Other than motors, belts, and bulbs, just WHAT IS IT that vacuum cleaners and sewing machines have in common?? To this day, many vacuum cleaner stores also sell sewing machines. The Electro-Hygiene store where I worked many years ago sold both (the EH sewing machine was a rebadged Brother). Many such stores have "sew/vac center" in their names. In stores like Sears, they are right next to each other. And in mail-order catalogs, they were always on the next page to each other. Hope you don't misunderstand me--I'm not complaining about this, nor do I find anything wrong with it, I just have always wondered what the connection is.
Jeff

I know sewing machines where considered a household necessity and a vacuum cleaner was a luxury when they were first introduced. As vacuum cleaners gained popularity, i think they were lumped together with sewing machines as mid sized appliances. Refrigeraters, ranges, washers and dryers are the large appliances and the smalls are the mixers, blenders, toasters, perculators, etc. The SMs and the vacuums were put together in catalogs in stores because they are neither large nor small. That's my guess anyway.

I beleive the connection between vacuum cleaners and sewing machines came about shortly after WW2-Was another way returning "GI'S" could get work-Singer had the idea of "Sew&Vac" stores so the returning GI's could get a job opening one of the Singer franchises.At the time women liked it-could get their Singer sewing machine or vacuum cleaner at one store.Also the stores had sewing patterns,other sewing equipment and cleaning equipment useful for the home.Since at that time Singer made both vacuums and sewing machines-was a good way of marketing them.also the shops could repair broken sewing machines or vacuums.-and teach customers how to use them.There is one "sew&Vac" store in Greenvillethey don't sell Singer vacuums or Sewing machines.But the idea is still with us.They seem to be less popular then what they used to be.Now the shops specialize in either vacuum cleaners or sewing machines.

Thanks guys, both of your replies make good sense to me. When I sold Electro-Hygienes, our store was a "sew/vac center," although it wasn't part of the name, just Electro-Hygiene. Our sewing machines were rebadged from Brother. I didn't sell sewing machines, only vacuums, but worked on both in the service department. Thanks again for your replies.
Jeff

well the hoover model O ran on a sewing machine motor!!HAHA

Kyle

No Kyle:
The Hoover did NOT run on a sewing machine motor, it ran on a fan motor (Emerson and Robins & Myers made the motors - both AC and DC). There's IS a distinction between the two.

Sewing Machines and Vacuum Cleaners were sold together, repaired together, all under the same roof, because they share something in common: women. Especially in the last century.

Women sew. Women vacuum. Women have the authority to purchase and have repairs made, to these two household items. As far back as the 1920's, vac and sew shops were very common in the United States because of this reason. Men had little time, and no interest, in either of these two household machines. Sewing and Cleaning were considered 'women's work', and the care of the machines came under the authority of the lady of the house.

W/E

Thanks Tom, your reply makes good sense, too. Kind of ironic that even though sewing and vacuuming was considered "women's work," it was usually men who demonstrated and sold them!
And speaking of motors, didn't Murray Spangler use an Emerson motor on his vacuum cleaner?
Jeff

If they both require motors and belts, then it would require about the same knowledge to repair both. So maybe they were thinking ahead...