Hoover Lark Model 14

Circa-1956 Hoover Lark Model 14, fairly rare model and I believe the lower-priced lightweight alternative to the Model 64 Citation. Successor to the earlier maroon Model 12 Lark which I’m still after; besides the color (meant to match the Model 29) the difference was that the 12 had a cloth shakeout bag and the 14 had a Type C setup. This one is in remarkable shape for its age and appears to have been used very little. It has the original bag, cord, and red ball switch assembly (which I heard usually broke off and got lost)…all it needed was a good cleaning! This was also on my list of dream machines so now that one can be checked off. Thanks to Evan R. for sending the parts donor that I used the handle fork off of.

10 COMMENTS

  1. You know, that reminds me of a 1980s Beam Central vac. The head is just like it and it seems just as powerful! Thats a great vac you have there!

  2. Oh yes, I have that same head in my collection, air driven powerhead built by HP VacuFlo.

  3. Yes it is, we were servicing the front motor bearing when the cheap pot-metal tabs on the bearing plate broke off. Luckily the Lark uses an identical bearing to the Convertible, and since David had a spare he offered to send (and Eric fixed it), it is now running like new. It’s currently “on loan” to Eric for the next month or so, until I get out that way again.

  4. Except there was an 8-year gap between the discontinuation of the Lark 14 and introduction of the Junior, so I wouldn’t say the 1330 “replaced” the Lark by any stretch of the imagination.

    I’ll make another video of this machine next month now that it’s running like new, after I pick it up.

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