Pre 1920 Hoovers and other vacuums

[jimbeckwith]

I know that vacuum cleaners were not all that common before the 1920's, but have always been surprised by how few of them seem to be around. This was even true some 40 years ago. Could this be because of the metal scrap drives during World War II? What do you guys think?

 

[jmurray01]

Probably a mixture of not a lot being sold and a lot being dumped over the years.

 

[athanasius80]

I would gander there were three factors. First, vacuum cleaners were uncommon and expensive in the early days. Look at how early Hoover ads show the maid using the cleaner, not the housewife. Second, the pre-1926 Hoovers (before model 700) weren't as powerful machines, they didn't have beater bars, and you have to oil them. I suspect the designs and limitations of early vacuums made owners less reluctant to give them to the war effort than vacuums from the mid-1920s and newer.

And who knows how many were traded in and recycled by dealers.