Always HOOVERING something!

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As an English professor, I have to ask...

So, would 'hoover,' used as a verb be lowercase or uppercase? Would it make a difference depending on what brand what brand of 'hoover' one was using? I would make the argument that the verb form would be lowercased regardless, as would the noun form when used to refer generically to any vacuum cleaner, regardless of brand—not that the Hoover company, or whoever owns the trademarks at this point, would necessarily approve.

Back in my newspaper days, the office had a subscription to a trade journal called 'Editor and Publisher'. Every issue contained large ads from various companies (e.g., Kimberly-Clark, 3M, General Foods) exhorting readers not to use their trademarked product names (e.g,. Kleenex, Sheetrock, Scotch tape, Jello) as common nouns. The Associated Press Style Manual also had copious listings of trademarked brand names and generic equivalents to use when not referring to the actual branded product (e.g., body filler instead of Bondo).

Sometimes common usage becomes frequent enough to spawn exceptions to the proper noun. Case in point: Xerox. Used as a noun, it is capitalized and refers to a specific brand of photocopiers. Ricoh, for instance, does not make Xerox machines. But used as a verb (to xerox a document) it is lowercase and is not necessarily band specific, although the Xerox Corporation would doubtless beg to differ. Unfortunately, they have been somewhat overruled by Merriam-Webster. There is also a common noun, xerography and its adjective form xerographic, that refer to the act or art of making photocopies. Neither of these are capitalized as they are not nouns, proper or otherwise.
 
I guess one would 'hoover' a rug with a Hoover. Better yet, we can 'hoover' a rug with a Kirby hoover. I can't see any reason anyone (in their right mind) would HOOVER anything. Except in that Cheech and Chong movie with the ajax cleanser and a paper plate. Haven't seen that movie in close to 40 years.
 
Hi Walter:
Thank you so much for the nice words. Yes, that's the original bag. Here's a better picture I took at the Holidays one year. This Hoover was given to me by Stan Kann (the godfather of vacuum collecting). It was his Aunt Cora's. He also gave me his Air-Way Zephyr twin motor upright - I've only ever seen ONE and it was his. I remember the rainy night when he gave them to me. There's an awesome video on YouTube of Stan. A large group of my friends as well as myself, spent an entire day with Stan and his vac collection. It's a wonderful video that shows Stan's sense of humor. Hard to believe he's been gone more than a decade.

dysonman1-2020062009142001865_1.jpg
 
Bigger picture of your 541.

Hello Tom,

Thank-you for putting up the bigger picture; wow one of Stan Kanns'; a treasure indeed.

I have seen the youtube in question and greatly enjoyed every second.

My 541 (form over here; santeen bag with slide opener) cost me a lot as I have an unused oil can and original instruction booklet from your side of the pond (luckily before the import charges shot up!!!)

My Perivale built 6525E and dustette 2504 will be running tomorrow on the weekly vac thru.


Everyone that I have heard of that has bought a dyson rechargeable model has been very disappointed with the performance and handling.

Regards, Walter, MIDDLE OF THE UK.
 
I spoke with Stan Kann on a few occasions before his death, and still have a couple of emails from him from 2008. He was such a kind man with a heart of gold, when we were talking we spoke about the Hoover model 700 and how it had that " musical tone" on start up and how that was one of his favorite sounds. He was even kind enough to send me the belt cover for my 700. We also talked of the famous Wurlitzer and how he helped save the fox theater. Such a wonderful soul and his memory lives on in his machines and music. Thankfully his machines went to someone who appreciates them so much!
 
Stan Kann

Was a GREAT man. Short in stature, but with a giant heart. I'm am blessed to have known him as long as I did and to say he was a good and genuine friend of mine. Charles Lester wrote a beautiful interview with Stan for the old VCCC newsletter. Of course I have my copy on my desk. When I read it, I can hear Stan (in my head) giving the interview. Stan Kann had a year-long television show where he was the host. It was filmed in Canada. Dom DeLuise was on his first show. Dom and Stan made some dish (I don't remember what exactly). Stan couldn't cook to save his life. Stan had the videos from his show put on DVD and he gave me copy. He was the ultimate Hoover guru. I learned more from him than anyone else on this earth. I miss him everyday. In the pic are a few of his machines.

dysonman1-2020062011474401838_1.jpg
 
I remember when he told me that he could name the vacuum cleaner just by its sound. I remember seeing one of his appearances on a show years ago, on the show he used the Doty non electric sweeper and when pushing it across the stage the handle came off! oh the energy he had too!!!!
 
Yes.........

He said as a boy he would pass by places people lived and identify their vacuums by the sound!

He was THE guy that brought vacuum collecting out of the closet. Whenever he was on Carson's show, I made it a point to watch.

Personally knowing him must have been a treasure. When somebody passes, that's how we keep them alive;talking about memories with them.

Kevin
 
I went to Catholic school for years, being the good Irish boy I was. Not only did we have to go every day of the school year in the morning, my family also went on Sundays. One of our neighbors had this model Hoover. I remember being fascinated with it, and how it floated The lady who owned it was very nice, I was friends with her kids, but I don’t see how her children didn’t starve to death. She was a terrible cook. She could burn water. Even the soup was dry. What would sister Mary Agnes say?

dysonman1-2020062209590804449_1.jpg
 

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