Canadian Electroluxes

[charles~richard]

I wonder how many American collectors, especially younger ones, are familiar with the Canadian machines and their oddities!

The first time I saw a Z88 (same machine as the Z89 posted in the Model G thread but in maroon with white trim), I thought it was something from another dimension! It appeared to be a mutation of several American models -- looked like a G from the front except with the bag chamber turned sideways like a Model LX, then it had a rear felt filter like the American LX, LXI, E and AE, and had the older-style "XXX" floor and rug attachments. (In fact the Canadian machines up through all the metal body models had these older-style attachments instead of the combo tools.)

Here are a few Canadian beaties, some of them are mine and some not. The best place to see Canadian machines in all their glory is the web site of Canadian collector Doug Smith. See link below.

The first machine here is in my collection, a beautiful ZB54 from 1954. I really love the maroon and gray-blue color scheme of this machine. Incidentally, this was an "economy model" so it had what were in the eyes of Canadian Electrolux, the "cheaper" combination tools!! Go figure?!

http://dkas1.50megs.com/

 

[charles~richard]

ZB54

Another view

 

[charles~richard]

ZB54

One more...

 

[charles~richard]

Check out the very rare commercial

Canadian model shown in this instruction booklet from the ZB54 -- it's a huge thing isn't it!

 

[charles~richard]

ZB 55

Note the "Companion" tool caddy and cord winder! This cord winder is really cool, btw in that it hinges open like the much later American versions! However, it hinges down from the top rather than from the side, which actually makes more sense. (This is not one of my machines. I think it was an eBay auction.)

 

[charles~richard]

ZB50

another view

 

[charles~richard]

ZB50

also had optional wheels - several years before the American LXI!

 

[charles~richard]

Z88

the maroon one! (I believe these are John Young's machines.)

 

[charles~richard]

Z89

Another view

 

[charles~richard]

Z88

Look at THIS beauty! All original, mint condition!! What a fabby trunk, eh! Also a genuine Canadian Electrolux product. This WAS an eBay listing that I found about an hour too later -- and it only went for like $50!! Oh the pain, the pain.......!

 

[charles~richard]

I do have more Canadian machine photos

but can't seem to find them. But you can see what I believe is a complete collection of them at Doug Smith's site.

 

[petek]

Here's the ZB55 I found awhile back, still in pretty good shape, a bit of rust on the runners but I haven't done anything with it.

 

[sudsman]

Charles

Those are so neat I love the Canadian Machines they have such a rotro elegance

 

[countryguy]

Here's a pic of my Lux '89

View attachment 2-20-2007-16-39-25--countryguy.jpg

 

[countryguy]

Here it is although I now have the hose with the built in wiring.

 

[tribalelder]

Post 10220

I have an Electrolux Z88 in green along with a comprehensive assortment of accessories and parts. I am looking for a replacement hose, since the one I have had is now shot. Does anyone know where to get these vintage parts?

 

[jo]

I always thought the Canadian models were similar to the US models in many ways, they at times similar but modified design concepts such as the body style of the 88 is similar to a sideways model G. Also some of the more technical parts have cues...the attachment clip system on the 60s models is also used on the 1968 US model 1205 for the power nozzle elbow and the telescoping wand is virtually shared with the Canadian models. I wonder if the two companies were always working together and then spawning off from there. And why bother to make different models for the Canadian market? Maybe someone in that division just wanted to be different for some reason, just seems odd to me since Canada is part of the same continent and there’s really nothing different...the electrical system is the same, so a different machine wouldn’t need to be made.

I’m sure it has something to do with the history of the company and when they split off into different divisions. Seems like after the mid to late 60s through the late 80s when they merged...things developed completely independently then once they merged, they started selling the same products amongst each other until the late 90s when they finally scrapped the metal bodied US machines in favor of a completely new design started with the renaissance and when they had already introduced the Canadian bodied machines in the US market for their low and mid level canisters. That top of the line renaissance morphed Into the Guardian series which has seen the most changes, including the Guardian Ultra which reverted to using the Canadian Lexan plastic body with the C bags but souped up, but now the Guardian has become the Guardian Platinum whisks main unit is made by Electrolux of Sweden in Germany but equipped with US made hose and attachments that are the same on the tri star which is also owned by Aerus.

 

[real1shep]

The Canadian Electrolux's had stronger motors until later on when they merged lines with US vacs.

That always galled me because of the long anticipated hype over the Super J motor and with Charlie running things in Electrolux US. You would just suppose that automatically, the US tanks would have been stronger, not weaker.

I even like some of their tank shapes and colors better.

Kevin

 

[collector2]

Hi everyone:

Just to begin with the link for my website in the first posting is out of date. Here is the new link: http://smithcollection.altervista.org/

Electrolux Canada Ltd. Was started in 1932 and, from what I can tell, originally had more ties to the Swedish company than Electrolux USA. Being a smaller market the designs of our machines were modifications of the Swedish design while the US company was large enough to have their own R & D and created their own design. Over the years the company grew and evolved its own R & D department. While the two companies were very much tied together and shared many developments (Eg the powernozzle was developed in the US while the power hose was developed in Canada) they still remained unique entities (partly because of border restrictions).

At the same time, though we share the same continent, consumer tastes are far different. A good example of this was when free trade came in (which saw the Canadian factory closed like most other manufacturing in Canada). They began selling the Grand Marquis in Canada instead of the System 90. And sales plummeted. Canadian Housewives found it way too heavy and clumsy after having been used to the relatively light machines that Electrolux Canada had produced. There was a scramble at that point to bring the Diplomat into production to save sales.

Also, if you have noticed, from the mid 1970s on (with the exception of the 50h Anniversary E2000) Colour schemes of the Canadian and US machines matched up. Allowing them to share things like hose and power nozzle production and making some models like the uprights (US) and Tri Vac (Canada) fit into the sales lines better visually.