Although his name eventually became synonymous with his company’s biggest invention, W.H. Hoover started out making something completely different – turning leather into saddles, bridles and harnesses for horses. But, when his wife’s cousin came to him with the prototype for ‘The Electric Suction Sweeper’, Hoover immediately saw its potential. In 1908 he purchased the patent for it, changing the name to the ‘Hoover Electric Suction Sweeper’. And with that, he created a product name that would eventually outstrip the whole brand.
