A variation of the Electrolux 1205

[oreck_xl]

The other day I came across a stripped Lux 1205. the motor is unfortunately gone, but what struck me as odd is usually the metal casing has a rippled finish. This one was smooth and painted over the usual teal. It has the cord clip and around where it says "Automatic Control" is blue, so I know it's not one of the earliest, but is this rare? It's the only one I've seen without a textured finish.

- Hershel

 

[dysonman1]

The 1205 had a flat, non textured finish, during the first two years, 1968 and 1969.

 

[ronni]

I've heard and read that the textured finish was added in 1972 when the new PN-2 power nozzle debuted. Indeed, the smooth finish ones have a higher online profile than the textured ones. Incidentally, the textured finish remained a feature on succeeding models of metal tanks until they were discontinued in 1994.

The cord clip was not originally included on the 1968 version but many had them added when they received service or repair. Either the lack of clips had been a design oversight or Electrolux had underestimated their value and chose not to include them. Anyway, they are not a reliable dating feature. However, the black control panel is; which was unique to the '68s (the rest were jade).

The only other distinguishing cosmetic feature was a change in the color of the front panel from teal in '68 to jade in '72 (a retired Electrolux branch owner postulated that the cosmetic changes were made to signify the motor change which would allow technicians to readily make an identification prior to disassembly).



'

 

[sonnyndad]

What a coincidence!

Just today, I got a smooth finish 1205 at the thrift store store for $12.

 

[djub85]

The smooth finish is not particularly rare on the 1205 vacuums. I'm not too sure about the 1205 years, though. I believe that more than just two years had the smooth finish.


 


I have a 1205 with a smooth body and a dark jade front panel/bag door. I think there is some overlap in years... the jade panel and textured body changes did not happen during the same year. There are many smooth body machines on Ebay with jade front panels, so I'm sure that mine isn't a unicorn.


 


The most rare versions are the ones with bright blue front panels. Even rarer are the bright blue front panels that have A) black coloring around the controls, B) a pigtail connector under the hose connector, or C) both black around the controls and a pigtail connector.


 


I'd love to find a 1205 with a bright blue bag door. I think those are more cosmetically desirable. My 1205 came with all of its original accessories, but I had the motor fixed once a year ago when I bought it, and it's emitting a burning smell now. I'd hate to separate the set, but I'd love to pair my mint accessories with a bright blue 1205 with a working motor.


 


Here's another random fact for you guys--the only "rectangle body" Electrolux/Aerus canister to have a smooth body other than the early years of the 1205 is the Aerus Lux Guardian Ultra. Unlike the Legacy and Classic (and all of the other rectangle body Luxes), the Ultra has a smooth body.


 

 

[floor-a-matic]

Here are two of my for 1205s
Early 1205 at left
Late 1205 at right

 

[dysonman1]

1968 model 1205

The first 1205's had the black automatic control panel, no dusting brush clip, round bag 'lock out' plunger, smooth body, and no screen at the back of the dust compartment (to keep big dirt out of the fans if the bag broke). The Power Nozzle had a solid plastic one-piece wand.

 

[djub85]

I really prefer the early look. I have no idea why they changed the color of the bag door...


 


Nice vacs!

 

[oreck_xl]

Thank you so much for all the info. I was torn about scrapping the smooth-textured 1205, but without a motor and some pieces missing I think I'll be on the lookout for one of the first 1205's with the black control panel and no cord clip.

- Hershel

 

[kirbyduh]

Interesting

Tom, I have the first version and it is exactly like the one you have pictured, but it does have the dusting brush clip. It is so neat how Manufactuters changed thing incrementally. Or my dusting brush clip could have been added later.

 

[ronni]

The bag door was probably changed from teal to jade to denote a change in the mechanics and/or design of the hose receptacle or other part of the door (note that the PN-2's elbow and base plate were also jade). Since 1994, most updates and/or color changes to models' engineering, cosmetic features, or accessory changes have been identifiable by changes in the suffixes of their designations (e.g. Models C151D, C151G, C151M/Lux Classic). When significant design changes or additions have been made the models' numbers have been changed. More subtle updates; however, often occurred independently (e.g. the addition of the bag chamber screen in an early update of the Model 1205).

On rarer occasions colors were seemingly changed for economic reasons such as the Model LX's polished aluminum to hammertone blue hose receptacle panel and plug port cover (painted with the Model E parts and tools), or for color coordination (e. g. the colors of the Model L to complement or match the various colors of the standard machines, Model B-8s, and Model CAs or Model CBs that were sold during its run and the Model PN-2's teal to ivory wand sheath and cord from the teal 1205 to the gold 1205; and jade to ivory elbow during its short-lived use with the Super J). However, neither of these reasons seem applicable to the Model 1205.

Instead, new cosmetic features typically--if not always--denoted the Model 1205's engineering or accessory revisions. Such was the case when the Jubilee (commonly called Golden J) debuted. Technically it was still a Model 1205 (albeit 1205-J in service manuals) but the gold body color signified a redesigned handle and automatic control interface along with Electrolux Corporation's 50th (Golden) Jubilee. The model designation changed to 1401 (along with the "Super J" name and decal) when the larger, more powerful motor was installed--which also necessitated the lengthening of the body. The border of the Electrolux bumper logo also went from gold to black.

Serial affixes (the letters), as well, have often been changed to denote design changes as indicated in service manuals. Unlike other companies Aerus LLC has not made its list (or code key as may be the case) of serials and corresponding feature changes by year available to customers. If it did, we would have more definite information at our finger tips. As it is, we can only go by our observations or those with access to service manuals and/or other company literature produced at the time of manufacture (for some reason historical information written afterward is sometimes inaccurate).

_________

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

A Partial List of Model Designation Changes Reflecting One or More Revisions in Engineering, Color or Accessories on Electrolux Metal-Bodied Cylinders:

•Model LX (no wheels); improved automatic control knob marked by a new name badge; and Model LXI (wheels)--same teal-blue color

•Model E (manual) and Model AE (automatic)--same hammertone blue color

•Model S/pale blue-gray (w/o cord storage option, pn port, or rubber tips on cover clasps) and Model R/pale gray (w/cord storage option, pn port, and rubber tips on cover clasps)

•Models G (aquamarine green to tan when motor rpms were increased) and GH (teal to brown wheels and wordmark; teal to ivory handle and power switch)

•Model 1401/Olympia One (same design as Model 1401/Super J but a different color)--brown color

•Model 1401-B/Olympia One (2 handles; wider wheels; fins on bumpers)--brown color

•Model 1505/Olympia One (new Model PN-4A power nozzle--the gray version of which was paired with the Model 1505/Silverado)--brown color

•At times Electrolux chose to keep the same model designation and colors after revisions as exemplified by the Model F (change of cord winder and addition of pn port and bumper strips) or the Model 1505/Silverado (single to double handles; different motor); only the name was embellished to "Silverado Deluxe" and a name decal added in 1984 when the new L-shaped Model PN-5 power nozzle was introduced.

•During the run of the Model 1521 (1984-1994) changes in names (and sometimes colors) marked the following engineering, accessory changes, or uniqueness when compared with other models--except when the Diamond J's power nozzle was switched from the Model PN-5A to the Model PN-6 and only the DJ decal was removed: Marquise - new motor and optional Sidekick accessory; Grand Marquise - Sidekick (standard accessory); Ultralux - redesigned pn hood with a new 4-digit model id format, longer power cord (?); Ultralux LX - lighted pn; Ultralux Classic - reversal of navy & lt. sand colors (used since Grand Marquise) to match the new Epic 6500 SR with electric wand ("classic" referred to its standard wand and sheath--introduced in 1968 and the classic attachments that fit onto them--first used in 1954); Ultralux CE - top sales and branch owners' award & commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the 1205-style cylinders

___________

As you can see by the above illustrations the company has often made cosmetic changes to reflect engineering and/or accessory changes; this seems to be the case with the Model 1205 variants.

 

[rugsucker]

1205 dust brush clip

I was told by an Elux service mgr who worked for them in the 70s & 80s that they were to add the dust brush clip when early 1205s were brought in for service and to polish the aluminum top before it went back to the customer.
An Airway salesman also told me of all aluminum trim being polished before a repaired AirWay left the service dept.

 

[human]

My 1205 seems to be a transitional version between the earlier and later ones. It has the darker jade plastic control panel with the lettering molded into it, but the bag door is still the original brighter teal (same color as the body) like the earlier one; however, it has the later power coupling design that's integrated into the hose connector instead of a pigtail connector below it. The Power Nozzle has a two-piece, telescoping wand with a teal plastic sleeve.

I have a full set of accessories that came with it, but the original teal hose has a badly cracked handle and poor suction, so I use it with a later white cloth hose that works much better.

I got the vacuum and accessories (except for the white hose, which I just bout about two years ago) at a Goodwill store about 10 years ago for $19. That thing may be 45 years old, but it works much better than a lot of newer ones.

 

[ronni]

From what I have been able to ascertain it sounds like your cleaner is the second variant--circa 1969-70. Does your hose have a pistol grip or gooseneck grip?

One longtime Electrolux salesperson said that the pistol grip was first introduced in the late '60s for a short time but the gooseneck grip was brought back due to its susceptibility to cracking. It was reintroduced sometime after the Jubilee's debut (some early literature even shows a gooseneck grip on the Jubilee's hose).

_________


Here is an estimated timeline of features by year:

1968: smooth surface body, teal front panel, black control panel--no #s on indicator scroll, no small tool clip, no screen in bag chamber vent, classic ivory pn wand with PN-1, electric pigtail-connect hose with gooseneck grip, Model G motor, metal handle, serial on bottom of cord winder

1969: smooth surface body, teal front panel, jade control panel--no #s on indicator scroll, small tool clip, screen in bag chamber vent; teal, PN-1 ribbed telescopic wand and elbow--both w/tab releases (like CA), electric direct-connect hose w/pistol grip, 2nd-version motor, plastic handle, serial on stabilizer

1970: smooth surface body, teal front panel, jade control panel--no #s on indicator scroll, small tool clip, screen in bag chamber vent; PN-1 teal smooth sheath and wand--both with lever release, electric direct-connect hose with gooseneck grip, 2nd-version motor, plastic handle, serial on stabilizer

1971: smooth surface body, jade front panel & control pane--no #s on indicator scroll, small tool clip, screen in bag chamber vent; PN-1 teal smooth sheath and wand--both with lever release, electric direct-connect hose with gooseneck grip, 2nd-version motor, plastic handle, serial on stabilizer

1972: textured surface body, jade front panel & control panel--no #s on indicator scroll, small tool clip, screen in bag chamber vent; PN-2 teal smooth sheath and wand--both with lever release, electric direct-connect hose with gooseneck grip, 3rd-version motor, plastic handle, serial on stabilizer

1973: textured surface body, jade front panel & control panel--#s on indicator scroll, small tool clip, screen in bag chamber vent; PN-2 teal smooth sheath and wand--both with lever release, electric direct-connect hose with gooseneck grip, 3rd-version motor, plastic handle, serial on stabilizer

1974: textured surface body, jade front panel & control panel--#s on indicator scroll, small tool clip, screen in bag chamber vent; PN-2 teal smooth sheath and wand--both with lever release, electric direct-connect hose with gooseneck grip, 3rd-version motor, plastic handle, serial on stabilizer


Somewhere I read that the later bumper logos had a black boat-shaped border rather than the red; however, I have never seen a textured body one without a red border.

At some point the floor/rug tool was changed from teal-colored plastic and brush plate with an ivory bumper to ivory-colored plastic and bumper with a teal brush plate (the Jubilee's was the same except for the gold brush plate).

Another possible update is that the power switches of late variants bore a shock warning like the gold 1205s through the gray 1505s; however, I may have just seen one that had a replacement.


The list above is likely incomplete and not necessarily entirely accurate--along with most Electrolux information due to a lack of accessibility to company literature.

 

[human]

Pistol grip

Mine has the pistol grip with a slider on top for the suction control. The shape is superficially similar to the grip on the later white hoses like the one I'm how using with that machine. It does have several cracks at the base of the grip. It was wrapped in clear packing tape when I got it, but I eventually replaced that with a couple of nylon cable ties. I actually found some teal ones at the Dollar Tree, so they're color coordinated.

 

[ronni]

Please post some photos of your 1205 and the hose.

 

[human]

I'll do it as soon as I get some time. I'll have to dig the teal hose out of storage. The good news is I know exactly where it is so I won't have to waste time hunting for it. The canister is basically like the early model pictured in the side-by-side photo in post #5 of this thread.

 

[ronni]

Sure--whenever works.

 

[ronni]

Teal Model L w/Telescopic Wand & Electric Hose w/Pistol Grip

There was an eBay listing for a NIB 1969 teal Model L today that was purchased almost as quickly as it was posted as a "Buy It Now" for $50.00 (+$54.50 s/h). It included the 1969 red-and-white-covered manual, an original package of filter bags, the attachments and cord (sans the halo), a telescopic wand (sans the PN-1 power nozzle), and the first electric hose and short-lived original pistol grip (w/the vacuum adjuster on the top and a longer "sleeve"). Interestingly, I own a copy of the manual, and it features the 1968 electric hose with the pigtail connection, but the photo below appears to show the direct connection coupler. Anyway, what a deal for that buyer!

Here is a photo from the listing: