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Thread Number: 43401
/ Tag: Pre-1950 Vacuum Cleaners
Wait Wait Don't Tell- Tom Gasko |
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| Post# 453348 , Reply# 1 6/5/2022 at 13:01 (690 days old) by Dysonman1 (the county) | ||
Who wouldn’t want to spend eternity in a purple Air-Way signature series? I would.
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| Post# 453349 , Reply# 2 6/5/2022 at 13:04 (690 days old) by Caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut) | ||
First vacuum cleaner.
Hi electro:
Your timing could not be better, as the answer to the question is 153 years ago. The first vacuum cleaner was actually a suction sweeper called the 'Whirlwind.' The patent date was June 8, 1869, the inventor, Ives W. McGaffy, and the place was Chicago, Illinois. The Whirlwind was a non-electric device which looked much like the upright vacuum cleaners of today, but without a motor. Instead there was a hand crank with a very long belt to turn the fan. While it was invented in Chicago, it was manufactured in Boston by The American Carpet Cleaning company, and the cost was a hefty $25.00. Do they still exist? yes! I believe there are five or six still out there, however, most of them didn't survive long. A little over two years later there was the Great Chicago fire, and as the whirlwind was made of light wood, burned like matchsticks. Generally speaking, the Whirlwind was a dismal failure because without a motor it was hard to operate. Turning the crank while moving it over the floor was anything but easy. Interestingly, the Whirlwind was outfitted with an electric motor in 1905, but it didn't do much to improve it.
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| Post# 453356 , Reply# 3 6/5/2022 at 14:06 (690 days old) by eurekaprince (Montreal, Canada) | ||
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Post# 453358 , Reply# 4 6/5/2022 at 15:19 (690 days old) by gottahaveahoove  (Pittston, Pennsylvania, 18640) |
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Thanks, Alex Once again, furnishing the Vac world with good, correct info. And, then, of course, there's the whole Hoover story. Sometimes, things get written that are untrue. Some try to fix it, all to no avail. Ann Haines tried to correct incorrect data on Hoover history. Some got corrected, others refused to admit errors. It happens all the time. So, untrue info becomes believable. So, even though Electrolux, and other brands are not my cup of tea, even iced, I do appreciate good history on everything. | ||
| Post# 453361 , Reply# 5 6/5/2022 at 16:12 (690 days old) by Caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut) | ||
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Thank you John.
Here's something that might warm your heart. Hope you have a great convention.
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| Post# 453363 , Reply# 7 6/5/2022 at 16:38 (690 days old) by Caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut) | ||
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Thanks electro.
Actually I go with my middle name Alexander. Most of my life I was Bob, or worse 'Bobby,' which I hate. Not too crazy for Robert either.
As to the Whirlwind, I first saw it at the Hoover Historical Center in August of 1979, and never dreamed I'd get one. If you look at the two pictures, the top is me at hoover in 1994, the bottom are the members of the V.C.C.C. at our first meeting at Hoover, also 1994. The picture of the Whirlwind with the Hoovers was taken at the only official clubhouse the V.C.C.C. ever had, and yes, there was a museum. And as I've said many times. 'Caligula,' is the cat in my avatar. | ||
| Post# 453365 , Reply# 8 6/5/2022 at 17:04 (690 days old) by Caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut) | ||
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electro.
My two favorites are Electrolux and Kirby, though I also like Air-Way. As most of the old-timers in the V.C.C.C. know it was the Electrolux model LX that got the ball rolling. As to Air-Way, I really like the uprights of the 1920's, and own two of them. However, my real interest is in the non-electrics like the Whirlwind. As to the first tank, that was called 'the 'Hercules' and dates back to 1875, the place was Rochester, New York.
These early vacuum cleaners didn't work too well, but they jumpstarted the industry. And there's a lot of information out there if people take the time to look for it. Thanks for posting, Alex. | ||
| Post# 453377 , Reply# 10 6/5/2022 at 18:29 (690 days old) by Caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut) | ||
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Pictures. | ||
| Post# 453379 , Reply# 11 6/5/2022 at 18:48 (690 days old) by Caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut) | ||
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electro.
The Vacuum Cleaner Collectors Club has a rich history, which it far too long to go into here and now. Suffice it to say it was founded on January 2nd in 1983, with the first meeting held in Chesterton, Indiana May 4, 5, and 6, 1985. Club headquarters, with museum was in Naperville, Illinois.
If you want to know the story contact me personally at Ralextaber@gmail.com Here's the original logo.
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This post was last edited 06/05/2022 at 19:56 | ||
| Post# 453384 , Reply# 12 6/5/2022 at 20:07 (690 days old) by Caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut) | ||
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First logo.
I have to give credit to the Hoover Historical Center for that logo. It's taken from a British non-electric which harkens back to 1890. It was The Baby Daisy, a two person, bellows machine. At that time the curator of the center was Stacy Krammes, and as luck would have it, her daughter, Liz, was a graphic artist, and she did the abstract of that machine for our letterhead, and so on. I was also fortunate to have had this rug made. And for our first club meeting was the official club cake. Here's a look at that.
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| Post# 453386 , Reply# 13 6/5/2022 at 20:50 (690 days old) by Caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut) | ||
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Electro.
Here's the vacuum cleaner that started it all. I was only two years old when this came out in 1952, and the first time I saw it eject was fascinated. The lady who owned it was a next door neighbor, and left it to me after she passed away. In this picture the cordwinder is the only part not original, it goes to the model LXI. Rest assured it now has the correct winder.
And may I add, it's my daily driver.
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| Post# 453393 , Reply# 14 6/6/2022 at 07:36 (690 days old) by Dysonman1 (the county) | ||
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Rob:
I have been interviewed by newspapers, magazines, have been on the radio and the television many, many times over the years. Talking about vacuum cleaners and the beautiful history of this amazing product. Always fun.
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Post# 453398 , Reply# 15 6/6/2022 at 08:49 (690 days old) by gottahaveahoove (Pittston, Pennsylvania, 18640) |
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And, Alex, | ||
| Post# 453410 , Reply# 16 6/6/2022 at 12:09 (689 days old) by Dysonman1 (the county) | ||
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Thread hijacking
Rob:
I’ve been asked many times about the Airway where My ashes will spend all eternity. Interviewers seem to like that answer. Of course in a vacuum. You and I have been friends for decades. It should come as no surprise.
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| Post# 453420 , Reply# 17 6/6/2022 at 15:46 (689 days old) by Caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut) | ||
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electro.
Let's give a shout out for the Kirby's in my collection. While I love the early Electrolux's I also have a vast array of Kirby's.
Here's the original V.C.C.C.museum before is was transferred to an unused 3 car garage, which was also the official clubhouse.
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Post# 453421 , Reply# 18 6/6/2022 at 15:57 (689 days old) by gottahaveahoove (Pittston, Pennsylvania, 18640) |
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nice | ||
| Post# 453428 , Reply# 19 6/6/2022 at 18:20 (689 days old) by Caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut) | ||
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Thank you John.
When looking for pictures of the Whirlwind I came across the one amongst the classic Hoovers, and thought it was fitting. Being the historian, I find this era Hoover's best.
I really wish I could attend the convention this year, but I'm trapped here in Arizona in a house I thought would have been sold a year ago. Once again, my collection languishes in a storage unit in Pennsylvania, with me on the other side of the country. Have a great time, and give Murphy and Harold a scratch under the chin from me. Alex. | ||
| Post# 453429 , Reply# 20 6/6/2022 at 18:21 (689 days old) by Caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut) | ||
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This post has been removed by the member who posted it. | ||
| Post# 453430 , Reply# 21 6/6/2022 at 18:23 (689 days old) by Caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut) | ||
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Post# 453432 , Reply# 22 6/6/2022 at 19:14 (689 days old) by luxlife (Under a Pecan Tree) |
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Oh my goodness! If anyone needs a working example of how to hijack a thread, this would be it! | ||
| Post# 453437 , Reply# 23 6/6/2022 at 21:15 (689 days old) by Caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut) | ||
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luxlife. | ||
| Post# 453441 , Reply# 25 6/6/2022 at 23:10 (689 days old) by Caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut) | ||
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I did not go off topic.
The original post was on the oldest vacuum cleaner, which I talked about. The fact that it is about to turn 153 years old in two days is right on topic. And to provide further interest, I showed several non-electric machines that fit the time period. Then to add to electro's interest, I showed a few Air-Way uprights. So as I said, I never veered from electro's original post.
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| Post# 453442 , Reply# 26 6/6/2022 at 23:14 (689 days old) by Caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut) | ||
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Post# 453444 , Reply# 27 6/7/2022 at 06:02 (689 days old) by luxlife (Under a Pecan Tree) |
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Ok you win. So sorry to have offended you. Have a wonderful day! This post was last edited 06/07/2022 at 08:04 | ||
| Post# 453447 , Reply# 28 6/7/2022 at 08:22 (689 days old) by maytag142c (Somewhere over the rainbow. ) | ||
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| Post# 453451 , Reply# 29 6/7/2022 at 08:41 (689 days old) by Caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut) | ||
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luxlife.
I was not offended, just confused.
Maytag142c: In the first line electro talked about 3 questions about the first vacuum cleaners, and as that gave me the opportunity to delve into a little history. As I recall, this is what Vacuumland is all about, sharing information in a lighthearted manner. It was not my intention to offend. | ||
| Post# 453453 , Reply# 30 6/7/2022 at 09:36 (688 days old) by dysonman1 (the county) | ||
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What Rob was actually talking about was the answer I gave during the radio interview about wanting to spend eternity (after cremation) in the Air-Way Signature Series which bears my name on the serial number plate. Alex has always been a wealth of knowledge, there's no denying it. I'm 100% sure that "Electro" (who is my friend) is NOT going to the VCCC convention. He was listening to the radio and heard his friend, and decided to put up this thread.
"Start The Air-Way"
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| Post# 453540 , Reply# 31 6/8/2022 at 17:15 (687 days old) by Caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut) | ||
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Whirlwind hits 153 years old today. | ||
| Post# 453774 , Reply# 32 6/13/2022 at 12:09 (682 days old) by panasonicvac (Northern Utah) | ||
If you're going to live inside a vacuum cleaner after you pass, may I suggest doing so by using other methods that are more greener? Like alkaline hydrolysis, compost, or promession that uses less energy and doesn't release a whole lot of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
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