The Hoover Model O, 1909

On loan from the collection of Kyle Krichbaum is this beautiful example (one of only a handful in existence) of the first commercially successful vacuum cleaner. This machine started an entire industry. I have had the privilege of playing with and working on this machine, which dates from 1909 and still runs and cleans! It hails from a time when fewer than ten percent of US homes had electricity, and those that did were likely to have light sockets only (no outlets)...necessitating the screw-type cord plug fitted to this machine. Also, you may have had AC or DC power, and you had to know this when buying any electrical devices for your home, as they (including this one) had different motors for alternating current and direct current. My work on this cleaner included fixing an issue with the power switch, and replacing the power cord with a more authentic one.