Electrolux Commercial Vacuum Cleaner History
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Here's an article that was printed in the VDTA newsletter. This was written by Tom Gasko, or dysonman1 here on Vacuumland.
http://www.vdta.com/Magazines/AUG12/fc-GaskoAug12.html
http://www.vdta.com/Magazines/AUG12/fc-GaskoAug12.html
caligula
Well-known member
The Electrolux C-A,
was the only wet/dry Electrolux, and was designed for commercial use only. In the early 1960's, my grandpa made my day when he brought this home for me to use. My grandpa, was 'house director' for Choate School in Wallingford, Connecticut, and the man who acquired all the vacuum cleaners for the school. He also knew my interest in vacuum cleaners, and let me play with it for one day. Ever since then it's been my 'dream machine!'
The C-A is basically a huge model G. It had a massive cloth dust bag, and a disposable bag fit inside. In addition to the cloth bag, there was an optional water tank for wet pick-up. However, whoever designed it, failed to add a ground to the plug. As I understand it, the C-A was discontinued after an electrical misshap. I don't know the story and would love to hear it.
The Power Nozzle for this was not outfitted with a long wand, and hung on the back of the unit when not in use. There was also a compartment for the cord, wands, tools and what have you. Besides the water tank, there was a special hose for wet pick-up and a special floor tool.
A few years ago I had a chance to acquire this model, but that didn't happen, so it's still on my wish list.
Alex Taber.
was the only wet/dry Electrolux, and was designed for commercial use only. In the early 1960's, my grandpa made my day when he brought this home for me to use. My grandpa, was 'house director' for Choate School in Wallingford, Connecticut, and the man who acquired all the vacuum cleaners for the school. He also knew my interest in vacuum cleaners, and let me play with it for one day. Ever since then it's been my 'dream machine!'
The C-A is basically a huge model G. It had a massive cloth dust bag, and a disposable bag fit inside. In addition to the cloth bag, there was an optional water tank for wet pick-up. However, whoever designed it, failed to add a ground to the plug. As I understand it, the C-A was discontinued after an electrical misshap. I don't know the story and would love to hear it.
The Power Nozzle for this was not outfitted with a long wand, and hung on the back of the unit when not in use. There was also a compartment for the cord, wands, tools and what have you. Besides the water tank, there was a special hose for wet pick-up and a special floor tool.
A few years ago I had a chance to acquire this model, but that didn't happen, so it's still on my wish list.
Alex Taber.
rugsucker
Well-known member
comm Electrolux
The CA was the greatest of these.As above it was like a giant Mo G with paper bag and power nozzle.It did have a 3 wire cord with adapter for 2 wire outlet.
The first CB also had an optional wet pick up kit with float valve(very rare).As in Toms article buying White Mop company played a big part here.There was also a comm wet/dry labeled for Elux in the 70s.A rarely seen CB is the standard painted tank version when the stainless tank was optional.
Great vacs with quality Elux atts (some extra wide) and Power Nozzle.Some atts were optional to allow user best choice for areas to be cleaned.
The first CA I saw was in a grandmothers church 60 miles from my home town.It was last seen after a major fire sitting in a corner of a black sunday school room surounded by black water and covered in debris.A few CBs were used in service stations for car clean up.Many were seen in resturants.
The CA was the greatest of these.As above it was like a giant Mo G with paper bag and power nozzle.It did have a 3 wire cord with adapter for 2 wire outlet.
The first CB also had an optional wet pick up kit with float valve(very rare).As in Toms article buying White Mop company played a big part here.There was also a comm wet/dry labeled for Elux in the 70s.A rarely seen CB is the standard painted tank version when the stainless tank was optional.
Great vacs with quality Elux atts (some extra wide) and Power Nozzle.Some atts were optional to allow user best choice for areas to be cleaned.
The first CA I saw was in a grandmothers church 60 miles from my home town.It was last seen after a major fire sitting in a corner of a black sunday school room surounded by black water and covered in debris.A few CBs were used in service stations for car clean up.Many were seen in resturants.
caligula
Well-known member
Hi Rugsucker.
I was only 12 when I saw this machine, though it made a lasting impression on me.
At one of our early club meetings the story of somebody being hurt because it was, not grounded, came up. If the C-A was discontinued for some other reason, I'd like to know what it was. I'd also like to know why Electrolux never went with a wet/dry machine with the C-B.
Alex Taber.
I was only 12 when I saw this machine, though it made a lasting impression on me.
At one of our early club meetings the story of somebody being hurt because it was, not grounded, came up. If the C-A was discontinued for some other reason, I'd like to know what it was. I'd also like to know why Electrolux never went with a wet/dry machine with the C-B.
Alex Taber.
dysonman1
Well-known member
The first two Commercial Electrolux vacuums were brought out at the same time. The CA and the Hospital model G.
dysonman1
Well-known member
Grounded Cord on the CA - standard two prong cord on the Hospital G. The CA had a wet pick up kit with rubber hose - so a grounding cord was needed as the motor was NOT a bypass motor (it was the same motor as in the Model G).
dysonman1
Well-known member
The Commercial Automatic (CA) control panel
dysonman1
Well-known member
Huge Disposable bag for the CA
dysonman1
Well-known member
Post Motor Filter covers on the CA and Hospital G
dysonman1
Well-known member
Fiberglass Filters for the exhaust, removed carbon brush dust and limited the noise.
caligula
Well-known member
Hi Tom.
That was wonderful!! Great to see it again. If you ever come across another one let me know.
As I said, my grandpa bought one for Choate in the early 1960's. I think it was Craig Long (remember him?) who said the cord wasn't grounded. Obviously that was not the reason it was discontinued, but, can you tell me why it was?
As always,
Alex Taber.
That was wonderful!! Great to see it again. If you ever come across another one let me know.
As I said, my grandpa bought one for Choate in the early 1960's. I think it was Craig Long (remember him?) who said the cord wasn't grounded. Obviously that was not the reason it was discontinued, but, can you tell me why it was?
As always,
Alex Taber.
caligula
Well-known member
Electrolux C-A.
When I was living in Oak Park, Illinois in 1979, I wrote to Electrolux asking for information on the C-A, and somebody in a top brass position told me "we never made a wet/dry machine!" Then a few months later I recieved an instruction book for the C-A, and letter of apology, saying, "I never knew this thing existed!" I have that instruction book Somewhere. It spoke of the special rubber hose wet pick-up.
Alex Taber.
When I was living in Oak Park, Illinois in 1979, I wrote to Electrolux asking for information on the C-A, and somebody in a top brass position told me "we never made a wet/dry machine!" Then a few months later I recieved an instruction book for the C-A, and letter of apology, saying, "I never knew this thing existed!" I have that instruction book Somewhere. It spoke of the special rubber hose wet pick-up.
Alex Taber.
collector2
Well-known member
Hey Alex:
I don't think it was really that the CA was discontinued. It was just replaced with the new CB as many models were over the years. The first CB, as was mentioned earlier, had a wet pick up option like the CA as well as all the same parts but had a larger dirt capacity, which was desirable in a commercial setting. The main difference between the two was that the CB didn't have the automatic shut off.
As far as wet pick up - in addition to the short lived wet pick up accessory for the first CB's there were also two other wet pick up models made. The CBW and the CW. (I don't know years for them though and have never actually seen one)
I don't think it was really that the CA was discontinued. It was just replaced with the new CB as many models were over the years. The first CB, as was mentioned earlier, had a wet pick up option like the CA as well as all the same parts but had a larger dirt capacity, which was desirable in a commercial setting. The main difference between the two was that the CB didn't have the automatic shut off.
As far as wet pick up - in addition to the short lived wet pick up accessory for the first CB's there were also two other wet pick up models made. The CBW and the CW. (I don't know years for them though and have never actually seen one)
caligula
Well-known member
Hi Collector2.
This is good to know. I never really followed the line of commercial Electrolux's. I always thought the wet/dry system ended with the C-A.
As I've often said, I only share the info that was shared with me, and if that information was wrong I had no way to back it up. Now there are experts to lean on.
Thanks again,
Alex Taber.
This is good to know. I never really followed the line of commercial Electrolux's. I always thought the wet/dry system ended with the C-A.
As I've often said, I only share the info that was shared with me, and if that information was wrong I had no way to back it up. Now there are experts to lean on.
Thanks again,
Alex Taber.
caligula
Well-known member
What is it?
Hi guys. Way back in the late 1970's I saw this patent at the Chicago Public library while digging for research on Electrolux machines, and had to save it. No, it was not produced, at least I don't think it was. Anyboy want to take a guess?
And that's the same style of Power Nozzle as with the C-A.
Alex Taber.
Hi guys. Way back in the late 1970's I saw this patent at the Chicago Public library while digging for research on Electrolux machines, and had to save it. No, it was not produced, at least I don't think it was. Anyboy want to take a guess?
And that's the same style of Power Nozzle as with the C-A.
Alex Taber.
Ca pricing
One of the big reason for the halt of CA production as I was told by my father was the approximate $549 price . The other cleaners in competition were a couple of hundred dollars less. My father loved selling the CA and had one himself. A customer couldn't wait for one to get in and my father sold his to them. My father never got another one because they stopped making them. Reason COST.
The replacement shortly after was the CB.The CB paint scheme change with the different cleaners out. 1205 color during the life of 1205 ,changing to Brown when the Olympia One was out. High sudsing detegents was said to have been the reason for stopping the wet pickup.
Another Commercial was made , had a failsafe motor protector. The system would automatically shut off motor should flooding cause moisture to penetrate the integrated wet filter. Shutoff mechanism and other interior parts were corrosion resistant. Nine Gallon tank capacity compared to 5-6 gallons of the competition.Used P/N 2 powerhead.and disposable paper filtration for dry soil collection. Cost started at $399.
CB was replaced in 1984 by the CB 2000 and was sold as late as 1998. CB 2000 Deluxe model was sold for $749.
One of the big reason for the halt of CA production as I was told by my father was the approximate $549 price . The other cleaners in competition were a couple of hundred dollars less. My father loved selling the CA and had one himself. A customer couldn't wait for one to get in and my father sold his to them. My father never got another one because they stopped making them. Reason COST.
The replacement shortly after was the CB.The CB paint scheme change with the different cleaners out. 1205 color during the life of 1205 ,changing to Brown when the Olympia One was out. High sudsing detegents was said to have been the reason for stopping the wet pickup.
Another Commercial was made , had a failsafe motor protector. The system would automatically shut off motor should flooding cause moisture to penetrate the integrated wet filter. Shutoff mechanism and other interior parts were corrosion resistant. Nine Gallon tank capacity compared to 5-6 gallons of the competition.Used P/N 2 powerhead.and disposable paper filtration for dry soil collection. Cost started at $399.
CB was replaced in 1984 by the CB 2000 and was sold as late as 1998. CB 2000 Deluxe model was sold for $749.
