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Thread Number: 19859
Oldest Vacuums |
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| Post# 221963 3/5/2013 at 14:10 (4,068 days old) by Ultimatevacman ( Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK) | ||
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| Post# 221965 , Reply# 1 3/5/2013 at 14:38 (4,068 days old) by nubz3760 () | ||
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mine would be my 1925 Cleveland Suction Cleaner 
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| Post# 221967 , Reply# 2 3/5/2013 at 14:42 (4,068 days old) by Ultimatevacman ( Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK) | ||
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| Post# 221973 , Reply# 3 3/5/2013 at 15:33 (4,068 days old) by caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut) | ||
Hi ultimatevacman
The oldest known vacuum cleaner is the Whirlwind. It goes all the way back to 1869, and is of course a non electric. this one is a hand crank. I got it in 1987, and when the National Enquirer ran a contest to find the reader with the oldest working vacuum cleaner I entered, and won.
Pictured here is the Whirlwind, the article of me with the National Enquirer, and two pictures of the club back in 1994. The Whirlwind in the picture is the one at the Hoover Historical Center, which was the birthplace of our club. An now the Whirlwind of 1869. 
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| Post# 221976 , Reply# 4 3/5/2013 at 15:52 (4,068 days old) by nubz3760 () | ||
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Cleveland I bought the Cleveland along with 3 other machines from an older gentleman for only $10 for the lot. also included was a Kirby R, eureka model G, and a Kirby classic | ||
| Post# 221978 , Reply# 5 3/5/2013 at 15:57 (4,068 days old) by luxlover (Halifax NS Canada) | ||
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ELECTROLUX 86 Mine would be my 1961 model 86 ELUX :) 
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| Post# 221979 , Reply# 6 3/5/2013 at 15:59 (4,068 days old) by luxlover (Halifax NS Canada) | ||
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Sorry here is a better photo, :) 
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| Post# 221982 , Reply# 7 3/5/2013 at 16:27 (4,068 days old) by collector2 (Moose Jaw, Sk) | ||
Elux 86 | ||
| Post# 221983 , Reply# 8 3/5/2013 at 16:30 (4,068 days old) by collector2 (Moose Jaw, Sk) | ||
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Tuec | ||
| Post# 221984 , Reply# 9 3/5/2013 at 16:33 (4,068 days old) by nubz3760 () | ||
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tuec wow! they had central vacs back then? | ||
| Post# 221985 , Reply# 10 3/5/2013 at 16:48 (4,068 days old) by collector2 (Moose Jaw, Sk) | ||
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| Post# 222001 , Reply# 11 3/5/2013 at 18:17 (4,068 days old) by caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut) | ||
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Hi collector 2
The oldest built-in vacuum cleaner was 1899! The inventor was John S. Thurman of St. Louis, Mo.. He was also the man who gave us the first Electric vacuum cleaner.
The year was 1901 when Cecil H. Booth perfected his vacuum cleaner in London, England. What we call the central vac, was known as the stationary vacuum cleaner back then. Several prominant homes like the Biltmor House in Ashville, No Carolina installed one in 1899. John S. Thurman was the first giant in the vacuum cleaner industry, and because of him, people like James B. Kirby, Boss Hoover and countless others took the ball and ran with it. One of the finest stationary vacuum cleaner I've ever seen was the Spencer, which is located in the Fox theater in St. Louis, Mo. and the man who showed it to me was my dear friend, our own, Stan Kann. Another popular built in was one called the Arco wand. Back at the turn of the century (1900) the stationary, or built in were rare as hen's teeth, and only for the extremely welthy. I've heard that there was a central vac on the Titanic, but this has never been proven. In fact Robert Ballard who discovered the Titanic never responded to my letter asking that very question. The Central vacuum cleaner has a very interesting past, one I know very little about. | ||
| Post# 222005 , Reply# 12 3/5/2013 at 18:49 (4,068 days old) by collector2 (Moose Jaw, Sk) | ||
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Hi Alex:
Just a small correction. Booth made his first vacuum in 1901 but that was mounted on a carriage and taken door to door. He didnt make his first stationary cleaners till 1902. Booth was also the person that coined the term Vacuum Cleaner. I believe they called them things like suction sweepers before that. I've never heard of Therman before. I know of a number of buildings around here from between 1910-20 that had central vacuums. They seem to have been fairly common by then for larger homes and buildings. Doug | ||
Post# 222041 , Reply# 13 3/5/2013 at 21:53 (4,068 days old) by myvacsrock  (USA) |
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Hoover Model O 1908. 
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| Post# 222054 , Reply# 14 3/5/2013 at 22:44 (4,068 days old) by cb123 (Mobile, Al.) | ||
Myvacsrock | ||
| Post# 222057 , Reply# 15 3/5/2013 at 23:11 (4,068 days old) by nubz3760 () | ||
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WOW! A Model O Hoover! does it run? | ||
| Post# 222059 , Reply# 16 3/5/2013 at 23:19 (4,068 days old) by cb123 (Mobile, Al.) | ||
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Cyclone | ||
| Post# 222061 , Reply# 17 3/5/2013 at 23:31 (4,068 days old) by hygiene903 (Galion, OH) | ||
My Oldest Vacuum Cleaner Could Be One Of Several | ||
| Post# 222062 , Reply# 18 3/5/2013 at 23:34 (4,068 days old) by hygiene903 (Galion, OH) | ||
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| Post# 222064 , Reply# 19 3/5/2013 at 23:38 (4,068 days old) by hygiene903 (Galion, OH) | ||
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| Post# 222066 , Reply# 20 3/5/2013 at 23:45 (4,068 days old) by caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut) | ||
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Hi Collector 2
Okay here's what I know about John S. Thurman. It was on October 3, 1899 that he patented his gasoline powered pneumatic Carpet Renovator. From that date till April 26, 1910 he recieved 32 U.S. patents for his Stationary vacuum cleaner.
You're right, Booth did start with a machine on back of a horse drawn cart, Thurman had one of those too, but both men also made built-in machines. The full history is to complex to go into here. Tomorrow I'll share a lot more on the early vacuum cleaners. Alex Taber. | ||
| Post# 222067 , Reply# 21 3/5/2013 at 23:49 (4,068 days old) by hygiene903 (Galion, OH) | ||
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| Post# 222069 , Reply# 22 3/5/2013 at 23:55 (4,068 days old) by hygiene903 (Galion, OH) | ||
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| Post# 222075 , Reply# 23 3/6/2013 at 01:08 (4,068 days old) by cb123 (Mobile, Al.) | ||
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Eureka model 10 | ||
| Post# 222077 , Reply# 24 3/6/2013 at 01:28 (4,068 days old) by cb123 (Mobile, Al.) | ||
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Eureka 10 | ||
| Post# 222080 , Reply# 25 3/6/2013 at 01:58 (4,068 days old) by cb123 (Mobile, Al.) | ||
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Pneuvac Add | ||
| Post# 222081 , Reply# 26 3/6/2013 at 03:06 (4,068 days old) by Ultimatevacman ( Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK) | ||
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| Post# 222095 , Reply# 27 3/6/2013 at 06:19 (4,068 days old) by 1926700 () | ||
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well, as some of you know, most of my herd is from the 1960's and 1970's, but I do have a hand full of Antique, pre-war butties. this is my eldest, a 1919 Hoover model 102 
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| Post# 222096 , Reply# 28 3/6/2013 at 06:21 (4,068 days old) by 1926700 () | ||
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and my second, a 1920 Hoover Model 105 
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| Post# 222108 , Reply# 29 3/6/2013 at 09:53 (4,068 days old) by caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut) | ||
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Hi guys, great thread! | ||
| Post# 222110 , Reply# 30 3/6/2013 at 10:01 (4,068 days old) by caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut) | ||
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Hi cb123. | ||
| Post# 222113 , Reply# 31 3/6/2013 at 10:26 (4,068 days old) by caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut) | ||
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Hygiene903.
I love those Royals, as for the Apex, it was indeed circa 1918, and was the design of James B. Kirby, who would go on to deal with the washing machine division of Apex, while making Scott/Fetzer the company that perfected his vacuum cleaner.
Actually, Royal began as a non electric pumper in 1905. The parent company was Philip A. Geier who opened a factory in Cleveland, Ohio. I know very little about the P. A. Geier Co., but they were the ones who made all sorts of parts for Royal, Health-Mor, and countless others. The history of the early electric vacuum cleaner is very complex. I've written a 7 page overview, and will post the first page later today. However, this is only the tip of the iceberg. In a few months I plan to get my paperwork from storage in Indiana and bring it back here. My vacuum cleaners, attatchments and so on as well. Once I have this paperwork, and written facts to back up everything, I can go into more detail. Right now I'm going on memory, and at 62, that tends to be a bit fuzzy. Again, thanks for posting those great machines. Alex. | ||
| Post# 222120 , Reply# 32 3/6/2013 at 12:53 (4,068 days old) by luxlover (Halifax NS Canada) | ||
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Awe thankyou for the info on the brush clip :) i turned it around on purpous on purpous lol i was useing it for my cord when i was having troubles with my cord winder and just never put it back lol and i look it was infact 1961 thankyou :) all these vacuums are gorgous :) | ||
| Post# 222158 , Reply# 33 3/6/2013 at 15:43 (4,067 days old) by caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut) | ||
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The first page of my, History Of The Electric Vacuum Cleaner
Here's the article I wrote on the central vac several years ago.
Most people have no idea when the first electric vacuum cleaner was introduced. The general contention is that this was the Electric Suction Sweeper, introduced by Murray J. Spangler in 1907. However, as most of us know that while it was perfected in 1908 and became the now famous Hoover Model O, it was by no means the first. The change from non-electric to early electric has been a slow one. Actually, it was a three part process, because sandwiched in between the non electric and electric was the industrial vacuum cleaner, or what we call the central vac. The man who should get the credit for this is John S. Thurman, of Saint Louis, Missouri. He patented his gasoline powered Pneumactic Carpet Renovator on October 3, 1899. His suction machine was massive in size, as were the stationary units he also designed. These were built for use in mansions and office buildings. The pipes were snaked through the walls, with suction ports in the floor. The hoses were often 75-100 feet long and quite heavy. Much like the hoses of a fire truck today. Thurman realized that this was not practical for the general public and turned his sights on a portable system. In 1903 he went back to the gasoline powered unit that was mounted on the back of a horse drawn cart. The heavy hoses were snaked through the front door, and windows of the second floor. It's interesting to note that he was the first person to clean carpets professionally. He charged the whopping sum of $4.00 per visit In 1901, American industrialist Cecil H. Boothwas in London, England when he perfected his electric suction machine. He showed it to Queen Victoria who was so impressed that she had all the grand houses outfitted with Booth's machine. Back in America, Thurman had made a name for himself by perfecting the electric vacuum cleaner. From October 3, 1899 to April 26, 1910 Thurman recieved 32 U.S. government patents for his 'stationary' vacuum cleaner. However, most historians fail to recognize Thurman as the inventor of the electric vacuum cleaner. The idea of vacuum cleaning homes professionally caught on, and I'm sure there are dozens of success stories based upon Thurman's gasoline and electricvacuum cleaners, but there's only one known story, that of the San Francisco firm, The Chapman and Skinner Home Renovating Company. They used a Thurman designed machine to clean the fancy homes on Nob Hill. The only drawback was it's being on the back of a horse drawn truck, often frightening the horses, causing them to break free to get away from the noise. Realizing that if they switched to a more practicle machine thet could raise the cost and strike it rich. Thay were right! And whatthey switched to was a Thurman designed upright. The cleaning power of this machine was fantastic! Morevoer, it cleaned carpets in a fraction of the time. What they used was considered 'portable,' however, it weighed 92 pounds, and had a fan 18" in diameter. Within three months they were able to double their orders. Money was so good that they quickly outgrw the drab office and moved into the fashionable Monadonock building on Market street. To be continued. As for the rest of this I'll post it later this week. However, the Chapman/Skinner company was lost in the great earthquake of 1906, and the only known Chapman/Skinner used to be at the Hoover Historical Center, at least it was in 1994 when the club had it's anual meeting there. The history I got on Cecil H. Booth came from sources compiled over 20 years ago. There's only one red flag for me, and that's Queen Victoria. As she died in 1901, Booth may well have been the last inventor she saw, and if she did give the order to have all grand buildings outfitted with his machine, then she wouldn't have lived to see it. The only other possible answer is that she met with Booth in 1900. As for Thurnan, every enclyopedia I've read about the vacuum cleaner states that he did indeed invent the first electric in 1899. As for the motor unit on the horse drawn truck, Booth, Thurman, Chapman& Skinner and many others went with it. Certainly I welcome corrections. All my records are based on the research of othere, and yes, they could be wrong!! | ||
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Post# 222159 , Reply# 34 3/6/2013 at 16:10 (4,067 days old) by chestermikeuk (Rainhill (Birthplace of the Railway),England, UK.) |
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Hubert Cecil Booth - A British Engineer..!! | ||
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Post# 222160 , Reply# 35 3/6/2013 at 16:10 (4,067 days old) by chestermikeuk (Rainhill (Birthplace of the Railway),England, UK.) |
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Hubert Cecil Booth | ||
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Post# 222162 , Reply# 36 3/6/2013 at 16:19 (4,067 days old) by chestermikeuk (Rainhill (Birthplace of the Railway),England, UK.) |
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A nice Sweeper Vac | ||
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Post# 222163 , Reply# 37 3/6/2013 at 16:23 (4,067 days old) by chestermikeuk (Rainhill (Birthplace of the Railway),England, UK.) |
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All British "Whirlwind" | ||
| Post# 222180 , Reply# 38 3/6/2013 at 17:42 (4,067 days old) by caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut) | ||
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The problem with history is that
we collectors read all sorts of so called facts. What I heard was that Booth was an American on holiday in London, so I gather all the facts I can from various places. Sometimes things don't make a lot of sense. I stll fail to see how he and Queen Victoria got together so he could show it to her. But that fact has been brought up in several articles.
As I said, I welcome corrections, ideas, and input. My friend John Lucia calls me a research junkie, I like that term, because it's true. In the early days of this club, I dug in every corner to gather facts. The facts I share here. If you have any written history on Cecil H. Booth, please feel free to share it. I'm still hungry for facts, And I love the Whirlwind which is of cource not the same as my Whirlwind, but clearly the name has been used freely. Thanks again, Alex Taber. | ||
| Post# 222195 , Reply# 39 3/6/2013 at 18:53 (4,067 days old) by collector2 (Moose Jaw, Sk) | ||
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| Post# 222196 , Reply# 40 3/6/2013 at 19:44 (4,067 days old) by suckolux (Yuba City, CA) | ||
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| Post# 222198 , Reply# 41 3/6/2013 at 20:06 (4,067 days old) by suckolux (Yuba City, CA) | ||
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| Post# 222199 , Reply# 42 3/6/2013 at 20:07 (4,067 days old) by suckolux (Yuba City, CA) | ||
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| Post# 222200 , Reply# 43 3/6/2013 at 20:09 (4,067 days old) by suckolux (Yuba City, CA) | ||
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| Post# 222201 , Reply# 44 3/6/2013 at 20:11 (4,067 days old) by suckolux (Yuba City, CA) | ||
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| Post# 222202 , Reply# 45 3/6/2013 at 20:11 (4,067 days old) by suckolux (Yuba City, CA) | ||
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| Post# 222211 , Reply# 46 3/6/2013 at 20:57 (4,067 days old) by vacuumfreak (Ontario, Canada) | ||
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Mine would have to be my '49 Lux model XXX. Love the machine. I love the fact that it's so quiet! Nice pictures everyone! Daniel :-) 
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| Post# 222212 , Reply# 47 3/6/2013 at 20:59 (4,067 days old) by suckolux (Yuba City, CA) | ||
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| Post# 222231 , Reply# 48 3/6/2013 at 22:24 (4,067 days old) by KirbysNphones () | ||
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Mine is my newly acquired Hoover Duster I paid $1 for! There is another post in the vintage section with links to pics. I plan on rewiring the cord and polishing the aluminum parts up. I can't seem to post pics on here, so I will post links if you want. | ||
| Post# 222232 , Reply# 49 3/6/2013 at 22:33 (4,067 days old) by nubz3760 () | ||
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duster Will, Are hoover dusters that rare? there has been one at my local goodwill for $3 for months, I just havent bought it because I dont really have a use for it | ||
| Post# 222239 , Reply# 50 3/6/2013 at 23:15 (4,067 days old) by cb123 (Mobile, Al.) | ||
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KirbysNphones | ||
| Post# 222249 , Reply# 51 3/6/2013 at 23:56 (4,067 days old) by caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut) | ||
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Hi collector 2 great collection.
The email came in while I was here in vacuum Land, thanks. I haven't had a chance to read it yet, but it's very important to me. This is the first time I've gotten any real information on Mr. Booth. The big question is whether or not he met with Queen Victoria. All of my sources say yes, but I've always thought it a bit farfetched.
While my History of the Electric vacuum cleaner is mostly about things I've confirmed, I'll make corrections on the main text, though I'm only skinning over the various brands. I think you're going to be a valuable part of my research, and hopefully a new friend. Thanks again for all the help, this is why I started the VCCC in the first place. Alex Taber. | ||
| Post# 222270 , Reply# 52 3/7/2013 at 03:01 (4,067 days old) by Ultimatevacman ( Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK) | ||
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| Post# 222279 , Reply# 53 3/7/2013 at 04:18 (4,067 days old) by pr-21 (Middletown, OH) | ||
PR-21 | ||
| Post# 222298 , Reply# 54 3/7/2013 at 08:35 (4,067 days old) by caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut) | ||
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Thank you Joe
I've always loved researching vacuum cleaner history. Until I was put in touch with John Lucia I thought I was the only person in the world interested in vacuum cleaners. Then mostly Electrolux and Kirby. Then in September of 1980 I went to the Hoover Historical Center in North Canton, Ohio. What I didn't know was that I was laying the groundwork for the VCCC. John Lucia contacted Hoover in 1981 for information and was referred to me, we met in person in September of 1982, and founded the club right then, though the official date is January 2, 1983.
That early history became topics for the first newsletters which were interesting but far from professional. John and I altered with me writing one, him the next. He covered all things Hoover, and I wrote about all other brands, especially the non electric. I left no stone unturned to dig for vacuum cleaner history. I'm not the expert everybody thinks I am, I simply write what I find through research. Unfortunately, the facts I found were not allways accurate, like Cecil H. Booth, which according to several articles was an American industrialist. Well if the facts are wrong, you keep the misinformation going. Unfortunately this was the days before he computer, internet, and so on. Now that I have the correct information on Mr. Booth, I'll make the needed corrections. Thanks for clearing that up, Alex Taber. | ||
| Post# 222314 , Reply# 55 3/7/2013 at 10:28 (4,067 days old) by Ultimatevacman ( Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK) | ||
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When I was younger I also thought I was the only person in the world interested in vacuum cleaners. I was born in 1990, so when I was old enough my parents would let me on their computer, and all I did was research and look at vacuum cleaners, they really are fascinating machines.
Thanks again for sharing your stories, - Joe | ||
| Post# 222468 , Reply# 56 3/8/2013 at 01:01 (4,066 days old) by compactc9guy (Bathurst NB) | ||
reply | ||
| Post# 222469 , Reply# 57 3/8/2013 at 01:06 (4,066 days old) by compactc9guy (Bathurst NB) | ||
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reply to Ultimatevacman
that exactly what i did i was bron in 1990 to and research vacuum on the net and still do lol im very interested in vacuum and that c9 compact is my child hood vac my grand ma had one a blue c80 whit the flowers on it or c9 but i look up vacuum o n the net like you and yes vacuum are wonderfull machines and some times rare i like them to i some think im nuts for liking vacuum that much boy am i glad i foud this site
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| Post# 222473 , Reply# 58 3/8/2013 at 01:59 (4,066 days old) by Ultimatevacman ( Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK) | ||
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| Post# 222519 , Reply# 59 3/8/2013 at 12:13 (4,066 days old) by caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut) | ||
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Hi Joe.
If you're interested in vacuum cleaner history I can provide you with all kinds of information. As A said in an earlier post, my interest is mostly non electric, plus Electrolux and Kirby. I also have an interest in Air-Way. I'm more than happy to share all I know, and this is over fifty years worth of research.
And this is true with anybody else in the club. My love of the history of the vacuum cleaner knows no bounds. Alex Taber | ||
| Post# 222668 , Reply# 60 3/9/2013 at 03:01 (4,065 days old) by Ultimatevacman ( Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK) | ||
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| Post# 222752 , Reply# 61 3/9/2013 at 11:54 (4,065 days old) by intv1980 (Tucson, Arizona) | ||
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| Post# 222757 , Reply# 62 3/9/2013 at 13:03 (4,065 days old) by caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut) | ||
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I do like a | ||
| Post# 222820 , Reply# 64 3/9/2013 at 21:41 (4,064 days old) by compactc9guy (Bathurst NB) | ||
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reply | ||
| Post# 223477 , Reply# 66 3/14/2013 at 03:20 (4,060 days old) by Ultimatevacman ( Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK) | ||
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| Post# 223506 , Reply# 67 3/14/2013 at 11:26 (4,060 days old) by thevacuumman (Borger, TX) | ||
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My Hoover Special 825 I bet ya'll are tired of seeing this. 
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| Post# 224792 , Reply# 69 3/23/2013 at 09:59 (4,051 days old) by kirbyvacuum (Long Island New York) | ||
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Hi mike i just LOVE that swepper Vac Doug | ||
| Post# 224802 , Reply# 70 3/23/2013 at 10:42 (4,051 days old) by dysondestijl (east midlands, UK) | ||
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It's not very old compared to everyone else's, but mine is my 1950's Siemens Super: 
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| Post# 224803 , Reply# 71 3/23/2013 at 10:43 (4,051 days old) by dysondestijl (east midlands, UK) | ||
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Next up is my 1965 lux 65. 
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| Post# 224804 , Reply# 72 3/23/2013 at 10:44 (4,051 days old) by dysondestijl (east midlands, UK) | ||
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Then probably my Kirby Tradition, but its buried so I can't take a pic, but you all know what they look like! | ||
| Post# 224845 , Reply# 73 3/23/2013 at 16:02 (4,050 days old) by SeamusUK (Dover Kent UK) | ||
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My 2nd oldest and defiantly rarest.... Would be my Hoover 875- the very last of the Coffee cans.....link to pics below... Seamus www.facebook.com/media/se... | ||
| Post# 224937 , Reply# 74 3/24/2013 at 04:00 (4,050 days old) by Ultimatevacman ( Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK) | ||
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| Post# 234062 , Reply# 75 5/26/2013 at 11:35 (3,987 days old) by kirbyfan99 () | ||
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It's been a while since I posted on here. I know I forgot to post a picture of my hoover when I got back from Wisconsin, but here is the picture of my oldest vacuum, the hoover custom convertible model u4395. 
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| Post# 234125 , Reply# 76 5/27/2013 at 02:15 (3,986 days old) by beerad (Beautiful Vancouver BC) | ||
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My oldest vacuum 1939 Filter-Queen model 200A Made in Toronto Canada This vac is rare because it was not available to the public, Instead was used a a gift to the top sales person of the year. 
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| Post# 234126 , Reply# 77 5/27/2013 at 02:22 (3,986 days old) by beerad (Beautiful Vancouver BC) | ||
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Better Pic 
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