Headlights?

[texbodemer]

I have a couple odd questions:

1. What was the first vacuum to offer a headlight?
2. Why don't any Sanitaire/Perfect vacuums offer headlights?
3. What is the headlight for? (It seems to make everything easier to see, so I'm guessing they're to avoid table legs)

 

[suckolux]

I'm guessing here, but probably a Hoover. Back in medieval times the power in the room came from the overhead light socket so your first vacuums actually didn't plug in they screwed in and that meant you had to take the light out so the headlight had a purpose as there was no longer an overhead light. So I have read anyway.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Hoover had,

"It lights as it beats as it sweeps as it cleans". The "coffee can" cleaner had this neat, Art Deco light.

 

[human]

Sanitaires can have headlights...

I think traditionally the headlights have been more for consumer/household machines as they're very helpful when vacuuming spaces that aren't well lit, especially those without overhead lighting. My house, for instance, lacks overhead lights in the living room and bedrooms. Lamps in those spaces tend to leave spots in shadow, so the headlight helps me see that I've gotten all the dirt from the shadowy areas.

I think a lot of commercial type vacuums lack headlights because they're designed to be rugged, no-frills, no-nonsense workhorse machines. The main selling point is that they can withstand a lot (ab)use with minimal downtime. They're also most often used in brightly lit commercial spaces. That said, some Sanitaires do indeed have headlights. I have a Sanitaire S645 Professional (blue line) upright that has a headlight but my SC686 Commercial (red line) doesn't. However, this is not a 100 percent distinction between the red and blue lines. Some red line machines do have headlights and some blue line machines don't. I think they're more prevalent on the blue line machines, which are designed for household use, either by homeowners or by cleaning services, where the headlight would be more beneficial for the reasons stated above.

 

[lesinutah]

The

Headlight I'm not going to guess who had it first.
Perfect/sanitaire vacuums are lightweight streamlined cheap to produce and maintain. The base model is the 5 Amp model is the standard model. The motor doesn't have a coil for a headlight. The vacuums are cheaper to keep the body solid. When you cut out the headlight it's an extra cost. Keeping the vacuum generic makes its upkeep low for commercial cleaning company. They can buy bulk parts for the vacuums. The 7 Amp motors have a headlight option.
Headlights were put on vacuums so you could see the dirt your picking up. Headlights require power which makes them cost more.
It's more of a feature consumers prefer.