Do you know the history of vacuum cleaners that have existed for over 100 years?

The incident happened just hours ago, and since then I've grown a little fond of cleaning. It's still hard to believe, but a mysterious event led to a glimpse into the history of vacuum cleaners.

After the humid rainy season, summer has finally arrived. However, as for me, I still couldn't get rid of the image of the long wet days, and I couldn't get a good feeling no matter what I did. I wonder if it would be refreshing if at least the room was clean... I picked up the "Ergorapido Lithium," a stick-type vacuum cleaner in the living room, and turned it on.

Let's start cleaning...

I turn on the switch at hand as if dragging my heavy body and mind.

Oh, but modern vacuum cleaners are great.

It moves smoothly without any effort, and since it is rechargeable and cordless, there is no need to handle troublesome cords. Also, it's great that it doesn't look unfashionable. I think the concept of being able to get it right away and clean it right away is a great answer.

But vacuum cleaners have evolved too. I don't think it was in such a convenient form when I was little, and I remember it being even more stupid. Wait a minute?

By the way, how long have vacuum cleaners been around?

At that moment, a strange thing happened!

――Dear……Master.

The Ergorapido Lithium in front of me was speaking to me. And fluent in Japanese... Oh my God!

- So you're interested in the history of vacuum cleaners. Please leave it to me. Even though I look like this, I have a history of 100 years leading up to this figure.

Okay, calm down. Vacuum cleaners talk. . I was called my husband, but I was the one who bought it, so the master-servant relationship is not wrong. But what caught my attention was the content rather than the tone. I wonder if this vacuum has such a deep history?

I ``Oh, um... Are you serious about 100 years?''

-Is your husband suspicious? That's good....

――Please take a close look at the 100-year history of the Electrolux vacuum cleaner that created me!

--It was 1912 when the Titanic sank. Electrolux launched the world's first household model vacuum cleaner "LUX1". Until then, vacuum cleaners weighed 20 kilograms and were almost stationary, but the LUX1 weighs 14 kilograms. I managed to carry it around with me.

I ``No, 14 kilograms is quite heavy!

- Rest assured. A breakthrough is coming soon. The Model V, which appeared in 1921, could be dragged by rail-like metal legs. The world's first movable vacuum cleaner! It can be carried on the shoulder or held by hand, making it easy for anyone to clean.

I see, the poster is a little too exaggerated, but it might be a good expression that will lighten your heart.In today's world, is it like a magical girl riding a vacuum cleaner instead of a broom?

-I don't know anything about magical girls, but there is a little anecdote about this Model V. In Sweden, which had a housekeeper culture at the time, there was even a demonstration when housekeepers lost their jobs.

I ``...Sweden is amazing...''

I ``Oh, this picture is very close to a modern vacuum cleaner.

—Exactly. This "Luxomatic Z90" is a model that is the prototype of modern vacuum cleaners, and appeared in 1964. Equipped with wheels, it can be easily moved anywhere, it is equipped with an automatic sealing dust bag, and there is also a function to notify you with an indicator when the dust bag is full. It's taken for granted now, but at the time it was a revolutionary idea.

Boku ``Hmm... Now that you mention it, it's definitely an improvement for the home. You must be there.”

By the way, Mr. Elgorou.

--I don't want to give you a weird nickname, but I'll answer. Vacuum cleaners have shown various developments, such as miniaturization and noise reduction, but it was in 2004 that the first generation of the so-called cordless stick type "Ergorapido" series, "Ergorapido 2 in 1" appeared. . Its design and functionality have made a big impact on the market, and it has won numerous awards.

By the way, it might be amazing to have arrived at this shape more than 10 years ago... It's sleek and has a nice design, and it seems to appeal to women. ”

- Good question. See image here. Here's a side-by-side comparison between the second-generation Ergorapido and the latest model, the Ergorapido Lithium.

I'm standing... are you there?

- No, I'm not standing. At that time, there was no self-supporting mechanism, and it would fall over if you didn't support it. It was a style to lean against the wall.

I see.At first glance, it looks like the same design, but it has been improved.What else has changed?

--There are too many small changes to count. I would like to explain my recommended points...

--The head part can be bent at an angle close to 90 degrees. It follows the movement of your hand, so you can clean with minimal force. In addition, it is getting lighter year by year, and the latest model weighs only 500 grams when operated. It is popular because even women can clean it without any burden.

――The head part has also been improved year by year, and now it has become like this. The metal frame is a guard to prevent objects such as pencils from getting caught. The processing of the mountain shape in front is "Triangle Power Nozzle". It is not just a design, but by making it this shape, it increases the flow of air and improves the efficiency of the suction power.

--Let me boast about the features that only Ergorapido has in recent years. This "PRESS" button is the "brush roll clean function" which is a unique technology. Simply step on the switch to cut and suck the tangle of dust such as hair on the head brush.

I ``That's what this PRESS mark means.

――In addition, from the 3rd generation, the removal button can be operated with one hand, it has 6 types of nozzles including the futon nozzle, and the station and the main unit can store the brush nozzle. Even though there is no change in the form of stick type, such as installing an LED light that makes it easy to clean even in dark gaps, every time the model is updated, it is updated to be more convenient and easier to use.

I ``That's fine. Especially when it comes to storing brush nozzles.

--That's right. For 100 years, Electrolux has put itself in the user's shoes and pursued ease of use. For that reason, I have been thinking about how to lower the center of gravity, make it easier to remove, make it easier to turn around, make it easier to hold the battery, and most importantly, make sure it sucks up a lot of dust.

――The culmination of 100 years of cleaning. That is who I am in front of me now. Did you understand!

By the way, how many minutes have passed?

- It's still about 20 minutes. My "Ergorapido Lithium ZB3114AK" uses a turbo power lithium-ion battery, and it can run for about 45 minutes on a full charge, so I can talk for another 25 minutes! Now, master, how about some heart-wrenching Swedish jokes...

I gently pressed the power button.

25 minutes left on battery. With that much money, even if you clean the house, you'll get change. I put my head on the floor again, took a deep breath, and cautiously turned on the power.

Whew...

The vacuum cleaner begins to move with the usual sucking sound. Even if I poked it a little, there was still no reaction. It was back to being a normal vacuum cleaner that didn't talk or start moving on its own.

After all, that was a dream. It must have been a hot daydream...

However, it is interesting content for history lovers and home appliance lovers. Thanks to this strange experience, I became interested in "vacuum cleaners", which I had been indifferent to. And if you think that it is packed with history and technology, it seems that you have come to like cleaning, which was just a hassle.

Weeeeee...!

Sorry, I felt like the vacuum was getting louder. Did you feel my feelings? … What? But let's put it this way. 100 years of history, welcome to our home.

Let's keep cleaning!

source: Ergorapido

(Hisanori Kogure)