I was reeling through a local 1964 newspaper microfilm and noticed 2 separate drugstore ads that included a texted listing for an Electrolux Cleaner priced at $33.33. No picture, line drawing or description were provided. Would this have been for refurbs?
1960s Electrolux USA Retail Sales
- Thread starter paul
- Start date
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dysonman1
Well-known member
There were a large number of vacuum cleaner parts suppliers to the industry that would rebuild cleaners and sell them at wholesale to many different types of retail stores. In many cases, the ridiculously low price was for a model 12, sometimes even a model 11. In many cases, it was a bait and switch scheme, baiting you to come into the store, and switching you to something more expensive.
rugsucker
Well-known member
Electrolux
Years ago I saw a Mo XXX in a '5 & 10 cent' type store.But there would have been nothing to switch to as it was the only vac.
Electrolux started with no advertising,then in early 50s started yearly national magazine ads and only much later allowed salesmen to run ads.
Years ago I saw a Mo XXX in a '5 & 10 cent' type store.But there would have been nothing to switch to as it was the only vac.
Electrolux started with no advertising,then in early 50s started yearly national magazine ads and only much later allowed salesmen to run ads.
dysonman1
Well-known member
Metropolitan Vacuum in Suffern, New York, rebuilt a huge number of trade-in Lux machines they got from the branch offices. These were rebuilt with "Metropolitan Parts". They advertised them in catalogs like Spiegels and they were sold in retail stores like Woolworths. I remember in the mid 1970's, they offered the model 30 as well as the 60. All the model 60's they sold had the automatic ejector disabled, and the machines came with one-ply bojack bags.
How rebuilt?
I remember seeing the 30 and 60 for sale in Spiegel catalogs. Did Metropolitan completely rebuild the motors, or did they just clean them and replace bearings and brushes? If they guaranteed these cleaners, I don't see how they could be comfortable with anything less than a full rebuild.
With one-ply bojack bags, I would bet the 60 rebuilds had less than optimal motor life. I'm gonna assume the 30s continued to use cloth bags.
Joel
I remember seeing the 30 and 60 for sale in Spiegel catalogs. Did Metropolitan completely rebuild the motors, or did they just clean them and replace bearings and brushes? If they guaranteed these cleaners, I don't see how they could be comfortable with anything less than a full rebuild.
With one-ply bojack bags, I would bet the 60 rebuilds had less than optimal motor life. I'm gonna assume the 30s continued to use cloth bags.
Joel
dysonman1
Well-known member
Here's an example of a Metropolitan rebuild. The model 30's had disposable liner bags for the cloth container. Foam post motor filter. A new hose. Painted wands. Fit-All plastic attachments (depending upon the retailer).
rugsucker
Well-known member
More rebuilds
dysonman1
Well-known member
Thanks for the pics Jimmy.
Metropolitan was always sloppy with their rebuilds. Sloppy especially with the paint. And all the Bojack parts. I knew of a number of vacuum shops that sold the Metro rebuilds. They always smelled of that paint.
Metropolitan was always sloppy with their rebuilds. Sloppy especially with the paint. And all the Bojack parts. I knew of a number of vacuum shops that sold the Metro rebuilds. They always smelled of that paint.
rugsucker
Well-known member
Rebuilt Electrolux
These mostly came from--
--Factory rebuilt such as the Mo G I use daily in book store.Elux branches shipped Elux trades(minus hose/attachments) back to Elux factory for quality rebuild and new hose/atts.
--Factory branch rebuilds in the older days when branches were further apart,had more salesmen serving larger territory and sold LOTS of vacs as the Mo XXX.
--Metropolitan as with Toms XXX and my AF.I was told by a manager who started with Elux in the 50s that at one time(60s ?)Metropolitan sent a truck to Elux branches to buy trade ins.I have seen a pic of Metropolitan warehouse with Elux stacked like firewood.These rebuilds used a lot of fresh paint and standard generic parts/atts as Tom said above.My AF would have probably had the cheapest Douglas power nozzle(not found with).I have seen these advertised in credit card flyer inserts.
--Vac stores who got Elux trades from Kirby(& vice versa)and rebuilt with parts from any of the vac part suppliers.Usually including fresh,current color paint.
These mostly came from--
--Factory rebuilt such as the Mo G I use daily in book store.Elux branches shipped Elux trades(minus hose/attachments) back to Elux factory for quality rebuild and new hose/atts.
--Factory branch rebuilds in the older days when branches were further apart,had more salesmen serving larger territory and sold LOTS of vacs as the Mo XXX.
--Metropolitan as with Toms XXX and my AF.I was told by a manager who started with Elux in the 50s that at one time(60s ?)Metropolitan sent a truck to Elux branches to buy trade ins.I have seen a pic of Metropolitan warehouse with Elux stacked like firewood.These rebuilds used a lot of fresh paint and standard generic parts/atts as Tom said above.My AF would have probably had the cheapest Douglas power nozzle(not found with).I have seen these advertised in credit card flyer inserts.
--Vac stores who got Elux trades from Kirby(& vice versa)and rebuilt with parts from any of the vac part suppliers.Usually including fresh,current color paint.
huskyvacs
Well-known member
Wow I seen Electroluxes like that on eBay often - I thought it was just someone that hit it with some Krylon. Never knew they legit came that way.
