Compact C5 with ABC Power Nozzle

[kc_kirby]

Well, the search is over for me. I finally found a Compact ABC power nozzle. I found it on Craigslist in Wichita. I don't live in Wichita but my parents do so I had my dad go and get it for me. It took about a week and a half to obtain it after emailing the seller. I thought for sure someone else would see it and take it before my dad had a chance. But that didn't happen. When I saw the pictures in the ad, I just about had a cow, I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I have never even seen one in person, not even from another collector's collection. So I just couldn't believe of all places, Wichita Kansas one would turn up. I paid under a hundred dollars for it and the seller wouldn't budge on the price, they apparently knew it was valuable. What's really great about it is the power nozzle works great. There are some missing bristles on the brush roller but it actually didn't do too bad of a job grooming my carpet. The hose is obviously a replacement, but it is in really good shape. Interestingly enough, they set it up like the original hose where the hose wand and power nozzle are all attached permanently together. There isn't a "handle" in the hose, which I find kind of odd. And they just put an external cord on the hose like the early luxes did to get power from the vacuum to the wand. I had to wait until Christmas to pick this up from my dad, so it was kind of like a Christmas gift to myself.

 

[kc_kirby]

Notice there is a suction relief near the power nozzle and not up around where you would hold the hose when vacuuming, an odd location. It's that gray piece of plastic a few inches up from the bottom of the wand.

 

[kc_kirby]

This is where the hose attaches to the wand, you can tell the wires were put together and taped.

 

[kc_kirby]

this is bottom of the rugplate.

 

[kc_kirby]

This is model number information.

 

[kc_kirby]

And this is the power nozzle plug on the vacuum. Its way back on top by the power switch. An odd location to put it and the later Compact/TriStars had the plug in the front on the bottom so it was nearer to the hose.

 

[danemodsandy]

Caramba!

Whatta FIND!

I am pea-green with envy; that is one rare machine.

The brushroll can be re-bristled, and you're already on the right track with the cord setup. Myself, I would purchase a new hose, and then use a separate cord and cord straps to supply power to the PN. You can find PN cords on eBay; they're still around for Lux Model L machines. Rainbow still makes cord straps, though they're black.

The reason I'd use that setup is that the originals should be saved for posterity; using replacements will save those rare original pieces.

Again, congratulations.

 

[aeoliandave]

Now this is what the Vintage Forum is all about, in my mind.


 


Spectacular find, Chad! I am feeling your Thrill! We must have more pictures...


I've never seen an ABC in person either but I have been collecting pictures of them. Super rare and I can tell you why yours is one of the rarest of the series.


 


First off, it's 'Patents Pending' indicating it is one of the first produced and sold. But more significant are the lack of rollers.


Here's a pic of the second version to which two small rollers have been added to the brush plate. Like the 1957/58 Lewyt 107 Motorized Beater Sweeper the polished brush-plate was meant to glide effortlessly over short nap pile carpet but as longer tufts became the fashion it had a tendency to bog down digging in to the plush, so rollers were added to the second Lewyt PN when it went 'electronic'.


I suspect it was the same finding with the ABC.

[this post was last edited: 12/31/2011-22:35]

 

[aeoliandave]

Another interesting feature of the later one, and we will need side view pictures of yours to confirm my suspicions but...


 


You say the cord runs all the way - un-connectable - from the PN up the wand (and probably was extended as long as the hose to reach back to the Compact - just like the Lewyt 107 PN cord).


 


I can see it is a later hose but it is admirable that is is a genuine Compact woven hose. Possibly when the hose & cord repair was done it seemed best to simply splice a new cord to the one-piece wand (that is most definitely a one piece Turquoise kwrinkle-tone enameled Compact wand).


 


I'm not entirely convinced that the original and replacement hoses would not have had Compact curved handles - it is possible it's a direct connect but as you say it is kinda awkward under hand -  but you'll only know that when you remove the new hose from the wand and test fit a Compact handle (that's what I'd do and if the wand barrel will accept it I'd put a Compact handle on it).


The black cement smears would support the idea that the handle was left off and the new hose simply glued on.


 


As you can see on the second version, the wand was a friction fit while the backside of the ferrule has a separate 2 pin connector so that the PN can be disconnected and removed from the wand which can now accept regular Compact accessories.


 


If yours doesn't have this 2-pin socket then BINGO! I'd say you have a true first-run rarity. And even if it does and it has been disabled it would be a snap to re-introduce it.  My ruminations about how this could have happened are: the pin socket somehow got destroyed and so the cord, which would have been very long anyway, was run directly to the PN motor, the cord was shortened and electrical-taped to the top of the wand where it was spliced to a new Electrolux G PN cord.


Yes, I'm guessing here but the color is somewhat of a clue - the pin plug end for the Compact socket...we need a picture.


 


It's a beautiful thing, Chad and a genuine piece of the historical puzzle. Congratulations.


 


Dave

 

[brandon_w_t]

OH CHAD!!!!!


THIS IS FABULOUS!!!!

This compact nut sitting here is in compact heaven looking at these wounderful images!


My grandpas compact has that power nozzle port. Its a c6 if I recall correctly.


Sadly no ABC nozzle that he knows of.

 

[suckolux]

Thrilled to see it all guys.

 

[goadie12]

Wow that's a amazing find if I ever saw one I have been looking for a power nozzel for my lewyt that a found a while back and it is damn near impossible so ya that is awesome how you found a complete system like that congrats. Zach

 

[kc_kirby]

Dave, here's another pic. I knew you would be one to want more pics, which is perfectly fine. I have no problem sharing all I can about this rare item. I would say you are correct, my wand does not detach from the power nozzle head. In the picture you posted, it looks like its an actual plug between the nozzle and the wand. On mine, it looks like its hard wired.

 

[kc_kirby]

Another view showing the top of the connection.

 

[kc_kirby]

And here is an old ad I found on the web long ago. I saved it because I had never seen a picture of what the ABC power nozzle looked like new. It shows there definitely was a handle built into the hose. But its interesting they didn't re-use the handle part and hook the new hose to the handle on mine. Unless the handle was broken, which is possible. I also notice there is more there around where the wand and the nozzle attach and I notice a "button" that you probably pressed to release the wand from the nozzle. So this is most likely the later version of the power head. Another thing I notice is the cord running from the hose to the plug on the vacuum is missing, I wonder why it isn't plugged in?

 

[suckolux]

WOW! Speechless .

 

[collector2]

Hi guys:

From the ad above it appears that the hose was connected directly to the wand and the handgrip was just a plastic piece to hold it curved and give you a place to hold. More than likely either the plastic broke or was broken when they tried to take the old hose off.

As far as it not being plugged into the vacuum simple answer - Product Photography. It looked much neater to hide the cord behind rather than to have it draped across the machine for the picture.

LOL - thats my speculation on the subject anyway.

Happy New Year all

Doug

 

[danemodsandy]

THANKS, Chad!

I really appreciate your posting of that ad; I had it a long time ago on another computer and lost it. The photo is reproduced in Thomas Hines' excellent "Populuxe," but not the text.

So, thanks - it's great to be reunited with that particular bit of Compact/Interstate lore.

 

[aeoliandave]

Thank you so much, Chad; exactly what I wanted to see. That advert is priceless for all the detailed information.


And extra cool - it's the 3-wheel C-6!


The second version PN has an extended cast barrel to accommodate a 2-pin plug.


 


I agree with Doug about the handle. That means the hose was dedicated to the PN and a second regular hose would be needed for the manual accessories...


 


The advert shows what may be yet a third variation (but more likely the complete 2nd version) - notice that the wand has an additional collar that mates with the PN. Possibly this is the detachable PN version; the PN I have pictured from an eBay auction did not include a wand. Yours shows no evidence it had that extra collar so again I say yours is the debut Compact PN before tweaked improvements were added.


 


It is in remarkably good condition and a true prize.


 


Dave