>Jmh and anyone else from Britain of the right vintage, do you remember there being a carpet cleaner called 2001? Is it still being made? Is it still called that?

And what vintage would that be?
As a mere spring chicken in these parts I am gald to report that I am holding said carpet cleaner in my left hand whilst tpying with my right - sorry to dissapoint but it is called 1001 - for uses, I suspect, not the year.
Unless they are counting backwords and I missed out on the 2001 version. You might be thinking of the much loved moment in the Kubrick film where they got out the Bex Bissell and the carpet shampoo!