Electrolux Corp. Model XXX & LX Cord Reel Trivia

[paul]

I found out that the cord reels for Electrolux Corporation's Model XXX & LX, were made by at least two different companies: the Vacuum Cleaner Corporation of Philadelphia's Type T Cordomatic Reel & the Benjamin Iron & Metal Company of Cleveland, OH's Reel Model 8850-3 cord winder. Both appear to be very similar, albeit the 8850-3's instructions were stamped into the metal and the plug's prongs have openings while the Cordomatic's instructions were on decals, many of which have worn off over the years, and the plug's prongs are solid. So it could be that Benjamin Iron & Metal purchased the patent from the VCC or bought out the VCC.

Btw, Benjamin Iron & Metal Company was bought out in 1969 and became Benjamin Steel Company, Inc.

 

[lesinutah]

Thoght

Here's potential answer.
Electrolux owned the Patten. They had Philadelphia company make cord. They then terminated contract holding Patten had Cleveland company make it.
The other potential could be both made them just distribution center for certain area. Think of it like stark vacuum royal vacuum.
Electrolux owning the Patten explains parts number being the same.
Trying to get the ball rolling. I don't know Hoover or the names of colors you were mentioning. I thought I'd help a little on this.
Les

 

[caligula]

Those are Belden cords.

Belden wire Co. was in Chicago. The cord reel or winder was made in Philadelphia.

Old Greenwich, Connecticut was a residential area and no rubber products could be made at the Electrolux factory so both parts were farmed out.

 

[electrolux137]

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It looks like the plug in the second photo is an aftermarket replacement.

 

[caligula]

Electrolux claimed they made the whole thing.

But they didn't.

The Electrolux factory in Old Greenwich, Connecticut opened in the summer of 1933, I believe June. As this was located near the town, zoning officials made it clear to top Electrolux brass that nothing rubber would be tolerated. All parts like trim for attachments, gaskets, hoses and of course cords were produced off site. As to the cordwinder, the Electrolux version was indeed made in Philadelphia, by the 'Vacuum Cleaner Corp.' and what they produced was the 'Type T, Cordamatic. It was first used in 1948 on the post-war model XXX, and later on the early model LX's.

As to the cords they were produced by the Belden wire and cord company, and there was a special design to the plugs. Any vacuum cleaner enthusiast knows a Belden plug at first site.

I will have to dig into my Electrolux patent book for the exact date the patent was filed. But what is interesting is that this was not the first cord reel for vacuum cleaners. I have in another book on patents that it was the Air-Way electric appliance Corp. that used a reel in the late 1920's.

 

[rugsucker]

"--plug in second photo--"

IS generic as found in hardware stores & others for lamps,small appliances,etc.
"--used a reel in late 1920s."
Singer-yes,AirWay-??Even if thought of was this available on AirWay?Some patent applications such as the big wheel Lewyt that sat on a floor polisher were never sold.

 

[caligula]

Date of patent on Cordwinder.

Filed on December 12, 1940 by Gustave E. Lofgren of the Electrolux Corp.. Patent issued June 15, 1943.

 

[paul]

Good discussion. Thanks for the education, including the patents.

I thought the cord winder was introduced as part of the 1949 25th anniversary upgrades & additions, including: 1) the Garment-Aire bag 2) restyled rug tool w/gleaner switch 3) air-powered polisher 4) the Companion 5) the white-bristled wall brush and delicates dusting brush, instead of being launched at different times.

Regardless, it's always fun to note the differences and changes of vintage cleaners and their tools and accessories. It's like putting together a jigsaw puzzle.

 

[caligula]

Electrolux claimed they made the whole thing.

You are right Paul, the cordwinder may have been filed as a patent but this did not mean Electrolux went into production. At this point the model XXX was going through design changes. So Electrolux did not rush into it. Then disaster hit. On December 7, 1941, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and manufacture of ALL vacuum cleaner parts was halted. So the cordwinder, was put on hold.

Sometime around 1948 Electrolux resumed production of the model XXX, what we now know as the 'post-war XXX. And it was then that the cordwinder, Garmentaire bag, Companion and Power polisher were all added to the line around 1949.

But the original question was who manufactured the cordwinder. While it was indeed the Vacuum Cleaner Co of Philadelphia, and the Type T, Cordamatic, I cannot give an accurate year. My best guess in 1948 or 49.

 

[collector2]

I find it interesting that the plugs shown in the patent drawings are the molded plugs used on the Canadian Electrolux 20 and 50 series machines.

 

[rugsucker]

"--1948--"

Along with above mentioned new products this seem to be when the containers having wax,polish,cleaners,mothproofing,shampoo and more were introduced.At one convention of Elux salesmen giant replicas of the gallon tan containers were hung from ceiling in convention rooms.

 

[caligula]

Belden cords.

Collector2.

I don't have a lot of history on Belden, but I did know one of its engineers quite well, problem was he would never give me any info on the various vacuum cleaner cords. The company began in 1905 and they introduced the 'soft rubber plug' in 1927. Belden has a timeline but does not go into much detail. I have no idea when they opened a facility in Canada, but I'm sure they were as common there as here in the states. The soft plug would have been used on Electrolux models XXX, XX, LX, LXI, and both E and E automatic. I can't say for sure of models XI, and XII as mine have replacement plugs. Clearly, after Electrolux opened the Connecticut factory they turned to Belden for not only the cords, but wire for other parts like switches and motors.

Rugsucker:

Thanks for the correction, I wish I had the exact date the post-war model XXX was introduced. Clearly Electrolux went all out with this one. Looks like most of the optional tools like white brushes, Polisher, Garmentaire, waxes, and so on were added to make a well rounded package few could resist. And to add to this, engineers were already busy perfecting the paper bags and the model LX.

I would love to see a pic of that convention, most likely the Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York, that was where Electrolux held most of their banquets.

 

[caligula]

Benjamin Iron and metal company.

Hi Paul:

Thank you for starting a great topic, its fun wandering down memory lane. Its no secret that Electrolux is my favorite topic.

As for Benjamin Iron and metal, I'm trying to research this but all I find is data related to the early 1960's. This tells me that they made the later cordwinders after the model E and E automatic. Probably up to the model G, when the winder became part of the main machine.

Actually my interest in Electrolux ends with the model E. My fascination is model V-model LXI, and all my research ends at this period as well.

It would be interesting to see who made the hoses. I'm not sure if Belden had a rubber division or not. its more than likely, as they made the outer jackets for the cords. So perhaps they made the rubber encased coil hoses as well. Just a guess.

 

[paul]

You're welcome for the thread, Alex. I appreciate your research and knowledge and share your interest in trying to figure out when changes were implemented even though we may not know conclusively.

Here's another consideration ...

I have seen these copyright years printed in Model XXX user manuals:

1937, 1947, 1950, 1951, and 1953 (one that looks like the others in the 1950s does not have a copyright year, so it could either be from 1949 or 1952). Were there others?

I'm curious to know why Electrolux Corporation production was not restarted until 1948 after WWII. I thought it was 1945.

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For the benefit of all readers ...

The 1950 manual includes the following in its Contents page:

Sprayer, Vaporizer, White Dusting Brush, Polisher, Companion, Garment-Aire Bag, Cleaning & Polishing Wax, Self Polishing Wax, Furniture Polish, Cord Winder, Nuvo Shampoo, Silver Polish, Grease Remover

The 1947 manual only includes the Sprayer, Vaporizer, & Nuvo Shampoo from the above list.

I do not have the non-copyrighted manual for comparison.

 

[caligula]

Actually it was, Paul.

I'm taking this information directly from Electrolux. The book "ELECTROLUX CORPORATION the first forty years." "September 11, 1944, was another significant date in Electrolux history. It was on this day that the War Production Board granted the company permission to resume on a limited basis, the output of cleaners for civilian use for the first time since March, of 1942." The article goes on to state that on November 18, of that year (1944) that Electrolux began to fill the back orders. Also stated "Another First For Electrolux." In September of that year (1946) the company introduced the first new product of its line of home cleaning products-Electrolux furniture polish.

"On June 11, 1947, another triumphant milestone was reached. On that day the one millionth Electrolux was made since the reconversion to civilian output came off the production lines at the Old Greenwich plant."

That means that sometime after September, 1946, engineers started to work on the Cordwinder, Companion, Power Polisher, Garmentaire bag, white bristled brushes and assorted waxes. Also redesigned were the sprayer, and vaporizer, that were introduced with the first model sold in America, the model V (5) of 1924.

Yes, paul, Electrolux was back in business and there was no stopping them now.

 

[paul]

Wow, Alex, thanks! You educated me on each item!

Do you know of/have any Model XXX manuals with different copyright years than I listed previously?

 

[caligula]

XXX manual.

Hi Paul. Yes I do, but at present I'm on vacation in Arizona so you need to wait till I'm homme on Feb. 6.

Alex.

 

[electrolux137]

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Here's an unusual cordwinder that came on a Model XXX that I found a few years ago.  You'll note that instead of the Electrolux logo on its outward side is the name "Cordomatic."


 


The inward side is the same as all the other ones I've ever seen -- you can see the vestiges of the gold sticker on it.


 


Replacement plug, obviously.


 


It's not in great condition but I've held onto it all these years because of its rarity.