Wacky Ancient Vacuum Cleaner!

[bvac6]

Never in my life have I ever seen such a contraption!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rare-Agan...957362?hash=item2ca8e23272:g:dyQAAOSwG-1Wy6Ws

 

[vacerator]

re; old wooden vacuum,

Unusual for sure. Is it missing bellows?

 

[bvac6]

I think it would have had some sort of hand crank to drive the suction fan. The space in the back may have been for a filter of some sort.

 

[caligula]

The Agan.

Hi bvac6:

The Agan was the second oldest known vacuum cleaner, dating back to 1870-5, and the first to have a rotating brushroll. It was made by the Whitehead and Hoag company of Newark, New Jersey. It followed the Whirlwind by only a few months. There is a lot of confusion here, because it has 'Vacuum Cleaner Company, Ludlow, Vermont' written on it. My guess is that Whitehead and Hoag were the inventors, and the company in Ludlow, Vermont were the ones who sold it. The problem is that there's very little information out there, and no way to verify information. I got what few facts I know from Stacy Krammes at the Hoover Historical Center in August of 1980.

Here's a picture without missing parts.[this post was last edited: 2/26/2016-10:23]

 

[KirbyCollector01]

Wow, how vacuums have changed

 

[tolivac]

WHAT!!!We have found the first Cordless,batteryless vacuum!!!All those belts-imagine they were leather belts like what was used on sewing machines and some motion picture projectors.

 

[oreck_xl]

Truly a shame that it's not all there. I wonder what it would take to restore it back to its former glory? If such parts could even be fabricated. It's historically significant because it is one of the first vacuums ever.

 

[caligula]

Belts.

Yes, they are the same drive-belts used on a treddle sewing machine.

The big problem I have is finding the correct information on this one, all I get are conflicting reports on manufacturer and date. Till then I'm going with Whitehead and Hoag as the inventers, and the year 1870. And obviously the Vacuum Clewaner Co. in Ludlow, Vermont was the place it was made. Aside from that, it's all very confusing.

 

[tolivac]

Also-would be neat to see someone using one of those vacuums.