Dickinson Electric Broom

[gershan007]

Hi,

My girlfriend and I like to visit junk shops in our own town but especially when we travel. We were in one such place in Scranton, PA over the weekend. On a table, with a bunch of other junk, I seen this wooden box with wheels on it. I knew immediately what it was, and told her we needed to get it. This was, from my research, the first model of vacuum. It was designed by Signilda Dickinson, who from what I can tell, was the first vacuum. Even though it was called an electric broom, it actually uses three billows inside to create suction, as well as a beater bar towards the front, all controlled by manual motion.

Now researching this I found out all kinds of things about the family, which is the creator of Ikea, and also related to Emily Dickinson the poet. What I can't find is what this is worth. I am attaching a pic from the museum website, but i can also take pics at home of it.

There is still a somewhat legible Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval, from 1911, on the bottom. Any information would be helpful.

Thank you

 

[human]

It's like my great grandfather said about horses--"it's worth what any damn fool will pay for it". I never actually heard him say that since he died 15 years before I was born, but I heard my grandfather repeat that quote on numerous occasions.

That said, it's a really cool find. You did buy it, didn't you?

 

[gershan007]

Yeah , I did buy it, just for the fact that I thought it was cool.

 

[jimjimmunster]

its not the first vacuum by far.

That's a carpet sweeper from around the early 1900s. I believe the first manual vacuum was made in the 1880s. id consider it worth 90 dollars if it works really good and the bellows aren't rotten and the veneer isn't cracking off.