Brandnew 1990 Electrolux 614 Super (Vac With The Hose At The Back)

[vintagerepairer]

Alex, considering the 600 series cleaners fell to bits in just about every way imaginable, I am intrigued to know on what you base your thoughts that the Contour was "nowhere near as good". Although the Contour was not up there with the greatest cleaners of all times, they did manage to stay in one piece for the duration of their lives.

I am duty-bound to point out that I am not looking to start World War Three by saying that, I am genuinely interested in what you think.

 

[alexhoovers94]

Regardless of how durable the Contour was over the 600 series. The 600s were much better in just abould everyway to the original Contours, they had stronger suction, picked up better, had better tools, better bag fitting as it has a clip to hold it in, it also had a propper handle release with an auto nozel raise and not to mention a sturdier lower cord hook.

Just my views but having owned a 612, 616 and now this brand new 614, the later varients of the 600 series 614, 615 and 616 were all sturdier than the original line, which were 610 and 612.

 

[vintagerepairer]

I agree the original handle release on the Contour was not great, this is quite true.

The problem with the 600 series is that by the time it went on sale, manufacturers were looking for more and more ways for things to wear out. However, the 600 series had too many weak spots and plastic that was just not up to the job. They kind-of overdid it when building "obsolescence" into the cleaners.

I think they were one of the best looking vacuum cleaners I have seen, but few have stood the test of time. The service they gave was disproportionate to the price tag.

 

[vacerator]

Contour/Eureka--Alex,

I think I meant the Boss Smart Vac series. The Bravo had a soft bag when I looked it up. The Contour back and handle are similar to our early Boss Smart vac's.
I think they all had headlights, but I am not sure.

 

[alexhoovers94]

I am not sure about what you mean about the plastic being insufficient, I have always found these machines to be very sturdy, not sure which parts are susceptible as all the ones I had were unscathed. I think Hoover and Electrolux were at their very best in the late 80s to early 90s, Lux with their 600s and Hoover with their Turbomaster Total Systems, both very convenient practical machines, infact, I believe that the Turbomaster Total Systems were the Best upright Hoover ever made!

 

[vintagerepairer]

This is what I mean by plastic on the 600 series being insufficient. I will list the areas where these cleaners failed:

Chassis snapping where screws are inserted;
Chassis wearing our as a result of rear wheels boring into it;
Handle release pedal pins snapping;
Screw holes wearing out in the hood;
Roller end-cap holes enlarging in hood;
Handle snapping at point where it slides into main body;
Hoses breaking;
Head-lifter fork wearing out.

As well as this, there were faults which Electrolux redesigned the cleaner to overcome. One was the rigid internal suction tube inside the cleaner which was redesigned to include the notches that locked the body upright (early models had a metal ring), the hose handle was redesigned to stop the hose pulling out, and one of the last alterations to the 612 & 610 was the introduction of lugs on the base plate which prevented the cleaner toppling forward. The 614,5, and 6 all came with the alterations in place, but were still liable to fail on the points I listed above.

 

[alexhoovers94]

We had the "Powerline", "Widetrack", "SmartVac" and "the BOSS" name under the Electrolux brand here in the UK but they were made in the US by Eureka, the earlier models, anyway. They were the form of the "Backsaver handle" style.

Here is an Argos catalogue scan from 1998, showing an early model US, Eureka made Electrolux Widetrack.

The contours were made by Electrolux in the UK.

Also headlights on vacuum is rather outdated and certainly was in the 90s, it would be very rare to see a vacuum in the UK post 1995 with a headlight.

 

[alexhoovers94]

the brusholl fits in entirely differently on the 614,5&6 notice the bumper is slightly wider unlike the 610 and 612, on the earlier models it just sat in, much the same as on the 500 series on the later 614,5&6 the endcaps had bolts on each end the stuck out at the edges which is why the bumper is slightly wider of those later models.

I will agree about the issue with the handle breaking, hose pulling out and the machine tipping forward on the earlier 610 and 612, which were not a problem on the later model as of the modifications you mentioned.

I noticed on my 612 the auto nozzle raise was worn out, which was never an issue on my 616 and nether was the handle release.

Never experienced any of the other issues you have mentioned.

and my 616 was not exactly an under used cleaner, that's for sure!

 

[vintagerepairer]

I had forgotten all about the bolts on the roller. That was another problem with earlier models as they had screws which held the end caps on, which fell out.

 

[vacerator]

Yes Alex,

I recognize the red item 16 in the catalogue scan as a Eureka. We also had the Widepath and Powerline. Now I don't know if Eurekas Powerline was the same as the UK's. It had a metal sole plate, and I think a fabric bag color matched to the base.

 

[alexhoovers94]

No, the Eletrolux Powerline was a Eureka Victory. We only got the "Bravo" Style in the very late 90s, 99-2000 a Black "the BOSS" fabric bag, dirty fan, similar to Hoover Elite, I have one of those, it is unbearably loud!!

 

[vacerator]

Correct Alex,

I forgot about the Victory name. Our Powerline still had a steel Vibragroomer III brush roller.

 

[alexhoovers94]

Really? Oh wow.

 

[vacerator]

Alex,

the Powerline models of uprights and canisters were the last made at Eureka's El Paso Texas plant before production moved over the border to Mexico. The World Vac line was also made there. Last I knew, El Paso was still a parts distribution center. It opened in the 1980's to make the first plastic 8200 series Express canister line after the plant in Bloomington Illinois was idled. Eureka kept offices there until 2011.