It is always possible to be confident of one thing, and that is the fact that things change with time. There is no way to prevent this from taking place. People change, technology transforms, and circumstances also undergo transformations. The only constant is change! For instance, take a look at your own life in the past.
Actually, how much has changed since then? This is especially true with regard to the development of new technologies. At times, it may be rather unsettling to take a look back and see how much progress has been made. On the other hand, it may also be incredibly invigorating! Take, for instance, this “thing”; we are willing to wager that you are confused about what it is… Who knows what this is? We bet they won’t. In other words, unless you were alive during the 1930s, it is quite unlikely that you will be familiar with this. Best of luck to you if you do! Isn’t it funny how it looks? Do you agree? Is it possible for you to speculate on what this device may be?
If you are totally unaware of what this device is, you will be perfectly forgiven for your ignorance. On the other hand, we suppose you are keen on knowing! This peculiar-looking device, which appears to be a flask or some kind of container, is in fact a hoover from the 1930s that was called as the Hercules! This vintage hoover is a far cry from the hoover cleaners that are available to us nowadays. As a matter of fact, I am currently typing this while watching my Roomba® do its task of cleaning my floor! Is it possible for you to conceive of what life must have been like back then? How interesting and forward-thinking was a machine like this when it was originally introduced? Nevertheless, in this day and age, we all tend to take for granted the ease with which our lives have become the result of technological advancements and progress.
Back in those days, the Hercules hoover cleaner was a machine that was known for its elegance and sophistication. The one that was seen above was completely coated in crocodile skin, which signified that it was a very pricey acquisition. The fact that it was marketed during the Great Depression, a period when many families were not even able to make ends meet, let alone purchase a Hercules, contributed to the fact that it was an even more expensive investment than it already was.(1) [1] If you were aware of what this object was, you could even attempt exhibiting it to your children and see if they are able to make a guess. There is no way that they will be aware of what this is!
Before the year 1797, the modest broom had not even been perfected, as you probably already know. As a result of seeing his wife struggle to sweep, a farmer from Massachusetts made the decision to design and develop a mechanism that operates well. Soon after, his broom, which was referred to as broomcorn, became a well-known brand. Undoubtedly, as time progressed, individuals became more sluggish! There were a few different sweepers and brooms that came and went, but it wasn’t until the 1860s that Daniel Hess invented the first genuine hoover cleaner. The following is an excerpt from his patent: “The nature of my invention consists in drawing fine dust and dirt through the machine by means of a draft of air.”
Then, in the year 1869, Ives McGaffey, a resident of Chicago, went even further with it. With that being said, his device was actually more difficult to use than a standard broom. His patent states that “the accumulation of dust and dirt in dwelling-houses is a source of great annoyance to all good housekeepers… to obviate these difficulties is the object of my invention.” His innovation is intended to eliminate these challenges. Sadly, his creation did not succeed in gaining ground.
There was a surge and fall of designs. James Murray Spangler, on the other hand, was the one who changed the way hoover cleaners worked. James, who was a humble caretaker who was sixty years old and lived in Canton, Ohio, laboured tirelessly to develop his idea. His health suffered as a result of it as well. His gadget was superior to the others since it was not only able to stand on its own, but it was also extremely portable. The rudimentary machine achieved its intended purpose of sucking dirt and blowing it out of the rear into the pillowcase that was linked to it. After receiving a patent for it in 1907, Spangler decided to leave his job and establish the Electric Suction Sweeper Company.
For the purpose of generating air flow, it made use of a ceiling fan motor and paddle blades… He made use of a leather belt and journaled it to a revolving brush that he had obtained from a brush that was used for carpet cleaning… Nobody was able to bring the carpet to that level of cleanliness since they did not have a brush that was powered by a motor.
The Hoover was established as a result of his decision to sell his business to his cousin, Susan Hoover, while he was experiencing financial difficulties.
It is a vacuum cleaner. I can remember my aunt having one that looked like that one.