Establishing the cylinder format

Although all vacuum cleaners after Booth's invention of 1901 had operated on the suction principle, it wasn't until the 1920s that the cylinder format was established. The Swedish company, Electrolux, perfected the cylinder-type layout with the components arranged horizontally for compactness and minimum air disturbance. Their first successful machine was launched in 1918 and Electrolux had factories in Britain and the USA by the 1930s. Although the Electrolux cleaned only by suction, it was able to tackle a greater diversity of cleaning jobs around the home. Promoting the hygienic image of the vacuum cleaner, Electrolux also included an 'air purifying' filter pad.

The popularity of cylinder cleaners

Cylinder cleaners became more popular during the 1930s because they could be made more cheaply than uprights (prices started from around £3) and few homes had extensive carpeting which would have made the upright format more of an advantage. The most expensive cylinder cleaners of the inter-war period were beautifully made and exceptionally quiet ('It wouldn't wake a sleeping baby' claimed a 1935 Electrolux advert), and were delivered in oak storage trunks with an extensive range of cleaning tools. Other accessories were often available for spraying paint and polishing floors.

Design development

In the mid 1930s, the cylinder cleaner came under the same stylistic influences as the upright and an emphasis on appearance was deemed important to boost the next generation of sales. The USA led the way with the pioneering use of industrial design, resulting in some superb examples, notably the classic Electrolux model XXX.

These trends spread across the Atlantic after 1945. The traditional materials of pre-war cleaners - dark-coloured leatherette and polished aluminium - was replaced by brightly-coloured stove-enamel and brilliant chrome plate. In the late 1950s, plastics such as PVC, polythene and acrylic were used for larger moulded components, resulting in lighter machines. The pure cylindrical body of cleaners gave way to more complex designs, integrating the running sleighs, allowing for a sleeker profile, larger electric motor and increased dust capacity. In the UK and most parts of Europe however, many basic pre-war designs remained in production until the late-1950s.

• 1918 Electrolux 5
• 1926 Electrolux 11
• 1930 Hoover Minor
• 1932 Vactric Silent Q
• 1934 Electrolux 25
• 1936 Unit Appliances Super Unit
• 1937 Electrolux XXX
• 1937 Bustler Goliath
• 1938 Phoenix Popular
• 1938 Remoco
• 1938/1948/1955 Electrolux ZA62
• 1947 Hoover
• 1961 Hoover Hooverette

1918 Electrolux model 5 Sweden Pioneer cleaner in cylinder format, first Electrolux in UK (1921) and USA (1924). Flexible, compact and lightweight format, to be used with tools or as stick upright with pistol-grip handle at rear (also first in this format). Full length canvas shoulder/carry strap. Early version: pioneering use of detachable skids, fixed on later versions. Cast alloy ends with dark red leatherette on steel for main body. Sliding bar switch at base of handle with permanent flex connection at other end. Tools similar to later model 11 (1926) which replaced model 5. Later variations model 6 (1922) and model 10 (1926). Now very rare. Click here for image from Christmas advertising, showing later version with fixed skids.
1926 Electrolux model 11 UK Luton Fourth UK Electrolux model, first without pistol grip, (i.e. first true Electrolux cylinder) replacing pioneer model 5. Standard model until c1930. Dark green leatherette on steel body, cast-alloy motor casing, 10 accessories stored with cleaner in oak box, vulcanite 'ebonite' fittings, early spiral steel hose with rubber inner tube. Click here to see cleaner and attachments stored in the box. Click here for UK instruction card. Click here for a contemporary image showing use on stairs. Click here for a 1926 ad.
1930 Hoover Minor model 200 Canada Hamilton Interesting but failed Hoover attempt to compete with Electrolux by offering low-cost, suction-only cleaner. Sold in US as the Duster dusting cleaner only - UK version complete with heavy, over-engineered tools from Hoover uprights, including two straight and two bent tubes, floor nozzle, small brush and crevice nozzle. Same external cloth bag idea as model 100 Dustette, but with standard 195 watt Hoover motor from model 575, horizontally-mounted and cast aluminium fan unit. Clumsy design compared to sleek, integrated Electrolux. 1934 model 200B and original now extremely rare. Click here for the original UK attachments Click here to see the US version in use. Click here for an original US advert.
1932 Vactric Silent Q UK Cricklewood Probably first large Vactric cylinder. Green leatherette on cork-lined steel body, mounted on chromium-plated single front castor and rear wheels, chromed ends and fittings. Very well-equipped, 7 cleaning heads (including 3 floor heads), cord winding strip. Black wooden storage trunk. Large sliding toggle switch. Replaced by model Q101, 1939/40. Click here for the complete ensemble. Click here for an image from a contemporary home instruction magazine. Click here for an ad.
1934 Electrolux model 25 UK Luton Probable replacement for Electrolux model 11, produced 1934-c1948. Most popular Electrolux during the 30s and backbone of model range. Bag-full indicator, well-equipped including patented flip-over floor tool. Green leatherette on steel body, black/dark green faceted phenol plastic motor casing including filter pad. Sliding toggle switch. Click here for a cut-away diagram. Click here for complete ensemble. Click here for flip-over floor tool. Click here for UK instruction card and here for a spread from the more comprehensive user manual. Click here for a UK ad.
c1936 Unit Appliances Super Unit UK Leeds Unusual design with early use of integrated, solid cast alloy sleighs. Sliding toggle switch. Mottled green and grey/white leatherette on steel body, nickel-plated pressed steel end caps. Swivel floor tool, all accessories and cleaner stored in oak trunk with separate tray.
1937 Electrolux model XXX USA Connecticut Among the most stunning vacuum cleaner designs and a classic of USA Machine Age aesthetic, embracing Art Deco and Streamlining. Designed by pioneer industrial designer Lurelle Guild, paralleling Dreyfuss' work for Hoover. Long production run, 1937-41, 1945-54, millions made. Pre-war versions have flat runners, dark grey stove enamel D-section main body and circular open exhaust port in chrome-plated pressed steel motor section; post-war has round-section runners, light grey body, 'saloon doors' exhaust port. Single price of $69.95 from 1937-1954. Innovative cast aluminium accessories continue streamlined design theme. Not available outside North America. Click here to see the main accessories. Click for pages 1 2 of instruction manual. Click for pages 1 2 from the fold-out instructional brochure.
c1937 Bustler Goliath UK Birmingham Striking design with stepped, chrome-plated motor casing, cream enamel on steel body, black-painted steel mock-leather handle. Oak box with usual accessories, wood and chrome-plated. Actual dates of manufacture uncertain; company also made more common stick-type upright cleaner. Click here for the complete ensemble.
c1938 Phoenix Popular model 38/48 UK London Typical low-cost late-30s cylinder cleaner. Produced c1938-c1958. Dark blue/green leatherette on steel body, nickel-plated steel end caps and sleighs, push-fit hose, stipple-effect, stove-enamelled black alloy and wooden cleaning heads. Utility/economy model in Phoenix range, also including: 'Gloria' (extra trim and chomed-plated tools), larger 'Major' (brown leatherette, larger chrome-plated motor cover) and smart 'Clipper'. All models include patent 430,039, applied for 1934 and own brand reversible plug to BS562, also 1934. Click here to see the complete ensemble.
c1938 Remoco model Z49 The Netherlands Exciting streamlined design - dramatic teardrop profile: bulbous black steel stove-enamel hemispherical dust cover, tapering to black phenol plastic motor/exhaust end, green hammerite stove-enamel body. Art Deco name plate and text. Round section skids. High standard of build quality, powerful but quiet motor. Push-button switch at motor end with red (on)/ green (off) display panel. Cable wraps around skids and cleaner stores upright on end: click here to see this. Flexible ribbed rubber extenion hose. European version sold under Erres name - Dutch advert in UK Modern Publicity 1938/39: post-war UK Remoco version has larger handle and push-button switch. Very rare. Also exported to the US. Click here to see the Erres cleaner. Image courtesy of Johan Wetterberg, Sweden. Click here for the later Erres cleaner from the School of Industrial Design, TU Delft. Click here to see the 1938 Erres advertisement.
1938/1948/1955 Electrolux model ZA62 UK Luton Original design by Swedish industrial designer Sixten Sasson, launched Sweden and Canada 1938 as model Z30 (popularly known as 'the Loaf'). Model ZA62 Swedish date 1948, UK launch 1955 (third generation postwar Electrolux after ZA30 1946, ZA55 1949), produced until 1964, placed by all-new model ZA90. Standard large UK model. Powerful motor (450 watts), strong suction and large dust capacity (for 1950s). Streamlined body; cream ribbed vinyl on steel square section, bottle green phenol plastic end caps - styling somewhat dated by late-50s. Later versions have disposable paper bag option with plastic collar. Low-profile sleighs with built in plastic wheels at back. Plastic accessories, push-button footswitch, hanging hook. Exceptionally quiet and smooth motor. Tested (with newer model 65) in Consumers Association test in 'Which' magazine, April 1960. Click here to see the complete ensemble. Click here for 1950s instructions booklet cover. Click here to see the ZA62 in use from the instruction booklet.
1947 Hoover model 402 UK Cambuslang UK/US launch of first Hoover cylinder cleaner (though not the first suction-only, non-upright Hoover - see Dustette and Minor) - to compete head-on with Electrolux. First new post-1945 Hoover. First UK-built Hoover outside Perivale at purpose-built new factory at Cambuslang, Glasgow. Two models launched in US (top model 50 known as the Aero-Dyne, base model adapted for single UK model 402). Design by Henry Dreyfuss - restrained, sculptured and modern compared to contemporary streamlined 30s designs. Heavy and solidly engineered. Smooth 400-watt motor. H-series: brown steel body, beige alloy end castings, stipple-effect stove-enamel finish (colours reversed on later HA series), brown phenol plastic handle with small slide switch from Dustette. Flex emerges straight from body, no connector. Thick, chrome plated steel skids, unusually mounted flat to prevent carpet marking (HA skids are conventional profile). Cast alloy, brown enamel finish and brown phenol plastic accessories, maroon braided hose similar to 119/262/612 uprights. Unusual feature of spring-loaded fixed dust bag with external foot-operated trigger underneath to loosen dust - click here to see. H-series has 'HOOVER' cast into front dust cover release latch - click here to see, HA has body side graphic and script lettering. Very rare now, despite over half-million made: 137, 199 H-series, July 1947 (H10001) to Jan 1949 (H147200); 383, 153 HA-series, July 1949 (HA10600) to July 1953 (HA393, 753). Replaced by model 417 in 1953. Click for side, top and rear views. Click here for floor and upholstery tools. Click here for post-war Hoover line up from Ideal Home annual 1948-9. Click here for ad featuring US model 50 being demonstrated by Lucille Ball. Click here for unrestored HA series with accessories and packaging.
1961 Hoover Hooverette model 2294 UK Perivale European-style 'stick' cleaner combining the versatility of a cylinder cleaner and the compactness of the Dustette in an upright. Very similar in concept to original Electrolux model 5 (1918), also Goblin Ideal and Magic Wand. US-designed, mild space/sci-fi styling of main power and dust unit and cleaning head in turquoise and pale blue plastic. Blue alloy tube/handle, ivory extending hose (short), small brush and crevice tool. Plastic shoulder strap for cylinder mode, pad for buffing hard floors. Produced 1961-80. Later colours: dark and pale green and 'burnt orange/ivory'. Extensive critique in Design April 1962. This cleaner is also featured in the upright gallery. Click here to see the Hooverette in cylinder mode; early-1960s. Click here to see the complete kit, packaging and leaflet. Click to see pages 1 2 3 4 of user instructions. Click here for the cleaner featured in a Hoover ad.