Hoover Turbopower Autoflex U2336 – the rare and fragile TOL Turbopower upright, introduced in 1986 (the year I was born!). Has 2-speed 410w motor, cord rewind, a bag-check light, a headlamp and an air-freshener compartment. The plastic used to make this machine was notoriously brittle, and snapped, cracked and crumbled under even the most delicate use. Thus, although a popular and big-selling model, few survive today. Many which do are made up of replacement parts. This example dates from May 1988, and has survived totally intact, with just a few small scuffs. It looks to have been barely used; the headlamp still worked, and all it needed was a new belt and a wipe-over with a duster. I happened to find it by chance at the junk market stall in town, appropriately enough on June 2nd, 2008 – the 100th anniversary of JM Spangler’s patent for the upright vacuum cleaner! Hoover’s Turbopower models were Britain’s best-selling cleaners of the 1980’s.
do you live in the uk? was this particular model only available in the uk? i have never seen one in the united states.
Hi, yeah, I live in the UK. I believe a version of this machine called the Sovereign was sold in the US, but not for long, and it wasn’t popular.
What do you mean by brittle plastic?
I mean that the plastic was brittle…
I take it that model was cheaply made since it has brittle plastic. So even with a minor bump the plastic still cracks?
It wasn’t cheaply made; they just made a poor choice of materials.
it was the pigment in the colour that made the autoflex so brittle unfotunatly, still one of my all time faves though
im a vacuum collector im 12 my name is chase
i love your vacuums ther so cool
i got bout 200 sum of em r rare and unique
prolly half
but that hoover above is nice
Thanks, glad you like it!
the hoover turbopowers are great.
Sounds so much like my Hoover Concept One.
Heyy. My grandmar has this and i always as im very into vacuums was over just yesterday and she said theres a burning smell and shes sick and as her grandson though i will have a look. Now her bag was full and its a big hoover bag but the hose has never had suction while i have been alive so im wondering do you get strong suction through ur hose because i have a feeling her husband who passed away 13 years ago may have clogged it. My grandfather.
Thanks
hello my comments below just a few things. i noticed this vacuum doesnt have a suction wand thing. Her cord wraps around the back ti doesnt full out. Her on off button is on the right side or whatever on the machine. whats air freshner? I wasnt bron when they purchased this cleaner i dont think.
Wow I can’t believe that’s still going, we had one when I was young I think it lasted about a year, good Hoover though
is this any good?
Yes.
sounds like my gmas old elite.
lol i used to have one of these, was pretty much intact then i made the mistake of storing it in the garage, went to get it out one day and all i found was a pile of red plastic and a motor.. 🙁
hi i work for hoover uk, and remember the first generation of turbo’s with the two speed motor, i would not recommend using low speed to vacuum carpets, as it puts a strain on the motor and burns the brushes, the low speed was designed for when the tool convertor was fitted and for using the dusting brush!!, Did you know hoover made the first bagless cleaner! it was the hoover senior with the dust cup fitted
I never use this cleaner anyway, I want to keep it in one piece!
Hoover’s first prototype for the Senior dustcup design was fitted to a 1935 Model 150! Back then, of course, the cup was made of bakelite!
i want the blue one from around 1992-1993
Interesting. Why were they glass-like (brittle)?
Something to do with the red pigment in the plastic…none of the other models in the range were affected!
On a different note, I saw the Dyson City canister vac on your web site. Pretty neat as a compact, no suction loss competitor to the Eureka Mighty Mite.