The vacuum cleaner is an especially interesting invention to me as I am making a musical one for The Parents as a Christmas present. It is another amazing machine invented by the Victorians. Hubert Booth made the first vacuum cleaner after he saw an American machine in action. The inventor was trying to clean railway carriages by BLOWING the dust off the seats and Hubert decided it would be better if the dust was SUCKED. So, he tried out his theory - not at home, not in a laboratory but in a posh restaurant. He took out his hanky and sucked at the seat of his chair and nearly choked to death. This might seem a bit mad but when he turned the hanky over it was covered in trapped dust. He went on to make giant vacuum cleaners which rich people hired and made their servants use. They were so big they had to use really long hoses to snake in through the windows, after clearing away all aspidistras and small children. Luckily they were able to make smaller cleaners.
Saturday, June 10, 2006
Fascinating Invention No. 5-The Vacuum Cleaner
The vacuum cleaner is an especially interesting invention to me as I am making a musical one for The Parents as a Christmas present. It is another amazing machine invented by the Victorians. Hubert Booth made the first vacuum cleaner after he saw an American machine in action. The inventor was trying to clean railway carriages by BLOWING the dust off the seats and Hubert decided it would be better if the dust was SUCKED. So, he tried out his theory - not at home, not in a laboratory but in a posh restaurant. He took out his hanky and sucked at the seat of his chair and nearly choked to death. This might seem a bit mad but when he turned the hanky over it was covered in trapped dust. He went on to make giant vacuum cleaners which rich people hired and made their servants use. They were so big they had to use really long hoses to snake in through the windows, after clearing away all aspidistras and small children. Luckily they were able to make smaller cleaners.
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4 comments:
Fascinating stuff Wilf. You are a very knowledgeable little boy! Have you seen the dysons? They look very futuristic. You'd love them :-)
Thanks, Jude. Dexter's parents have a dyson and it's TERRIFIC but I'm not allowed to touch it anymore. The Parents are definitely dinosaur-tech and think that moving on from the dustpan and brush is quite a BIG THING.
Wilf
Jude's right - fascinating stuff, Wilf. I have an amazing vacuum cleaner with two really powerful motors, great for cleaning up after big hairy dogs! It also has a pretty long hose on it - which I find incredibly useful for sucking up spiders - the big sort, that jump when you get too close - at least with the long hose I can stand a way back and get them. You may think that's a bit cruel, but spiders really give me the pip.
Thanks, Nicky. I would love just one hairy dog. Cats are alright but they can be a bit sniffy. Serena doesn't like spiders much either but rather than vacuum them up (that would be amazing!) she eats them.
Wilf
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