Hoover Minor with optional...
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collector2
Well-known member
Do we know for certain that they didnt manufacture it? The Bessborough Hotel in Saskatoon Sk, is still using its oringinal 1912 central vac and every outlet has a special plug next to it (Two prong twist lock). I was told by the maintenance guy that they were for the original power heads (which, unfortunately, have long ago been disposed of) so someone must have made them at that time.
vintagehoover
Well-known member
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I've never heard of an early Hoover powerhead being sold
...and I'm sure with the huge amount of shared-knowlege within this forum, it would have been known about before now.
Also, 1912 would pre-date Hoover's patent by some years, so it's possible that Hoover used existing technology which had already been available on the market, and simply patented their own, improved design.
Therefore, it's possible that powerheads were made by other companies, before and after the patent was filed - in the same way Dyson's patent on dual-cyclone technology doesn't prevent other manufacturers offering cyclonic machines. It just makes sure no one else can use the most efficient design, giving Dyson the clear selling point over competition.
As with the Hoover/Airway battles over Hoover's patented beater-bars and Airway's patented dustbags, it is possible to get away with using a design similar to one that's patented, as long as it's different enough to be considered not to be an infringement. Airway's beaters were not distinct enough from the Hoover Agitator, so they lost the case. Hoover's 'Hygenisacs' were different to the Airway design, because they were re-useable, so Hoover won.
I know little about central vacs, since they're almost unheard of in this country. Maybe someone else would be able to give a definite answer?
...and I'm sure with the huge amount of shared-knowlege within this forum, it would have been known about before now.
Also, 1912 would pre-date Hoover's patent by some years, so it's possible that Hoover used existing technology which had already been available on the market, and simply patented their own, improved design.
Therefore, it's possible that powerheads were made by other companies, before and after the patent was filed - in the same way Dyson's patent on dual-cyclone technology doesn't prevent other manufacturers offering cyclonic machines. It just makes sure no one else can use the most efficient design, giving Dyson the clear selling point over competition.
As with the Hoover/Airway battles over Hoover's patented beater-bars and Airway's patented dustbags, it is possible to get away with using a design similar to one that's patented, as long as it's different enough to be considered not to be an infringement. Airway's beaters were not distinct enough from the Hoover Agitator, so they lost the case. Hoover's 'Hygenisacs' were different to the Airway design, because they were re-useable, so Hoover won.
I know little about central vacs, since they're almost unheard of in this country. Maybe someone else would be able to give a definite answer?
collector2
Well-known member
LOL - I find that funny considering that some of the earliest central vacs (then called stationary cleaners) were made by the British Vacuum Cleaner Co. (Goblin) with the first ones being installed in Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace according to the Goblin history brochure I have. Alot of the larger homes in England and even department stores and other large buildings (Notably the Houses of Parliament, Savoy Hotel, Empire, Leicester Square and Gaiety Theatres) had them in the earlier years. Strange that the practice seems to have died off there now.
