Hoover Vacuum History

Monday, September 2, 2013

Hoover Vacuum History

The Hoover Vacuum is such a part of our daily lives that it's hard to believe it was invented more than 100 years ago. Though many companies produce vacuum cleaners today, the device is so synonymous with the Hoover brand that the word "Hoover" is a slang term for vacuum throughout much of North America and Western Europe. The history of Hoover and its famous vacuum can be traced back to an American inventor trying to solve an age old problem: keeping dirt and grime at bay.

The First Vacuum Cleaner

In 1907, an inventor named Murray Spangler was living in Canton, Ohio. While he spent his days dreaming up new inventions, he worked nights as a janitor to help pay the rent. As he swept, the dirt and dust would aggravate his asthma. Spangler began to work on an invention that would contain the dust instead of stirring it up. Using a pillow case, a fan and a large metal box, he created the world's first vacuum cleaner. He called the machine the "Electric Suction Sweeper" and began to produce additional units to sell to friends and family. With the help of his wife and children, Spangler began to produce 2 or 3 units each week. That Christmas, he sent one of his electric sweepers to his cousin, Susan Hoover.

The Hoover Gets Its Name

Susan Hoover used the vacuum machine she received from her cousin to clean her home. Her husband, W.H. Hoover, who owned a successful leather goods shop, was so impressed by the machine that he bought the patent from Spangler in 1908. He negotiated with Spangler to come on board the Hoover Company as an inventor and to oversee production of the vacuum. Within 1 year, Hoover had 6 employees capable of producing 6 units a day of the Electric Suction Sweeper.

Selling the Vacuum

When the vacuum was first introduced, consumers were hesitant to invest in such an expensive and unfamiliar machine. To combat this, Hoover placed an advertisement in "The Saturday Evening Post," offering a free Hoover vacuum for 10 days to any person who requested one. Hoover sent test units requested by customers to a local retailer. He made a deal that any customers who decided to purchase the unit would buy it directly from the local retailer, who would then get to keep the profits. In this way, Hoover not only introduced the vacuum to the public, but it set up a network of distributors at the same time. By 1912, the Hoover vacuum was available all over the United States and in 12 other countries.

Design Changes

Over the years, Hoover had made significant changes to its original design. First, a beater bar was added in 1926. This rotating bar featured a brush that helped pick up dirt as it turned. By 1936, the company had added headlamps to all models. In the 1950s, the drab colors of the original vacuum were replaced by bright and modern shades to appeal to housewives. By 1964, Hoover had introduced a Slimline model, which was lighter and more maneuverable than previous models. Also during the 1960s, the company added a self-propulsion system to most units, making them easier to move as one vacuumed.

Company Ownership

The Hoover Company manufactured the Hoover vacuum from 1908 through the 1940s. During that time, Murray Spangler's family continued to receive a portion of all vacuum proceeds through 1925. During the 1940s, Hoover became a publicly traded company and, in 1989, it was sold to Maytag, a U.S. appliance manufacturer. In 2006, Maytag was acquired by competitor Whirlpool. Upon the sale of Maytag, the Hoover branch was sold to TTI, a Chinese manufacturer. Throughout 2007 and 2008, TTI began to close down U.S. and United Kingdom manufacturing plants and moved Hoover operations to China.

Dryer lint

Monday, September 2, 2013