Electrolux Automatic F

[huskyvacs]

I'm back again with another vintage vacuum purchase! This time, an offer came up within our community here on Vacuumland that I could afford, and it gave me the opportunity to add another Electrolux to my stable! What I brought home this time was an Electrolux Automatic F from 1957, which will be situated nicely in the alphabet among my Electrolux model E and model G (and XXX). It is in rough shape, but I plan to fix it up and shine it up and get it back to its original condition as close as I can, which is also what Tom wants for it as well.

I bought it from a fellow Vacuumland member by the name of Tom, who is a very nice guy and out of respect to him I won't disclose the payment arrangements we made, but I will say we came to an agreement that worked out for both of us. This vacuum has some provenance that succeeds it being a family heirloom of his, and I am happy to add this diamond in the rough to my collection and eventually preserve it for the duration of my own lifespan into the future. I still have my great grandmother's Electrolux Olympia One myself, so I know all about sentimental Electroluxes and have much of the same memories with that one! That one also hasn't been used for decades as well, so it needs a full going-over too.

Veteran members of this forum might remember Tom's Lux was posted here before over the years and nobody wanted it, I guess because it's a common model everyone has or maybe doesn't seem as too special to fix up in its rough condition. But for me, I did not have one of these models in my collection of Luxes, and it was opportunity knocking, I suppose!

Here are the previous postings he made of it, so if someone might have deja-vu, you are not going crazy. lol

https://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?23364
https://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?23373
https://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?38314

So with that being said, here are the pics! I seem to have off and on photo troubles with the gallery element, I think because my photos are too big, so I am still posting them one by one just for ease of viewing for everyone and to ensure they show up.

Enjoy!

 

[huskyvacs]

Here's the first photo of the box being delivered. I was amazed at the UPS driver, she had it slung over her shoulder like it was nothing! It arrived safe and sound, but due to me being busy with housework and other stuff happening, I actually was
delayed in opening the box until the 7th.

5/2/2019 5:45 PM

 

[huskyvacs]

Here's the box as it arrived. He packed it in a vintage Eureka box, which by coincidence was the same vacuum that my mother used to own as well in the 90s until the motor blew up on it and we upgraded to a Kirby by happenstance. I normally do not save vacuum boxes, but this one I will, it's in such good shape and is very nice, it would be a shame to destroy it, so I won't!

5/7/2019 3:42 AM

 

[huskyvacs]

Here's another shot of the box artwork.

5/7/2019 3:42 AM

 

[huskyvacs]

This is something I found very interesting. In addition to the printing date of the box, Eureka also printed the names of the factory assembly line workers onto the box that made this vacuum as well. All Hispanic names, I wonder where they are today?

5/7/2019 3:42 AM

 

[huskyvacs]

Here's a shot of what the vacuum looked like when I opened the box. Nicely packed and everything carefully wrapped!

5/7/2019 3:43 AM

 

[huskyvacs]

...and here's the vacuum out of its plastic prison! Obviously the cord has been replaced, but not to worry as it shouldn't be too hard to find an OEM cord or one that looks as close as I can get to the original. It's a good high grade industrial cable though with a nice Leviton plug on it, and I can re-use that as well, so it won't go to waste. He did mention there is a slight electrical problem with the switch being finicky and the frame of the vacuum being a shock hazard with a minor electrical current passing through it.

I have not gave the vacuum a test yet, so I haven't verified this, but I am not worried about it. I figure that either the insulation has rubbed off a wire somewhere inside from motor vibrations and is touching the frame inside, or it has something to do with the cord being replaced. I was guessing that It might have been mis-connected seeing as they put a 3-prong grounded industrial cord onto a vacuum that originally was ungrounded with a non-polarized plug.

I also know the wheels have been broken off and then their nubs worn down to the axle pin (and as a result has a lot of scrapes to the bottom). My Electrolux G has OEM replacement wheels on it of this same off-white color, which I can swap over to this one once I get new wheels for that one in turquoise, so that all works out no problem.

5/7/2019 3:46 AM

 

[huskyvacs]

Here's the original sales & service tag on the vacuum. I found a vacuum shop in CA under this name, but it is just coincidence as they have only been in business since 1995, which is long after this vacuum was made and last repaired. I believe he told me it hasn't been serviced since the mid-70s.

5/7/2019 3:46 AM

 

[huskyvacs]

Here's a shot of the front end of the vacuum. I like the black lettering set against the white, it looks really slick.

5/7/2019 3:48 AM

 

[huskyvacs]

Here's a shot of the model name and ratings tag. It is an Automatic F but it does not have the optional cord winder fitted, which I believe cost a whole lot extra.

5/7/2019 3:49 AM

 

[huskyvacs]

I almost forgot to take this photo! Here is a shot of everything that was included with it. I came with 3 extension tubes, I am not sure if these go to the power nozzle or what, as the E I got last month did not have tubes like this with the slats in them. I know the hose doesn't go to it, but this will provide a great replacement for my "fixie" G vacuum that actually has its entire hose twisted up like a bread bag at the inlet.

I plan to try the Plasti-Dip method of coating the inside of the hose to fix the suction leaks (and also do the same once I get a matching hose for this model). I am not sure what the slide switch on the hose is for, the two G's I have do not have this style of hose on them.

That's it for now! I hope to get my workbench all cleared off and sorted this summer and start getting into these vacs and getting them back to their original glory! I've been gathering all the tools I need in the meantime so it will be easier and I'll be ready to go when I do it!

5/7/2019 3:49 AM

 

[kirbyklekter]

They sure are quiet,

I have my great grandparent's 1957 Model F. It has the cord winder but not the p/n. The toggle switch was replaced by my grand father before giving it to me. I've since had to replace the plastic toggle switch as it tends to wear out where it hinges or attaches to the mech. and gets sloppy, also breaks off as it did on mine. You'd have to use two fingers or thumbs to hold the switch down while pressing either side to turn machine on or off. With the hose off while running all you hear is the air going through the machine. Really nice. The only thing I don't care for is the front wheel. My first apartment had deep pile shag carpets and the machine would just sink into said and it was really hard to pull. Determined, I replaced the wheel with a larger wheel that had 4 holes drilled into the mounting plate and with shims managed to raise the front by almost an inch. all the clearance I needed. I doubt I'd do that now, but back then it was function over form! I will be very interested to see how your Plastic Dip for the hose project comes out. Another member had mentioned this a while back and I've been intrigued ever since. Could the switch/lever on your hose end be for suction relief? Billy

 

[huskyvacs]

You might be right that it is a suction relief. I believe the switch is jammed, it might come loose once I start whacking it. I thought it was some kind of locking mechanism, but I looked at it again and it looks like it slides.

Also, yes I did get the plastic-dip idea from Charles Lester, but to this day I haven't seen him or anyone else post results. He mentioned costume latex, but there has since been new products that have been invented that do a similar thing (like Flex Seal for instance). I have to install a clothesline in my backyard first so I can hang them up, and also wait until summer when the weather is consistently dry and hot. This hose doesn't seem too bad, but it looks pretty short, it will definitely be put on my red & green Electrolux that I will be using as a vacuum cleaner cleaner, since the hose is so short.

 

[madman]

Nice!