Carmine,
Here is James Dyson’s dual cyclone w/clear bin U.S. patent - filed in 1984.
.
Here and below is my Fantom Capture upright/dry shampooer, James’ 1st licensed American dual cyclonic w/clear bin and
U.S. patent - filed in 1987.   It is my understanding that no other manufacturer pre-dates James’ clear bin. A clear sight glass yes, a clear bin no.
If any collectors know of any clear binned vacuum that pre-dates James’ clear bin I’d like to see it (post here).       DIB
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Note: Amway using Bissell as a manufacturer stole James' dual cyclonic and had on the U.S. market in 1990
(per James Dyson autobiography – “Against the Oddsâ€) Read of it here
Hello DIB:
Eureka's first bagless upright, called the Whirlwind "cyclonic"Â
that was mass marketed in the USA was a single cyclone, not dual cyclone
like dyson.
WRT to the first clear dust bin, I mentioned recently that Regina used a
clear plastic dust cup on its later Electrik Brooms [probably late 1960's early 1970's].Â
So users could see the dirt in the cup for dumping.
Also Lewyt canisters, which were bagless and then went bagged in the
mid 1950's, used a paper bag called the Speed Sak that had a clear see thru panel
that extended the entire length of the bag. So users didn't have to quess if
the bag needed to be replaced. Â
Most if not all of the floor washers and scrubbers of the 1960's and 1970's used clear/cloudy
see thru plastic water tanks so users could see the levels of clean/dirty water
solutions.
Name brand canisters in the 1970's, like Sears, used clear see thru plastic covers for the tops
of the on-board tool storage so users could see that all the tools were present and properly
stored.
The application of clear/see-thru floorcare bins, bags, tanks and covers is not unique
to any particular vacuum brand, make, and/or model like dyson/dyson bagless vacuums. Their
usage has a long and storied history in the vacuum/floorcare industry in the USA dating
back several decades before Mr. Dyson.
Carmine D.
This message was modified Apr 2, 2008 by CarmineD