They first came out I believe with the Renaissance?? Somewhere in the 90s.
Not sure if they still make them or not. I know I could still get them in 2003.
They were ok but loud and clunky and what I hated was how you empty it. Unzip a cloth bag and dump it.
vacuumkid47: It has a rocker switch so you don't have to hold it like a dustbuster, it stays on.