General
The History of Common Household Items — General
Did you know that the humble vacuum cleaner was once a luxury item, as rare as a car in the early 20th century?
Initially introduced in 1901 by Hubert Cecil Booth in the UK, the first vacuum cleaner was a massive contraption that required horse-drawn transport and had to be parked outside the home.
Its hoses were so long that they had to be threaded through windows to reach inside.
Known as the “Puffing Billy,” this early vacuum was powered by an internal combustion engine and was used primarily in commercial settings and the homes of the very wealthy.
It wasn’t until the 1920s, with the advent of electric motors and more compact designs by companies like Hoover, that vacuums began to resemble the household essential we recognize today.
This transition helped shift the vacuum from a status symbol to a common household tool, revolutionizing cleaning practices along the way.
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