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February 27 - 29, 2012
at the Ernest Morial Convention Center

Get Your Vacuum Kicks On Route 66

Tacony Corporation Opens World's First Vacuum Museum

Simplicity and Riccar vacuums have long been known for their progressive achievements -- first moving upright vacuum production to the United States, then the invention of Tandem Air technology…and now, the World's First Vacuum Cleaner Museum, perfectly located along Historic Route 66.

On August 27, Tacony Corporation celebrated the Grand Opening of the Vacuum Cleaner Museum, located in St. James, MO. The museum shares a building with the Tacony Manufacturing plant, where Riccar and Simplicity vacuum cleaners are built. Attendees enjoyed a ribbon-cutting, ice cream, and a tour of the museum, which displays vacuums from the 1910's to modern times in decade-themed vignettes.

With over 544 vacuum cleaners spanning a century of progress, visitors experience a glimpse of Americana through the evolution of the vacuum and accompanying flooring, furniture, and newspaper and magazine advertising displayed in each decade. The Vacuum Cleaner Museum also educates even the most seasoned vacuum experts.

"We think being a student of the past of the vacuum cleaner is very much going to help us design the best vacuum cleaners of the future," said John Kaido, president of Simplicity and Riccar Vacuums. Research and engineering teams have studied the vacuums to identify design flaws of the past, as well as to inspire new innovations.

"The goal is to make the best vacuum cleaner," added Tom Gasko, museum curator and national authority on vacuums. "If you know where you've been, you're not afraid of where you'll go." Gasko cited the challenges of shag carpeting and the ahead-of-its-time 1920 Air-Way model as examples.

The majority of the museum's vacuums are from Gasko's personal collection. A collector since childhood, Gasko's passion has allowed the former Festus, MO, vacuum retailer to appear in USA Today, the HBO's documentary This Is America, and other national media. He has also served as president of the Vacuum Cleaner Collectors Club.

"It's a blast!" Gasko told a local NBC reporter. "It was a lifelong dream of mine to be able to share vacuum cleaners with people."

"Tom is perfect at blending entertainment with education," said Joy Petty, director of marketing for Tacony Corporation's Floor Care Division. "He has such an extensive knowledge of about how the vacuum cleaner has evolved, and how each was directly related to changes in America. You have no idea how exciting vacuums can be until you visit Tom at the museum."

The museum also boasts a few "celebrity" vacuums on display, including the official vacuum cleaner of Air Force One and the childhood vacuum of Emmy nominated actor, James Earl Jones. Many vacuums from the museum were gifts to Gasko from Stan Kann, a vacuum enthusiast who famously shared his collection on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. Kann, a legendary Fox Theatre organist from St. Louis, MO, had the most non-celebrity appearances in the history of The Tonight Show.

The Vacuum Cleaner Museum and Factory Outlet are currently open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with free admission.

The museum is located just off of Hwy. 44 at exit 195, at #3 Industrial Drive, St. James, MO.

For more information, visit www.vacuummuseum.com.

Reprinted from Floor Care Professional, December 2009