Oldest vacuum cleaner turns 140 today

Thank you for the picture Dave, it saves me a lot of time loading pictures.

Yes, I am the owner of the Whirlwind. Back in 1988, the National Enquirer ran a contest to find the reader with the "oldest working vacuum cleaner" I entered and won. At the moment the whirlwind is packed away in a storage locker with the rest of my collection.

In answer to another post, I'm the founder of the VCCC! I went to the Hoover Historical Center in September of 80 and met the director Stacy Krammes. A year later she forwarded a letter to me from John Lucia. Together he and I went to the Hoover Historical Center and Hoover factory. Armed with the names of several fellow collectors, we formed the club. However, it was my groundwork that started the club. I was also the publisher of our newsletters for the first 12 years.

When we were forming Vacuumland I sent a box of archives to our webmaster Fred Nelson for use on the website. Fred has that box and will give it back to me at the convention. With that paperwork I can again write vacuum cleaner history.

I look forward to seeing all who attend the convention next week.

Alex Taber.


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Post# 71600 6/8/2009 at 12:17 (5,425 days old) by caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut)
Checkrate/Likes On June 8, 1869 Ives W, Mcgaffy was granted a patent for his "sweeping machine." That was the "Whirlwind." It was manufactured in Boston by the American Carpet Cleaning Co., and was the first vacuum cleaning device we know of.

Post# 71624 , Reply# 1 6/8/2009 at 14:22 (5,425 days old) by sireluxomatic ()
Checkrate/Likes *Happy 140th Birthday* Too bad we can't go backwards in time 140 years and see this machine brand new.

Post# 71626 , Reply# 2 6/8/2009 at 14:38 (5,425 days old) by ridgidvac ()
Checkrate/Likes Any pics of the Whirlwind? I'd LOVE 2 c some pics.

Post# 71627 , Reply# 3 6/8/2009 at 14:39 (5,425 days old) by ohio_tuec ()
Checkrate/Likes Or even see an example of it. I believe one of the founding members of the VCCC, Bob Taber, had a Whirlwind.

Post# 71677 , Reply# 4 6/8/2009 at 19:47 (5,425 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)
Checkrate/Likes *Thank you for the reminder, Alex.* Took a pic of this one at the Hoover Historical Centre a few years back. Sorry the focus is so bad or we'd be able to read the wall plaque. Dave

Post# 71712 , Reply# 5 6/9/2009 at 10:53 (5,424 days old) by caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut)
Checkrate/Likes *Whirlwind* Thank you for the picture Dave, it saves me a lot of time loading pictures. Yes, I am the owner of the Whirlwind. Back in 1988, the National Enquirer ran a contest to find the reader with the "oldest working vacuum cleaner" I entered and won. At the moment the whirlwind is packed away in a storage locker with the rest of my collection. In answer to another post, I'm the founder of the VCCC! I went to the Hoover Historical Center in September of 80 and met the director Stacy Krammes. A year later she forwarded a letter to me from John Lucia. Together he and I went to the Hoover Historical Center and Hoover factory. Armed with the names of several fellow collectors, we formed the club. However, it was my groundwork that started the club. I was also the publisher of our newsletters for the first 12 years. When we were forming Vacuumland I sent a box of archives to our webmaster Fred Nelson for use on the website. Fred has that box and will give it back to me at the convention. With that paperwork I can again write vacuum cleaner history. I look forward to seeing all who attend the convention next week. Alex Taber.

Post# 71738 , Reply# 6 6/9/2009 at 16:03 (5,424 days old) by kirbyotronic ()
Checkrate/Likes Here is a little more bit of info. ~Alex CLICK HERE TO GO TO kirbyotronic's LINK

Post# 71742 , Reply# 7 6/9/2009 at 16:50 (5,424 days old) by caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut)
Checkrate/Likes *Vac-Hunter* Dear Alex Bob K. the Vac-Hunter is a former friend of mine, he also owns a Whirlwind, but he got his several years after I got mine, so he's second in line to me. As far as we know Bob and I are the only private collectors to own one. At any rate the information in that topic came from me. I compiled the history of the Vacuum Cleaner and will post information as I get it. Here's a brief history of the first three. Whirlwind-- style upright, inventor by Ives W. Mcgaffy 1869, manufactured by the American Carpet Cleaning Co. Boston, Mass. Agan-- style upright, inventor unknown, 1870, manufactured by Whitehead & Hoag. City unknown at this time. Herculese-- style tank, inventor thought to be father and son team of Peck & Peck. Rochester, New York. This was the first of the two person operated pumpers. So it was the first outfitted with a hose and tools. This information should be in a past newsletter, sometine around Spring of 06, the original is in my box of archives. Alex Taber.