Aerus Vacuums

[kirbyloverdan]

Thank you Dave

You are absolutely right simple is best .

Aerus/Electrolux has been around all these years because they just build one of the best vacuums on the market .

If they were junk as some unexperienced non Aeus owning people think they are they would have gone outof business years ago .

 

[kirbyloverdan]

I loved the

new Guardian Ultra so much I bought two !

 

[danemodsandy]

I Dunno....

....About reviving the CXL design. It might appeal to some consumers with retro tastes, but it was dropped for a good reason; it was just getting too dated for most people.

What I think COULD benefit TriStar is giving the MG series a better motor, and wands and tools of higher quality, preferably metal. If they did that, there would be a huge differential for consumers. The MG design isn't necessarily a bad one; it's just compromised by second-rate accessories, which should not be the case in a vacuum costing that much.

One of the HUGE satisfactions in owning a CXL is that metal floor tool and rug tool. Durable as can be.

 

[eurekaprince]

I think many of you have this Electrolux/Eureka corporate thing backwards.

Sweden's Electrolux invented the name and the canister vac concept and provided North America with Electrolux vacs up until the American division cut its ties with Europe when Consolidated Foods bought it in 1968. Sweden's Electrolux bought Eureka Williams in 1974, at which point Eureka became just one of Electroluxes many worldwide brandnames, along with Frigidaire, Progress, Volta and Zanussi. Eureka does not own Electrolux, it's the other way around.

In 2000, Sweden's Electrolux bought back the right to use it's own name in North America, but allowed the North American division to keep using the name until 2007. Since 2007, it has been illegal for any other company in America to use the Electrolux name, and I think that is completely logical. The entire world knows Electrolux as a Swedish appliance company, not a door-to-door power nozzle canister vac maker.

Since 1968, these have been two totally independent companies. The only commonality was the combination dusting brush+upholstery nozzle sold by both. I understand the nostalgic fondness for the quality vacuum cleaners produced by the American and Canadian Electrolux companies between 1968 and 2000, but they were in essence only borrowing a name from a Swedish company whose roots in the vac business go far deeper than the North American companies. They had a right to do with their name whatever they wish. They could have bought the North American vac plants and designs in 2000 as well, but they chose not to since they already had bought a company with a much larger market share (Eureka).

If there is anything to lament, it is not the removal of the Electrolux name from the cylinder vacs Americans have come to love. It is the almost total disappearance of the Eureka Company at the hands of the Swedish company. The Eureka name we see now is but a childish-looking label on very cheap vacs made overseas. The least Electrolux could have done is left the Eureka name on all those classic Sanitaire vacs.

If you really want to bring some life and innovation back to the company that's now called Aerus, Aerus should change it's name to "Lux North America" and should fully integrate with Europe's Lux International and then you might see vacs like this in the Aerus stores:

 

[venson]

@eurekaprince . . .

I would love to see the Lux International's "Intelligence" here but, to my understanding, the company has an agreement of some sort with Aerus not to sell here in the State. I think they are nonetheless somehow connected as both use the "Clean Home" banner for their vacuum pages online.

If we're to be exacted exorbitant rates for product, not only high performance but a little flash and dash never hurt.

Though I think it would need a power nozzle upgrade for the American market, I like the "Intelligence" because, among other things, it employs pre-filtering as well as post- which Aerus does not. That prevailed in prior Lux International canisters too.

Though Canadian models had them, American Electroluxes had quite a long run from at least since the G without even post filters until the Renaissance brought them back into play I believe.

I have been trying for a while to learn how much of a connection there is between Lux International and our Aerus. I know Lux International has a connection with a European brand Eureka/Forbes.

 

[GM1982]

Bought one

Well I bought an Aerus Upright.... I will agree with earlier comment, yes the purchasing process at the store is not too pleasant, almost like your negotiating on a car. However, the machine seems to work nicely. I did compare it to the Miele S7 which has on board tools, but I felt it would not go low enough to fit under some low furniture. Contemplated on getting the Sebo Felix, but felt harder to push on thick carpets. Also, I noticed you get longer warranties with the Aerus brand.

 

[countryguy]

I really like the look of the Lux Intelligence also and wish it was sold in North America. I'm glad it has the regular handle grip rather than the awful bulky pistol grip style.

Gary

 

[Sanifan]

My thoughts...

Electrolux/Eureka/Aerus has to be the most convoluted and confusing corporate history that exists. As an Electrolux newb, I found I had to ease my way into the sea of information regarding the companies and their products.

It doesn't help that there seem to be endless variations of the canister models over the years. They are all similar and there's a lot of information to juggle, so until you really commit to getting into it, it's all very confusing.

I currently have two tanks models. An Electrolux Ultralux 80th Anniversary with a VM3 motor, and a gold colored metal model which I understand may be a 50th Anniversary model. It's interesting, but for a while I guess Aerus/Lux continued with the body style that is now called the Classic. I believe this is when they went to the white and blue color scheme. The difference between those models and the current Classic, apart from the color perhaps, seems to be the wands, hose, and PN's were redisigned for a more modern look. I think this is when they went to the gas pump handle. Also, the Classic probably uses a different motor than those Luxes.

I guess after that they went to the style with the big box Hepa filter. I'm ambivalent about that styling. I like the clean look of the white and blue, but I agree there's something plasticky and cheapish feeling about it.

Now they have the three current styles that Dave was kind enough to post the documents for. One of them is the Classic, which is actually identical to my Ultralux (from what I can tell in the diagram), save for the color and perhaps an improved motor in the current vac. The wands and PN are the older style, with the metal lower half of the wand barrel. Interesting they went all the way back to this style.

I'm ambivalent about the other two current styles. The Legacy has that ramped hump. I think it looks a little to much like a van or an RV for my taste. The Guardian ULTRA, I feel, looks too cumbersome at the front end. Like a strange whale or something. And the silver on top seems like it will look shoddy once is get scuffed and scraped. Correct me if I'm wrong on that.

Having said that, I would jump on any of them if I found a great price.

I like the styling of the Classic/Ultralux a lot. I'm not too jazzed about the ultimate performance of the PN (the current Classic may have an improved brushroll though). I do really like my Ultralux a lot for bare floor and above floor cleaning.

I notice that Aerus gives a CFM spec of 145 for the Guardian ULTRA. That's a lot. It pretty much matches the CFM specs of a Sanitaire upright. There are no CFM figures given for the Legacy or Classic, however. Anyone know why that is? Incidentally, all three have the same Airwatt specs. Could the Legacy and Classic have the same CFM given the Airwatts are the same?

 

[eurekaprince]

Hey there Venson! See the link below for the global picture of Lux International - it shows Aerus as part of their global "partnerships."

Lux International was originally the direct sales/door-to-door division of Sweden's Electrolux. The division was sold to a Swiss company, and now operates independently of Sweden's Electrolux. Indeed the large Indian Eureka Forbes Group is part of Lux International. I guess they somehow got away with buying the rights to the Eureka name for use outside of North America!

http://www.luxinternational.com/around_the_world/

 

[venson]

@eurekaprince . . .

Thanks for the link to the map. I was very interested to find that Mexico is marked red as Lux territory. Wonder if rowing across the Gulf of Mexico could get me the Lux "Intelligence." They use 120-volt AC I'm told

Venson

 

[danemodsandy]

The Intelligent Intelligence....

....In Googling the Intelligence, I found one very interesting tidbit of information: It's a metal-bodied vac. That makes it much more desirable to me.

I know some here feel that plastic is okay, and that we'll never see metal vacs again, but I don't want plastic, and I think we will see metal vacs again.

One of the sad things about a plastic vac is that if you crack or break part of the housing, you are at the mercy of the manufacturer, who often has discontinued housing parts - or on cheaper vacs, never made them available as replacement parts in the first place. A metal housing can be repaired more easily.

Also, metal housings accept screws and fasteners better, and the screws can be removed and replaced without wearing the screw holes as much, important for longevity.

I personally think we're going to have to get back to manufacturing goods that really last, because this throwaway, overseas-made, plastic mentality we've got going on right now is unsustainable.

P.S. - Yes, I know metal housings dent. I have an otherwise minty Lux Model L with a heckuva dent in it. But - it still works, which might not have been the case with a plastic vac taking that kind of blow.

 

[joshdonnell]

Well

There not gonna make metal the only 2 canisters that are all metal or air tech and metro . Which i like

 

[danemodsandy]

Josh:

First of all, the Lux Intelligence is metal, as is the TriStar, as is the Patriot, among others. Not all metal - handles and control panels and such are plastic - but metal where it counts, which is the body where the suction is developed.

Also, as has been pointed out earlier in this thread, your posting style is a little annoying. If you disagree, you disagree, but to flatly say "They're not gonna make metal," is silly, unless you have some fact to back that up. It's your opinion, not a fact.

My opinion is that the days of easy, cheap plastic merchandise are about to come to a screeching halt, due to environmental concerns, availability of oil and shipping costs. In my opinion, the next twenty years are going to see a shift back to more durable consumer goods, with higher price tags; not everyone is going to be able to afford everything they might like to have.

 

[joshdonnell]

Well

Then ill find something backing that up. I like metal but here in the us thats not gonna happen i doubt it . The lux that you like wont come here i dont see that it will no one these days dont care when they to walmart to buy a cleaner. And some people care. And tristars are ok.

 

[bagintheback]

I never knew that the European Lux and Aerus were related! Knowing this, there are somethings I don't understand.

First of all, Aerus is using a quite outdated power-nozzle while Lux is using a very modern looking one. From what I have used and heard, European power nozzles, such as Sebo, Wessel Werk and Lindhaus, are better than American models. Why does Aerus continue with older Electrolux nozzles?

Secondly, Aerus is selling all these home products, such as air purifiers and heaters, that are manufactured by other companies. Riccar sells the exact same heater as Aerus. It looks to me that Lux is selling original products. Lux has for sale as much different air purifier. Now I don't know if it is an original Lux product, but why can't the same company sell the same products?

To me the Lux product lines looks much more appealing, even to Americans. Does anyone have any idea why Aerus is not progressing at the same rate?

 

[rolltide]

I'm a huge Aerus/Lux fan !

I have always had a love for the then Electrolux canisters and uprights. Yes I know up until now that the suction motor in the uprights were lacking, but all those Southern ladies in my family stand by them as probably the most utilized appliance in the home with exception only to the dishwasher. There are about 16 canister Electrolux canisters and 12 uprights among my big family I can remember in the last 20 years. Paying attention tho my mother, grandmothers, aunts, and/or their maids.. I've seen other vacs come into the household only to be passed over in preference to the upright. Even when some of the folks purchased the D4 Rainbows in the boom season, The Lux still remained the most favored. Other than the sleek design and brushroll on and off, I attribute this to my favorite feature.. The pistol grip handled hose and dusting brush. The hose handles very closely to the Silverado and model L I grew up using. The Discovery, ProLux, and Epic uprights are the only upright I would consider using to really put a cleaning on my house because of the ease of use with attachments. As I generally always use a canister vac due to the ease of cleaning EVERYWHERE. To me cleaning is an everywhere detailed clean. Whether Aerus canister or upright, that pistol grip hose and brush get so much use in my home. I like my Renaissance ok but when getting down to business with a hose, I'm not going to do hours of dusting with that hose! My parents have it at their house for daily cleaning now and love it. I tend to stick to my Luv Classic, Silverado, upright or even the Rainbow because of the no nonsense hose.
All that being said.. I love Aerus products including the new upright but I agree the Aerus branding schtick and the games the dealer played with a family member of mine made me want to never make another purchase. I hope this company can get it together and resemble more of the "ELECTROLUX" we grew to love. So sorry this is long but I'm glad this topic was mentioned. It just so happened I picked up a $3.00 Lux grey 3500 upright in new condition yesterday. It was like Christmas ! Does anyone know how and if I can retrofit this with the newpowerful guardian motor ?
Thanks for letting me share and I hope to hear from some of you !

 

[venson]

@bagintheback . . .

Hoover, Kenmore and Eureka have put out some very good power nozzles in past and present. However, I think the assessment of "good," no matter where it comes from, is by user's judgement of things due to "surface cleaning". It great to have a vac that swoops up whatever you see in front of it in a couple of passes or less but what we "see" is on top of the rug. What's going on where I usually don't look?

If you are a regular vacuumer, my rule of thumb is get down on your hands and knees -- every once in a while -- and use your fingers to gently separate your carpet tufting and see what's going on down near the carpet backing.

The areas best to do this "check" in are in high traffic areas, at entry doors and spots situated directly in front of seating. If you see a lot of accumulated grit and dirt, you're either not vacuuming enough or your cleaner may not be quite up to par if you are.

There are many brands of vacuum dearly loved in this country more for doing what's obvious than for what's not.

Deep cleaning ability is an issue but may not have to be depending upon the frequency of use of any decent machine. Again my own opinion, quick passes of a vac every couple of days or so in at least high traffic areas prevents the "bad stuff" from getting ground down into carpet fibers and may lessen a lot of to-do come your designated cleaning day.

 

[GM1982]

one advantage over the others

I think what sold me on the Aerus is the amount of dirt it captures even with the mini turbo add on...I don't know of any other vacuum brand with and electrified turbo that deep cleans beds, chairs, etc... Miele, sebo and the others all seem to have an air driven.

 

[danemodsandy]

George:

That turbo attachment is called a Sidekick, and it's either included or optionally available for all Aeruses and Luxes, including any canister that can accept a PN.

I would not want to be without mine, particularly because of my little furry friend Tony, seen in the picture. He's cute, he's sweet, he's loyal. But, my LORD, the shedding! The Sidekick makes short work of the hair he leaves.

 

[petek]

The Sidekick was also produced as the Kenmore Powermate Jr. back in the 90's, identical except for the molding around the electrical connection to fit the Kenmore.