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.
Hoover Dustette Model 100 – c.1930-39/45-50
‘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. Some examples have a black rubber power cord, while others have a cloth-wrapped black and white power cord. A premium, high-quality product, it was expensive at £4.19.6d.
The patent for the Dustette design was filed May 5th 1930 by William H Kitto, assignor to the Hoover Company of North Canton, Ohio.
Hoover Hooverette
