It did not need a bag to collect dust; instead it spun air really fast, creating a cyclone that flung dust outwards where it could be collected. He realised the potential was there for a bag-free and more efficient machine. Sir James rushed back to his house, dismantled his vacuum cleaner and attached a cyclone device, hastily made from cardboard and sticking tape. Four years, and more than 5, prototypes later, he had a machine that worked to his satisfaction.
It was not obvious from Sir James's schooling and early college years that he would become a leading inventor and industrial designer. Sir James, whose father died when he was a child, grew up in Norfolk in the s. Speaking about his childhood he said, "Money was very unimportant and what was much more important to me, and was a greater gift, was the countryside, the seaside, the sand dunes, the freedom. Having studied art at school, he went on to art college in London where the principal suggested that he go into design.
He became influenced by the ideas of US architect and designer Buckminster Fuller, known for elegant domes. Inspired by such work, he helped design the Sea Truck, a high-speed boat, built for beach landings. But Sir James wanted his own project and that came in - a wheelbarrow that featured a large spherical plastic wheel.
The ballbarrow was designed to be easier to fill, empty and manoeuvre than existing barrows. The invention was a commercial success, but in building the business Sir James lost control to outside investors and it was sold against his wishes. It was an experience he was determined not to repeat with his next invention, the bagless vacuum cleaner. By the early s he had a working prototype, but developing it into a commercial product was a gruelling process that took another 10 years and almost bankrupted him.
At one stage he owed his bank more than a million pounds. I've always been heavily in debt. He said, "You do it like this," and lit the acetylene torch, and then he buggered off to work.
Here I was, this long-haired art student with a shiny purple raincoat bought on King's Road, and he was letting me make mistakes and learn things myself. After we finished the prototype, I said, "Now what? Soon, we were selling boats a year. I started working on the vacuum cleaner in I'd purchased what claimed to be the most powerful vacuum cleaner. But it was essentially useless.
Rather than sucking up the dirt, it pushed it around the room. I'd seen an industrial sawmill, which uses something called a cyclonic separator to remove dust from the air. I thought the same principle of separation might work on a vacuum cleaner. I rigged up a quick prototype, and it did. I became obsessed. It took five years of doing nothing but making and testing prototypes. My wife supported us by teaching art. She was wonderful. But most other people thought I was mad.
When the vacuum was ready, the first thing I did was to show it to the makers of domestic appliances. They didn't want it. I licensed it to Amway in the U. So I decided to become a manufacturer myself.
The first sale I made was to a mail-order catalog. I sat with the buyer all day. Right at the end, he said, "It's an interesting vacuum cleaner, but why should I take a Hoover or an Electrolux out of the catalog to put in yours? I said, "Because your catalog is boring. And then another catalog took it because I was in the first one. And then I got into one or two little stores. I usually sell from the point of view of frustration, hoping that other people feel the same way.
After that, I was like any other vacuum-cleaner salesman. His latest honor came in when he was elected a Royal Society of London Fellow. Latest News Get in touch with our freindly team to help with your queries Enquire Now. Call Now. History of the Dyson Company. May 30, Overview of Dyson Dyson Ltd is a British technology company that designs and manufactures heaters, bladeless fans, hand dryers and vacuum cleaners. Joe Graham is delighted to be an official stockist of Dyson and also a dedicated spares and repairs agent - for more information please telephone Select Month.
This website uses cookies We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. You consent to our cookies if you continue to use this website. Use necessary cookies only Allow all cookies Show details.
0コメント