WE had four correct guesses to last week's mystery object.

Molly Preston, of Austwick, Beryl Dodsworth, of Stanbury, Sylvia Merrett, of Settle and Sue Bailey, of Grassington, all said it was an early vacuum cleaner.

However, Molly had a second suggestion, saying it also looked remarkably like a gadget used to spray the roses for greenfly.

But it was, indeed, a hand-operated vacuum cleaner, invented and patented in 1910 by the British company Star Engineering. It was produced until 1938 and had an original price of 54 shillings.

The device was operated by pumping the concertina drum up and down to suck dust in through the cleaning head. However the collected dirt did not store in the drum very well and was often blown back out.

The first working vacuum cleaner was invented in 1901 by Hubert Cecil Booth and was a large horse-drawn unit that took four to six people to operate. It became a popular trend with wealthy women who would throw "vacuum cleaner parties" whilst Booth’s attendants cleaned around them.

Hand operated vacuum cleaners like this Star model were later designed instead as cheap labour saving devices.

And so this week's object, which could prove more challenging. Send your guesses to news@cravenherald.co.uk

Meanwhile both items are on display in Craven Museum and Gallery, which is located in Skipton Town Hall.