This post sucks
May 21, 2025 12:32 PM Subscribe
The optimism of the post-war boom is palpable, a tangible force that seems to infuse everyone with a sense of boundless possibility. The war is over, and America is on the brink of a golden era of prosperity and innovation. In homes across Tennessee and beyond, this sense of renewal and modernity found its way into every corner—even the realm of household cleaning. from The Complete History of Vacuum Cleaners (1860-Present)
Read about the invention of the vacuum cleaner, from horse-drawn to high tech (and search our collection)
Visit Stark's Vacuum Museum
See the world's first vacuum cleaner
Marvel at a vast Italian collezione di aspirapolvere
Meet in Chicago!! for the 40th Annual VCCC Convention
Unfortunately, The Vacuum Cleaner Museum in St. James is closed
Read about the invention of the vacuum cleaner, from horse-drawn to high tech (and search our collection)
Visit Stark's Vacuum Museum
See the world's first vacuum cleaner
Marvel at a vast Italian collezione di aspirapolvere
Meet in Chicago!! for the 40th Annual VCCC Convention
Unfortunately, The Vacuum Cleaner Museum in St. James is closed
My parents had this monster, which worked great for 35 years...until it exploded. As a child, I was convinced I had seen it in an episode of The Munsters.
posted by Token Meme at 1:24 PM on May 21 [4 favorites]
posted by Token Meme at 1:24 PM on May 21 [4 favorites]
See also Tim Hunkin's The Secret Life of the Vacuum Cleaner
posted by pipeski at 1:26 PM on May 21 [2 favorites]
posted by pipeski at 1:26 PM on May 21 [2 favorites]
my survey professor always insisted that the invention of the vacuum cleaner and it's introduction and use by the rich actually created more work, changed the time that workers could sweep and dust, required more capital to invest in repair and replacement the only reason it's in wide use is because of the almost universal use of carpeting from 1937 to present.
I'm pretty good at fixing vacuum cleaners and I found an almost new Hoover Constellation Model 822A. 1959 in the late 70s.
posted by clavdivs at 1:41 PM on May 21 [1 favorite]
I'm pretty good at fixing vacuum cleaners and I found an almost new Hoover Constellation Model 822A. 1959 in the late 70s.
posted by clavdivs at 1:41 PM on May 21 [1 favorite]
Those retro photos are so fun. While I certainly appreciate modern-era vacuums - including the Roomba style cleaners - those old models certainly win style points.
posted by davidmsc at 1:55 PM on May 21 [1 favorite]
posted by davidmsc at 1:55 PM on May 21 [1 favorite]
I saw the Hoover Constellation while browsing for cool-looking vacuums cleaners because of this comment in the MetaTalk thread presumably responsible for this post. How cute, I thought. It's shaped like a planet! Orbited by attachments!
But I was missing the real magic. Wikipedia has a whole section on it:
Space was apparently a big theme for vacuums, inspiring not only floating orbs but also rockets (this is my favorite so far).
posted by trig at 2:11 PM on May 21 [3 favorites]
But I was missing the real magic. Wikipedia has a whole section on it:
Introduced in 1954, The Hoover Company's Constellation was of the cylinder type and lacked wheels. Instead the vacuum cleaner floated on its exhaust, operating as a hovercraft [...]There are no citations and it seemed too good to be true. But behold: a quick demo video, a longer teardown/tour, and an advertisement in which floating like a hovercraft is given only the briefest of mentions.
Space was apparently a big theme for vacuums, inspiring not only floating orbs but also rockets (this is my favorite so far).
posted by trig at 2:11 PM on May 21 [3 favorites]
Introduced in 1954, The Hoover Company's Constellation was of the cylinder type and lacked wheels. Instead the vacuum cleaner floated on its exhaust, operating as a hovercraft [...]
I don't think they had high-quality air filters then (not that the didn't have them, they just didn't think to put them in vacuum cleaners), so I bet that thing was making an equal amount of mess it was cleaning up.
My parents had one of the Constellation vacuums - it was not a hovercraft one, you carried that heavy thing around in one hand while holding the hose in the other.
posted by The_Vegetables at 2:21 PM on May 21 [1 favorite]
I don't think they had high-quality air filters then (not that the didn't have them, they just didn't think to put them in vacuum cleaners), so I bet that thing was making an equal amount of mess it was cleaning up.
My parents had one of the Constellation vacuums - it was not a hovercraft one, you carried that heavy thing around in one hand while holding the hose in the other.
posted by The_Vegetables at 2:21 PM on May 21 [1 favorite]
Yeah I had a Consellation as a hand-me-down in my first apartment and I recall the bottom was just highly polished metal, so it slid on carpets pretty easily.
posted by JoeZydeco at 2:31 PM on May 21 [1 favorite]
posted by JoeZydeco at 2:31 PM on May 21 [1 favorite]
i am a tireless dyson stick booster, its speicific style of middle class convenience is very seductive. I even like the various fussy little maintenance tasks it demands.
posted by Sebmojo at 2:43 PM on May 21 [1 favorite]
posted by Sebmojo at 2:43 PM on May 21 [1 favorite]
A step above the carpet sweepers of old, and as with all new tech, it no doubt took some getting used to.
My mother once told me of a slightly officious neighbor of hers (back in '40s, I expect) who was expatiating on the advantages of this marvelous new "vacuum cleaner" that she, the officious neighbor, had recently acquired. Such a comfort, it's electric, you see, so no fuss no muss. My mother in her innocence asked about the bags that held the waste. Officious neighbor sighed at the ignorance.
"No dear, as I said - it's electric."
(You'll have to speculate on the sequel, the story in the retelling stopped at that point.)
posted by BWA at 3:02 PM on May 21 [2 favorites]
My mother once told me of a slightly officious neighbor of hers (back in '40s, I expect) who was expatiating on the advantages of this marvelous new "vacuum cleaner" that she, the officious neighbor, had recently acquired. Such a comfort, it's electric, you see, so no fuss no muss. My mother in her innocence asked about the bags that held the waste. Officious neighbor sighed at the ignorance.
"No dear, as I said - it's electric."
(You'll have to speculate on the sequel, the story in the retelling stopped at that point.)
posted by BWA at 3:02 PM on May 21 [2 favorites]
Okay, now do one on fans titled "This Post Blows."
posted by DirtyOldTown at 3:26 PM on May 21 [1 favorite]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 3:26 PM on May 21 [1 favorite]
I swear by my $150 Shark Navigator. I use it upstairs where we have carpet and where my office is. My wife works downstairs and has a big Dyson she brought to the relationship but she keeps borrowing the Shark because it rules. Had it for ages .
Also there’s a super fancy vacuum store nearby and I’m afraid to even look at the prices.. they look good though… more like the classic ones.
posted by caviar2d2 at 3:46 PM on May 21 [1 favorite]
Also there’s a super fancy vacuum store nearby and I’m afraid to even look at the prices.. they look good though… more like the classic ones.
posted by caviar2d2 at 3:46 PM on May 21 [1 favorite]
Okay, now do one on fans titled "This Post Blows."
Shop-vac will do both.
posted by atoxyl at 3:49 PM on May 21 [1 favorite]
Shop-vac will do both.
posted by atoxyl at 3:49 PM on May 21 [1 favorite]
DirtyOldTown: "Okay, now do one on fans titled "This Post Blows.""
Only fans?
posted by chavenet at 3:58 PM on May 21
Only fans?
posted by chavenet at 3:58 PM on May 21
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posted by biffa at 12:42 PM on May 21 [2 favorites]