The Hoover Company
Encyclopedia
The Hoover Company started out as an American floor care manufacturer based in North Canton
, Ohio
. It also established a major base in the United Kingdom and for most of the early-and-mid-20th century, it dominated the electric vacuum cleaner
industry, to the point where the "hoover" brand name became synonymous
with vacuum cleaners and vacuuming in the United Kingdom
and Ireland
. The Hoover Company in the United States
was part of the Whirlpool Corporation but sold in 2006 to Techtronic Industries
for $107 million. Hoover UK/Europe split from Hoover U.S. in 1993 and was acquired by Candy
, a company based in Brugherio, Italy. It currently uses the same Hoover logo Techtronic uses outside Europe with the slogan "Generation Future".
In addition to floorcare products Hoover was also an iconic domestic appliance brand in Europe particularly well known for its washing machines and tumble dryers in the UK and Ireland and, also had significant sales in many parts of Europe. Today, the Hoover Europe Brand, as part of the portfolio of brands owned by Candy Group
, remains a major player in the European white goods and floor care sectors in a number of countries.
was invented in 1908 by a Canton
, Ohio
department store janitor and occasional inventor named James Murray Spangler
. Spangler suffered from asthma attacks, and he suspected the carpet sweeper he was using at work was the cause of his ailment. He created a basic suction-sweeper, first by adapting his existing carpet-sweeper with an electric fan motor, then creating his own prototype from a soap box, electric motor, broom handle, and pillow case. After refining the design and being granted a patent, he set about producing the 'Electric Suction Sweeper' himself. He was aided by his son, who helped him assemble the machines, and his daughter, who made the dust bags. Production was slow; he was completing just 2–3 machines a week.
Spangler then gave one of these Suction Sweepers to his cousin, Susan Hoover, who used it at her home. Impressed with the machine, she told her husband about it. William Henry "Boss" Hoover was a leather-goods manufacturer in North Canton, which at the time was called New Berlin
. Hoover's leather goods business was threatened by the introduction of the Motor Car. Seeing in the Suction Sweeper a marketing opportunity, Hoover bought the patent from Spangler in 1908 and retained Spangler as company Superintendent, on royalties in the new business. Spangler continued to contribute to the company, patenting several further Suction Sweeper designs, before his death in 1915. His family continued to receive royalties from his original patent until 1925.
Faced with a total lack of interest by the public in his expensive and unfamiliar new gadget, Hoover placed an ad in the Saturday Evening Post offering customers 10 days free use of his vacuum cleaner to anyone who requested it. Using a network of local retailers to facilitate the offer, Hoover thus developed a national network of retailers for the vacuums. By the end of 1908, the company had sold 372 Model O's. By 1912, sales had been made to Norway, France, Russia, Belgium, Holland and Scotland.
In 1919, Gerald Page-Wood - an Art Director of Erwin, Wassey & Company, Hoover's advertising agency - came up with a succinct slogan which summed up The Hoover's cleaning action - 'It Beats...as it Sweeps...as it Cleans'. At this time, it referred to the action of the brushes from the brush roll, which tapped at the carpet and helped vibrate out the trodden-in grit. This offered an advantage over competitors machines, which used suction alone to remove dirt, and therefore were not as efficient as The Hoover. 7 years later, the famous slogan was to take on even more significance.
Hoover's business began to flourish, and, a year after Hoover acquired the patent from Spangler, he established a Research and Development department for his new business. By 1926, Hoover had perfected the 'beater bar'; a metal bar attached to the rotating brush-roll, situated in the floor nozzle cavity of the upright vacuum cleaner. Introduced on Models 543 and 700, the beater bar alternated with the sweeping brushes to vibrate dirt and grit trapped in carpets. It provided a more distinct 'tap' than the bristle tufts used on the former machines, and lead to a 101% increase in efficiency. This cleaning action was marketed by Hoover as "Positive Agitation". 'It Beats...as it Sweeps...as it Cleans' rang more true now than ever.
In 1932, Hoover introduced a new feature - an optional headlamp, called the Hoover Hedlite, on Models 425, 750 and 900. By March 1932, it had become standard equipment on Models 750 and 900, and a $5 extra-cost option on Model 425. The Hoover Hedlite illuminated the floor ahead of the cleaner, useful for dimly-lit rooms and corridors, and under furniture. This feature brought in several new slogans, including 'It shows you the dirt you never knew you had!', and 'It lights where it's going...it's clean where it's gone!'.
Hoover filed another significant patent in 1936 - this time for a new self-propelling mechanism for vacuum cleaners.
In the late 1950s, the sombre and restrained colours of the previous decades gave way to bright, striking modern colour-schemes. This was part of their policy of the continual development and modernisation of their output.
In 1957 Hoover introduced the Convertible Model 65 (the De Luxe 652 in the UK). Designed again by Henry Dreyfuss, this cleaner introduced a feature Hoover termed 'Automatic Shift' - a system whereby the tool converter plugged into the rear of the cleaner. This wasn't a new idea - instant tool conversion for 'above-floor cleaning' had been introduced in 1935 with the Model 150 Cleaning Ensemble. However, new to Model 65 - and slightly later in Britain on the 652A - was the introduction of a switch which automatically shifted the motor to a higher speed as the converter was inserted. The Convertible - or the Senior, in Britain - remains Hoover's worldwide best-selling cleaner. Although the domestic line was finally discontinued in 1993, a version called the Guardsman is still available in the commercial sector.
1963 saw the introduction of the Dial-A-Matic in the US - sold in Australia
as the Dynamatic, and in Britain, confusingly, as the Convertible. This was the first ever clean-air upright cleaner. The clean-air principle is similar to the flow of air through a cylinder/canister cleaner. Rather than the dirt passing directly through the suction fan and being blown into the bag, it passes through the bag first, leaving only clean air - hence the name! - to pass through the fan. This principle was soon adopted by many manufacturers, and continues to be used today. Despite the Dial-A-Matic's improvement on vacuum cleaner design, it was heavy and expensive, and could not manage to outsell the popular Convertible line.
Hoover further refined the Dial-a-matic's design in 1969, when they launched the 'Powerdrive' self-propulsion system. This idea took a lot of the effort out of pushing the cleaner, because, by using a system of gears, belts and cables, the cleaner used its own power to drive itself forward and backwards, as directed by the user though the 'Triple-Action' handgrip. It was so efficient, the user could drive the heavy cleaner forward with a single finger. This extra technology made the Dial-A-Matic even heavier than the original, and at around $150, it was very expensive. The 'Powerdrive' system was carried over into the Concept range, which replaced the Dial-A-Matic line in 1978.
On Friday, 6 March 2009, Hoover confirmed that it was to cease production of washing machines and other laundry products at its Merthyr Tydfil
factory, South Wales, UK from Saturday, 14 March 2009; giving the reason, the company stated that it could no longer manufacture competitively priced laundry products at the plant.
Hoover had initially announced its closure intentions on Tuesday, 18 November 2008, beginning a period of staff consultation. The company was established in the town over 60 years ago, its factory at Pentrebach
, Merthyr Tydfil
, opening on 12 October 1948.
Though 337 jobs will be lost because of this decision, Hoover UK anticipated retaining its Headquarters, logistics, storage and after sales service functions at the site, with some 113 workers retained.
However, James Dyson
(The owner of Dyson Appliances, a rival to Hoover) was very disappointed with the machine back in 1979 and then sparked inspiration to produce something better, which now is now such a large rival to Hoover that Hoover themselves stole James Dyson's improved idea, which led onto a court case.
The Dirtsearcher: Introduced again by Hoover Limited (UK) in 1969, was a development of the Junior with a model 638 style headlamp fitted in place of the tool adaptor cover at the front. This model the 1354 went on to be the most successful UK Hoover manufactured model selling in both European and Commonwealth markets, however it was never sold in the US, although there were 110V versions of the UK-market Juniors sold in Canada (such as the 1354A). They were sold alongside the Junior and Senior/Ranger models becoming the now rare model U1016 and U1040.
The Portable: The Hoover Portable was launched by Hoover in 1962. It is a "Suitcase" type canister that had no wheels; you would tug it around with you as you clean. When finished you would store the hose, attachments, and power cord inside the machine. In 1969, Hoover added wheels to the Portable. The Portable was manufactured until 1978: there are still some Portables in use today.
The Swingette and the PortaPower: The Hoover Swingette, a lightweight canister that could be carried by hand or slung over the shoulder, was introduced in 1970. It could be used to easily clean stairs, upholstery, car interiors, etc. It used the same motor found in some other Hoover canisters as well as the Hoover Dial-a-Matic upright.
The PortaPower is basically the same as a Swingette but with different colors. It replaced the Swingette in 1975. Wheels were added to this model around 1980. Commercial-grade units of this model were sold starting in the mid 1980s; these are still in production to this day and still retain the original Swingette design. The consumer Portapowers were replaced in 1989 by the Sprint and Tempo models; the Tempo 450 model featured the motorized Powermatic floor nozzle. The Sprint/Tempo line did spawn a short-lived return of the Portapower name into the consumer market - the Portapower II - sold in the mid 1990s.
The Slimline: The Hoover Slimline was launched in 1964 and was sold until 1978. It was similar to the Portable but with a slimmer design and lighter weight. It was easier to carry around while cleaning.
Over the years, Hoover diversified into other product lines, including kitchen appliances, hair dryers, speakers, and industrial equipment.
It is a Victorian-style farmhouse built in the 1840s. The Hoover family lived there for many years.
As you go through the tour at the Hoover Historical Center, you start from the very beginning and you learn facts about the Hoover family and when the vacuum cleaner first began with displays of old non-electric vacuum cleaners like pump and friction cleaners. As you proceed, you learn about the beginning of the Hoover company and view displays of very early Hoover cleaners from the Hoover Model O to Hoovers of the 1910s. As you continue, you will see displays of Hoover cleaners, products, advertisements, and memorabilia from the 1920s to the 2000s. The center also includes a gift shop where you can buy Hoover postcards, picture frames, and other things at the end of the tour.
The company was owned by the Hoover family until the 1940s, when it then became a publicly traded company. The company's stock was first traded on August 6, 1943. In 1985, the company was purchased by the Chicago Pacific Corporation
, and in 1989, Chicago Pacific was purchased by Maytag.
In 1993, the Hoover Trading Company and Hoover UK merged to become the Hoover European Appliances Group. In 1995, Candy Group acquired the Hoover European Appliances Group in its entirety with the exclusive rights on the brand for the whole of Europe (including all territories of the former-Soviet Union), North Africa and selected countries in the Middle East.
In 2004, Maytag announced that it would consolidate its corporate office and back office operations in Newton
, Iowa
and close almost all of Hoover's overlapping functions. This effectively meant that most white-collar jobs at Hoover's North Canton location would be eliminated. The company had previously closed another manufacturing facility in Jackson Township, Stark County, Ohio
, and the facility was sold to a church. Like many manufacturing companies in the U.S., Hoover is facing pressures as consumers demand lower-priced goods. Hoover has operations in Mexico, where operating costs are lower than in the U.S.
After Maytag was acquired by Whirlpool in 2006, that firm reached an agreement to sell Hoover to Hong Kong, China-based firm Techtronic Industries
. TTI has announced its intention to close the original plant in North Canton in September 2007.
In 1994, Hoover Australia was to be listed as a public company with a six-monthly operating profit of $8,850,000. This sparked a fight between Email Limited
and Southcorp, two of Australia's largest white goods manufacturers for a commercial sale. Both were eager to strengthen their market share and further monopolise the whitegoods industry. By December 1994, Southcorp announced a successful bid to buy Hoover Australia. In March 1996, Southcorp began a big rationalisation, sacking workers in maintenance, stores, administration and supervision at the Hoover factory.
At the same time, Southcorp was announcing a big increase in their share price. In April, 1999, the sale of Southcorp Appliances, including Hoover, Dishlex and Chef, was official with Email now obtaining a conservative 60 per cent share of the Australian white goods market.
Prior to the Southcorp buy out, Hoover Australia operated as a US subsidiary with its own administration, sales and marketing, large maintenance and engineering departments, a service division and a much larger production workforce. At this time, in the early '90s, Hoover was making healthy profits, as a result of investment in new technology and machinery through the late '80s, followed by a big drive towards quality improvement combined with a very flexible workforce.
After the Southcorp takeover, a culture of fear was introduced based on a widespread campaign to strip all the indirect labour from the workforce, and a myth that the factory was inefficient and unproductive. Every month it was reported the factory was losing $1 million or more. Morale at the factory went into a downward spiral. This was followed by decisions to stop production of barrel and upright vacuum cleaners, next was the end of the front loader washing machine. Vacuum cleaners and front loaders were replaced with imported products, the plastic moulding production was contracted out, the factory was being stripped of production, volume and jobs. A cost reduction campaign followed with good quality components being replaced by inferior cheap components and a complete breakdown of any real preventative maintenance program, which gave way to a large number of machine and equipment breakdowns. The reality, rather than the myth, was the Hoover Meadowbank site was being run into the ground by corporate decisions.
By the late 1990s Email had finally closed the Meadowbank factory and integrated its white goods manufacturing into the Simpson plant in South Australia. The vacuum cleaner side of the business was sold to Godfreys. Several years later, Email itself was sold and broken up. The white goods division of Email was then sold to Electrolux. Shortly after taking ownership, Electrolux ceased leasing the Hoover brandname and the manufacturing and supply of Hoover white goods ceased in Australia.
, the demand for which rose far beyond the company's expectations, resulting in major costs and public relations problems for the British division and Maytag
, which eventually led to its sale to the Italian manufacturer Candy
. In 1993, Sandy Jack
became the first person in the United Kingdom
to take Hoover to court over the Hoover free flights promotion. Upon the decision in Hoover v. Sandy Jack at Sheriff Court
in Kirkcaldy
, Fife
, a precedent was set. Hoover Holiday Pressure Group furthered court
action against Hoover at St. Helens in Merseyside
.
. Introduced in 1952, it is easily identified by the spherical shape of the canister.
In 1973 Hoover introduced the Celebrity. Lighter and shaped like a UFO, it floated almost too well, skidding across the carpets behind the user. Both designs are considered collectables today. In 2006, Hoover relaunched the Constellation in the U.S. In the UK, it is known as 'The Maytag Satellite'. Almost identical to the original, it has such modern refinements as a powerful 2000 W motor, HEPA filtration and an air-driven turbobrush. In April 2009 Hoover discontinued the Constellation.
In the US, Hoover's competition includes: (among others) Royal, Dirt Devil
, and Vax
(both of which are owned by Hoover's US owner Techtronic Industries
);Kirby
; Eureka; Dyson; Electrolux
; Aerus
; Panasonic
; Bissell
; Rainbow
; Filter Queen; Euro-Pro/Shark; Sanitaire (a product of The Eureka Company); and Kenmore
(the house brand
of American store chain Sears, which is manufactured predominantly by Panasonic
).
Dyson and Electrolux
lead the list of UK competitors, followed by Dirt Devil
, Vax
, Morphy Richards
, Miele
, Bissell, Numatic (maker of the famous "Henry" cylinder cleaner), Zanussi
, Russell Hobbs
, LG
, and a plethora of others.
North Canton, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 16,369 people, 7,114 households, and 4,382 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,697.1 people per square mile . There were 7,506 housing units at an average density of 1,236.8 per square mile...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. It also established a major base in the United Kingdom and for most of the early-and-mid-20th century, it dominated the electric vacuum cleaner
Vacuum cleaner
A vacuum cleaner, commonly referred to as a "vacuum," is a device that uses an air pump to create a partial vacuum to suck up dust and dirt, usually from floors, and optionally from other surfaces as well. The dirt is collected by either a dustbag or a cyclone for later disposal...
industry, to the point where the "hoover" brand name became synonymous
Genericized trademark
A genericized trademark is a trademark or brand name that has become the colloquial or generic description for, or synonymous with, a general class of product or service, rather than as an indicator of source or affiliation as intended by the trademark's holder...
with vacuum cleaners and vacuuming in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. The Hoover Company in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
was part of the Whirlpool Corporation but sold in 2006 to Techtronic Industries
Techtronic Industries
Techtronic Industries Company Limited , Techtronic or TTI, is one of the world's leading manufacturing and trading company in electrical and electronic products. Its products include Milwaukee, AEG power tools, and Ryobi power tools and accessories, Ryobi and Homelite outdoor products, and Hoover,...
for $107 million. Hoover UK/Europe split from Hoover U.S. in 1993 and was acquired by Candy
Candy (company)
Candy is an Italian company based in Brugherio, near Milan, which manufactures domestic appliances.-Early history:Candy Group is an Italian privately-owned multi-brand group of companies, among the world leaders in the household appliance industry: washing machines, dishwashers, dryers,...
, a company based in Brugherio, Italy. It currently uses the same Hoover logo Techtronic uses outside Europe with the slogan "Generation Future".
In addition to floorcare products Hoover was also an iconic domestic appliance brand in Europe particularly well known for its washing machines and tumble dryers in the UK and Ireland and, also had significant sales in many parts of Europe. Today, the Hoover Europe Brand, as part of the portfolio of brands owned by Candy Group
Candy (company)
Candy is an Italian company based in Brugherio, near Milan, which manufactures domestic appliances.-Early history:Candy Group is an Italian privately-owned multi-brand group of companies, among the world leaders in the household appliance industry: washing machines, dishwashers, dryers,...
, remains a major player in the European white goods and floor care sectors in a number of countries.
History
The first upright vacuumVacuum cleaner
A vacuum cleaner, commonly referred to as a "vacuum," is a device that uses an air pump to create a partial vacuum to suck up dust and dirt, usually from floors, and optionally from other surfaces as well. The dirt is collected by either a dustbag or a cyclone for later disposal...
was invented in 1908 by a Canton
Canton, Ohio
Canton is the county seat of Stark County in northeastern Ohio, approximately south of Akron and south of Cleveland.The City of Caton is the largest incorporated area within the Canton-Massillon Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
department store janitor and occasional inventor named James Murray Spangler
James M. Spangler
James Murray Spangler was an American inventor, salesman and janitor who invented the first commercially successful portable electric vacuum cleaner that revolutionized household carpet cleaning. His device was not the first vacuum cleaner. However, Spangler’s device was the first that was...
. Spangler suffered from asthma attacks, and he suspected the carpet sweeper he was using at work was the cause of his ailment. He created a basic suction-sweeper, first by adapting his existing carpet-sweeper with an electric fan motor, then creating his own prototype from a soap box, electric motor, broom handle, and pillow case. After refining the design and being granted a patent, he set about producing the 'Electric Suction Sweeper' himself. He was aided by his son, who helped him assemble the machines, and his daughter, who made the dust bags. Production was slow; he was completing just 2–3 machines a week.
Spangler then gave one of these Suction Sweepers to his cousin, Susan Hoover, who used it at her home. Impressed with the machine, she told her husband about it. William Henry "Boss" Hoover was a leather-goods manufacturer in North Canton, which at the time was called New Berlin
New Berlin
New Berlin is the name of several locations in the United States:* New Berlin, Illinois* New Berlin , New York* New Berlin , New York * New Berlin, Pennsylvania* New Berlin, Texas* New Berlin, Wisconsin-See also:...
. Hoover's leather goods business was threatened by the introduction of the Motor Car. Seeing in the Suction Sweeper a marketing opportunity, Hoover bought the patent from Spangler in 1908 and retained Spangler as company Superintendent, on royalties in the new business. Spangler continued to contribute to the company, patenting several further Suction Sweeper designs, before his death in 1915. His family continued to receive royalties from his original patent until 1925.
Faced with a total lack of interest by the public in his expensive and unfamiliar new gadget, Hoover placed an ad in the Saturday Evening Post offering customers 10 days free use of his vacuum cleaner to anyone who requested it. Using a network of local retailers to facilitate the offer, Hoover thus developed a national network of retailers for the vacuums. By the end of 1908, the company had sold 372 Model O's. By 1912, sales had been made to Norway, France, Russia, Belgium, Holland and Scotland.
In 1919, Gerald Page-Wood - an Art Director of Erwin, Wassey & Company, Hoover's advertising agency - came up with a succinct slogan which summed up The Hoover's cleaning action - 'It Beats...as it Sweeps...as it Cleans'. At this time, it referred to the action of the brushes from the brush roll, which tapped at the carpet and helped vibrate out the trodden-in grit. This offered an advantage over competitors machines, which used suction alone to remove dirt, and therefore were not as efficient as The Hoover. 7 years later, the famous slogan was to take on even more significance.
Hoover's business began to flourish, and, a year after Hoover acquired the patent from Spangler, he established a Research and Development department for his new business. By 1926, Hoover had perfected the 'beater bar'; a metal bar attached to the rotating brush-roll, situated in the floor nozzle cavity of the upright vacuum cleaner. Introduced on Models 543 and 700, the beater bar alternated with the sweeping brushes to vibrate dirt and grit trapped in carpets. It provided a more distinct 'tap' than the bristle tufts used on the former machines, and lead to a 101% increase in efficiency. This cleaning action was marketed by Hoover as "Positive Agitation". 'It Beats...as it Sweeps...as it Cleans' rang more true now than ever.
In 1932, Hoover introduced a new feature - an optional headlamp, called the Hoover Hedlite, on Models 425, 750 and 900. By March 1932, it had become standard equipment on Models 750 and 900, and a $5 extra-cost option on Model 425. The Hoover Hedlite illuminated the floor ahead of the cleaner, useful for dimly-lit rooms and corridors, and under furniture. This feature brought in several new slogans, including 'It shows you the dirt you never knew you had!', and 'It lights where it's going...it's clean where it's gone!'.
Hoover filed another significant patent in 1936 - this time for a new self-propelling mechanism for vacuum cleaners.
In the late 1950s, the sombre and restrained colours of the previous decades gave way to bright, striking modern colour-schemes. This was part of their policy of the continual development and modernisation of their output.
In 1957 Hoover introduced the Convertible Model 65 (the De Luxe 652 in the UK). Designed again by Henry Dreyfuss, this cleaner introduced a feature Hoover termed 'Automatic Shift' - a system whereby the tool converter plugged into the rear of the cleaner. This wasn't a new idea - instant tool conversion for 'above-floor cleaning' had been introduced in 1935 with the Model 150 Cleaning Ensemble. However, new to Model 65 - and slightly later in Britain on the 652A - was the introduction of a switch which automatically shifted the motor to a higher speed as the converter was inserted. The Convertible - or the Senior, in Britain - remains Hoover's worldwide best-selling cleaner. Although the domestic line was finally discontinued in 1993, a version called the Guardsman is still available in the commercial sector.
1963 saw the introduction of the Dial-A-Matic in the US - sold in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
as the Dynamatic, and in Britain, confusingly, as the Convertible. This was the first ever clean-air upright cleaner. The clean-air principle is similar to the flow of air through a cylinder/canister cleaner. Rather than the dirt passing directly through the suction fan and being blown into the bag, it passes through the bag first, leaving only clean air - hence the name! - to pass through the fan. This principle was soon adopted by many manufacturers, and continues to be used today. Despite the Dial-A-Matic's improvement on vacuum cleaner design, it was heavy and expensive, and could not manage to outsell the popular Convertible line.
Hoover further refined the Dial-a-matic's design in 1969, when they launched the 'Powerdrive' self-propulsion system. This idea took a lot of the effort out of pushing the cleaner, because, by using a system of gears, belts and cables, the cleaner used its own power to drive itself forward and backwards, as directed by the user though the 'Triple-Action' handgrip. It was so efficient, the user could drive the heavy cleaner forward with a single finger. This extra technology made the Dial-A-Matic even heavier than the original, and at around $150, it was very expensive. The 'Powerdrive' system was carried over into the Concept range, which replaced the Dial-A-Matic line in 1978.
On Friday, 6 March 2009, Hoover confirmed that it was to cease production of washing machines and other laundry products at its Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil is a town in Wales, with a population of about 30,000. Although once the largest town in Wales, it is now ranked as the 15th largest urban area in Wales. It also gives its name to a county borough, which has a population of around 55,000. It is located in the historic county of...
factory, South Wales, UK from Saturday, 14 March 2009; giving the reason, the company stated that it could no longer manufacture competitively priced laundry products at the plant.
Hoover had initially announced its closure intentions on Tuesday, 18 November 2008, beginning a period of staff consultation. The company was established in the town over 60 years ago, its factory at Pentrebach
Pentrebach
Pentrebach is a village in the County Borough of Merthyr Tydfil, Wales. It lies on the east side of the River Taff opposite Abercanaid, South of Merthyr and North of Troedyrhiw. To the east of the village lies the Mynydd Cilfach-yr-Encil which rises up to 445 m...
, Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil is a town in Wales, with a population of about 30,000. Although once the largest town in Wales, it is now ranked as the 15th largest urban area in Wales. It also gives its name to a county borough, which has a population of around 55,000. It is located in the historic county of...
, opening on 12 October 1948.
Though 337 jobs will be lost because of this decision, Hoover UK anticipated retaining its Headquarters, logistics, storage and after sales service functions at the site, with some 113 workers retained.
Slogans
- "However clean, Hoover cleaner" - 1912
- "Just run the Hoover over" - 1918
- "A Hoovered home is as clean as it looks" - 1918
- "Don't compromise with dirt. Have a Hoover." - 1918
- "It Beats...as it Sweeps...as it Cleans" - 1919
- "It shows you the dirt you never knew you had" - 1932
- "It lights where it's going...it's clean where it's gone" - 1935
- "It Lights...as it Beats...as it Sweeps...as it Cleans" - 1935
- "Give her a Hoover and you give her the best" - 1938
- "You'll be happier with a Hoover" - 1948
- "Hoover fine appliances around the house....around the world" - 1954
- "Floorcare for people who care" - 1962
- "Hoover helping you has made us a household word" - 1971
- "Insist on Hoover" - 1974
- "America trusts Hoover to take care of its homes" - 1977
- "America trusts Hoover" - 1984
- "Hoover keeps making it better" - 1986
- "Hoover invented it" - 1988
- "Nobody does it like You" - 1993, 2010
- "Deep down you want Hoover" - 1998
- "Hoover gets it" - 2004
- "America loves its Hoovers" - 2007
- "Hoover...Nobody Does it Like You" - 2008-Present
Popular Hoover machines
The Junior: Introduced by Hoover Limited (UK) in the 1930s, the Hoover Junior is a smaller upright type vacuum for apartments or small houses which was easy to carry around. The Junior was very popular in the UK; Hoover sold millions of them, and it became the biggest selling vacuum there. Various models were produced, with the final machine being manufactured in 1987. Hoover Limited made Juniors for export to the US from the mid 1960s to the late 1970s. The exported Juniors were converted to American electrical standards by The Hoover Company in North Canton, Ohio. Finding a Hoover Junior in the USA is quite rare. The Junior was never referred to as such in the USA; it was tagged in official Hoover literature as the Lightweight Upright.However, James Dyson
James Dyson
Sir James Dyson is a British industrial designer and founder of the Dyson company.He is best known as the inventor of the Dual Cyclone bagless vacuum cleaner, which works on the principle of cyclonic separation. His net worth in 2011 was said to be £1.45 billion.-Early life:Dyson was born in...
(The owner of Dyson Appliances, a rival to Hoover) was very disappointed with the machine back in 1979 and then sparked inspiration to produce something better, which now is now such a large rival to Hoover that Hoover themselves stole James Dyson's improved idea, which led onto a court case.
The Dirtsearcher: Introduced again by Hoover Limited (UK) in 1969, was a development of the Junior with a model 638 style headlamp fitted in place of the tool adaptor cover at the front. This model the 1354 went on to be the most successful UK Hoover manufactured model selling in both European and Commonwealth markets, however it was never sold in the US, although there were 110V versions of the UK-market Juniors sold in Canada (such as the 1354A). They were sold alongside the Junior and Senior/Ranger models becoming the now rare model U1016 and U1040.
The Portable: The Hoover Portable was launched by Hoover in 1962. It is a "Suitcase" type canister that had no wheels; you would tug it around with you as you clean. When finished you would store the hose, attachments, and power cord inside the machine. In 1969, Hoover added wheels to the Portable. The Portable was manufactured until 1978: there are still some Portables in use today.
The Swingette and the PortaPower: The Hoover Swingette, a lightweight canister that could be carried by hand or slung over the shoulder, was introduced in 1970. It could be used to easily clean stairs, upholstery, car interiors, etc. It used the same motor found in some other Hoover canisters as well as the Hoover Dial-a-Matic upright.
The PortaPower is basically the same as a Swingette but with different colors. It replaced the Swingette in 1975. Wheels were added to this model around 1980. Commercial-grade units of this model were sold starting in the mid 1980s; these are still in production to this day and still retain the original Swingette design. The consumer Portapowers were replaced in 1989 by the Sprint and Tempo models; the Tempo 450 model featured the motorized Powermatic floor nozzle. The Sprint/Tempo line did spawn a short-lived return of the Portapower name into the consumer market - the Portapower II - sold in the mid 1990s.
The Slimline: The Hoover Slimline was launched in 1964 and was sold until 1978. It was similar to the Portable but with a slimmer design and lighter weight. It was easier to carry around while cleaning.
The word "hoover"
In the UK and Australia the term "hoover" (properly spelled in all lower case like any ordinary word) has long been colloquially synonymous with "vacuum cleaner" and the verb "to vacuum" (e.g., "you were hoovering the carpet"), owing to the Hoover Company's dominance there in the first half of the 20th century. Although the company is no longer the top seller of vacuum cleaners in the UK, the term "hoover" has remained as a genericised trademark.Over the years, Hoover diversified into other product lines, including kitchen appliances, hair dryers, speakers, and industrial equipment.
The Hoover Historical Center
In the 1970s, Hoover introduced The Hoover Historical Center.It is a Victorian-style farmhouse built in the 1840s. The Hoover family lived there for many years.
As you go through the tour at the Hoover Historical Center, you start from the very beginning and you learn facts about the Hoover family and when the vacuum cleaner first began with displays of old non-electric vacuum cleaners like pump and friction cleaners. As you proceed, you learn about the beginning of the Hoover company and view displays of very early Hoover cleaners from the Hoover Model O to Hoovers of the 1910s. As you continue, you will see displays of Hoover cleaners, products, advertisements, and memorabilia from the 1920s to the 2000s. The center also includes a gift shop where you can buy Hoover postcards, picture frames, and other things at the end of the tour.
Ownership transitions
Chicago Pacific Corporation
The Chicago Pacific Corporation was a shell corporation created from the remains of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad. It managed to use much of the capital made from the liquidation of the Rock Island to acquire non-rail ventures such as The Hoover Company, Pennsylvania...
, and in 1989, Chicago Pacific was purchased by Maytag.
In 1993, the Hoover Trading Company and Hoover UK merged to become the Hoover European Appliances Group. In 1995, Candy Group acquired the Hoover European Appliances Group in its entirety with the exclusive rights on the brand for the whole of Europe (including all territories of the former-Soviet Union), North Africa and selected countries in the Middle East.
In 2004, Maytag announced that it would consolidate its corporate office and back office operations in Newton
Newton, Iowa
Newton is a city in and the county seat of Jasper County, Iowa, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 15,254. It is the home of Maytag Dairy Farms and was formerly home to the Maytag Corporation's corporate headquarters until the Whirlpool Corporation acquired it in 2006...
, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
and close almost all of Hoover's overlapping functions. This effectively meant that most white-collar jobs at Hoover's North Canton location would be eliminated. The company had previously closed another manufacturing facility in Jackson Township, Stark County, Ohio
Jackson Township, Stark County, Ohio
Jackson Township is one of the seventeen townships of Stark County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 37,744 people in the township, 37,484 of whom lived in the unincorporated portions of the township.-Geography:...
, and the facility was sold to a church. Like many manufacturing companies in the U.S., Hoover is facing pressures as consumers demand lower-priced goods. Hoover has operations in Mexico, where operating costs are lower than in the U.S.
After Maytag was acquired by Whirlpool in 2006, that firm reached an agreement to sell Hoover to Hong Kong, China-based firm Techtronic Industries
Techtronic Industries
Techtronic Industries Company Limited , Techtronic or TTI, is one of the world's leading manufacturing and trading company in electrical and electronic products. Its products include Milwaukee, AEG power tools, and Ryobi power tools and accessories, Ryobi and Homelite outdoor products, and Hoover,...
. TTI has announced its intention to close the original plant in North Canton in September 2007.
Hoover in Australia
Since 1954, the Hoover factory at Meadowbank has been manufacturing washing machines and other products. A subsidiary of the US company, Hoover, it merged with Chicago Pacific in 1985 and Maytag in 1989.In 1994, Hoover Australia was to be listed as a public company with a six-monthly operating profit of $8,850,000. This sparked a fight between Email Limited
Email Limited
Email Limited was a manufacturing conglomerate operating mainly in Australia.The company was formed from the merger of Electricity Meter Manufacturing Co Pty Ltd, established in 1912, and New System Telephones Pty Ltd, established in 1920...
and Southcorp, two of Australia's largest white goods manufacturers for a commercial sale. Both were eager to strengthen their market share and further monopolise the whitegoods industry. By December 1994, Southcorp announced a successful bid to buy Hoover Australia. In March 1996, Southcorp began a big rationalisation, sacking workers in maintenance, stores, administration and supervision at the Hoover factory.
At the same time, Southcorp was announcing a big increase in their share price. In April, 1999, the sale of Southcorp Appliances, including Hoover, Dishlex and Chef, was official with Email now obtaining a conservative 60 per cent share of the Australian white goods market.
Prior to the Southcorp buy out, Hoover Australia operated as a US subsidiary with its own administration, sales and marketing, large maintenance and engineering departments, a service division and a much larger production workforce. At this time, in the early '90s, Hoover was making healthy profits, as a result of investment in new technology and machinery through the late '80s, followed by a big drive towards quality improvement combined with a very flexible workforce.
After the Southcorp takeover, a culture of fear was introduced based on a widespread campaign to strip all the indirect labour from the workforce, and a myth that the factory was inefficient and unproductive. Every month it was reported the factory was losing $1 million or more. Morale at the factory went into a downward spiral. This was followed by decisions to stop production of barrel and upright vacuum cleaners, next was the end of the front loader washing machine. Vacuum cleaners and front loaders were replaced with imported products, the plastic moulding production was contracted out, the factory was being stripped of production, volume and jobs. A cost reduction campaign followed with good quality components being replaced by inferior cheap components and a complete breakdown of any real preventative maintenance program, which gave way to a large number of machine and equipment breakdowns. The reality, rather than the myth, was the Hoover Meadowbank site was being run into the ground by corporate decisions.
By the late 1990s Email had finally closed the Meadowbank factory and integrated its white goods manufacturing into the Simpson plant in South Australia. The vacuum cleaner side of the business was sold to Godfreys. Several years later, Email itself was sold and broken up. The white goods division of Email was then sold to Electrolux. Shortly after taking ownership, Electrolux ceased leasing the Hoover brandname and the manufacturing and supply of Hoover white goods ceased in Australia.
Free flights promotion
In 1992, the British division of Hoover announced the Hoover free flights promotionHoover free flights promotion
The Hoover free flights promotion was a marketing promotion begun in 1992 in which the British division of The Hoover Company promised free airline tickets to customers who purchased more than £100 worth of their products...
, the demand for which rose far beyond the company's expectations, resulting in major costs and public relations problems for the British division and Maytag
Maytag
Maytag Corporation is an American home and commercial appliance company, headquartered in Newton, Iowa, that is a division of the Whirlpool Corporation.-Company history:...
, which eventually led to its sale to the Italian manufacturer Candy
Candy (company)
Candy is an Italian company based in Brugherio, near Milan, which manufactures domestic appliances.-Early history:Candy Group is an Italian privately-owned multi-brand group of companies, among the world leaders in the household appliance industry: washing machines, dishwashers, dryers,...
. In 1993, Sandy Jack
Sandy Jack
George Alexander Jack better known as Sandy Jack was from Methil Fife, Scotland. He is known as campaigner and consumer champion from the Hoover free flights promotion...
became the first person in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
to take Hoover to court over the Hoover free flights promotion. Upon the decision in Hoover v. Sandy Jack at Sheriff Court
Sheriff Court
Sheriff courts provide the local court service in Scotland, with each court serving a sheriff court district within a sheriffdom.Sheriff courts deal with a myriad of legal procedures which include:*Solemn and Summary Criminal cases...
in Kirkcaldy
Kirkcaldy
Kirkcaldy is a town and former royal burgh in Fife, on the east coast of Scotland. The town lies on a shallow bay on the northern shore of the Firth of Forth; SSE of Glenrothes, ENE of Dunfermline, WSW of Dundee and NNE of Edinburgh...
, Fife
Fife
Fife is a council area and former county of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire...
, a precedent was set. Hoover Holiday Pressure Group furthered court
Court
A court is a form of tribunal, often a governmental institution, with the authority to adjudicate legal disputes between parties and carry out the administration of justice in civil, criminal, and administrative matters in accordance with the rule of law...
action against Hoover at St. Helens in Merseyside
Merseyside
Merseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. It encompasses the metropolitan area centred on both banks of the lower reaches of the Mersey Estuary, and comprises five metropolitan boroughs: Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton, Wirral, and the city of Liverpool...
.
Hoover Constellation - The Canister without Wheels
The Hoover Constellation is a vacuum cleaner notable because it has no wheels. Instead, the vacuum cleaner floats on its exhaust, operating as a hovercraftHovercraft
A hovercraft is a craft capable of traveling over surfaces while supported by a cushion of slow moving, high-pressure air which is ejected against the surface below and contained within a "skirt." Although supported by air, a hovercraft is not considered an aircraft.Hovercraft are used throughout...
. Introduced in 1952, it is easily identified by the spherical shape of the canister.
In 1973 Hoover introduced the Celebrity. Lighter and shaped like a UFO, it floated almost too well, skidding across the carpets behind the user. Both designs are considered collectables today. In 2006, Hoover relaunched the Constellation in the U.S. In the UK, it is known as 'The Maytag Satellite'. Almost identical to the original, it has such modern refinements as a powerful 2000 W motor, HEPA filtration and an air-driven turbobrush. In April 2009 Hoover discontinued the Constellation.
Current products
The products sold under the Hoover brand vary greatly from one market to the next. For example in the United States the Hoover brand is used exclusively to sell floorcare products produced by TTI. Meanwhile in the UK and much of Europe Hoover branding appears on Candy Group products including white goods such as washing machines, dishwashers and refrigerators as well as floorcare products. Current details of the product range available to consumers can be found by visiting the Hoover website for the market of interest.Competition
Over the past decade, Hoover has lost its dominant position in the UK and in the US and now faces strong competition from many brands.In the US, Hoover's competition includes: (among others) Royal, Dirt Devil
Dirt Devil
Dirt Devil is a brand name of household vacuum cleaners and floor care. There are two main units: Power for large houses, and RV unit for smaller houses or apartments, as well as a number of other floor care products including hand-held vacuum cleaners and carpet shampooing machines.-Company...
, and Vax
Vax (vacuum)
Vax is a brand of vacuum and carpet cleaning products. It is part of Hong Kong based TechTronic Industries Co. Ltd , with a 2007 turnover of $HK24.7B.-History:...
(both of which are owned by Hoover's US owner Techtronic Industries
Techtronic Industries
Techtronic Industries Company Limited , Techtronic or TTI, is one of the world's leading manufacturing and trading company in electrical and electronic products. Its products include Milwaukee, AEG power tools, and Ryobi power tools and accessories, Ryobi and Homelite outdoor products, and Hoover,...
);Kirby
Kirby Company
The Kirby Company is a manufacturer of vacuum cleaners and home cleaning accessories, based in Cleveland, Ohio. It is a subsidiary of the Scott Fetzer Company which in turn is part of Berkshire Hathaway. Dealers are located in over 70 countries throughout the world...
; Eureka; Dyson; Electrolux
Electrolux
The Electrolux Group is a Swedish appliance maker.As of 2010 the 2nd largest home appliance manufacturer in the world after Whirlpool, its products sell under a variety of brand names including its own and are primarily major appliances and vacuum cleaners...
; Aerus
Aerus LLC
Aerus LLC, formerly Electrolux Corp. USA, manufactures vacuum cleaners, carpet cleaners and air purifiers. It is headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and has over 500 independently owned franchises in the U.S. and Canada. Aerus is the successor to Electrolux USA, the iconic manufacturer of vacuum...
; Panasonic
Panasonic
Panasonic is an international brand name for Japanese electric products manufacturer Panasonic Corporation, which was formerly known as Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd...
; Bissell
Bissell Inc.
Bissell Inc., also known as Bissell Homecare, is a privately owned vacuum cleaner and floor care product manufacturing corporation headquartered in Walker, Michigan, a suburb of Grand Rapids...
; Rainbow
Rexair LLC
Rexair LLC is an American manufacturer of home cleaning systems and is currently based in Troy, Michigan. Rexair is predominately known for their production and marketing of vacuum cleaners....
; Filter Queen; Euro-Pro/Shark; Sanitaire (a product of The Eureka Company); and Kenmore
Kenmore Appliances
Kenmore Appliances was a line of household appliances produced by a variety of manufacturers such as Whirlpool Corp, GE, Panasonic, LG, Bosch, Electrolux, and Mabe Mexico, and controlled by Sears Holdings Corporation; the brand is owned by KCD IP, LLC, a special purpose entity created by Sears...
(the house brand
Store brand
Store brands are a line of products sold by a retailer under a single marketing identity. They bear a similarity to the concept of House brands, Private label brands in the United States, own brands in the UK, and home brands in Australia and generic brands...
of American store chain Sears, which is manufactured predominantly by Panasonic
Panasonic
Panasonic is an international brand name for Japanese electric products manufacturer Panasonic Corporation, which was formerly known as Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd...
).
Dyson and Electrolux
Electrolux
The Electrolux Group is a Swedish appliance maker.As of 2010 the 2nd largest home appliance manufacturer in the world after Whirlpool, its products sell under a variety of brand names including its own and are primarily major appliances and vacuum cleaners...
lead the list of UK competitors, followed by Dirt Devil
Dirt Devil
Dirt Devil is a brand name of household vacuum cleaners and floor care. There are two main units: Power for large houses, and RV unit for smaller houses or apartments, as well as a number of other floor care products including hand-held vacuum cleaners and carpet shampooing machines.-Company...
, Vax
Vax (vacuum)
Vax is a brand of vacuum and carpet cleaning products. It is part of Hong Kong based TechTronic Industries Co. Ltd , with a 2007 turnover of $HK24.7B.-History:...
, Morphy Richards
Morphy Richards
Morphy Richards is a business located in the Swinton Meadows Industrial Estate, Swinton, near Mexborough, South Yorkshire.-Product range:It specialises in the manufacture of toasters, hairdryers, bread makers, kettles and sandwich toasters and other appliances. In its early stage it also made...
, Miele
Miele
Miele is a manufacturer of high-end domestic appliances, commercial equipment and fitted kitchens, based in Gütersloh, Germany. Miele has always been a family-owned and -run company, founded in 1899 by Carl Miele and Reinhard Zinkann.-History:...
, Bissell, Numatic (maker of the famous "Henry" cylinder cleaner), Zanussi
Zanussi
Zanussi is an Italian producer of home appliances that in 1984 was bought by Electrolux. Zanussi is a leading brand for domestic kitchen appliances in Europe. Products have been exported from Italy since 1946.-History:...
, Russell Hobbs
Russell Hobbs
Russell Hobbs is a manufacturer of household appliances based in Failsworth, Greater Manchester, England.-Formation:After working with REME in World War II and leaving in 1947 as a Major, Bill Russell , from High Wycombe, joined Morphy Richards and helped to design the pop-up toaster, the electric...
, LG
LG Group
LG Corp. is the second-largest South Korean conglomerate company following Samsung, and it is headquartered in the LG Twin Towers in Yeouido-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. LG produces electronics, chemicals, and telecommunications products and operates subsidiaries like LG Electronics, LG Display,...
, and a plethora of others.
See also
- MarketingMarketingMarketing is the process used to determine what products or services may be of interest to customers, and the strategy to use in sales, communications and business development. It generates the strategy that underlies sales techniques, business communication, and business developments...
- Hoover BuildingHoover BuildingThe Hoover Building on the Western Avenue in Perivale, West London is an example of Art Deco architecture, designed by Wallis, Gilbert and Partners...
, 1930s art deco factory and offices in London - Sandy JackSandy JackGeorge Alexander Jack better known as Sandy Jack was from Methil Fife, Scotland. He is known as campaigner and consumer champion from the Hoover free flights promotion...
- Hoover free flights promotionHoover free flights promotionThe Hoover free flights promotion was a marketing promotion begun in 1992 in which the British division of The Hoover Company promised free airline tickets to customers who purchased more than £100 worth of their products...
External links
- Hoover official site (US)
- Hoover official site (UK)
- Hoover official site (Canada)
- The Vintage Hoover Emporium
- Old Merthyr Tydfil: Hoover Ltd. - Historical Photographs of the Hoover Factory at Pentrebach, Merthyr Tydfil, Wales.
- http://www.walsh.edu/hooverhistoricalcent.htm The Hoover Historical Center
- http://www.freewebs.com/BFG75 Post WW2 Hoover cleaners from the UK