Hi, Andy - thanks so much for scanning the Spencer brochure. I've had a great time reading through it, and I'd love to see more material on these machines!
When the Electric Suction Sweeper Company was founded, they took the potential threat to sales that central systems posed very seriously. They went out of their way in their early advertising material to emphasise the number of buildings equipped with central vacs who had abandoned them and adopted The Hoover instead - among them Hotel Havelin, Cincinnati, Hotel Frye, Seattle, and Hotel Astor, New York. A spokesperson from the The Havelin went on to say:
‘We have just purchased our fifth Hoover equipment, in spite of the fact that the Havelin is equipped with one of the best installed plants that money can buy.’
Similarly, Keith’s Hippodrome of Cleveland, Ohio stated:
‘We are doing with two Hoovers, operated by two men, the work intended for our stationary house plant, and seven men.’
In 1919, Hoover patented at least 3 styles of power-nozzle designed for central vacs. I would guess this was to prevent central vac manufacturers from using Hoover’s motor-driven revolving brush principle. Thus, Hoover could claim that since they relied on suction alone, they could never match the efficiency of The Hoover.
