Vacuum Cleaner

[Silver Creek Slim]

The first manually-powered cleaner using vacuum principles was the "Whirlwind", invented in Chicago in 1868 by Ives W. McGaffey. The machine was lightweight and compact, but was difficult to operate because of the need to turn a hand crank at the same time as pushing it across the floor. McGaffey obtained a patent for his device on June 5, 1869, and enlisted the help of The American Carpet Cleaning Co. of Boston to market it to the public. It was sold for $25, a high price in those days. It is hard to determine how successful the Whirlwind was, as most of them were sold in Chicago and Boston, and it is likely that many were lost in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Only two are known to have survived, one of which can be found in the Hoover Historical Center.

McGaffey was but one of many 19th-century inventors in the United States and Europe who devised manual vacuum cleaners. The first patent for an electrically driven "carpet sweeper and dust gatherer" was granted to Corinne Dufour of Savannah, Georgia in December 1900.

Slim

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Only 2 survived?

That sucks. 


Seriously ... Interesting info, Slim.  The cool thing about this History section is that we find out that many of our "modern" inventions realy appeared quite a while ago!  1868 is at LEAST 50 years before I would have guessed!

For instance, it seems that the 'concept' and first use of rudimentary air conditioning goes back to Roman times.

Thanks for posting, SC Slim ... now I gotta go sweep the floor. 

[Leo Tanner]

Dang!!!
     
     I was head of maintenance at the National Hotel in Nevada City, CA fer a couple years.  There's an original of one of them things in a display case in the lobby.  It may be a differnt model or manufacturer, but it has an engraved plate on it that gives all the info.  I'll get up there as soon as I can and get some pictures.  While there I'll take a bunch a pictures of some other stuff that may interest you--it's all original. 


Leo

[Four-Eyed Buck]

The Historical Center is just north of me, Slim......or at least it was. I'll have to check and see if Maytag( SPIT) didn't sell it off first. Maybe I can get you a pic of it if it's still there.................Buck

[Silver Creek Slim]

That'd be great, Leo and Buck.

Slim

[Trinity]

Any relationship to Whirlpool? 

Very interesting, Slim!

[Four-Eyed Buck]

Yep, Trin-man. Most of the insurance cards say Whirlpool, but the W-2 says Maytag Trust. Maytag killed the Hoover Co., we supported them through the middle '90's. And got dragged down by them in the 2000's. Once their practices ran us down to a certain point, they started selling off assets. I have no love for Maytag, when we had to replace appliances, I certainly made sure that none of them were Maytags even though I would have gotten a rebate.............Buck

[Forty Rod]

Bought a Maytag fridge about three years ago.  Just replaced it with another brand and put the Maytag in the garage.  It's so poorly designed it's only good for storage, not everyday use, and there isn't  quality component in the dang thing.  Not cheap, either.

[Four-Eyed Buck]

Standard practice for them, Forty. We had parts from India, China, and Mexico we had to deal with. A lot of them had to be retested or scrapped, leading to tons of down time and some recalls..............Buck

[Arcey]

Been buyin' the cheapeat appliances I can find. They last a few years I get a new one.

27" TV up 'ere in the hayloft. $190.00 'n five years old. It quits it's in the trash.

Got burnt on the refrigerator. With a daughter gone we figgered we didn't need a big one anymore. BAD move. She multiplied 'n when they visit it's stuffed. The damned thing will prolly last forever.........   

[Four-Eyed Buck]

Bet it ain't a Maytag, Arcey...............Buck

[Leo Tanner]

When I was in HVAC school in the late 90's, the city I was in had a yearly deal where you could put old appliences out on the curb an they'd take 'em away fer free.  The school saw this as a golden opportunity to gather materials fer our final projects.
     I ended up with a pink Hotpoint refrigerator straight outta the 50's with revolving bake-o-lite shelves.  Went ta work on her and she fired up fine when I was done.  That fridge continues ta run ta this day an is the best garage beer fridge that ever was... pink or not   I'll never get rid of the thing.


Leo