1998 Electrolux Powerline 1100 Model Z1361

[vintagerepairer]

Alex, I am very interested at your comments about the backsaver handle being to make it easier to reach under furniture. The TV and other advertising at the time said it was to make it easier to push round in general, given that the design allowed the effort placed on the handle to be distributed in such a way that it made moving the cleaner over carpets & other floors very easy.

 

[parwaz786]

Nice! but OMG at that packagine, especially when our neighbours see that and your not home omg

 

[alexhoovers94]

Benny...

I read it in a catalogue scan or brochure somewhere. They did always show it going underneath coffee tables and such in the adverts so I am guessing I am not wrong. I definitely read it though, something like "back saver handle, reduces back stress meaning easier cleaning under low furniture"

 

[alexhoovers94]

I know it is Eureka but it is the same vac, can you see what I mean

 

[vintagerepairer]

Yes, it is certainly true that it aided reaching under furniture. I think from all the bumpf that was around at the time that this was more of an additional advantage of the curved handle, rather than the main purpose as such. The original two back-saver cleaners which came onto the UK market in 1996 were advertised very heavily on televison. I remember that well. The main advert featured a number of Buddhists praying on a flying carpet. I cannot see it on the Youtube.

 

[turbo500]

It looks like dirt Devil tryed to copy them

Those Dirt Devils came out long after Lux had discontinued the backsaver handle in the UK. I pressume the patents were sold to DD, as had been done previously with the Contour which was also "copied" by Dirt Devil (although, in a much cheaper, crapper form than the Contour)

 

[turbo500]

Benny, I seem to recall and advert for the Widetrack with a girl dancing with the vacuum in her very brightly decorated flat and the man in the flat below was stuck to the ceiling.

 

[kirbyg6]

Okay thank you Turbo500 I didn't know that

 

[alexhoovers94]

I remember seeing an advert on TV for the widetrack but I have not seen it in years and I have been unable to source it, I wonder if Roger has any old adverts on these.

 

[alexhoovers94]

 


Another thing to note, is that the handle was different on some models despite still being branded with the backsaver handle lettering, I will show you a picture of the other powerline I used to have and this one so you can see what I mean, I have no idea why they did this, I prefer the handle in the first photo. You can also see that the hose hook is a lot different on the "curvier" handle.


 

 

[alexhoovers94]

[No message]

 

[gsheen]

I love these and have a few Widetracks aswell.

I Prefer the curvier handle myself probibly because it was the style i first owned.

The curvier handle also had two versions. One had a section for the multi tool but the later version had a space for a seperate upholstery tool and Dust brush

 

[kirbyg6]

The only problem we had was it always leaned forward instead of upright

 

[alexhoovers94]

I have found that issue too if you lean it forward to far, it sort of clunk right forward.

 

[kirbyg6]

Yeah

 

[gsheen]

Here are the two different handles on the bigger widetrack.