Electrolux 612
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Hey Matt,
very nice first find! I do have a soft spot for these, all credit to Electrolux for building well designed clean fan action machines after Hoover lost interest. Quite a revolutionary machine really, apart from yer Orecks and Kirbys, just about every upright nowadays has attached tools.
ISTR the advertising slogan at the time was 'The vac with the hose at the back'...
Simon
very nice first find! I do have a soft spot for these, all credit to Electrolux for building well designed clean fan action machines after Hoover lost interest. Quite a revolutionary machine really, apart from yer Orecks and Kirbys, just about every upright nowadays has attached tools.
ISTR the advertising slogan at the time was 'The vac with the hose at the back'...
Simon
twocvbloke
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I had one of the later Electrolux ContourII models in dark blue (great colour, best thing about that vac!!), and I really didn't like it, yeah it worked, but, even a piece of stray sellotape was enough to block it up, it just didn't have the power (and it was an "ESP" one, Extra Suction Power) to fold a piece of thin plastic film.
When it finally broke it's belt, I decided it was time to get rid of it, by then it was about 10+ years old, and was long past it's best (plus I got a free Kirby LegendII, so no real loss to me)...
I actually saw a Contour nearby being thrown out a couple of months ago, I took a few looks at it, wondering if I should save it, but I didn't, mainly cos I remembered about the past experiences with my ContourII...
When it finally broke it's belt, I decided it was time to get rid of it, by then it was about 10+ years old, and was long past it's best (plus I got a free Kirby LegendII, so no real loss to me)...
I actually saw a Contour nearby being thrown out a couple of months ago, I took a few looks at it, wondering if I should save it, but I didn't, mainly cos I remembered about the past experiences with my ContourII...
Hi Simon
Definately revolutionary at the time, you could almost get away with selling them now (albeit with less 80s styling perhaps).
David, I have an original Contour 'Varipower', that replaced my Mum's Hoover Junior back in 1993, a very powerful and effective cleaner I find! IIRC the ESP was simply a 'boost' button, which gave you a few seconds of max motor power. Mine has a variable power dial, so I can run it at full power all the time if I so choose.
Matt
Definately revolutionary at the time, you could almost get away with selling them now (albeit with less 80s styling perhaps).
David, I have an original Contour 'Varipower', that replaced my Mum's Hoover Junior back in 1993, a very powerful and effective cleaner I find! IIRC the ESP was simply a 'boost' button, which gave you a few seconds of max motor power. Mine has a variable power dial, so I can run it at full power all the time if I so choose.
Matt
twocvbloke
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You know, I don't actually recall a button for a power boost on that thing, the only buttons being the release pedal and the power button (and the bag compartment too I guess), if there was one on there, they hid it well... :S
The only differences between that one and the other Contour models that I could see was it had a loop-handle, where the other models just had a plain, straight handle, I liked the loop handle, just like the one on my Sanitaire, makes them easier to use...
The only differences between that one and the other Contour models that I could see was it had a loop-handle, where the other models just had a plain, straight handle, I liked the loop handle, just like the one on my Sanitaire, makes them easier to use...
turbo500
Well-known member
Contour 2...
I don't believe there was a contour 2 with ESP, as they were all 1000w by that point. It was the second generation of contours that had the ESP and the boost button, from what I remember.
I have a 1995 Electrolux Airclean (a contour, but with 1200w and a looped handle) and I love it. It really is a great vacuum!
And Matt, congratulations again on the 612. the 600 series are some of my all time favourites. My grandma had a 610 when I was a kid
I don't believe there was a contour 2 with ESP, as they were all 1000w by that point. It was the second generation of contours that had the ESP and the boost button, from what I remember.
I have a 1995 Electrolux Airclean (a contour, but with 1200w and a looped handle) and I love it. It really is a great vacuum!
And Matt, congratulations again on the 612. the 600 series are some of my all time favourites. My grandma had a 610 when I was a kid
twocvbloke
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Well, our ContourII boldly proclaimed that it had "ESP", printed on the base above the nozzle, so, it was either a misprint, or someone made an error when manufacturing the thing...
I think it was a 900 Watt model too...
I think it was a 900 Watt model too...
turbomaster1984
Well-known member
ESP
Ok folks,
When the Contour range first came out in 1990 they had several models rranking in wattage and various feature order, it went like this
Elite (Red 500w)
Twin Turbo (White 600w)
Contour (White 700w)
Contour (Turquoise 800W - Pulse power- a 10 second burst at 800watts reverting back to 600watts after)
Airstream (Grey 1000w Variable down to 300)
Then in 1992/3 they kept the same models but altered the Turquoise contour to be an 800w variable power machine with a slider like the airstream albeit a thinner disc to turn.
Then came ESP in 1994.
Same line up of machines but instead of having black or grey elbows on the hoses they were made clear.
Also ESP aka Extra Suction Power was printed on the hoods for whatever reason, IIRC they tweaked the motor fans to produce more suction.
Then in 1996 a whole new range came in various NEW colours, looped handles were put on some mostly TOL in the Contour/Airstream categories, ESP stayed as a feature and advertised on hoods. There were several wattages of Contour from 700w to 1100w, maybe even 5 models on the go at the same time superseding the Elite, Twin Turbo etc etc.
Airstream went to 1200 watts.
As i remmeber more il post, but thats the jist of it.
Several models ran until about 2002 or so and some did indeed stil have ESP printed on the machine.
Ok folks,
When the Contour range first came out in 1990 they had several models rranking in wattage and various feature order, it went like this
Elite (Red 500w)
Twin Turbo (White 600w)
Contour (White 700w)
Contour (Turquoise 800W - Pulse power- a 10 second burst at 800watts reverting back to 600watts after)
Airstream (Grey 1000w Variable down to 300)
Then in 1992/3 they kept the same models but altered the Turquoise contour to be an 800w variable power machine with a slider like the airstream albeit a thinner disc to turn.
Then came ESP in 1994.
Same line up of machines but instead of having black or grey elbows on the hoses they were made clear.
Also ESP aka Extra Suction Power was printed on the hoods for whatever reason, IIRC they tweaked the motor fans to produce more suction.
Then in 1996 a whole new range came in various NEW colours, looped handles were put on some mostly TOL in the Contour/Airstream categories, ESP stayed as a feature and advertised on hoods. There were several wattages of Contour from 700w to 1100w, maybe even 5 models on the go at the same time superseding the Elite, Twin Turbo etc etc.
Airstream went to 1200 watts.
As i remmeber more il post, but thats the jist of it.
Several models ran until about 2002 or so and some did indeed stil have ESP printed on the machine.
turbomaster1984
Well-known member
oh yes the 1996 and onward batches also were called Contour 2's
turbo500
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Rob, IIRC, the Contour 2 range (including the Flexihead) had more basic graffics than the original contours, and didn't feature ESP? My nan had a yellow contour 2, 1000w, and that just said "contour 2" on it, in VERY basic font on the hood, with electrolux written vertically up the bag door. I don't remember a Contour 2 with the ESP logo?
twocvbloke
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Makes me wish I had a picture of the thing (this was before I got interested in vacs), I'm 100% positive that the thing had the ESP logo, in green, printed on the base of the vac...
Thinking about it, I do know we have a post-christmas/new year video somewhere, from about the time that the vac was relatively new, no idea where it is though...
Thinking about it, I do know we have a post-christmas/new year video somewhere, from about the time that the vac was relatively new, no idea where it is though...
turbomaster1984
Well-known member
Chris,
This is the SS96 Argos catalogue,
Has the same Contour 2 I have in the storage unit, which is indeed an ESP machine,
You can just make out Contour 2 with the 2 in the turquoise handwriting style and ESP is rather clear on it,
Soon as we get up storage il take a few pics of this model.
This is the SS96 Argos catalogue,
Has the same Contour 2 I have in the storage unit, which is indeed an ESP machine,
You can just make out Contour 2 with the 2 in the turquoise handwriting style and ESP is rather clear on it,
Soon as we get up storage il take a few pics of this model.
turbo500
Well-known member
Ooooh Rob, I've not seen one like that before. The only contour 2's I remember are this style with the oval logo's and such, if you know what I mean
http://andysworld.org.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/electroxlux-coutour.jpg
http://andysworld.org.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/electroxlux-coutour.jpg
twocvbloke
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hehe, That was probably the best Dyson ever made, revolutionary, very different, and pretty interesting, can't say the same thing these days unfortunately... 
Actually, seeing that Hoover in there reminds me, I have some Hoover Turbopower U1912 tools to rehome...
Actually, seeing that Hoover in there reminds me, I have some Hoover Turbopower U1912 tools to rehome...
turbo500
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That was probably the best Dyson ever made...
....thats debatable...
....thats debatable...
twocvbloke
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Like I said, "probably"...
twocvbloke
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Just so you know, I wouldn't buy one, even if it was £1 at a catboot, in pristine condition, complete with original box & packaging, all cos it's a one of them...
turbo500
Well-known member
DC01...
The DC01 has poor suction, is the flimsiest of all the Dyson's and the messiest to empty. It also has the most impractical tools. The DC04 was a VAST improvement. If only it had the bottom emptying system.
The DC01 has poor suction, is the flimsiest of all the Dyson's and the messiest to empty. It also has the most impractical tools. The DC04 was a VAST improvement. If only it had the bottom emptying system.
twocvbloke
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Found that video, and have uploaded it, and it was filmed almost exactly 15 years ago...
http://blip.tv/file/4574588
http://blip.tv/file/4574588
turbo500
Well-known member
^I love that somebody is singing Alanis in that video !
And it would seem that it's a Contour 2 with "ESP" - I've never seen one like before. Quite similar to my airclean. Even sounds the same
! And it would seem that it's a Contour 2 with "ESP" - I've never seen one like before. Quite similar to my airclean. Even sounds the same
hooverbaby
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I used to get a few..
610s, 612s etc in for repair. They were straightforward enough to work on, though I never really took to them, partly because a few of the examples I came across had already been hammered and suffered from the worn out inner chassis syndrone. In particular, the black inner chassis used to wear badly around the rear wheels, which would then go skew wift and fall out. Later chassis were improved upon but they now seem to be an obsolete part.
The other thing that used to sometimes wear out was the little white plastic fork adjusting the front rollers, though, to be fair, these would generally give good service. A worn one would cause the handle to lean inwards.
Early 612s had metal handle ratchets; later ones had slot-in plastic ones..and on one side the suction pipe was attached.
I remember one week doing well with a couple I fixed on a local car boot sale; this was at a time when they were just becoming popular about 1990.
Early..and some replacement brush rolls were a pain, having a screw to remove at either end, sometimes seized in position. Some of the later Gen Electrolux ones had interchangeable ends for either Contour or 600 series machines.
As for the exhaust grilles, they were forever flying off! I did have a few second hand hoses but many disappeared with a 2004 garage break in. However, it's quite possible I still have a new one in storage and don't know where it's at! I've fixed a few myself, though it's a while since I've seen one; usually you can wedge in some screwdrivers to unclip the end, yank the remaining wire out of the screw thread and twist a new piece in. Some glue might help stop it working loose.
Stephen
610s, 612s etc in for repair. They were straightforward enough to work on, though I never really took to them, partly because a few of the examples I came across had already been hammered and suffered from the worn out inner chassis syndrone. In particular, the black inner chassis used to wear badly around the rear wheels, which would then go skew wift and fall out. Later chassis were improved upon but they now seem to be an obsolete part.
The other thing that used to sometimes wear out was the little white plastic fork adjusting the front rollers, though, to be fair, these would generally give good service. A worn one would cause the handle to lean inwards.
Early 612s had metal handle ratchets; later ones had slot-in plastic ones..and on one side the suction pipe was attached.
I remember one week doing well with a couple I fixed on a local car boot sale; this was at a time when they were just becoming popular about 1990.
Early..and some replacement brush rolls were a pain, having a screw to remove at either end, sometimes seized in position. Some of the later Gen Electrolux ones had interchangeable ends for either Contour or 600 series machines.
As for the exhaust grilles, they were forever flying off! I did have a few second hand hoses but many disappeared with a 2004 garage break in. However, it's quite possible I still have a new one in storage and don't know where it's at! I've fixed a few myself, though it's a while since I've seen one; usually you can wedge in some screwdrivers to unclip the end, yank the remaining wire out of the screw thread and twist a new piece in. Some glue might help stop it working loose.
Stephen
