The company that owns the Hoover vacuum cleaner brand is considering selling it.
The news came after its owner, US home appliance company Maytag, announced a loss of $US75 million for the last three months of 2005 – down from $US14m in 2004.
Hoover’s sales fell 20% in the quarter, as it struggled with competition from rivals like Dyson and Oreck. Maytag has already agreed to a $US1.7 billion takeover by its US rival Whirlpool.
The first Hoover vacuum was made by an asthmatic department store janitor Murray Spangler, who came up with the device when dust raised from his broom aggravated his condition. He sold the patent to a leather goods manufacturer, WH Hoover.
The Hoover family owned the company until it became publicly traded in 1943; Maytag acquired the company in 1989.
From Radio New Zealand