1950 Electrolux Model XXX

[electrolux137]

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Here's my beautiful 1950 Electrolux Model XXX.

I have the entire set -- cord winder, polisher, sprayer, vaporizer, GarmentAire bag, white dusting brush, white wall brush, suction regulator, a clip-on wheel dolly, and probably some other stuff I'm forgetting.

I also have empty wax and moth crystal cans and the very fragile original carton, just for display.

Sometimes I like to keep the Model XXX simple and "un-cluttered." Without the cord winder or Companion, its appearance is so much more clean and streamlined. The instruction manual notes that the Companion can be "hung on a convenient door knob or hook," and that's how I like to arrange it when cleaning with it.

Other times I like it all "tricked out" with all the accessories. It just depends on my mood!

Here's a video:



http://www.1377731.com/z0000137/xxx.91.mp4

 

[luxz80]

What a beautiful XXX!!! Looks just you just brought home from shop!! Beautiful art deco design. I often wonder where you come across all of these great examples that have survived the years so intact and beautiful.

I have seen some of your collection on your former 137 website. I especially liked "Mr Westdave's kirby". I think that was what it was called. Also the "great garage clean out".

I do miss going to your "wacky corner of cyberspace". It was very informative and was a great piece of work. The woven hose backgrounds were such a great idea.

All of your collection is very stunning. Keep on collecting. Sure wish I could have went to one of your clear out get together sessions.

All The Best,

Gary.

 

[jo]

I’ll second Gary’s comments...and more

Charles, I’ve been following you for many years and enjoyed your vast website full of Electrolux information and facts....I wonder if there is any way you can set up this web site to have a place for all of us to enjoy that wonderful work you did or is there somewhere that it still is?

You have a great collection and your XXX is in better condition than mine. I don’t think my Grandmother bought the garment bag or polisher or cordwinder...likely she just got the basic set which included the sprayer which I still have but the top knob is missing rendering it useless but don’t think I’d use it anyway. At some point the handle on mine came undone from the front and I repaired it when I got it with a nut and bolt through it’s fastening slot, but wonder if there is something better I can do.

My Aunt had to replace the original hose in 1983 when I was staying with her and I had brought my turbotool to shampoo her rug and the suction loss on the old hose was not allowing the shampooer to operate on the carpet and the old one was taken to the store and she returned only with a new hose and a frown about how much it cost her and that the salesman said “you’d better bring that machine in for a checkup...this hose looks pretty old” and I told her it’s fine and he probably wanted to sell her a new machine.

Anyway, the rubber on the floor brush is fine but on the rug tool it has dried out and crumbled off for the most part. The vacuum was stored in a finished attic that was not heated or cooled in a NJ home from the start of its life until about 1985...so it would get quite hot up there in in the summer and cold in the winter. The house only had heat in the kitchen which was one level below but far from the attic staircase. It had some openable windows but they were only opened when my Father and his siblings were living there as kids after that, no one used the two attic bedrooms so the attic was allowed to become hot in summer and cold in the winter more after no one needed that level and it was only used generally as guest or storage quarters. Guessing that contributed to the demise of the rubber as when I had it in 85 the rubber was already on its way out. Also the rubber ring inside the dusting brush crumbled away on me and is gone.

Mine may be a different year, the rubber, or what’s left of it, on the rug tool is gray, the rubber bumper on the floor brush is still good and is a beige color. My dusting brush does not have a bumper on it and I’ve seen some that do.

I’ve always wondered what the small oval top part of the rug nozzle was supposed to be for vacuuuming....since you have a lot of manuals and documentation...does your instruction manual show anything about what that’s supposed to be useful for? If so, could you post a picture of that explanation of what the manual says about it? I don’t have the instruction manual for my XXX.

Just love these metal tools...totally unbreakable and made to last forever, what quality!....why anyone would throw them away is beyond me, they could easily be used with all sorts of modern vacuums that take the standard 1 1/4” attachments. My Sister has remarked how much she loves these metal attachments and she’s not a vacuum nut like me! But I do see how they could be harsh if bumped into furniture and the combination tools that came after are more convenient as they are 2 in 1 tools.

I’ve never seen the suction regulator attachment, could you post a picture of it?

Also, I’d like to see the clip on wheel dolly you mention you have. Never seen one and would like to get one. Not sure how to search for one of those on eBay.

Lately I’ve been wondering if Tri star disposable bags will fit the XXX as the cloth bag clogs more quickly and also isn’t exactly fun to empty, I’d rather just have something I can throw away when it’s full.

I removed the after filter from mine but I think I still have it. It is quieter with the after filter on.

I’d like to eventually obtain a companion mostly because it would be asker to have everything on board with me when I use the machine. I spotted one on eBay long ago but stupidly didn’t buy it then, but it was a bit rusty...guess I wasn’t “ready”. Well I’ll keep looking.

I toy with the idea of buying the cordwinder for it, but I know it would weigh down the machine and I like how light it is without it and looping up the cord after using it doesn’t bother me much. I also love the look of the back end without it and the cute little spring loaded blower door air deflectors. The cord I notice can also be wrapped around one of the sled glides I’ve found for storage, though mine was always kept unplugged from the unit, looped nicely and tied with a shoelace and still is.

Oh, by the way, I did see you waving hi in the front cover reflection in the video! Cute!

As always, Thanks again!

Jon

 

[electrolux137]

Lux XXX clip-on wheel dolly

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Jo (and anyone else who's interested!), here are some photos of my "Souped Up Super Deluxe Lux XXX!:" It's the last version of the XXX that was done up in LX colors and leatherette with a blue hammertone* finish on the front and rear covers. It was offered as a lower-tier model for those who wouldn't spring for the more expensive (and heavier!) LX.


 


It has a 1205 motor, a later Electrolux add-on to allow use of disposable bags with the XXX, and the wheeled cart that fits either the XXX or LX. It just clips onto the runners. The big tires make the tubby LX trundle along very nicely as opposed to feeling like you're tugging a sack of bricks behind you!


 


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* Speaking of which, authentic hammertone finish is a baked-on process that's very smooth in appearance and practically indestructible. You'll never get the same look from spray paint, although Electrolux's later factory rebuilds of AF, L, G, etc. were just spray-painted. They start to get really tacky looking when the paint starts getting rubbed and scratched off.

 

[electrolux137]

XXX Suction Control

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You'd connect this between the lower wand and floor tool to adjust suction. It wouldn't work on the handle end of the hose because the end that goes into the wand is too short and doesn't block the long slits in the wands.

 

[jo]

Interesting

That suction control is very interesting. Would be fun to have one.

Looks like the wheel rack doesn’t have front wheels?

I’ve often wondered why the Electrolux wands have those slits in them and I’ve seen other brands with them too. Anyone know why those slits exist?

Jon

 

[electrolux137]

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There is a wheel on the front. It's a large swiveling caster. You can't see it because of the angle of the photo.

 

[electrolux137]

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The slits in the wand help to separate them. Without them, air gets trapped between the two wands and makes it difficult to pull them apart.

 

[paul]

As long as it's a 1950 XXX, I'll say it's the "Bee's Knees" (a '49 or earlier year would have been "Swell").

I rented a room in an older guy's house quite a while back. He was the one who introduced me to Electrolux tank air purifier/cleaners by showing me two Model XXXs—one that used to belong to his mom and one owned by an aunt of his. He'd also purchased a Model 1363 automatic upright, that was his daily driver. The XXXs were used, only if rarely, for special jobs. At the time I took a casual interest; and his interest was purely sentimental and historical. Now, I wonder if the XXXs were pre-WWII. He has since passed, so I'll never know.

 

[electrolux137]

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The Model XXX was sold for more years than any other Electrolux -- from 1937 until 1954. Many millions of them were sold. By October 1948,  three million had already been sold. You could probably at least double that figure from 1949 to 1954.


 


 

 

[human]

Yes, the XXX is a stunningly beautiful piece of mid-20th century industrial design. My grandparents had one that the maid was still using when my grandfather went into assisted living in 1998. I don't know what became of it, but it was probably still in the house after he passed away in 2001.

I'd love to have an XXX or an LX. Maybe someday. I briefly considered an LX I saw on eBay about a month ago. It had a full collection of tools, including a PN1, for which it had apparently been retrofitted. It had a buy it now price in the $45 range but the shipping cost would have lifted the total well over $100 and at the time, I was focused on finding the few parts I needed for the Diplomat that had just come into my hands, so I—somewhat reluctantly—let it pass.

 

[jo]

Estate sales great source for collectible vintage items

Estate sales are a good source to find these older models. I don’t go to very many at all, only if I happen to see a sign along my driving route that day, and that’s if I happen to be out and about, AND I have the time and desire to go in do I go so really under 5 a year and in that time I’ve found an LX which I did buy but stupidly gave away to someone who later ripped me off...And so now I regret giving it to them... and also an XXX which I did not buy because I already have my Grandmother’s. It was interesting the XXX was in a relatively new contemporary home where the estate sale was, but perhaps it was an item that got transferred from a previous estate sale, or maybe the homeowner loved cool design so had it for their new contemporary home.

I’ve also managed to pick up genuine Electrolux bags and two combination dusting brush/upholstery tools here and there at estate sales for much less than these go on eBay.

I have found so many other vintage cleaners and polishers at many of the sales.

Jon

 

[dysonman1]

As a child of the sixties, the model XXX seemed to me to be a very out of date machine. By the 1966, the Kenmore PowerMate seemed very advanced to me. The Automatic F seemed 'contemporary' to me, but the tanks on runners just didn't do it. Then I grew up and understood their place in history. My model XXX that's on display is a pre-war 1937 model which I think is the most beautiful of all the versions. It uses so much polished aluminum in its construction. Also the very dark grey leatherette against the mirror finish aluminum is just stunning in how it throws the light when you look at it. The very first XXX's really have a very different look from the much later models.

 

[jo]

Yes, I can see how you would think the XXX was outdated, and it indeed was because as wall to wall carpeting came in and power nozzles were introduced and disposable self sealing paper bags, along with wheels, things became more advanced, better at cleaning, and easier to use. But we’ve gone full circle coming back to a time where people want hard wood floors only or maybe add a few area rugs and so now, straight suction vacuum cleaners have their place in some homes.

And while the XXX is outdated for some use, paired with an upright of some sort with no attachments that takes care of carpets with a brush roll, the XXX could serve as the attachment vacuum for cleaning furniture, hard floors and all other tight spots today. It really depends on what type of setup people prefer today...a one for all machine, or a pair that serve the different purposes.

I think I would use my XXX more if it had wheels. I have hardwoods and a few small area rugs and cowhides in my house so my XXX would do a fine job, but I worry the rails will scratch the floors, I’ve been toying adding removable wheels to the rails or covering the rails with fabric of some sort. It does seem odd to me that they didn’t put wheels on these early models! It’s not like the wheel hadn’t been invented yet after all...and it was pretty advanced by then.

I probably wouldn’t even mind emptying the fabric bag with the method of dumping it and holding it’s collar down on a piece of paper and shaking it then waiting a few moments for the dust to settle as that seems the easiest and cleanest way to do it. Certainly cleaner than dumping a bagless vacuum and having to clean its filters.

 

[jo]

A durable and quality product

Perhaps this accounts to why we still see so many XXX’s around. There isn’t much on them to break or wear out...the switch, cord, and hose and maybe the bristles, perhaps the handle..and all of those available from Electrolux for so long. And there are still hoses both genuine and aftermarket made that fit this machine today. Those metal attachments and stainless steel wands are nearly indestructible and rarely do I see heavily scratched and dented or rusted XXX’s. The shape lended itself to stability that wouldn’t tip over, the top covering and textured paint underneath kept it scratch resistant, all metal construction kept things from cracking or breaking and the metal was obviously thick enough to prevent dings. Aside from the earlier models. And LX,LXI, and plastic models, I’ve seen many electrolux’s heavily scratched and or dented.