One thing we know for sure is that things change over time. People change, technology changes, and situations change. It’s something we cannot avoid! Think back over your own life.

How much has actually changed? Especially when it comes to advancements in technology. It’s fascinating and a bit overwhelming to see just how much things have evolved. But, it can also be refreshing! Take, for example, this odd-looking “thing”; we bet you won’t guess what it is…

So, unless you were around in the 1930s, chances are, you won’t know what this is. If you do, well done! It does look quite peculiar, doesn’t it? Can you guess what this contraption could possibly be?

Don’t worry if you can’t figure it out. You’re not alone! This strange-looking item that resembles a flask or some sort of carrier is actually a 1930s vacuum cleaner, known as the Hercules! Yes, that’s right. This retro vacuum is a far cry from the hoovers we use today. In fact, I’m currently watching my Roomba® clean my floor while I type this! Can you imagine what life was like back then? A machine like this would have been groundbreaking. Nowadays, we don’t often appreciate just how much technology has made our lives easier.

The Hercules vacuum cleaner was seen as very stylish and sophisticated back then. The one in the picture was even covered in crocodile skin, making it quite an expensive luxury. And to think, it was sold during the Great Depression, a time when many families could barely make ends meet, let alone buy a Hercules.

If you did know what this item was, try showing it to your kids and see if they can guess! They most likely won’t have a clue!

Did you know that the simple broom wasn’t perfected until 1797? A farmer from Massachusetts invented a better one after seeing his wife struggle with sweeping. His broom, made from broomcorn, quickly became a household staple. But as time went by, people wanted to make housework easier. There were a few different sweepers and brooms, but it wasn’t until the 1860s when Daniel Hess created the first real vacuum cleaner.

According to Hess’s patent, “The nature of my invention consists in drawing fine dust and dirt through the machine by means of a draft of air.”

Then, in 1869, a man from Chicago named Ives McGaffey took the concept even further. However, his design turned out to be even harder to use than a regular broom. His patent mentions, “The accumulation of dust and dirt in dwelling-houses is a source of great annoyance to all good housekeepers… To obviate these difficulties is the object of my invention.” Unfortunately, his invention didn’t become popular.

Many vacuum designs came and went. But it was James Murray Spangler who truly revolutionized the vacuum cleaner. Spangler was a humble janitor in Canton, Ohio. At 60 years old, he worked tirelessly on his design, which even took a toll on his health. His vacuum was revolutionary because it was upright and portable. It sucked up dirt and blew it into an attached pillowcase. In 1907, Spangler patented his invention, quit his job, and started the Electric Suction Sweeper Company.

“It used a ceiling fan motor and paddle blades to create the air flow… he used a leather belt and journaled it to a rotating brush that he had gotten out of a carpet sweeper… No one was able to get the carpet that clean because they didn’t have a motor-driven brush.”

Eventually, the Hoover vacuum was born when Spangler ran into financial trouble and sold his company to his cousin, Susan Hoover!