nlebrun:

 

No matter how much we may think we still feel the yoke of housework, electric appliances like the vacuum helped fling open the window for women back in the early part of the 20th century.

Think of it! No more dragging heavy Persian rugs outside to beat the bejesus out of them for hours on end. Finally! Some help cleaning the endless soot that settled from gas lamps and fires.

Oct. 3 marks the 112th anniversary of the patent for the first vacuum.