26/1974-1

Domestic Appliances

Hoover Junior vacuum cleaner, model number 375, with an aluminium body, metal handle, rubber grip and a canvas bag marked with the Hoover slogan, 'It beats as it sweeps as it cleans'. This vacuum cleaner was manufactured by Hoover Ltd in c.1937.

Hoover Junior, model 375

vacuum cleaner

26/1974-1

Hoover Ltd (manufacturer)

c.1937 (manufactured)

Canada (manufactured)

aluminium
canvas

moulded
sewn

Upright vacuum cleaner with an aluminium body and a canvas bag printed with the Hoover slogan. It has a metal plaque on the front of the foot.

Height: 128cm
Width: 26cm
Diameter: 8.5cm

Sanitation and hygiene
cleaning

Label text for the exhibition At Home with the World, Geffrye Museum (20 March 2012- 9 September 2012):
Hoover Junior vacuum cleaner
Aluminium, rubber and canvas
Manufactured by Hoover Ltd., Canada, about 1937

The vacuum cleaner was invented in the USA in the early twentieth century and was developed by The Hoover Company. The efficiency and popularity of their products led to all vacuums being known as hoovers here in England. The Hoover Junior was lightweight and portable making it more convenient for smaller homes.

Label text for a touchscreen computer programme displayed in the exhibition At Home with the World, Geffrye Museum (20 March 2012- 9 September 2012):

Introduction
The Hoover Junior sold in large numbers in the UK from 1937 until 1987. It was small and portable making it convenient to store in more compact modern homes. It was also easy for housewives to carry around the house. Hoover’s slogan ‘It beats as it sweeps as it cleans’, emblazoned on the front, is a neat explanation of how it works. [This information was displayed alongside two alternative photographs, one of this vacuum cleaner and the other one a detailed image of the label on this vacuum cleaner, caption 'Hoover junior vacuum cleaner, alumnium and canvas, made in Canada c.1937'.]

Global Connections, Americas, USA
The vacuum cleaner was invented by Murray Spangler, a janitor from Ohio. His friends Susan and William H. Hoover liked it and began mass-producing them. Within a few years they had branched out to Canada and the UK, and Hoover was a worldwide brand. [This information was displayed alongside a photograph of this vacuum cleaner, caption 'Rear view of Hoover Junior vacuum cleaner'.]

Art Deco Style:
Hoover’s London factory at Perivale is a good example of art deco architecture: strong parallel horizontal lines, zig-zags, curved windows and smooth render. The head of the vacuum cleaner also typifies art deco styling. Its smooth streamlined curves are characteristic of the new ‘machine age’. [This information was displayed alongside two alternative photographs, one of the Hoover factory at Perivale, caption 'Section of the Hoover Factory facade, London' and another detailed photograph of the head of this vacuum cleaner, caption 'Detail of the head of the vacuum cleaner'.]

A full transcript of this information and associated images is available on the object history file.