The first vacuum cleaner: a horse-drawn giant
In 1901, Hubert Cecil Booth introduced the first vacuum cleaner, a massive horse-drawn machine that cleaned carpets through suction hoses.
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Hubert Cecil Booth’s revolutionary idea
Booth’s vacuum cleaner used suction instead of compressed air, effectively removing dust rather than displacing it.
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The ‘Puffing Billy’ vacuum cleaner
Booth’s first large-scale vacuum cleaner, nicknamed ‘Puffing Billy,’ was so massive it had to be transported on horse-drawn carriages.
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Royal endorsement boosts Booth’s invention
Booth’s machine gained popularity after cleaning Westminster Abbey for King Edward VII’s coronation in 1902.
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The rise of vacuum cleaning services
Booth’s British Vacuum Cleaner Company offered cleaning services, sending uniformed staff with large machines to homes and offices.
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From horse-drawn to electric models
Booth introduced electric-powered vacuum cleaners, but they remained too bulky for home use.
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James Murray Spangler’s home-use vacuum cleaner
In 1908, James Murray Spangler invented the first compact, portable vacuum cleaner for home use.
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William Hoover’s business foresight
William Hoover acquired Spangler’s patent and mass-produced home vacuum cleaners, making them a household essential.
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The Hoover vacuum cleaner revolution
By 1912, Hoover’s salesmen offered door-to-door demonstrations and free 10-day trials, making vacuums widely popular.
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The evolution of vacuum cleaner technology
By the 1930s, public buildings used centralized vacuum systems with pipes running through walls and floors.
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Vacuums become a household staple
By the 1950s, vacuum cleaners became lighter, portable, and affordable, making them common in middle-class homes.
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The legacy of Booth and Hoover
Today’s compact and powerful vacuum cleaners owe their existence to the pioneering inventions of Booth and Hoover.
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