James Dyson - One (sorry make that two) trick pony ? Discuss.

Now, let me make it clear from the start that I am not out to 'dis' James D  as an entrepreneur since for that he commands an A*. However as an engineer are his achievements not just a teensy bit overrated? Yes I freely admit more successful that anything I have come up with but really, anything worth 1.5 billion quid ?

Aside from the new hand drier (I still end up wiping hand on trousers) and the fanless fan (that does actually still contain a fan) which I'm guessing were dreamed up by his dozens of Malmesbury based boffins James, it seems, has had two successful ideas mostly over 30 years ago:-

1. The ball-barrow ( a wheel barrow that used a ball) - you may recall it from the 70s/80s adverts maybe it was even branded by Black & Decker I can't recall.
2. The cyclone vacuum cleaner (CVC) - that never loses suction - ever. Really ? But what if the dust box gets full huh  ? Can't really be true can it ?

Luckily though for James the other players tried to copy the CVC and 'Lo ! A lifetimes free PR and a knighthood to boot'. That puts him up there with Frank Whittle, yes that's right the inventor of a genuine engineering triumph the jet engine !

But 'hold on a cotton picking minute' I hear you cry what about the latest release from Dyson HQ  ?

Wait for it ..

Are you ready.. ?

A CVC with a  ball from the ball-barrow !! TA DAH !!

How the cogs must have turned that day ...