AB Electrolux, Lux International Vid

[ronni]

In case you aren't a Youtuber or haven't checked out this vid, it's a nice timeline of AB Electrolux (1919-1998) and Lux International (1912-1919; 1998-present) "firsts":

1912 - Lux I: first electric household vac with blower
1921 - Lux V: first vac with sleds
1922 - Lux VII: first handheld vac in the German market
1928 - Lux XI: first vac w/protection against electric shock, use of air stream, motor protection filter
1930 - Lux XII: first vac w/"bacteria catchers", dust-level indicator, motor embedded in rubber, twistable connecting hose, radio interference protection
1934 - Z25: first vac w/conical hose (gives higher speed of current), twist nozzle & thread lifter, liquid vaporizer for shampooing, device for moth control
1951 - Z55: first vac w/foot switch, same record performance of 1350mm WS using only 350W, wall-hanging device
1956 - Z55: first vac w/paper dust bags
1958 - Z62: first vac w/telescope tube, thread lifter on the floor brush, small combi nozzle (textile nozzle and dust brush in one), rotating hose on both ends
1961 - Z65: first vac w/the same record performance of 1500mm WS using only 500W, larger combination nozzle, wheel runners, cable winding device (cord wrap)
1966 - Z90 Luxomatic: first vac w/automatic-closing dust bag, dust alarm, automatic cable winder, automated safety feature
1972 - Z320 Jumbo-matic: first vac w/the same record performance of 2000mm WS and 2.5 cubic meters per minute using only 800W, programmed vacuum performance, automated pop-open cover
1975 - Z325 Jumbo-matic: first vac w/rotating furniture-cleaning accessories, automatic breakdown function in case of missing dust bag, changeable automatic nozzles
1980 - D725 Sanft-o-matic: first vac w/energy-saving electronic & "Max" switch, effectiveness (energy) of 23%, official seal for quietness and energy saving
1981 - D730 Logo-matic: first vac w/APC (Automatic Power Control), constant vacuum performance in relation to the fullness of the dust bag, effectiveness (energy) rate of 25%
1988 - D770 Lux Royal: first vac w/LCD and electronically integrated max/min switch, the "Can Do It All" Turbo-Clean!
1994 - D795 first vac w/9m (29 feet 6.331 inches)cable, HEPA filter
1997 - Lux 1 Royal: first vac w/almost 100% air filtering, park position, closable dust opening
2000 - Lux 1 S Royal: first vac w/silver/chrome Swedish steel cover, operating noise of 67dB, effectiveness (energy) rate of 25.4%, 12m (39 feet 4.441 inches)working radius
2009 - Lux Intelligence: first vac w/no loss of suction, intelligence power control, MediClean 5 stages of filtration system, double HEPA filtration, handle control system

 

[vacerator]

I've seen it.

They made so many, that some weren't even in the video. Hard to believe?
No presentation of the millenial "Oxygen" range, the final series made in Vastervik Sweden before production moved to Hungary. While not a "LUX" premium line, many were made, and exported to the UK, and USA as well. At 72 db., they were library quiet.
A few pictured were unique to, and made in England.
Some orange models made their way to Canada and were sold by Eaton's as "Viking's", and most were fitted with "Eureka" power nozzles. AB Electrolux purchased Eureka in 1974.
LUX became a premium line similar to Electrolux USA after they acquired Volta.
While Electrolux USA operated independently of AB E-Lux Sweden, some features were always used stateside. The flip over carpet nozzle, and the 2 in one opening winged upholstery/crevice tool.
Yes, sadly, Electrolux isn't what it used to be, except maybe for the LUX line.
Everything else they sell today is mainly bagless.
The ones from Hungary are very cheaply made, and do not last a long time.
At least American Electrolux has been able to retain high quality, becoming Aerus last decade, and keeping their very similar to LUX design.

 

[n0oxy]

electrolux vacuums

I'm not sure where the ultra one is made, I think that's their top of the line vacuum, it's very quiet and very powerful, my only issue with it is that the hose end is nonstandard, but an adapter takes care of that. This series of canisters is very well made.

 

[eurekaprince]

Some historical notes about Viking vacuum cleaners: In Canada, the Timothy Eaton Company owned the copyright to the brandname "Viking" and used it as their store brand for household appliances. Just like Sears Kenmore, Eaton's sourced their Viking appliances from many reputable manufacturers. By the end of the 1960's, it seems that most of Canada's Eaton Viking vacuum cleaners were made by the Canadian division of the Eureka Williams company. The Canadian Division of Eureka Williams was Onward Manufacturing in Kitchener, Ontario - just a day's truck drive from the American headquarters in Bloomington, Illinois. When Sweden's AB Electrolux bought Eureka in 1974, they continued to supply Eaton's with Viking branded vacuum cleaners. Most Viking vacs after that year were still made in Kitchener, but Eaton's also sold some Viking vacs imported from Electrolux plants in Europe.... including German "Progress" canisters fitted with Eureka power nozzles.

The Eaton's company went bankrupt in 1999, and its assets were bought by Sears. Once that happened, the brandname Viking was available for use by anyone, and it seems that AB Electrolux, through its Canadian Euroclean division, began to market European-made vacs under the Viking name, along with the Dometic name.

 

[electroluxxxx]

See now there used to be a video on Electrolux or aerus.com that had the history of Electrolux and how it started, through the war, the many different appliances that they made from the assistant which was a multi function kitchen machine for doing many different cooking tasks, portable dishwasher, propane powered fridge, to the vacuum cleaner. The vid was about 30 min very informative and fun to watch. When Electrolux sold the name, down came the video and when I asked customer service about it nobody knew anything. Oh how I wish they brought the video back.

 

[vacerator]

I've not ever

saw an E-Lux Ultra One for sale in any vacuum shop. Plenty of Sebos, and Mieles.

 

[electromatik]

It's time for another history lesson-LOL. Every so often we have to go through it again because Lux history is so complicated. In 1912 a man named Axel Wenner of Sweden invented a "can" vacuum with hose and attachments and smaller than the normal machines. He had no way to manufacture so he went to a company called AB Lux that made electrical equipment. The first machine was named the "Lux." He set up a seperate company called Svenska Elektron after buying a competing manufacturer called Elektromekaniska. The company shuffled around for a while before becoming Elektro-Lux and finally Electrolux AB. He began selling in the US in 1924. They opened a plant in the US in 1933. Soon after they began making US designed units such as the XXX model. From then on the product lines diverged, though some similarities remained. In 1941 the government took it over for war production separating them from AB Electrolux more. Axel Wenner died in 1961. Electrolux USA divorced fully from the Swedish firm in 1968 when Consolidated Foods bought them. Electrolux USA went on until Consolidated sold them. They then sold the name back to Electrolux AB in 2003 and became Aerus LLC. At some point, the designs descended from Wenner were sold off by Electrolux AB who then became Lux International based in Switzerland. Aerus and Lux International collaberate today. It's complicated but this is basically it.

Electrolux AB creates its own designs. The products you see in stores like the Ultra One are *NOT* at all related to the "original" Lux conceived by Axel Wenner.

 

[ronni]

Good conversation--thanks.

The history lesson was accurate but omitted the facts that AB Electrolux had sold a majority of its shares in the US subsidiary around 1928 (source: AB Electrolux) which further explains why styling was so different between the two entities beginning with the Model 30 (later XXX). It seemed to have occurred later with the Canadian division as its models resembled Sweden's until 1957. Also, Lux was apparently the vacuum cleaner division of AB Electrolux (which had/has several lines of appliances), so when the two companies dissolved their union in 1998 Lux International took its designs with it. This is why AB Electrolux cleaners (including Electrolux North America of Charlotte, NC) have a completely different style. If you go to Lux International's website you can view the progression of the classic worldwide Electrolux design (although new styles have also been introduced such as the new Lux 1). Converesely, it either didn't own the shampooer/polisher design or chose to drop the line as it is not shown in the products tab.

I didn't know that even before the 1998 split between AB Electrolux (Sweden) and Lux International (Switzerland) that the Lux label had reemerged for the TOL models. I don't think it had been used since the Lux I (1912) and Lux II (1913) models were produced prior to the beginning of Elektrolux in 1919.

I also didn't realize that there were different models between the different European countries. Another video mentioned Electrolux divisions in Austria, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Norway, France, Holland, Italy, Belgium, Denmark, Great Britain, Portugal, Mexico, New Zealand, Australia, Brazil, Finland, Ireland, and the Argentine Republic; so it's likely that some of them also carried unique designs.

Interestingly, Aerus began using the Lux label in 2000 (Lux 2000 tank, Lux 3000 upright, Lux 4000 upright, Lux 5000 tank, Lux 5500 tank, Lux 6000 upright, Lux 7000 tank, & Lux 9000 tank) and continues using it as a prefix. It makes me wonder if the collaboration with Lux International and Aerus began at that time.

 

[electromatik]

@ronni

Are you saying that Electrolux USA was independent of Sweden's Electrolux AB as early as 1928? I've never read that in any Electrolux history. The sources of my information came from Electrolux USA's corporate materials and can be found online.

 

[tommymilan]

Great Ronny! I'm very happy that you also used some pics of my vacs and some of the scans I shared here on vacuumland! Greetings,
Tommy

 

[ronni]

@electromatik ... You misunderstood the information I relayed. I'd read that in 1928, or around that time, AB Electrolux sold many of its shares in its US subdivision--not that they became independent of one another. I speculate that doing so would have allowed AB E to expand its refrigeration line and benefit its R & D. While I did not research it, if you look at the home maintenance lines of the two entities along with their product model IDs, they suggest such a distant relationship. Further, the owner's manuals from the US Model 30 and on do not make any reference to AB Electrolux of Sweden as earlier ones had. However, sales, designs, and products were still shared such as the combination upholstery tool/dusting brush, triple brush polisher-scrubber, automatic shut-off for full bag, and turbo tool.

@Tommy ... I'm glad you liked the video, but I did not produce it or upload it; nor do I know who did. I just shared it with the forum, because of its interesting content and thought it would provide a discussion for comparing & contrasting the upgrades between European, Canadian & US models. Thanks for your photo contributions to it!

 

[Mike81]

Lux and Electrolux

Interesting to see this thread. I actually made this video and I mainly got the information from the Hedengren Direct.
It's the Finnish direct sales company for the Lux vacuums.
Now it's important to know that Lux and Electrolux separated around 1988 when the first Lux Royal came.
Lux became it's own premium brand and Electrolux began selling vacuums for the mass market.
For example in the early 90's Electrolux had Dolphin and Lux had Lux Royal D790.
I personally own Lux Royal D790 and it's very well made with smooth and quiet motor. Suction is impressive for only 1150 watt motor. Powerhead isn't so impressive at all. It's built well, but it has small brushroll and no wheels. OK for short pile carpets. I still have it, but now I use Wessel Werk EBK 340 in the Lux.
Today Lux has Intelligence and Electrolux UltraOne.

 

[Mike81]

Here is my Lux Roal D790 in action:

 

[eurekaprince]

I think one of the primary differences between the AB Electrolux company of Sweden and the Lux International company of Switzerland is that Lux vacuums are sold door-to-door with salespersons making commissions on their sales. When the door-to-door division of AB Electrolux broke away from the main company in 1988, it became Lux International. It seems that one of Lux International's biggest divisions is India's Eureka-Forbes company. They have lots of videos on YouTube. North America's Aerus is now an "associate partner" of Lux International too.

 

[eurekaprince]

Correction: The door-to-door division of AB Electrolux broke away in 1998, not 1988. It was bought by Swiss businessmen and the headquarters were established in Switzerland.

 

[Mike81]

Interesting.
Lux seems to be Sauber in the Australia.

 

[ronni]

@eurekaprince ... Thanks for the correction. I did mean to text '1998' as the year that the dissolution of AB Electrolux and Lux International's partnership took place but didn't edit carefully enough.

Also, I couldn't find the information that I'd referenced about AB Electrolux selling its majority interest in Electrolux Corporation back in the day; however, I'm thinking now that it may have been closer to 1938 instead of 1928 as the worldwide logo was still used in the USA on pre-war Model 30s.

I was able to find that AB Electrolux sold its minority 39% interest to Consolidated Foods in 1968 at electroluxgroup.com.

 

[eurekaprince]

No problem Ronni! The Electrolux story is indeed quite complicated and it is not easy getting all the details correct. Would make a fascinating corporate documentary!

One thing is certain: wherever you find a combination tool with foldable "wings," you'll find a bit of Electrolux history!!!!

 

[ronni]

@Mike81 ... I apologize for overlooking your replies till now. Thanks for posting the Youtube video I shared in the initial post--great work! Also, thanks for the other information, photos, and vids from your personal collection--impressive!

So is the Finnish direct sales company still associated with AB Electrolux?

____________

From the online copy of THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE, March 30, 1968, S section from south regional edition, p.67 ... (I couldn't quite make out the bracketed #s)

"'Cons. Foods Buys More of Electrolux' Consolidated Foods corporation, Chicago, yesterday said it has contracted to buy an additional [495,630] shares of Electrolux corporation, to which it recently submitted a merger proposal. The new purchase brings Consolidated's holdings of Electrolux to [2,415,620] shares, or 48.8 percent of the common stock outstanding.

"The purchase price for the additional block is $30 a share for a total of [$14,868,600], said William Hewlett, president of Consolidated. The seller is the Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research, Inc. Electrolux is a New York-based manufacturer of vacuum cleaners.

"Consolidated acquired its initial interest in Electrolux on March 1 with the purchase of [1,850,000] shares at $30 a share from A.B. Electrolux of Stockholm.

"As announced earlier, the merger proposal submitted by Consolidated to Electrolux calls for an exchange of Consolidated convertible preferred stock for the remaining shares of Electrolux on a basis intended to result in a value of at least $30 for each Electrolux share."