In 1901, a dust removing suction cleaner patented was filed by Hubert Cecil Booth, a bridge engineer (U.K. No. 17,433). Prior machines using compressed air created clouds of dust, but with no means of removal, the dirt simply settled again. Once struck with the idea of using suction, Booth made a preliminary experiment by placing a pocket handkerchief over the plush back of a seat. He put his lips to it, and after sucking, a ring of black spots on the handkerchief proved his principle. He started a mobile cleaning service. Built on a horse-drawn cart, his vacuum machine had an engine driving a pump provided with a long hose to extend into a house to be cleaned. An early task was to clean the great blue coronation carpet in Westminster Abbey for Edward VII's coronation. more