Most people are unaware of the name and purpose of the object shown in the photograph. Can you make a guess? As technology progresses, it simplifies our daily lives. However, this advancement often renders many devices and gadgets, once essential in every home, obsolete.
This is the reason we are frequently puzzled by the function of certain odd-looking objects that were once commonplace.
The object in the accompanying photo presents a similar conundrum. It is claimed that approximately 99% of people on social media cannot identify it (perhaps that's an overstatement?), while the remaining 1%, typically the older generation, can.
They might have encountered it in their grandparents' homes.
Have a good look! Any guesses?
I believe many of you were not successful. If you don't recognize it immediately upon viewing the picture, it's unlikely you'll deduce it later. However, a careful examination reveals it's partially constructed from crocodile skin. Yes, crocodile skin!
The device is the Hercules Vacuum Cleaner, which gained immense popularity in the 1930s.
Indeed, it was considered one of the most valuable household items one could possess. Due to its high cost, only the affluent could afford it, especially since it was marketed during the Great Depression.
This vacuum cleaner featured a large cylindrical body with an opening on top for the suction pipe. It rested on sled-like runners for stability when not in use and boasted a leather handle, with parts made from crocodile skin.
Fascinating!
Those who identified this peculiar appliance were eager to comment and share their insights with others:
“My nana had one. Hard as hell to maneuver around the house.”
Another wrote:
“I had a couple of them. Super good cleaners!!”
Online information about the Hercules vacuum cleaner is scarce. This manually-operated device required no electricity.
The "Hercules" moniker possibly aimed to convey its ability to tackle seemingly impossible cleaning tasks.
Users reported its effectiveness in picking up dirt, despite its cumbersome nature. Like its predecessors, the Hercules needed manual pumping.
Indeed, it seems more challenging than using a broom, and it was likely employed sporadically, perhaps for thorough cleaning before special events.
Many of us have had the privilege of using modern vacuum cleaners from childhood. However, the technology has evolved significantly since its inception in the 19th century.
Daniel Hess of West Union, Iowa, is credited with inventing the first vacuum cleaner in 1860, which featured a rotating brush to collect dust.
In 1869, Ives W. McGaffey improved the design and introduced the "Whirlwind," which required cranking to operate. It featured a belt-driven fan, but was cumbersome and difficult to handle.
The first motorized vacuum cleaner emerged in 1898, invented by John S. Thurman.
Since then, vacuum cleaners have evolved into modern, mass-produced appliances. Today, vacuums are a common household item, proving to be extremely useful for cleaning tasks.
