And Next Up - The Very First Electrolux Upright

[compactelectra]

The very first Electrolux Upright Vacuum Cleaner.  I bought this brand new in the box on Ebay.  It has also been on display in the collection at Tarantula Arms.  Run maybe three times.  Comes with the attachments from the later Silverado line.  Original box included.  I will scrounge up the bags to go with this too since they are no longer available.



http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Ele...929?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35c1b71559

 

[kenkart]

BEAUTIFUL!!!

I wish I was a little richer!!LOL I have always been partial to these but usually they are a train wreck when you find them!!

 

[electromatik]

WOW! I've NEVER seen one at all, let alone one in that good of a condition. I'd love to see the attachments and bags. I wonder if that is a headlight on the top of the nozzle...

 

[sebo_fan]

OM, I've never seen that before - it looks super cool!

 

[rugsucker]

no headlight

But these had 4ply self sealing filter bag and 4 stage fan system similar to the Super J of the same period(about 78).Also 2 gear belts on magnetic clutch that was very trouble free,height adjuster controlling all 4 wheels,2 carry handles,automatic bag signal,push button handle release and more.They did tend to clog with items such as paper,house plant leaves or toothpicks.Later models had a new base that solved the clogging problem.Later colors were tan,grey and sandstone.Many of these were recalled or traded due to clogging making any of these rare.I have NEVER,EVER seen the box and I worked at Elux offices starting in 1982.In this condition with the BOX this is beyond RARE and should be on the empty space next to someones Super J!

 

[kenkart]

Hey Jimmy!!!

If I had the cash I would have it!!!! I wish it had been listed in Dec, when I get my Christmas bonus!!!

 

[briankirbyclass]

These upright Lux's are fun to look at and use, but, A neighbor of mine had one several years ago,,until i saw it out on the curb with the trash one day.
The neighbor just happened to be working in the yard, and I asked him why they were dumping it, and he said it was the WORST vacuum they had ever owned.

Was heavy and clumbsy,,It clogged almost everytime they used it, even tho they were super careful with what was sucked up, and said that the suction was practically non exsistant, even with a new bag, it was poor at best.

The bags were also long discontinued, and they couldnt find them at all, not even generic.
He said the Electrolux man wouldnt even service it, or take it on a trade.
He said The attachments were a terrible pain to attach and use,(you had to screw in a plate over the intake and attach the hose to the plate, then when done with the hose, detach and unscrew the plate again), and the suction from the hose was so pityful it wouldnt even pick up a feather.

Was NOT handy for vacuuming stairs at all.

I asked him what they replaced it with - he said a Kirby G4!

I bet thats the first time their carpets had an honest to goodness deep down vacuuming in years! lol

 

[kirbyvertibles]

I ordered some generic bags for this last year from VCP. You just have to make sure the person you talk to understands what upright you are talking about. I have this one the olympia one as well as the one that goes with the silverado. I would love to find the one that said heavy duty one it and the very last one (and I believe the rarest) that matched the very early diamond J in the off whiteish color

 

[electromatik]

Well Briankirbyclass sure shared an incredible, if unbelievable, story didn't he? While I don't take hardly anything I hear second hand from people I'm not with on a frequent basis, even that story would make me question it from a friend. No one knows what goes on behind closed doors regarding what people do or don't do nor how they take care of things. I can't believe any vacuum would be so weak it cannot pick up a feather. Not when serviced and taken care of properly. A vacuum that week simply wouldn't sell at all when new. I've never in all my 35 years of life encountered a person who said a Lux was the worst vac ever. Everyone I ever knew that had a Lux of any kind loved it or at least liked it. I can't speak for the early uprights, but none of the post 1985 Lux uprights were in any way, shape, or form heavy, nor clumsy. Especially when compared to a Kirby for example. I've never known any Lux upright owner that clogged every time either. I can't imagine ANY upright being good for stairs. It appears some people do in fact hate Luxes and will go to any extreme to bash them, no matter how outlandish thier claims often are.

 

[kenkart]

I think..

That they are probably the best upright ever built...The height adjustment works on ALL FOUR WHEELS, so it doesent dig in or nose dive while being used on thick carpets its quiet, and for my money cleans like no other, and of course is well built and does not blow dust!

 

[rugsucker]

older Elux upright

Brians 'real life' story of a 'real' customer in very believable to me as I was with Elux starting in 82.As with many real customers they probably did not understand or care for the vac properly.It is also true that many older Elux service and sales people did not like the ur as they were used to the exellent tank style and had in fact been told that the uprights were not as good as tanks because of att use,clearance under furniture,etc.The suction was always good using a similar motor,fan and bag as the Super J.The clogging problem was real and a nightmare to deal with.There was a change to the the inlet hose directlty behind brush or a wire in center that was tried and discarded.Also a 'duct improvement kit'with larger dirty air ducts that required removing the upper body taking of front panel(with special tools!).The base was changed later with an easily removable inlet hose and ramrod stored on right side of upper body to unclog.While these were being tried there was a recall of all sealed box uprights from branches back to warehouse.
Then ALL went back opened or not.The one carpet that it did not clean well was flat indoor/outdoor type(assuming customer used height adjuster).There was a kit to raise rear of bottom plate for these.The attachment converter sat on top of bag after opening bag door and had 2 latches that rotated a quarter turn.Not difficult but some vac users can not change the proverbial light bulb!Also a plate that could cover brush,which did not shut off,if wanted.The standard hose,2 wands,rug/floor,dust/upholstery and crevice atts were same as on tanks.It was heavy to carry but not to operate.Later models had round rear wheels instead of flat.As above replacement bags can be found.Early models had bag light at switch panel,later on base.Early hose converter latches were all plastic,later part metal.Early handle grip had 4 screws and could wobble,later had 5 screws.Early hoses were braided,later were vinyl as on CB.Trivia question--What are dots(as if from hot needle)on center of base??Answer--Extra serial number!But don't ask me how to read.(I must not have been cleared for Top Secret info.)As above this is a rare part of Elux history in amazing condition.

 

[briankirbyclass]

Im sorry, i didnt mean to "Bash" anything or anyone. Just repeating what i saw and heard from a neighbor one day. You dont very often see an Electrolux out on the curb with someones trash, or at least i dont, so i was supprised when i saw it.
The neighbor man just happened to be out working in his yard at the time, so i asked him what the deal was with the vac. As far as the vac barely even able to suck up a feather, evidently there was an internal clog somewhere deep in the machine? Maybe they had sucked up pine needles?(which can cause a terrible clog), Who knows?

I would have saved the machine from the trash myself, until i heard that bags, parts and all were too hard to find, or impossible to find (at least in our rural areas here in the Midwest) and that even the Electrolux Salesman himself didnt even want to deal with the machine.
Personally, i love Electrolux machines and was raised with them, so i was supprised to hear this particular one was a lemon.
Guess you can get a lemon in any make and model.