Abstract: A quiet and powerful vacuum cleaner-blower assembly comprises an improved quiet operating electric motor coupled to and driving an improved quiet operating blower. The motor has improved cooling air flow with cooling air inlet and discharge openings disposed to minimize noise. An axial flow cooling air fan impinges the cooling air onto sound absorbing material before discharging the cooling air from the motor. The blower has a high efficiency impeller utilizing forward and backward curved vanes which discharge air into a casing having a chamber with a cross-sectional flow area which linearly increases as air moves around the periphery, resulting in quiet operation and increased capacity with a less than expected increase in power consumption. The vacuum cleaner-blower assembly may be operated in conjunction with stationary guide blades for improving the flow of air into the impeller, resulting in still further increase in capacity without substantial increase in noise or power consumption.