The Vintage Hoover Emporium

Although Hoover had always offered a selection of dusting tools with their upright vacuum cleaners, they recognised the need for smaller, supplementary cleaners, dedicated to 'above-floor cleaning' - furniture, mattresses, stairs, and automobile interiors.

In 1930, they introduced two new models to their range: the hand-held 'Dustette', and the cylinder 'Minor'. Hoover were now able to boast that they were the first and only manufacturer to offer 'cleaning by all three methods', since they provided consumers with the choice of upright, cylinder, and hand-held models.

'Light, convenient, ever-ready for use, the new Hoover Minor is an essential home cleaning aid for the busy and efficient housewife.'

The 1930 Minor Model 200 - known as the 'Duster' in the US - was Hoover's first attempt at a cylinder cleaner, designed to steal market-share from competitor Electrolux. The primitive Minor was anything but sleek: it used Model 575's direct-air ball-bearing motor with a modified impeller. This was mounted on a sturdy cast-aluminum chassis, and stood on steel runners. A lenth of hose plugged in to the front of the machine, while a cloth bag affixed to the rear of the cleaner caught the dust and debris picked up. 

Hoover emphasised that although the Minor was supplied with a floor nozzle for rug-cleaning, it was a 'surface cleaner' only, because it didn't make use of their patented 'Positive Agitation' principle.

In the US, 'Duster' Model 200 cost $42.25. However, if the buyer already owned a Hoover upright, they could fit the upright's dusting tools to the Duster, and purchase the main unit alone for $29.75. For $8 more, extra tools, suitable for 'commercial uses' were available. One such additional tool was a dry-mop attachment which clipped to the floor nozzle, allowing the user to clean polished wooden floors.

The Minor/Duster was not a popular cleaner in its day; it couldn't compete with the sleek, modern machines from Electrolux. Even in America, only 9004 Model 200 Dusters were ever produced, its short production run lasting from 20th August - 18th November 1929.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that the Duster was used on airships for in-flight cleaning - since they added much less weight to a dirigible than a full-size vacuum cleaner. An upright could be used for thorough cleaning while the ship was grounded.

Toggle-switch mounted on side of motor housing

The wording 'An Empire Product' on the badge denotes this as an early example, manufactured at Hoover's plant in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Manual page showing Model 200 in use

American magazine advert for the Duster

At a glance, Model 200B appears almost identical to the original Model 200 - in fact, not a single component was shared between the two. The polished aluminium casting was physically larger than that of the 200, as were the runners. The motor was the lightweight 210w unit from Model 425, and the on/off switch was moved from the motor housing to the cord junction. The dust bag was also larger, which allowed for better airflow, and thus, better performance.

Model 200B was manufactured at Hoover's new flagship factory in Perivale, West London, and appears only to have been sold in Europe.

Inline on/off switch

'For dustless dusting.'

'This convenient and efficient little machine weighs no more than a flat-iron. You carry it in your hand and, in no time - without any dust flying about - you can clean your upholstered furniture...travelling rugs...suits and overcoats...and a dozen other things that collect dust.'

The Hoover Dustette was launched in the UK in 1930. The earliest versions have a polished alloy nozzle, and a rocker-switch. More common later examples, such as the one shown above, have a stipple-finished grey nozzle and a slider switch. It was expensive at £4.19.6d - the equivalent of £216 in modern currency.

Below is the patent for the Dustette design, filed May 5th 1930 by William H Kitto, assignor to the Hoover Company of North Canton, Ohio.

Identical to the earlier Dustette Model 100 in all but colour and bag-graphic design, this version was produced from 1949-55.