Why "wands"?

[eurekaprince]

I have always wondered why vac-makers use the term "wands" for the extension tubes provided with vacuum cleaners.

The only "wand" I ever heard of besides those that come with vacs are the "magic wands" that sorcerers and other characters use in stories and legends.

Anyone know the source of this word for use with vacs? Which vac-maker used it first? Is it a German or Swedish word (Miele and Electrolux)? Why did they not just use the word "tube" or "pipe"? What's so "magical" about a 2.5 feet of aluminum or steel?

 

[sireluxomatic]

Electroboat or Yachtolux

Well, they do magically make the dirt disappear, but...

"Tubes" or "pipes" would make more sense, but I have to admit I've always disliked those words. The funniest I've ever seen was some Electrolux on Ebay which included a "rower (?!) + poles". Sounds as if they were selling a boat. I think the "rower" was the power nozzle.

When you think about it, though, an electric telescopic wand is pretty "magical", in that it can adjust its height and provide electricity. [this post was last edited: 3/10/2011-08:45]

 

[electrolux~137]

In very early Electrolux instruction manuals, the wands were referred to in singular form -- "wand," or "two-section wand."

My mom called them "sweeper poles" heheh.

 

[normvac]

Well, let's add to that terminalogy ! Tubes

Growing up with our good ole Air Way 66. because they both
curved. We always called them tubes. ?
I'll have to go back and look and air way 66 manual to see
what it says.
Norm

 

[aeoliandave]

Reaching for the Stardust with a Lewyt 'extension tubes&

I grew up calling them wands, which I think suits the airy lightness of aluminum for reaching the high & distant places one-handed.
Electrolux and Hoover Constellation/Portable Cleaning Center telescopic wands have a definite magical flair and perhaps Electrolux was the source of the term as printed in their manual to differentiate them from mere extension tubes.
Aluminum wands are my choice on any vacuum cleaner and American Electrolux aluminum versions are a excellent swap on the majority of other machine brands.
As for curved aluminum Air-Way or Roll-Easy or Monitor, which sounds better..J-wands or J-tubes or J-pipes?

On the other hand chromed steel tubes have the heft, inertia and fatiguing quality of heavy plumbing pipe and seem somewhat overkill for the light duty required of them conveying household dust and debris.
Filter Queen, Royal and Modern Hygiene rubber-collared J-wands are heavy chromed steel in keeping with a robust industrial strength vacuum but they sure are tiring to use above the floor and require both hands for support.

But, they do bring serious heft as a defensive weapon...

"Lady Throttlebottom in the Drawing Room, done in by Maisie the Day Maid with a cast iron Dominion Vacuum pipe."

 

[whirlpolf]

because of Sears Roebuck

Why "wands"? A good question.
First time I came into contact with this misleading word was a 1984 Sears Roebuck catalogue. While I personally prefer "extension tube" (for being 1:1 the same word in German "Verlängerungsrohr") it just popped up during my limited lifetime and that was a most impressing experience to read this catalogue and the word got stuck.
Personally speaking I only use "Verlängerungsrohr" for being the German word, but being on an international platform here, I tend to use what comes up to my mind first and that is "wand" (in accordance to this old memory).
Still, I find "wand" somewhat misleading (a stick? a rod? a magic thingy? One could well figure out something different on what comes to THESE terms).
Still, for me it is just wand, period, so what?
I am trying to get better and train myself to use "tube" more often.
Not a native speaker here though (just blinded by the light of those fancy Kenmore vacs and the Regina Kwikbroom and what have you: the WORLD of vacuums at my fingertips, just a couple of pages away from washers ("basket" or "drum"???)
Sorry folks. You make it not as easy as it could be for a learner.

But rest at peace, it is "Stange (wand)" or "Rohr (tube)" or "Stab (stick)" or "Stiel (long handle)" here as well (depending on where you decide to travel - northern or southern, western or eastern parts of our country). Language is always somewhat foggy, blurry and local. I don't mind any of the terms as long as you know what the other one is saying.

 

[aeoliandave]

Electrolux has called them Wands in every Owners Manual since at least February 1935. This is the USA manual.

 

[eurekaprince]

Thanks for that Dave....

Eureka has used the word "wand" since at least 1960. It was the word used on the cardboard attachment carrier which came with our Eureka 250 Automatic upright. I must have been the only 6 year old in Montreal who knew how to spell "wand" and "upholstery nozzle" because of the writing on that tool carrier!