Vacuum Cleaner

Vacuum Cleaner History

Vacuum cleaners have been around since 1868, and have changed dramatically as technology and production have improved. Whilst we all know of Hoover and Dyson vacuum cleaners, what about the other brands and inventors who have contributed to the history of the vacuum cleaner?

The first vacuum cleaner was the manual Whirlwind, which was invented in Chicago in 1868. It was lightweight and compact, but needed a hand crank to be turned whilst the vacuum cleaner was being pushed across the floor. Despite the fact it was hard to use, inventor Ives W McGaffey obtained a patent for it in 1869, and it was sold commercially. As it was only sold in Boston and Chicago, and a great many were lost during the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, it is difficult to be sure how successful this vacuum cleaner was.

The first patent for an electric carpet sweeper was made by Corinne Dufour from Georgia in 1900. The first patent for a powered vacuum cleaner was made by Englishman Hubert Cecil Booth in 1901. The first powered vacuum cleaner used an oil driven engine, and was pulled by horses and parked outside the house being cleaned. The oil driven engine was soon replaced with an electric motor.

1907 saw James Spangler invented an electric vacuum cleaner using a fan, box and a pillowcase. As well as using suction, a rotating brush was fitted to loosen dirt and dust to make cleaning easier. This idea was patented in 1908, and then sold to WH Hoover. The first Hoover Vacuum Cleaner was the 1908 Model 0 which sold for $60.

In 1910, P.A Fisker patented the first electric vacuum cleaner in Europe. This model weighed just 17.5KG and could be operated by a single person. Walter Griffiths, another Englishman, patented a manually powered carpet cleaner in 1905 which used a bellows like device to suck up dust through a pipe. Various nozzles could be fitted to the pipe, making this the first patent to resemble a modern vacuum cleaner.

Kirby vacuum cleaners were introduced over 80 years ago, and are still going strong, and have hardly changed in design. They are only ever sold by salespeople who demonstrate the vacuum cleaner in the home of a potential customer. The power and versatility of a Kirby vacuum cleaner can clearly be seen, and this is a very effective method of selling. They are supplied with many attachments and accessories, and have a legendary ability to vacuum up dust from carpets, bedding and furniture, as well as cleaning carpets and wooden floors. Whilst they are may be seen as an expensive investment, they can replace additional floor cleaners and last for years. In addition, Kirby spares and accessories are available for older models. This ensures that older models are not obsolete as soon as a new model is released.

Vacuum cleaners remained a luxury item up until the end of WW2. Brands such as Kirby, and Hoover were popular and there were many competitors producing vacuum cleaners.

Hoover has since dominated the vacuum cleaner market, despite intense competition from other leading electrical brands, including Dyson and Vax, up to the point where it has become a genericised trademark like Sellotape or Aspirin. People no longer vacuum or clean the house, they “hoover”; they don’t buy a new vacuum cleaner, they buy a “hoover”, even though they may have bought a Dyson, Miele, Vax, Electrolux, Panasonic or other brand of vacuum cleaner.

Miele was founded in 1899 in Germany, and produced kitchen products such as a cream separator, butter churn and a washing machine. The product range has increased to include domestic appliances such as vacuum cleaners, dishwashers, ovens, irons and coffee machines. Miele produce high end products with legendary German build quality.

In the 1970, experienced carpet cleaner Alan Brazier saw there was a gap in the market for a domestic carpet cleaner, and set up Vax to fill this gap. The first Vax vacuum cleaner was sold in 1979, and could wash carpets, suck up any spills as well as vacuum up dirt. It is little wonder then that by 1987 Vax had become the best selling vacuum cleaner in the UK, and are still going strong today.

Electrolux was founded in 1910 in Sweden and the sales of domestic appliances including vacuum cleaners grew rapidly during the 1970s. Electrolux is a manufacturer of white goods, and a popular alternative brand to Hoover.

Panasonic was created in Japan in 1955 and produces many domestic products ranging from white goods to telephones, televisions and computers. Panasonic vacuum cleaners are well respected and are regularly found in high street retailers.

James Dyson launched his first cyclone cleaner in Japan during the 1980s, and despite its high price, it sold well and became a status symbol. Introduced in 1995, the Dyson DC01 was the first Dyson vacuum cleaner to be launched in the UK. Several more Dyson models have followed with different features and benefits. As the cyclone principle has proved very successful with many models sold, there have been plenty of imitators. People still talk about Dyson hoovers even though they are completely separate companies.

Further Information

• Types of Vacuum Cleaner
• Dyson History
• Kirby Parts
• Kirby Spares
• Kirby Vacuum Cleaners