ELECTROLUX Economy Models
<span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', geneva; font-size: medium;">The first two Electrolux economy models were simply older models "rolled over" into newer models.</span>
<span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', geneva; font-size: medium;">When the XXX came out in 1937, the previous Model XII was still available at lower cost. Its color scheme was redesigned with dark gray leatherette and a gray cloth snap-in hose with black and white "XXX" tracing and given the designation of Model XIIA.</span>
<span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', geneva; font-size: medium;">When the LX came out in 1952, the XXX was still available at lower cost. Its color scheme was redesigned with dark turquoise leatherette, periwinkle blue wrinkle finish undercarriage, and the front cover and cord winder were painted in hammertone blue, as was the rear "collar" that holds the filter cover and the Companion attachment rack. The rubber handle was bluer in color, as was the trim on the attachments.</span>
<span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', geneva; font-size: medium;">The 1941 Model XX or 20 may not have an economy model but, as I have been told by an Electrolux oldtimer, was introduced as a new model meant to replace the XXX. It was designed by Lurelle Guild, the same designer who created the XXX and air-powered floor polisher. Whatever reason it was made for, it proved to be a failure because it looked to be more cheaply made and was not as lovely -- by a long shot -- as the XXX. It was quickly discontinued and a restyled Model XXX was reintroduced in 1942 or 1943 with some slight changes.</span>
<span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', geneva; font-size: medium;">The first "real" economy model was the all-new "feather light" Model E introduced in 1954 as an official lower-tier option for the hernia-inducing Model LX. The E was continued as an economy model when the E-Automatic was introduced in 1956. </span>
<span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', geneva; font-size: medium;">The E and AE are fairly similar in appearance, and apparently some confusion arose between the two. Also, the two models were not that different in cost. So Electrolux rolled out its second -- and much larger and more embarrassing -- disaster, the Model T as the new economy model introduced in 1956.</span>
<span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', geneva; font-size: medium;">The Model T =was= an official model release and was advertised in Electrolux's print advertising as a "thrift model." However, it is really a cheesy looking thing with no aesthetic or decorative considerations whatsoever. It was so cheaply made that they didn't even put a rubber tip on the on-off switch! It was a big flop and pulled after less than a year.</span>
<span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', geneva; font-size: medium;">Enter the dainty Model S in early 1957, completely restyled in lovely eggshell blue and off-white with matching colors in the hose and attachments. I guess as a nod toward "economy" the didn't provide a corn-wrapping halo on the end.</span>
<span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', geneva; font-size: medium;">Then the Model F came out in late 1957, and then in 1958 the Model S was restyled in colors matching the Model F, gray and off-white, with a slightly different hose, and called the Model R. A cord halo was added and also an optional cord winder was available for it. </span>
<span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', geneva; font-size: medium;">Interestingly, the cleaning attachments for the Model R were the same as the Model G even though it had not yet come out -- combination floor/rug tool in off-white with a turquoise bumper, and a combination dusting brush in off-white with turquoise "legs." Perhaps Electrolux was looking ahead at the G which would come out a year or so later.</span>
<span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', geneva; font-size: medium;">The Model G came out in 1960, with the Model R serving as the economy model until 1963 when the Model L was introduced. The Model L was sold for 16 years, second-only in endurance to the Model XXX, and was made in four different colors. The last Model L was done up in a kitschy, hideous-looking gold-tone color in deference to Electrolux's 50-year "Golden Anniversary."</span>
<span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', geneva; font-size: medium;">The next economy model to follow was the Olympia Special in dark brown and white, a plain-jane machine that I think was all plastic. After that was the Silverado Special, the same machine as the Olympia Special but in two-tone gray colors. (I am not sure about the plastic as I've never had either of these.)</span>
<span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', geneva; font-size: medium;">That's as far as I know, since my interest in Electrolux ends pretty much with their first 50 years, although I do admire the Silverado and am CRAZY about my Grand Marquis which has for several months been my Daily Driver.</span>
<span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', geneva; font-size: medium;">Hope this information is helpful. For those who want to read more about Electrolux and to see photos of the various models, I cordially invite you to visit my Electrolux History web site. See the link below.</span>
[this post was last edited: 6/28/2011-23:38]
http://www.1377731.com/lux
