(1980s) Viking 241 Electronic canister vacuum.

[oldcrankman]

Well I got this for $1 and it works but sometimes it has trouble turning on. Bag door is broken and needs bag. I've never seen this before.

 

[human]

I've never heard of that model, but it looks like it has a bit of Electrolux DNA in it.

 

[rugsucker]

Viking/Electrolux

This is an Electrolux from Europe using the Viking name in USA as they owned Viking sewing machines.The correct bag is different from our Electrolux C bag as it has a tab in the upper center.Many Elux bag doors are made to not latch without the proper bag.Hard to tell from above picture if this is the reason your door seems "broken".

 

[collector2]

Just a photo of a Viking 241 with parts for reference that was up on ebay a number of years back.

 

[eurekaprince]

In Canada, vacuums made by Electrolux of Sweden could not use the Viking name due to the fact that Canada’s transnational Eaton’s department store used that name on their store brand vacuum. Eaton Viking vacuums were for the most part made by Eureka’s Canadian division in Kitchener, Ontario - which was also owned by Swedish Electrolux after 1974. The solution? These European vacs were branded with the name Dometic or Euroclean in Canada up until Electrolux bought back their right to use their brand name in North America.

 

[paul]

The Viking 241 is the perfect one for a Hallowe'en haunted house - boo-tiful score for a buck!

There's a YouTube vid featuring its cousin with similar if not identical design features. Here is the poster's description in case the video is taken down at some point: "Red/black Volta U241A vacuum. From 1981. Sold at the same time with Volta U225, U160 and U235. Newer version of U240 (sold 1976-1978). 900W motor. Variable speed. Made in Sweden. Turbobrush was optional. Quite guiet vacuum but old fashioned look. Not very common vacuum but very long lasting."

There were likely other Voltas & Vikings that shared the digits of their model numbers but with their respective prefixes U for Volta (possibly for the Scandinavian word 'utkast' meaning draft, sketch, design ... ) and V for Viking. AB Electrolux and its subsidiaries sometimes also added suffixes to denote a country-specific market or design, such as the 'A' in U241A.
Anyway, in case you were unable to find bags, they are the Electrolux E3N package style. There's at least one current listing on eBay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/185929562991

 

[cheesewonton]

Wow! Never knew this existed and now I will spend the rest of my life looking for one.

 

[cheesewonton]

In Canada, vacuums made by Electrolux of Sweden could not use the Viking name due to the fact that Canada’s transnational Eaton’s department store used that name on their store brand vacuum. Eaton Viking vacuums were for the most part made by Eureka’s Canadian division in Kitchener, Ontario - which was also owned by Swedish Electrolux after 1974. The solution? These European vacs were branded with the name Dometic or Euroclean in Canada up until Electrolux bought back their right to use their brand name in North America.

Euroclean? Huh. In Europe Eureka Forbes sells copies of old Electrolux models under the Euroclean brand. In India, the home of Eureka Forbes, the Lux Intelligence / Aerus Guardian Platinum is sold there as the Eureka Forbes Euroclean Xtreme.

 

[paul]

Scott,

Note the logo on your V241's nameplate. Here's some background with attachments from Singer's website.

AB Electrolux acquired Husqvarna in 1978.

 

[paul]

A bit more from Husqvarna Viking:

"One of Husqvarna’s significant milestones was introducing the “Husqvarna Viking” brand in the 1950s, which became synonymous with quality sewing and embroidery machines. The brand was a nod to the company’s heritage and commitment to innovation and excellence."

Btw, it seems that the company only began making vacuum cleaners after being acquired by AB Electrolux. It's likely that it ceased doing so in 2000 when it purchased the North American Electrolux trademark and brand back from Urso Engles Follmer Capital Corporation.

 

[cheesewonton]

Husqvarna was originally a manufacturer of firearms, but as the need for them dried up in circa 1872 they began making sewing machines then moved on to outdoor, lawn and garden equipment. That is their current product line. The Electrolux Group bought Husqvarna in 1986. Their motorcycle division, started in 1903 and revered for their off road and motorcross prowess was sold in 1986 to Cagiva of Italy and is currently owned by KTM. The sewing machine business dating to 1972 was sold in 1997 and is now owned by SVP Worldwide. In 2006 Electrolux Group spun Husqvarna off as an independent company making outdoor, lawn and garden equipment.