Just snagged this off Ebay

[fcs3]

According to research, this is probably the oldest
electric handheld vacuum cleaner made (c. 1916-17)
It pre-dates the Premier Spic & Span by 11 or 12 years.

Check out the patent and you'll see what it was originally
developed for.

 

[fantomfan57]

Wow....

thanks, Frank. Cool vacuum and even more interesting facts. Thanks for sharing.

 

[tolivac]

The earliest "hip" vacuum?COOL!!!From the second picture-must have been made for animal grooming-horses.

 

[davevac]

Nice !

I saw that on eBay and dragged my feet on buying...then you got it...
too cool !

Enjoy

 

[dysonman1]

What a nice little machine.

Yours was made by Premier, a division of General Electric.

The machine in the patent drawing was made by Frantz Premier, before GE bought them. You'll note the wooden handle on yours, and a metal handle in the patent drawing.

I actually have the machine in the patent drawing. It's the earliest known hand vac, with a metal handle and two knobs to hold the shoulder strap. It has a screw-in plug for connecting to light sockets, the bag has a cloth tie to hold it onto the machine's exhaust spout.

It's very primitive, but works very well.

 

[fcs3]

Thanks for sharing, Dysonman1.

Mine actually has a metal handle, yet seems "prototype".
I'm pretty sure the motor housing with the side air slots
only fell between 1915 - 1921, just judging from ads, so
that helped to date mine. Perhaps its Premier's transition
of their handheld vacuum from horses to houses?