This is my oldest vacuum cleaner! It's a Regina Model A Pneumatic Cleaner from 1907. It was a gift from collector Peter Frei of Switzerland way back in 1995. I've had it all these years but never found attachments for it.
Recently, collector Bob Kautzman of Pennsylvania sent me a vinyl hose he found in a hardware store that's a perfect match in terms of diameter, and does somewhat resemble the original hose. The wand is a length of heavy-wall PVC plumbing pipe, and the improvised connectors are also made of PVC. The rug nozzle is just a miscellaneous metal rug nozzle I've had for a long time.
The long, wooden handle (which in this case is a beautiful reproduction made by Bob Kautzman, from the design of an original handle) is pumped rapidly to-and-fro which operates a rubber-lined bellows inside the cylinder. One person pumps, the other operates the wand and nozzle. This machine actually has quite strong suction and, were it not for the primitive design of the cleaning tools, would do a very good job of vacuuming.
Below are some photos and a brief video.
My second-old vacuum cleaner is a Hoover 102 from 1919. My third-oldest is a Eureka Model 9 from 1922, and my fourth-oldest is an Electrolux Model V from 1924.
Let's hear about your oldest vacuum cleaners!
Recently, collector Bob Kautzman of Pennsylvania sent me a vinyl hose he found in a hardware store that's a perfect match in terms of diameter, and does somewhat resemble the original hose. The wand is a length of heavy-wall PVC plumbing pipe, and the improvised connectors are also made of PVC. The rug nozzle is just a miscellaneous metal rug nozzle I've had for a long time.
The long, wooden handle (which in this case is a beautiful reproduction made by Bob Kautzman, from the design of an original handle) is pumped rapidly to-and-fro which operates a rubber-lined bellows inside the cylinder. One person pumps, the other operates the wand and nozzle. This machine actually has quite strong suction and, were it not for the primitive design of the cleaning tools, would do a very good job of vacuuming.
Below are some photos and a brief video.
My second-old vacuum cleaner is a Hoover 102 from 1919. My third-oldest is a Eureka Model 9 from 1922, and my fourth-oldest is an Electrolux Model V from 1924.
Let's hear about your oldest vacuum cleaners!
