The Vintage Hoover Emporium
~ It Beats...as it Sweeps...as it Cleans ~
About the collection
Interviewed by Carol Thatcher for BBC One's 'The ONE Show' - July 2008
The Vintage Hoover Emporium is a virtual museum exhibiting my large collection of 1920's-00's vacuum cleaners, and archive of associated paperwork, advertising material and ephemera.
Although this site is dedicated to my favourite machines - Hoover's pre-war cleaners - my collection also includes examples of early machines by Airway, Goblin, General Electric, Vactric, Premier, Dizer, and Bylock. In addition to the vintage machines, I have a selection of modern cleaners. The collection is home to cleaners from as far abroad as the USA and Australia.
All of my cleaners have been carefully and sensitively restored back to as close to their original condition as possible. Many machines are complete with their dusting tools and manuals.
All are in working order and are used in my home on a regular basis.
The collection has been the subject of a well-received 3 month exhibition at The Lightbox, featured in the local and national press, and on The One Show and ITN's London Tonight news programme.
~ Contact Me ~
If you have any queries regarding the collection, or general enquiries, please email: the_amazing_neon_man at hotmail.com
BBC One 'The ONE Show' - 19th July 2008
On Tuesday, 20th May 2008, I had the opportunity to present and discuss the collection, and the history of the Hoover Company, on BBC One's primetime flagship ' The One Show', in an item celebrating Hoover's 100th Anniversary.
I was introduced and interviewed by Carol Thatcher, daughter of former British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher. It was filmed at the former Hoover Factory in Perivale, Middlesex, West London.
The feature aired on July 19th, 2008.
Click here to view some behind-the-scenes photos of the shoot
On the Perivale staircase, Carol Thatcher introduces the piece...
My first appearance, carrying the iconic Hoover Constellation...
Patented Hoover Agitator. The feature on which many millions of Hoover cleaners were sold.
Enlightening viewers on the finer points of Models 700, 800 and 375!
Surrounded by my cleaners, Carol Thatcher peruses my copy of 'Steps to the Hoover Sale' - a 1936 guide for Hoover's door-to-door salesmen.
Hoovering the Hoover Building with a Hoover Hooverette!
Examining a 1908 Model O - the first portable upright vacuum cleaner. This cutaway example belongs to Hoover UK.
Some of my cleaners making their television debut!
North Canton, Ohio - August 2008
Mr. H Earl 'Bud' Hoover II and family on Hoover's 100th anniversary - August 8th, 2008, North Canton, Ohio
'Yes, I've come all the way from England!' - chatting to Bud Hoover
Larry Hoover signs my copy of 'The Fabulous Dustpan', the story of the Hoover Company (and the Hoover family!), written by Frank G Hoover in 1956. Ever the tourist with video-camera in hand!
Taking a walk with 'The Boss': the memorial statue of W H 'Boss' Hoover, company founder
Making 'Hooverboy', September 2009
Over a year after I last stepped in front of the cameras for The One Show's item on Hoover's 100th Anniversary, I've again had the opportunity to work on film with some very talented people.
On Tuesday 15th and Wednesday 16th of September, I worked with Kodak/NAHEMI Cinematography Award-winning Jem Garrard, and BAFTA-winning Billy Campbell, on a short documentary about my collection.
We talked a lot about what inspired my interest in vacuum cleaners, exploring my childhood fascination with the mechanics of the machines in interviews with my grandparents, as well as examining some of the more interesting and noteworthy cleaners in my collection, and discussing the evolution of vacuum cleaner design.
