a VERY scarce Electrolux just came and went on eBay

[charles~richard]

and closed for a pittance, relative to its rarity. It was a "Thrift Model" or "Model T." Appeared to be in very lovely condition, all original - some of the attachments came from other places or machines, but it does have the original hose and two combo tools. Shame, really, that it didn't fare better. You just don't hardly ever see these funny old machines.



http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=330172666293&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=014

 

[crevicetool]

I know...

I was watching it. Just can have another machine lying around right now. Would have loved to have had it.

 

[petek]

"Less is more" can be very appealing in vintage collecting. It's a trend that certainly hitting the vintage car collectors these days where once the plain jane 4 door family sedans, once totally ignored in favor of the more "upscale" 2 dr coupes etc, are suddenly sought after as well. So keep that 72 4 door Maverick with cloth seats, armstrong steering and crank windows.

 

[ian88]

Ah yeah, I do like a bit of austerity. (love the old Soviet/Eastern European cars)

As for my East German vacuum? you name another 70s vacuum that was made out of thin steel and fibreboard

 

[arh1953]

Less is more was the thing when I was growing up. We always had what we needed, were well taken care of, and had first class parents, but BOL appliances and vacuum cleaners were the main thing. Our Swivel-Top GE I keep talking about was so spartan but deluxe in comparison to the mysterious Elgin Standard that keeps coming up time and again. Our GE was grey, but actually had the floor washer with it. It was the non electric or mechanical unit, it surprised me Daddy or Mom thought to get it. It didn't see much use here (floorwasher) even with all terazzo floors. My sister ended up with it after Mom bought the new Electrolux. Who knows where it ended up after that.

 

[unimatic1140]

Gosh I had one of those once and I didn't realize how rare they were. I got it for about $3 at a estate sale. I though it was silly that it didn't have an on/off switch so I drilled into the poor thing and added one. I know, I know. Then to top it off I accidentally left the drain hose out of the sink from my 1958 Frigidaire Unimatic and the poor thing got drenched. I found this picture of it when that happened back in my old house about six years ago...

The title of the aw thread from years ago that this picture was in was "What Happens when you leave the drain out of the sink????"

***looks down towards floor***
***waits patiently for well deserved beatings to begin***

 

[hoover1060]

YIKES!

Robert you are a brave man...I don't know that I would have posted the picture thats for sure...

 

[charles~richard]

Originally, the Model T -did- have an on-off switch. Don't know what happened to the one on yours.

See photos below.

The T is one of the two rarest Electrolux models, not taking into consideration the scarcity now of all pre XXX machines -- I mean rarest in terms of quantity produced and still found -- the other being the model 20 or XX.

Electrolux basically cleaned off the shelves to make this very humble economy model: The body was simply a piece of rolled-up sheet metal that took an XXX-style cloth dirt bag; it had a handle from LX; and the switch & wheels from the Model E. It had a very basic attachment set: LX-style woven cloth (not vinyl) hose, 2-section wand, combination floor tool and combination dusting tool.

It's a pretty cheesy looking machine but has powerful suction (and is noisier than other Electroluxes of that era) due to its very simple design — it’s just a hammertone blue can with a motor in it.

Electrolux introduced this model to compete with the "budget" models from other makers, but it turned out to be a huge flop and a great embarrassment to the company. Seems they went TOO far with the "budget" considerations.

It sold for $59.75 while the AE, the top-of-the-line model, sold for $89.75. You may not think that 30 bucks is much difference for such a more deluxe machine, but keep in mind that 30 bucks was a lot more in 1956 than it is today!

 

[charles~richard]

 

[charles~richard]

 

[charles~richard]

 

[charles~richard]

P.S. Perhaps the third-rarest Electrolux is the Model S, which was only made for a year or so. It's the cutest and dantiest little thing! I remember quite a few ladies who had them when I was a kid.

 

[crevicetool]

Thank you so much for showing

off your T, Charles. I know how rare of a machine it is. Thank goodness for people who hold on to these pieces of industrial design and manufacture, and nurture them and take care of them. It really warms my heart to see that after fifty years one can go to a website such as this, and see a living, breathing, piece of home care equipment. Then on the other hand, on the same site you can see the blatant mistreatment of Americana. Despicable!!! I can't believe that person had the nerve!!! I can't deal with this right now. I have to go rest. I am so upset!!!!

 

[unimatic1140]

I think you are right Jeff

blatant mistreatment of Americana. Despicable!!! I can't believe that person had the nerve!!! I can't deal with this right now. I have to go rest. I am so upset!!!!

Whoops, please accept my apologies Rick, that was not my intent what so ever. That picture was taken about seven years ago and I was very vacuum ignorant at that time, the only thing I knew anything about was the XXX Electrolux. It was my attempt at being silly at that time. Believe me, had I had any idea how rare that vacuum was it would still be in my collection today and I would have never added the switch. Being a lower end model that it was I sort of just figured they were a dime a dozen. I know better now, but unfortunately it is too late.

Since I've met the VCCC guys, I've learned so much about what is a rare vacuum and what are more common machines, what makes a good vacuum as opposed to just the average machines. Even though I'm not a big vacuum collector per se, there is still a place reserved in my heart for them. I still buy them up at sales and play with them, then I get to give them away to other collectors who will truly appreciate them and that part has been the most fun of all.

 

[crevicetool]

Oh, Robert....

I feel so bad. I think you took me seriously. In another thread, I discussed how I had THROWN AWAY the two rarest machines myself. Yes. both a T and an XX. Simply because, when I moved from Indiana to Georgia there was not enough room on the truck. So it is I who must apologize. I should have warned you first about my sense of humor.

 

[unimatic1140]

RICK! WELL I've never!

Throwing away a T and a SS, HOW COULD YOU! Shame, Shame. LOL OK I feel better now.

I felt terrible that I might have upset someone with that picture, I'm so glad is was a common internet miscommunication.

YAY for that. But I'm still upset that I don't have my T anymore!

 

[hoover1060]

well

don't be upset Robert, as I am always saying: There are more to be had yet.
That goes for "T"s as well as for 1957 Imperial Unimatics.

 

[laspirateur]

I'm so glad to find out that I'm not the only idiot who forgets to put the drain hose back in the pipe when I'm switching washers.

 

[charles~richard]

Have a look at the link and see what a little "publicity" can do for eBay auctions.

It's another Model T, in nowhere nearly as complete or nice condition as the one shown above, but wait til you see the closing bid on it....... Unbelievable. But that's what "good press" can do. I am pretty sure if I hadn't mentioned the previous auction, and the Model T had not been discussed here, this latest one would not have done as well as it did.

Oh Happy Day for the very surprised seller I am sure!!


http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=170159426748

 

[swingette]

with a little help from a zero-feedback bidder as well. this is how i feel about zero-feedback bidders...

 

[charles~richard]

Yeah, I tend to be a little suspicious about that as well ... some seller use shills, either friends or "alter egos" on eBay they have set up, to drive the bidding up. But I still think the success of this particular auction had to do with the spotlight that was beamed onto the Model T. It's clear that a lot of people were not even aware of that model, let alone appreciate its rarity.