Ewbank ‘Success’ carpet sweeper, Motherwell, 1920s

Carpet sweepers are a simple, less physically demanding way of sweeping floors than using a brush. They are entirely mechanical, and do not have suction like the vacuum cleaners that have largely replaced them in homes.

Pushing the sweeper turns two roller brushes in the case, which sweep dirt into a container. Ewbanks were so popular in Britain that their name was used to describe any carpet sweeper, much like a 'Hoover' is used to describe any vacuum cleaner.