Goblin Vacuum Cleaners
Encyclopedia
Goblin Vacuum Cleaners was a British
brand of vacuum cleaner
s made from the early 1900s till the early 2000s.
who the company claimed had in fact invented the vacuum cleaner in about 1900, and which was subsequently copied in the USA and elsewhere.
In 1902, it is recorded in the Court Journal for October 25, that Booth had the honour of showing the King and Queen the vacuum cleaning process at Buckingham Palace
, and that as a result of this, BVC Vacuum Cleaners were installed there and at many other royal palaces throughout Europe. By the 1930s, many public buildings were equipped with 40 or more centralized vacuum cleaners using a common extraction system.
These centralized systems consisted of an air exhauster, a dust filter (with detachable dust container), and wrought iron
pipes run through the building, to which flexible hoses could be fitted for use in individual rooms.
Hotels, flats, offices, town halls, railway stations, theatres, clubs, factories churches and ships were all using (or potential users of) the system.
Important users included the Houses of Parliament, Imperial Chemical House, the Bank of England
, and the HQ of the State Savings Bank in Victoria, Australia.
Goblin was the trade name of their domestic cleaners.
Their industrial cleaning systems using similar technology were being used in power stations and factories, and include chimney cleaning devices, in Birmingham, Edinburgh, Calcutta, Barcelona, Shanghai and in HM Dockyards worldwide.
For many years, Goblin Vacuum Cleaners was one of the largest factory based industries in the Surrey
town of Leatherhead
, Ashtead
area. Having such a large work force it even had its own social club on site for staff.
The factory was located at the top of Ermyn Way with the Roman Road
, Stane Street, making up its southern border.
In the early 80s the company changed its name to BVC
, British Vacuum Cleaners, though the new name never stuck with staff and locals.
In 1984 the company decided to cease operations at the Leatherhead plant and move to Gosport
, Hampshire
.
The plant closed its doors in May 1984. After years of sitting empty the site was bought and built on by Esso
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
brand of vacuum cleaner
Vacuum cleaner
A vacuum cleaner, commonly referred to as a "vacuum," is a device that uses an air pump to create a partial vacuum to suck up dust and dirt, usually from floors, and optionally from other surfaces as well. The dirt is collected by either a dustbag or a cyclone for later disposal...
s made from the early 1900s till the early 2000s.
History
Goblin Vacuum Cleaners in the early 1930s were manufactured by the British Vacuum Cleaner and Engineering Co Ltd (BVC). The managing director was Hubert Cecil BoothHubert Cecil Booth
Hubert Cecil Booth was a British engineer who invented the first powered vacuum cleaner.He also designed Ferris wheels, suspension bridges and factories. Later he became Chairman and Managing Director of the British Vacuum Cleaner and Engineering Co.-Early life:Booth was born in Gloucester, England...
who the company claimed had in fact invented the vacuum cleaner in about 1900, and which was subsequently copied in the USA and elsewhere.
In 1902, it is recorded in the Court Journal for October 25, that Booth had the honour of showing the King and Queen the vacuum cleaning process at Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...
, and that as a result of this, BVC Vacuum Cleaners were installed there and at many other royal palaces throughout Europe. By the 1930s, many public buildings were equipped with 40 or more centralized vacuum cleaners using a common extraction system.
These centralized systems consisted of an air exhauster, a dust filter (with detachable dust container), and wrought iron
Wrought iron
thumb|The [[Eiffel tower]] is constructed from [[puddle iron]], a form of wrought ironWrought iron is an iron alloy with a very low carbon...
pipes run through the building, to which flexible hoses could be fitted for use in individual rooms.
Hotels, flats, offices, town halls, railway stations, theatres, clubs, factories churches and ships were all using (or potential users of) the system.
Important users included the Houses of Parliament, Imperial Chemical House, the Bank of England
Bank of England
The Bank of England is the central bank of the United Kingdom and the model on which most modern central banks have been based. Established in 1694, it is the second oldest central bank in the world...
, and the HQ of the State Savings Bank in Victoria, Australia.
Goblin was the trade name of their domestic cleaners.
Their industrial cleaning systems using similar technology were being used in power stations and factories, and include chimney cleaning devices, in Birmingham, Edinburgh, Calcutta, Barcelona, Shanghai and in HM Dockyards worldwide.
For many years, Goblin Vacuum Cleaners was one of the largest factory based industries in the Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
town of Leatherhead
Leatherhead
Leatherhead is a town in the County of Surrey, England, on the River Mole, part of Mole Valley district. It is thought to be of Saxon origin...
, Ashtead
Ashtead
Ashtead is a village situated within the Metropolitan Green Belt of Surrey, England, and is just outside of the suburbia of London. It is separated from Leatherhead by the M25, and from Epsom by Ashtead Common.- History :...
area. Having such a large work force it even had its own social club on site for staff.
The factory was located at the top of Ermyn Way with the Roman Road
Roman road
The Roman roads were a vital part of the development of the Roman state, from about 500 BC through the expansion during the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire. Roman roads enabled the Romans to move armies and trade goods and to communicate. The Roman road system spanned more than 400,000 km...
, Stane Street, making up its southern border.
In the early 80s the company changed its name to BVC
BVC
BVC can refer to:*Bar Professional Training Course , a postgraduate course*Bassingbourn Village College, a secondary school in Cambridgeshire*Blanchard Valley Conference, a Northwest Ohio High School athletic conference...
, British Vacuum Cleaners, though the new name never stuck with staff and locals.
In 1984 the company decided to cease operations at the Leatherhead plant and move to Gosport
Gosport
Gosport is a town, district and borough situated on the south coast of England, within the county of Hampshire. It has approximately 80,000 permanent residents with a further 5,000-10,000 during the summer months...
, Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
.
The plant closed its doors in May 1984. After years of sitting empty the site was bought and built on by Esso
Esso
Esso is an international trade name for ExxonMobil and its related companies. Pronounced , it is derived from the initials of the pre-1911 Standard Oil, and as such became the focus of much litigation and regulatory restriction in the United States. In 1972, it was largely replaced in the U.S. by...
.