electric motor specialist.

Dust bunnies have been removed, safely stowed away in the Hoover “Connie.” Dishes have been washed and put away. Now if I could just get Norton SystemWorks to load, it’d be a perfect day…

Ricks Appliance Service, Princeton, BC

Update: 2015-03-03

It’s 40 years later and the little Hoover that could still sucks (remember, I bought this thing used). I’m still managing to find bags, though fewer places are selling them. The suction was falling off a bit, but a new roll of electrician’s tape fixed it right up.

Update: 2020-06-04

Yup, it’s running. I bought some new filter bags a few years back at Rick’s Appliance Service in Princeton, BC. Rick informed me that he doesn’t sell too many of these bags anymore. I can believe it. I told him I was visiting from Vancouver and thought I’d take a chance that he still had some in stock. He said that quite a few people from Vancouver stop at his shop as they are passing through. I guess I’m not the only one who can’t resist a cool little appliance shop.

2 comments

1. Ann Bayfield comments:

   2023-07-14 at 4:15 pm

   Well, that’s a great story. I love how you keep the tale updated. Thought you are going to inform your public that ‘Connie’ is no longer with us and explain her demise.

   Reply
   1. Ken comments:

      2023-07-15 at 6:56 pm

      There may still be a use for Hoover, so stay tuned, more to come.