Halesowen couple still cleaning up with 98-year-old vacuum cleaner

Mary Waite and her husband Ivor have been using their trusty Piccolo, which performs at least eight different functions, since they got married in 1976.

The plastic and metal gadget is a vacuum cleaner but can transform into a food processor, meat mincer, coffee grinder, polisher, vegetable peeler, drill and even a compressed air paint sprayer.

The couple still use their all-in-one tool today to keep their Halesowen home spick and span.

Piccolo's were produced in 1925 and were popular for families living in cramped houses in Germany and Eastern Europe due to its compact size and versatility.

Ivor, aged 73, was given the Piccolo by his aunt and says modern household appliances don't come close to it's reliability.

The retired engineering inspector said: “We were given it in 1976 from my auntie as a wedding present - it's the household equivalent of a Swiss Army knife.

"Her husband was a businessman who imported these things in the 50s from Germany. Because he had no service department, he couldn’t sell them.

“She was giving them away. I’ve lost a few spare parts but I'm quite handy so I've managed to keep the Piccolo going all these years.

"There was a juicer and a carrot slicer attachment but I don’t know where they have all gone.

“It’s pretty amazing that you can use it as a mincer, liquidiser, a food mixer, a juicer, a slicer and even polish the floors with it.

"It's a one-of-a-kind and we wouldn't be without it.

"You can also turn it into a vacuum cleaner. There’s a tool kit, there’s a circular saw and a drill with a grinder.

“We mainly used it as a mincer. We use it as a vacuum cleaner in the car because it’s small and once in a while we use it to polish and clean the floors.

“It had been in storage for god knows how long in my auntie's cottage before she gave it to us in 1976.”

Ivor and Mary Waite with their trusty Piccolo (Image: SWNS)

German-made Piccolo’s are made from a strong metal casing and have the ability to be made into a variety of items.

They were manufactured between 1925 and 1930 and were imported to Britain by traders.

The couple won an award in 2013 for the oldest working appliance in the Black Country after they entered their trusty device into the contest.

Ivor added: “With modern vacuums, they’re virtually unrepairable nowadays. It lasted because it’s German engineering. It’s well built and heavy.

"The motor ways 3k or 4kg at least. You can’t mess with it really. It’s solid, all metal.

“Dyson’s are a pain to repair. You have to unclip all this plastic.

“The only thing that happened is I had to put a new plug on it. I had to put a 13 amp English plug on it. I don’t think it’s ever broken down.

“We’ll keep hold of this and use it as long as we can. We’ve got two children who will fight over it when we go.

“I haven’t left it. The only thing that might burn out is the motor, but I have three of them.”