The very first recorded example of people using air pressure to take out leaves originates from Japan inside 19th century, when gardeners used bellows to wash up mossy ground.

It has been claimed by others and widely circulated round the internet that the Japanese then were the first to hold the concept of adding a hose and motor, around 1970, after which sold the machines in to the USA. Should they did, these folks were by then copying developments which had already happened in the USA and Europe.

Blowin' inside wind

The concept for the blower even as now comprehend it began in America in the 1950s included in agricultural crop-spraying 'mist blowing' equipment.

Some key early milestones are as follows:

1950 Echo Inc. in the USA (also an early hedge trimmer manufacturer) introduce the very first engine-powered backpack duster/sprayer. It can be used to dispense pesticides in nurseries and on crop farms.

1951 Public Works Director of Hartford Connecticut, Charles Cook, contains the notion of using 2 of their snow blowers to eliminate leaves. He warns they 'can just be used when foliage is wet because dry leaves could be blown for blocks...'

1955 Echo produce the backpack duster/mist blower DM-9.

Late 1950s Individuals are found to be dismantling the chemical dispensing equipment and merely with all the powerful blowing unit. Manufacturers start to see the potential and commence to produce leaf blowers for commercial applications. These are 'walk-behind' or backpack machines. (It's claimed by a Wikipedia contributor that particular Dom Quinto was the inventor with the modern leaf blower inside the late 50s, however, there is no corroboration with this entry plus it could possibly be fanciful or mischievous).

1959 H.L. Diehl, an ex-Pratt & Whitney jet engine technician, develops what his company claims 'the first walk-behind lawn vacuum and leaf blower'.

1963 One of the first types of a backlash against leaf-blower noise in the event the capital of scotland- White Plains takes action following complaints.

1960s The Dutch Vandermolen company is making and exporting a 2-stroke engine backpack blower.

1966 H.L. Diehl re-brands his company as Giant-Vac. They introduce an array of machines.

1969 Giant-Vac introduce the first leaf-loading machine that collects leaves as well as blowing them around.

1971 Echo unveil their PB-9 petrol-engined backpack blower, which widens the selling point of leaf blowers to smaller users.

1978 Echo launches possibly the first petrol hand-held power blower. Domestic users and commercial landscapers will have use of a blower, and very soon more manufacturers (including McCulloch, now part of Swedish multinational Husqvarna) enter in the new market. In L . a . legislation is mooted to curb 2-stroke engine pollution: thus begins the movement to produce producers exchange signal of cleaner 2-strokes, 4-strokes, or electrical energy.

1985 US backpack sales 75,000. Weed Eater begin creating a hand-held petrol-powered blower.

1987 US total sales 464,000.

1989 US sales 800,000. Stihl of Germany, the chain saw innovators, launch backpack blowers. They turned into a leading force.

1997 Over 1 million US sales.

1998 Los Angeles bans the use of petrol blowers within 500 feet of a residence, and promotes an effective (but quieter and less-polluting) electric blower design.

1999 US sales 1.9m: 1.6m hand-held blowers and 290k backpack blowers.

2003 Electrolux patents a variable-speed electric leaf blower. (That is today copied by Black & Decker, Ryobi yet others).

2004 Briggs & Stratton buys out Giant-Vac and creates a Yard Power Products Group focusing mainly on commercial markets.

2007 First recorded game of leaf blower hockey is took part in Toronto.

Late 2000s First 4-stroke motors apparently meet tougher emissions laws in various US states and in other countries. Cordless battery models become viable on account of more powerful Nicad and lithium-ion batteries, e.g. Ryobi models with 120mph/ 193 km/hr air speed.

Prevailing winds

Recent trends in leaf blowers:

Machines have quieter: many petrol-engined models now emit under 65dB at 50 feet, whereas older machines were 70-75, which in decibel terms is hugely greater. Operators' hearing could be impaired by these old devices. (It is recommended that ear defenders be worn by any user). The move to electric (corded or cordless) has also reduced average machine noise.

Brands which claim excellent emissions reductions in their petrol models include Echo; Hitachi, whose 2-stroke Pure Fire motor meets the usa Phase 2 and Euro Stage 2 regulations; and Makita, that have reviewed to 4-stroke engines, such as the world's lightest 4-stroke handheld machine at 4.4kg (comparable Hitachi 2-stroke is 3.9kg in order that is often a fine achievement to the traditionally heavier engine technology).

There is ever increasing popularity for that handier vacuum/blowers that will also suck up dust or gather leaves and mulch them before collecting them in a bag to stop the product chore, in addition to aiding the composting process. Electric and petrol combination machines now abound, from lightweight Flymo and Black & Decker models to wheeled hand-push devices from GMC and Warrior and powered-wheel machines from Billy Goat. Suction machines also counter criticisms so easy blowers raise harmful dust and they are damaging to nearby plants. Their extra versatility may well be appreciated more and more in a long time to come.

Other innovations include electronic 'Touch Start'12V battery starting on petrol machines (from Ryobi) in order to avoid the chore and uncertainty of pull-cord starts. Others provide an easy-start carburettor to make the pull leas onerous.

The first good reputation for the leaf blower has been somewhat impacted by controversy but it is undeniably popular and contains a perpetual devote garden and commercial applications due to much greater productivity that it affords than the man having a rake and spade. Machines continue to enhance and get greener, and consumer choice will grow even more.