A tour of the E’luxes of Candlewood

[woodj99]

Starting on the old side, working our way upstairs and then down to the basement.

Then over to the new side, working our way upstairs there.

All 5 of these Luxes were formerly my grandparents’. It’s their old weekend house. The Grand Marquise/Ultralux, Super J, and Model L were all here already. The Ambassador and Diamond J came from their main house (where they are now full-time due to health and mobility issues). My dad, uncles, and their housekeeper/caregiver had the 2 Luxes there replaced with a Kenmore. I saw them sitting in the garage, waiting to be taken presumably to be thrown out, and I said, that’s NEVER happening! So now, all 5 Luxes are at Candlewood with me.

 

[justjunque]

Hi Jack!

Thank you for rescuing the 'luxes!
I have a fondness for them as well. I have three versions of the Epic 6500, including a 75th Anniversary edition that needs a new motor, an Ambassador III the same color as yours, and an Aerus Lux Legacy; which is essentially an Epic 6500.

Barry

 

[paul]

Nice saves, Jack. Be careful how you place the hoses for long-term storage to avoid kinking or disfiguring. The two coat hanger method is often used, or laying them flat on the floor is another idea.

Here are some details about each tank (keeping in mind that different accessories may have been originally sold to your grandparents according to availability or substitutions):

1) Grand Marquise 1521: 1988-89 (smooth bag cover trim) w/power nozzle PN6A or Legacy 1521: 1989-90 (textured bag door trim) with power nozzle 1622; hoses are the same - white with blue chevron tracers (you have the Super J hose on it). The Model 1521 was produced from 1984-93 with 8 successive model names (some very similar) most with their own styling and/or color combo's, features, pn's, & hoses; and some with different motors.

2) Super J 1401: 1975-79 w/PN-2 and white hose & teal & gold tracers (1975-77) or PN-4 with gold hose and white and teal tracers (1977-79). Super J stands for the super powerful motor (with accompanying extra length) compared to its identical honey gold-colored and styled predecessor, the Jubilee 1205.

3) Model L (Limited): 1968-77 w/PN-1 (1968-73) or PN-2 (1973-77). The Model L was manufactured in 4 different color combo's and 3 successive pn models from 1963-79.

4) Diamond J 1521 (60th anniversary) 1984-87; the 1984s had "Diamond Jubilee" decals affixed near the exhaust port & jade pin-stripes on the side bumpers; w/light sand gray PN5 (1984-85) or dark jade PN6 (1985-87); hose is white with dark jade chevron tracers

5) Ambassador III C101G: 1995-98 w/N115F pn. The Ambassador line debuted in 1989 and was discontinued circa 2000. It is a Canadian design which began as the E-Special in 1982. Previous US model names were Special Edition, Model 90, Ambassador, Ambassador Plus (with more powerful HP motor), & Ambassador II (tweaked motor). Ambassador III started in 1992 and had 1 color reversal and 3 successive color combo's. In all the AIII had 5 model numbers indicating a color change, changes in tools and/or accessories or some other difference. Aerus's Lux Classic is the current model name.

The serial number pattern is the same: a 2-letter series and a 5-digit production number. Unfortunately, Electrolux USA didn't publish the series production spans. The European and Canadian Electrolux companies combined the numerical production series and number. Anyway, the Model L's serial number is stamped on the side of the bag opening rim, and the others are stamped on the plastic stabilizers.

Your grandparents may not have had the power nozzles and just used the tanks as straight suction cleaners. They sure were loyal Electrolux customers.

 

[woodj99]

Thanks Paul! I have actually since rethought how I kept the hoses, and have them flat on the floor now. Some people on the Lux FB page had voiced concern over how I had them before as well. I forget if the front hall Lux has the smooth or textured bag cover (GM or Legacy), but I will check. That will narrow down exactly what model it is, as well as when it was made. I believe the SJ to be a 75-77 model because it doesn't have the sticker that the 78-79 ones had, but I'm not sure. In addition to the earlier SJ hose that's now on the GM/Legacy, there used to be a later SJ hose in the basement back at their main house (it had no suction left and was filled with mouse droppings, so it got tossed out), as well as a Model AF hose in the same room. I'm not sure where the Olympia-style hose that's now on the SJ came from (perhaps at one point they had an Olympia as well, and the hoses got mixed up)? The L I believe was their first Lux, and it has ON/OFF engraved on the switch, unlike some other blue Ls I've seen. They settled in NJ in 1970 after moving around quite a bit before, so I'm guessing that's when they bought the L. Having said that, they moved into their current house in 1978, so perhaps the SJ is a 78 model after all, and the sticker is just gone. I'm pretty certain the Diamond is an 84 model, since it has the DIAMOND JUBILEE sticker and the dark bumper stripes; maybe 85 at the latest since I know the sticker and stripes were discontinued in 85/86 as you mentioned. The Ambassador I'm guessing is either a 95 or 96, since Doreen started cleaning there sometime around then and said it was there ever since she started. They were definitely loyal Lux customers. My granddad also had an Epic 3500 upright at his former art gallery that was the same color as the Ambassador. The gallery opened in 1995, so I would have to guess that's when both of them were bought. Also, you are correct that they always had the Luxes straight-suction only. Neither of their houses have any carpet, so there was no need for PNS. Probably an unpopular opinion, but I personally prefer straight suction machines as well, as long as there's no carpet around as is the case at Candlewood.

 

[woodj99]

Barry, I just saw your location! My location here still says VA, but I'm in western MA too now (The Berkshires)! And very cool that you have 3 versions of the Epic 6500. I don't have an Epic, but back in VA I have the bright white/light blue/silver version of the Ambassador.

 

[paul]

No problem, Jack. I like digging for details and hearing back stories like yours. Wasn't sure how knowledgeable you were, but your reply shows that you've done your research!

Regarding the Olympia One (and Deluxe Special Model 1453) hose, it may have been a replacement at some point. My Model R had one, too. Btw, the woven hoses can be resealed by using a liquid sealant. It may not always result in 100% effectiveness, but if done correctly and carefully it will at least come close. There are several Vacuumland threads that give detailed instructions in case you're interested. The process is simple but time-consuming and exacting.

As for the Model L there were no major or noticeable changes made in the teal version, except for the switch in power nozzles and hoses (the latter I neglected to mention is that the 1968-74 s were equipped with the teal ones like yours, and the 1974-77 productions had the same white hoses as the 50th Jubilee 1201 and Super J 1401 tanks. Your 1970 conclusion sounds plausible.

Your granddad's Epic 3500SR (series) is a model U110B and was indeed produced in the same time period as your Ambassador III C101G. It's not only cool that he had an art studio but that you know that he opened it in 1995. What type of artist is he?

Other gray line cleaners were the Epic 2500SR U112B upright, the the Epic 6500SR C102D automatic tank, and the Epic Series Floor Pro S105B 3-head shampooer-polisher.

Candlewood sounds attractive and well-maintained with all those Electrolux cleaners. They are quite effective as both straight suction and brush roll cleaning. Btw, your white Ambassador III is either a model C101J made around 2000-01 or a C101L, which was likely made for less than a year around 2001 due to its rarity. The inside of the bag door shows the spec's; the model number can be seen by looking under the inlet gasket or the barcode decal next to the exhaust port.

Have you cleaned and lubed the motors and cleaned and shined the tanks?

 

[rugsucker]

"--mouse droppings--"

While I have heard a story of a Lux salesmen finding a live rat in a customers hose who complained of loss of suction many of the little black pieces that fall out of an older hose are actually parts of the inner lining.
Great vacs above and all keeping it simple with the same 4ply self sealing filer bags.

 

[justjunque]

Hey Jack,

Good deal! The Berkshires are beautiful. I've actually only been to that area once, if memory serves.
I'm more toward the central/southern part of the state. Closer to Springfield and the Connecticut line.

Barry