I emailed Doug and he's having problems logging on with his old i.d. so he asked that I post this.
Hi Everyone. I got Pete's message. Guess it would be easiest to start from the beginning and work through. Electrolux began in Canada in 1932 with a small sales force selling the Model XII which was being imported from Sweeden. By 1934 sales and the sales force had grown to a size that warranted a factory being built here in Canada to produce the XII. The XII continued to be produced till 1939 when the factory was retooled and the model ZB30 went into production (an interesting note on this period is that some of the Model Z24 were also imported from England at this time and sold as a step down model) In 1939 the ZB30, which was a Canadian modification of an Sweedish design, went into production with the model XII (now in the same grey as the 30) still being made as a step down model. Shortly there after vacuum production stopped as the factory was retooled to make small motors etc for the war effort.
After the war production of the ZB30 resumed. In 1949 the first version of the alligator skin ZB55 was introduced with the second appearing in 1951. (The first version has the runners attached to separate points on the body like the 30 - the second they go right into the name plate).Also around 1950 an optional cord reel (made by Belden in the US) was introduced. In 1953 the 3rd and final version of the ZB55 came out - this time with a blue covering and blue parts (including the new style crevice tool). At the same time they introduced the step down model Z54 (red ends and only the cheaper US flip over parts) and a delux model Z57 (Brown wih cord reel).
In 1957 the factory was again retooled and the 80 series went into production. Following the cheap - standard - delux idea introduced in 1953 the new models were the ZB83 (cheap), ZB86 (standard - had a cord reel) and ZB88 (delux with mechanical brain <bag controll>) In 1961 the design changed slightly with bumpers being added to the machines. At this time they also discontinued the 83 and began producing the 86 with the manual cord winder or, for $30 more, the cord reel. Shortly thereafter they also began importing the PN1, as an optiona accessory, from the US in red and cream to match the machines. The outlet for the PN was placed in the handle as it made it easy to retrofit earlier 80 series to use the new power nozzle. Also in this period (61-67) Electrolux Canada Introduced the telescopic wand (which didnt catch on in the US)
In late 1967 the models 87 (cheap) and 89 (delux) were introduced. The first machines used a standard hose with cord on the outside as did the 88 but soon modifications began to appear. The first modification was a handgrip with a trigger switch to turn on and off the PN. Shortly there after the first powerhose appeared (very dark green with a gold tracer and the same metal end as the standard hose). By 1969/70 the power hose became standard with the machines (It should be noted that these machines now bore the 89E or 87E designation instead of ZB87 or ZB89). The 89 also had 3 different power nozzles during its reign. Starting with the PN2 (Canadian designation for the lime green -US made PN1). The next 2 Power nozzles - the PN3 and PN4 were a strictly Canadian design. The PN3 was lime green with a dark green bumper and featured a controll which allowed the user to lower the brush when it became worn. The PN4 was basicall the same in dark green with a lime green bumper but did away with this controll.
In 1973 the factory was again retooled and the all plastic Ap100's and AP's went into production.
Another interesting note. On all Canadian made machines (up to the 2100 at which time production switched to the US) you can tell the manufacture date from the serial number. Eg: if it is a 89 (made from 67 to 73) and the first number of the serial number is 1 then it was made in 1971.
During this time period various imported Electroluxes were sold both from the US and England as well. Either to test out new ideas and see how the Candian public would accept them(eg: the US LX and E for the paper bags and cord reel) or to keepthe sales force going when the factory was either shut down due to mechanical problems or strikes.
If anyone wants more information (Or parts - I have a ton of them) give me a yell at [email protected] as I rarely have time to check these boards.
Doug Smith - Moose Jaw, Sk
Hi Everyone. I got Pete's message. Guess it would be easiest to start from the beginning and work through. Electrolux began in Canada in 1932 with a small sales force selling the Model XII which was being imported from Sweeden. By 1934 sales and the sales force had grown to a size that warranted a factory being built here in Canada to produce the XII. The XII continued to be produced till 1939 when the factory was retooled and the model ZB30 went into production (an interesting note on this period is that some of the Model Z24 were also imported from England at this time and sold as a step down model) In 1939 the ZB30, which was a Canadian modification of an Sweedish design, went into production with the model XII (now in the same grey as the 30) still being made as a step down model. Shortly there after vacuum production stopped as the factory was retooled to make small motors etc for the war effort.
After the war production of the ZB30 resumed. In 1949 the first version of the alligator skin ZB55 was introduced with the second appearing in 1951. (The first version has the runners attached to separate points on the body like the 30 - the second they go right into the name plate).Also around 1950 an optional cord reel (made by Belden in the US) was introduced. In 1953 the 3rd and final version of the ZB55 came out - this time with a blue covering and blue parts (including the new style crevice tool). At the same time they introduced the step down model Z54 (red ends and only the cheaper US flip over parts) and a delux model Z57 (Brown wih cord reel).
In 1957 the factory was again retooled and the 80 series went into production. Following the cheap - standard - delux idea introduced in 1953 the new models were the ZB83 (cheap), ZB86 (standard - had a cord reel) and ZB88 (delux with mechanical brain <bag controll>) In 1961 the design changed slightly with bumpers being added to the machines. At this time they also discontinued the 83 and began producing the 86 with the manual cord winder or, for $30 more, the cord reel. Shortly thereafter they also began importing the PN1, as an optiona accessory, from the US in red and cream to match the machines. The outlet for the PN was placed in the handle as it made it easy to retrofit earlier 80 series to use the new power nozzle. Also in this period (61-67) Electrolux Canada Introduced the telescopic wand (which didnt catch on in the US)
In late 1967 the models 87 (cheap) and 89 (delux) were introduced. The first machines used a standard hose with cord on the outside as did the 88 but soon modifications began to appear. The first modification was a handgrip with a trigger switch to turn on and off the PN. Shortly there after the first powerhose appeared (very dark green with a gold tracer and the same metal end as the standard hose). By 1969/70 the power hose became standard with the machines (It should be noted that these machines now bore the 89E or 87E designation instead of ZB87 or ZB89). The 89 also had 3 different power nozzles during its reign. Starting with the PN2 (Canadian designation for the lime green -US made PN1). The next 2 Power nozzles - the PN3 and PN4 were a strictly Canadian design. The PN3 was lime green with a dark green bumper and featured a controll which allowed the user to lower the brush when it became worn. The PN4 was basicall the same in dark green with a lime green bumper but did away with this controll.
In 1973 the factory was again retooled and the all plastic Ap100's and AP's went into production.
Another interesting note. On all Canadian made machines (up to the 2100 at which time production switched to the US) you can tell the manufacture date from the serial number. Eg: if it is a 89 (made from 67 to 73) and the first number of the serial number is 1 then it was made in 1971.
During this time period various imported Electroluxes were sold both from the US and England as well. Either to test out new ideas and see how the Candian public would accept them(eg: the US LX and E for the paper bags and cord reel) or to keepthe sales force going when the factory was either shut down due to mechanical problems or strikes.
If anyone wants more information (Or parts - I have a ton of them) give me a yell at [email protected] as I rarely have time to check these boards.
Doug Smith - Moose Jaw, Sk
