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The Simply Switch On...! collection illustrates the progress of small early c20th electrical appliances through books, adverts, instruction manuals and over 300 electrical artifacts, taking into consideration such aspects as technology, design, marketing and social impact.
The collection was started in 1980 with a discarded Hoover Dustette which the museum curator's grandparents had bought in the mid-Thirties and used ever since. It was still complete with its storage hook and instruction leafle,t and in fully working condition. The realisation that there were obsolete and unwanted, yet fully functioning and interesting electrical appliances still around formed the impetus for the collection. Appliances have been discovered through a wide variety of sources: scrap heaps, domestic recycling centres, junk shops, charity shops, car-boot sales, Ebay and the internet, antiques and collectors fairs, generous donors, private sales and other collectors.
The collection was the subject of a UK touring exhibition from 1991 to 1993 by the Leicestershire Arts, Museums and Records Service, accompanied by illustrated lectures with demonstrations of some appliances. A booklet was published in 1995 entitled 'Simply Switch On...! When Electricity was New in the Home' available through a number of museums, including the Science Museum in London and Southern Electric Museum, Christchurch.
The museum's 'Electric Breakfast' collection was featured on UK television on Channel 4's 'Collector's Lot' on February 24, 1999. In addition, some appliances in the collection have been loaned out to television and theatre production companies.
All the appliances have been restored to as near original working condition as possible, with a policy of 'minimum restoration', except where their original found condition was exceptionally good and they are left untouched. Below is a 'before' and 'after' of our 1935 Hoover model 825 - probably one of the worst examples we have considered worth restoring, mainly because it was still complete with original flex and bag. This machine spent many years in the damp cellar of a vacuum repair shop before being rescued by the museum. It is now in fully working condition.
Click here for a guide to restoring old appliances (PDF format), based on the experience of the museum. Please note that the museum and author can accept no liability for any damage or accidents as result of following the guide.
We are often
asked if the appliances in the collection are in full working condition. The
answer is yes - and no!
All the appliances can be roughly divided into two groups:
- those
that contain an electric motor (razors, massagers, vacuum cleaners, etc.)
- those that produce heat using current-resisting elements (toasters, kettles,
irons, etc.).
Some, like hair dryers and tea-makers, fall into both groups.
The appliances with electric motors, especially vacuum cleaners, are almost all in full working condition, due to the high standard of their manufacture. With a little careful lubrication and removal of dirt, most run extremely well indeed and, apart from the weak suction and poor dust filtration on some, could be used today.
The heat-producing appliances are less usable, either because heat has destroyed the insulation or the delicate nature of the element, such as in hair dryers and toasters. Electric irons are more robust and many do work, especially the later thermostat types.
In the unlikely event of a virtual fire at the museum, we would grab these first...
all the pre-war electric razors, one of the unique collections of the museum
CWS Minor, hair dryer, 1937 a fabulous piece of Art Deco product design
Electrolux, 5, cylinder cleaner, 1918 the original and best.
Electrolux XXX, cylinder cleaner, 1937. An generous collector sent this from New York. A stunning example of industrial design
Goblin, 30, Wizard, upright cleaner, 1930 this is so neat and dainty - and we have all the accessories.
HMV, IC1, thermostat iron, 1935 advanced and elegant - and very rare! Kindly donated from a private collector.
Hoover, 100, Dustette, hand cleaner, 1930 the first in the collection and full of childhood memories.
Hoover, 160, upright cleaner, 1938 a prime example of pioneering American industrial design.
Hotpoint, 500, upright cleaner, 1939 superb 1930s futuristic styling and complete package, in excellent mechanical, electrical and material condition
Hoover, 822, Constellation, 1954 / Hoover, 862, Constellation, 1959 science-fiction in the living room!
Hoover, 2294, Hooverette, upright cleaner, 1961 a neat, versatile design, and we have the complete package.
Lucas Holder, Smoothie, travelling iron, 1946 This looks 1930s USA - it's actually 1940s Coventry UK!
Philips, 7735, Philishave, razor, mains, 1948 one of the most beautifully simple and ergonomic razor designs.
Philips, HP4301, hair dryer, 1965 a clever and striking design; a classic UFO-inspired product.