a vacuum cleaner includes a housing adapted for movement on a subjacent surface and a nozzle defined in the housing , the nozzle having an opening . a brushroll tube , having first and second ends and a longitudinal axis , is rotatably mounted to the housing adjacent the nozzle opening . at least one cleaning element protrudes from the brushroll tube . a shaft is located in the brushroll tube and extends along the longitudinal axis thereof . a stator is rigidly mounted on the shaft . a cylinder surrounds the shaft and the stator and is spaced therefrom . the cylinder is rigidly connected to the brushroll tube . a permanent magnet rotor is fixedly mounted to an interior surface of the cylinder . the permanent magnet rotor overlies and is coaxial with the stator and is spaced therefrom . the rotor and stator form a motor for rotating the brushroll tube wherein the rotor is driven by changes in induced magnetic fields in the stator .