How much has actually changed? Especially when it comes to advancements in technology. It can be rather scary to look back and see just how much has evolved. But, it can also be quite refreshing!
Remember this “thing” from the 1930s? Unless you were around back then, chances are you won’t know what it is. Don’t worry, you are not alone. It’s a 1930’s vacuum cleaner called the Hercules! Quite odd-looking, isn’t it? Can you guess how it worked?
The Retro Vacuum Cleaner
You would be completely forgiven for not knowing what this contraption is. But, we guess you really want to know! This funny-looking item that looks like a flask or some sort of carrier is actually a 1930’s vacuum cleaner, known as the Hercules! This retro vacuum is a far cry from the hoovers we have today. In fact, right now, I am watching my Roomba® clean my floor while I type this! Can you imagine what life back then must have been like? How exciting and innovative a machine like this was for the time? And yet, today, we all take for granted just how easy our lives have become thanks to technology and progression.
The Hercules Vacuum cleaner was a very stylish and sophisticated machine back then. The one pictured above was covered in crocodile skin, making it quite an expensive purchase. What made it even more of a luxurious item is that it was sold during the great depression – a time when many families were not even able to make ends meet, let alone buy a Hercules. If you did know what this item was, try showing your kids and see if they manage to guess! They definitely won’t know what this is!
The Humble Beginnings
Did you know the humble broom was not even perfected until the year 1797? A farmer from Massachusetts decided to create one that worked properly after watching his wife struggle to sweep. Soon, his broom, known as broomcorn, became a household name. Of course, as time went by, people got lazier! A few new sweepers and brooms came and went, and it wasn’t until the 1860s when Daniel Hess created the first real vacuum cleaner. According to 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 1869, Ives McGaffey of Chicago took it even further. Although, his design was actually harder to use than a regular broom. His patent reads: “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.” Sadly, his invention did not take off.
