The Constellation is a 60 year old vacuum cleaner. But it’s a vacuum that everyone—housewives, bored husbands, and Aurora vacuum repair workers—remembers clearly, because the Hoover Constellation looks more like a UFO than a vacuum.
It’s a canister vacuum, but instead of having to drag it around on wheels, it floats. Even 60 years ago, the Hoover vacuum company was able to use exhaust gases to push the floor down and make the container float. Finally, we have a use for the excess power that most vacuum cleaners have. For me, as an Aurora vacuum repairman for 20 years, it still amazes me that they can use exhaust gases, which have already passed through the vacuum bag and over the motor, to support the entire device. The boat is even made of metal! Even today, the technology would be amazing, considering that it also has to bear the brunt of all the dust that the vacuum kicks up.
You’d think you’d have to sacrifice something for this technology, but the Constellation has good suction and even works on carpet. For people who can’t drive heavy machinery for whatever reason, the Constellation was great because it was easy to push. Now the original Constellations were retired in 1975 and are collector’s items, but Hoover has recently introduced a new one.
The new ones look classy yet retro, but I laugh when I see the original Hoover Constellation. We had one at our Aurora vacuum repair business the other day, and compared to the new Constellation, it really does look more like a kettle than a UFO. I’m a bit confused as to why they are selling it so cheap. Hoover’s website shows it sells for $250, but all those Hoover guys going door to door selling vacuum cleaners won’t part with one of theirs for less than $1000. I guess Hoover finally saw the light of day and moved on. He realized that the average American with no bank account doesn’t want a $1000 cleaner. The thought of spending a thousand bucks on one, especially if it needs vacuum repairs, just makes him sick. I think the Hoover Company decided it was better to sell a bunch of vacuum cleaners and have happy customers than to sell a few for ridiculous profit and piss people off.
The new Constellation is interesting because it is an example of this new thinking. Instead of having a million attachments and settings, it only comes with an on/off switch. Sure there are some accessories, but you don’t need an Aurora vacuum repairman to tell you that most people don’t use any of those accessories. Instead, it just glides on a cushion of air, almost silently. The older ones were a bit noisier, but this really is a UFO, quieter than many vacuums. It looks great and sucks well. The only real drawback is that all the exhaust air used to hold it will kick up the dust, so the manufacturer recommends keeping the canister in the spot you just vacuumed.
