Vacuum Collection

The Airpump by Joseph Wright
The Air Pump by Joseph Wright (1734-1797). This artwork was painted in 1768. Its full title is An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump

HOME APPLIANCE AD, 1926. Advertisement for the Hoover vacuum cleaner from an American magazine of 1926

Upright Hoover
A mustard yellow Hoover upright vacuum cleaner

Mobiloil enamel sign
An enamel sign advertising Mobiloil. *EDITORIAL USE ONLY*

Vacuuming a Wireless
Frequent cleaning of a wireless set (radio) can easily be done with use of the spare parts of a Hoover vacuum cleaner

Advertisement for the Western Electric vacuum cleaner with a women patiently cleaning the carpet around her snoozing husband. Lets hope that cigarette falls into his lap and wakes him up. Date: c.1924

1960S Lady & Vacuum
A British housewife poses with Hoover and rag in the centre of her sitting room

Coach party having lunch in a pub
A coach party stops for lunch in a pub. circa 1950s

Advert for Daisy vacuum cleaner 1912
Daisy vacuum cleaner, manual vacuum cleaner using suction to remove dirt. 1912

Imperial Vacuum Cleaner advertisement, 1914
Advertisement for the Imperial Vacuum Cleaner from The Electric Appliances Company Ltd, claiming it would last a lifetime and offering the chance for a home demonstration of the machine in action

Testing of a vacuum by weight / IMechE

Space station toilet
Russian space station toilet made by Zvezda for the Mir station. Photographed at the National Space Centre, Leicester, UK

Evans Vacuum Cap advertisement, 1906
Advertisement for the Evans Vacuum Cap, an invention intented to promote the re-growth of hair, 1906

Vacuuming Ornaments
A French maidservant vacuums ornaments with LE PROGRESS

Vacuuming Picture
A French maidservant vacuums a picture with LE PROGRESS

Diagram depicting Galileo's experiment to prove the existence of a vacuum
5310104 Diagram depicting Galileo's experiment to prove the existence of a vacuum; (add.info.: Diagram depicting Galileo's experiment to prove the existence of a vacuum)

A milking machine invented by Edward M Knolling of Sandy Creek
3732505 A milking machine invented by Edward M Knolling of Sandy Creek; (add.info.: Engraving depicting a milking machine invented by Edward M. Knolling of Sandy Creek)

Sir William Crookes, 1832 - 1919
3083226 Sir William Crookes, 1832 - 1919.; Private Collection; (add.info.: English chemist, physicist and inventor. From The Century Edition of Cassell's History of England, published c. 1900)

The use of cupping therapy
5307485 The use of cupping therapy.; (add.info.: Engraving depicting the use of cupping therapy. Cupping therapy is a form of alternative medicine)

Engraving depicting a young woman performing a gravity-defying trick, at the Casino de Paris
5309159 Engraving depicting a young woman performing a gravity-defying trick, at the Casino de Paris, with the use of rubber suction cups on her shoes

A milking machine invented by Edward M Knolling
5311971 A milking machine invented by Edward M Knolling; (add.info.: Engraving depicting a milking machine invented by Edward M. Knolling of Sandy Creek, Oswego County, New York)

An engraving depicting Thomas Savery's steam engine of 1699 used for pumping water from mines
5311302 An engraving depicting Thomas Savery's steam engine of 1699 used for pumping water from mines. Double furnaces (right) with boilers, whose steam passes to cylinders (p, p)

An engraving depicting Thomas Savery's steam engine of 1699 for pumping water from mines
5311355 An engraving depicting Thomas Savery's steam engine of 1699 for pumping water from mines. Double furnace (right) with boilers, whose steam passes to cylinders (P, P)

Colvin's hydraulic milking machine
3732504 Colvin's hydraulic milking machine; (add.info.: Engraving depicting Colvin's hydraulic milking machine: corrugated rubber suction cups were placed over the teats)

Star Dust
Vertigo Artography

Get away, work in progress
Michal Lindner

Cossor high vacuum cathode-ray tube for high definition television, 12.25 inches in diameter Date: 1937

Advert for Hoover, World's Best Vacuum Cleaner Date: 1947

Advert, Spring Cleaning, Hoover Vacuum Cleaner
Advert, Spring Cleaning, Hoover vacuum cleaner Date: 1948

Advert, Hoover vacuum cleaner
Advert, ... and please bring Mummy a new Hoover - children hang up their Christmas stockings Date: 1949

Cover design, Hoover News, 30th Anniversary Edition, August 1948, showing the latest vacuum cleaner Date: 1948

Hoover Vacuum Cleaner Window Display with a musical theme Date: 1948

Advert, Easier Spring Cleaning, Hoover Vacuum Cleaner Date: 1948

Hoover advert, A millionaire could not buy a better cleaner
Hoover vacuum cleaner advert, A millionaire could not buy a better cleaner Date: 1947

Lorry-loads of vacuum cleaners
Two Gamman and Dicker lorry-loads of vacuum cleaners for delivery to the Royal Air Force. These JAP-engined vacuum cleaners were widely used in the RAF from the 1950s to the 1980s.. Date: circa 1960

Goblin Electric Cleaners Advertisement
An illustrated advertisement for an Ideal Homes Exhibition stand promoting Goblin Electric Cleaners, the illustration portrays a company mascot using a vacuum cleaner

Advertising stamp, Mary Ann electric vacuum cleaner Date: 1934

Advert, The New Hoover Vacuum Cleaner - Try Them All! Date: 1929

A range of DIY ideas for the home, including a vacuum cleaner storage rack, an office area in the kitchen, and a "husband's corner" in a converted larder. Date: 1954

Groceries (engraving)
2799826 Groceries (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Groceries. Illustration for Walks In and Around London by Uncle Jonathan (Charles H Kelly)

Early pneumatic experiments (engraving)
2793314 Early pneumatic experiments (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Early pneumatic experiments)

Experience du cylindre vide soulevant des poids, executee par Otto de Guericke (engraving)
2793045 Experience du cylindre vide soulevant des poids, executee par Otto de Guericke (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Women picnic on route of royal wedding
Two women picnic amongst litter on the route of the royal wedding of Princess Margaret and Anthony Armstrong-Jones. Date: 1960

Indignant General to Cook: Well I wouldn t stay in a place like that five minutes. Two servants discuss John Hassalls famous Help! poster advertising vacuum cleaners which they view with suspicion

Cartoons, Some Probable Inventions for 1924. 1924

Advert for Frantz Premier Electric Vacuum Cleaner 1917
Advert, Frantz Premier Electric Vacuum Cleaner, from the Frantz Premier Co, Cleveland, Ohio, USA. Date: 1917

Advert for Lillina electric vacuum cleaner 1920
Advert, Lillina electric vacuum cleaner, available from G Vighi & Co, Milan, Italy. Date: 1920

Advert for Electrolux vacuum cleaner, 1925 Date: 1925

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From Joseph Wright's 'The Airpump' to the 1926 Hoover vacuum cleaner advertisement, the evolution of home appliances is a testament to human ingenuity. Step into the past and witness the Mobiloil enamel sign proudly displaying its connection with cleanliness. The upright Hoover, introduced in that era, revolutionized cleaning routines with its powerful suction. In 1927, Electrolux captured hearts with their innovative design and efficiency. Picture a patient woman meticulously tidying her surroundings using the Western Electric vacuum cleaner - an image that symbolizes dedication and perfectionism. Did you know that even wireless devices needed vacuuming? Yes. A quirky advert from back then shows us just how meticulous people were about keeping everything clean. Travel back further to 1912 when Daisy introduced their revolutionary vacuum cleaner. This early innovation paved the way for future advancements in household cleaning technology. Fast forward to the swinging sixties where elegance met practicality as ladies effortlessly maneuvered their vacuums around stylishly furnished homes - a true embodiment of sophistication. But it's not just homes that benefit from vacuums; even space stations rely on these ingenious machines for maintaining hygiene in zero gravity environments. Imagine astronauts floating through space while ensuring cleanliness. And let's not forget about Imperial Vacuum Cleaner's iconic advertisement from 1914, showcasing how this appliance became an essential part of every household across different eras. So whether it's a coach party enjoying lunch at a pub or astronauts aboard a space station toilet, one thing remains constant: vacuums have become indispensable tools in our quest for cleanliness throughout history.