Summing up the matter, the author believes that both Type A and F renovators have their uses in their proper places but that Type A has the widest field of usefulness, yet it need not invade the field of the other. He also believes that this fact will be realized by manufacturers in the near future, when the two types of renovators will work together side by side for the general good of the manufacturers and the users.
CHAPTER IV.
Other Renovators.
The renovator which is next in importance to the carpet renovator is that used for cleaning bare floors. The earliest form of this renovator was the oscillating floor type introduced by Mr. Kenney. This was a modification of the narrow-slot carpet renovator introduced by him. The body of same was curved and supported on two small wheels or rollers, with the intention of bringing the cleaning slot close to the surface cleaned without its touching same, as indicated in [Fig. 24].
FIG. 24. EARLY TYPE OF BARE FLOOR RENOVATOR.
FIG. 25. LATER TYPE OF BARE FLOOR RENOVATOR.
This form of renovator was found to be impracticable for the reason that any change in the angle with which the stem or tube connecting the body of the renovator with the handle in relation to the surface cleaned tended to make its action ineffective. If the angle were made less the distance between the cleaning slot and the floor was increased, allowing the air to enter the cleaning slot without coming in contact with the surface to be cleaned, or, if the angle were made greater, it would cause the face of the renovator to strike and damage the surface of the floor.
The wheels or rollers on which this renovator was mounted, being so small, were subject to rapid wear both on their faces and in their bearings, and when these wheels were slightly worn the renovator was practically useless. On account of the above defects this form of renovator was abandoned shortly after its introduction.
The next form of renovator to be tried was a modification of the ordinary soft bristle brush, such as had been in general use for cleaning hard wood floors. The bristles were arranged around the edges of the cleaning slot, in the body, which was shaped similar to the slot in the carpet renovator. Rubber or leather curtains or skirting, extending nearly to the ends of the bristles, was placed inside of these bristles in order to cause the air in entering the body of the renovator to come into intimate contact with the surface to be cleaned. The general form of this type is shown in [Fig. 25].