Electrolux Model XXX Help!

[luxy1205]

Alex

Very nice pictures!!! I love the picture of you when you were 3! Are you sitting on a model xxx and what Kirby model is that? I don't remember Naperville that much for the fact that I was born in 1984, so your time period is different than mine! Ha Ha! All I remember of Naperville is a Red Robin and going to the River walk with my Great Grandma and Grandma to feed the ducks! Oh, and a store downtown that just sold stuffed animals! I think either for my birthday or for Christmas I was allowed to pick one stuffed animal out from that store. My LX has the yellow and red logo. I will definitely post pictures of her, hopefully I will get her tomorrow, and be able to post pictures of her. I have noticed some LX's that don't have the yellow and red, what is that all about? I've actually wondered about it. I did go back to Charles Lester's website earlier and learned something about the model xxx that I was wondering about as well. I didn't know why the model xxx was wrapped in vinyl like the LX, but then I learned that it was the later model. That would make total sense since the LX then used that same vinyl! I love learning! -Michelle

 

[caligula]

Hi Luxy1205

Yes, I remember the river walk in Naperville very well.


 


 There were two versions of the Electrolux model LX. The first was introduced in the fall of 1952, it's the one I have as my daily driver and shown here in what Charles Richard Lester calls "a beauty shot." It's the best thing they made up to that point. The ejector, while a great feature, tended to 'pop' as Electrolux termed the process, too soon, causing a myriad of problems. At first, Electrolux salesmen went to the customers home, made the repair (at Electrolux's expense) by installing a dial to regulate the air pressure that caused it to pop. The later model LX's had the dial installed at the factory. I'm not sure exactly when the nameplates were changed, or why, perhaps to save money. At any rate, they were now polished aluminum. To add a bit of color, hammer tone blue was used for trim, and parts like the cord winder. Suddenly the model LX became the LXI, though was basically the same machine.


 


About a year ago a member named 'powermate1970' started the thread Lux XXX/30 tools, I'll look up the thread # so you can read it. It's a fun read, and you will learn a lot about your favorite vacuum cleaner.


 


As for me on the Electrolux XXX, I'm playing with a Kirby model 512 (1952). I was too young to know it, but Air-Way had introduced an upright in 1920 that had a hollow handle, and a hose was used for above the floor cleaning.


 


So now you know why I became a vacuum cleaner collector. The reason John Lucia and I formed the club was so we could pass our knowledge to fellow collectors, exactly as I'm doing for you.  I love digging research , and sharing history. It warms my heart to know you have started to collect Electrolux's.  


 


Alex Taber.

 

[caligula]

Hi Luxy1205

Here's a look at the upright Air-Way's and other machines from my display at the 2005 convention in California. The hose on the table could be attached to the handle. The two shown here are The Air-Way sanitation system (1920) and the Chief, which came out in 1937(?) and featured a rotating brush.

 

[caligula]

Hi Luxy1205

Found it.


 


Go to Vintage archives, type in Lux model 30/XXX tools. The member who created the thread is powermate1970. Thread # 19227, post # 212375. Date of thread is 1/3/2013.


 


This is a treasure trove of Electrolux information. Tools, machines, patents, some wonderful pictures of all things Electrolux, and yes some bits of trivia from me and many others.


 


Check it out.

 

[caligula]

Hi Luxy1205

Check out reply # 3 in the thread I mentioned above, I think you'll be pleased.


 


Alex Taber.

 

[luxy1205]

Thanks Alex!!!

Thanks for the threads!!! I literally was learning so much that I had to take a break because my brain couldn't absorb everything!!! Ha Ha! I will be going back and re-reading and reading more of that! Those Air-Ways are really cool! I love the bag! Looks like an old feed sack! Thanks for the info on the LX too! I actually learned from you and from that thread today about LX's. I'm still awaiting mine! It's almost 7pm here and it's out for delivery! The suspense is killing me! Anyways, I learned about the rug tool. Some of the early LX's had the model xxx's rug tool and then the later model LX's had the rug tool but it was blue on top. Well from the pictures I re-looked up on Ebay, mine has the blue rug tool. I will post pictures as soon as I can, STILL WAITING!!!! Thanks again!
-Michelle

 

[caligula]

Hi Luxy1205

Since you live in Wilmington, Illinois, you are not that far from Cleveland, Ohio. The annual convention is being held at the Kirby company, which will mark the 100 anniversary of the parent company Scott/Fetzer. I believe the convention is in June, but plans are still underway.


 


I suggest that you and your husband attend, because the conventions are great fun, and very educational. Members from all over the country attend, and many of them bring their collections, or at least their favorite machines. We have cleaning contests, and other events to educate members on things like restoration and so on.


 


The convention room is breathtaking, rows of banquet tables draped in cloth and holding dozens of vacuum cleaners of every brand and description. In addition, there are people to meet, talk to, and learn from. We also have a banquet, complete with an award ceremony, and prizes galore! 


 


I'm planning to attend, and if I can arrange transportation, will be bringing my best machines including the non electrics that most members have not seen other than on my posts, and yes, I will bring the Whirlwind.


 


More information on the date, and so on will be posted after the first of the year, as well as registration forms. I would love to meet you, and your husband. I'd also be honored to show you the very first vacuum cleaners, and other cleaning tools like carpet beaters, and so on.


 


So, if you can attend, I know you will have the time of your lives.


 


Alex Taber.

 

[vacosaurus]

Hello, I also have a Electrolux XXX actually three of them and a model LX.I have also been reading posts on this site and have learned alot already about these vacs in just a few days.I also have a couple of posts regarding model XXX searhing for info. Just read the previous post here by Alex about a convention planned for Cleveland Ohio. I live in Cleveland. Just curious about convention. How big? what kind of activities? How many days ect. Thanks Bill,

 

[luxy1205]

Alex

Thanks for the invite!!! My husband is going to be starting a new job in a few weeks, so I will have him see if he could take a vacation then. I got my LX after 9pm last night! It literally scared us hearing a big box dropped on our front porch! Ha Ha! She's in good shape, except both of her sleds are bashed too far inward! My husband is going to fix that as soon as he can. Her cord rewind won't wind in the last foot, but we'll take it apart and fix that. Also, I want to convert her to run with a power head. Not bragging, but my husband is like an Einstein! He's gonna wire her up for a power head and it won't affect her originality, because if I choose not to have it anymore, he can just remove it and it'll go back to being original again. Also, on my model xxx, I want it to run with style c bags. When I went to Charles Lester's site, there was a lot of pictures of the rare option bag converter. I showed my husband all of those pictures and he's going to just make me the bag canister out of metal and make me an adapter door out of metal as well/or he'll see what he can do about possibly using the original door; hence the adapter door is not as pretty looking! So, needless to say, if the bag ejector doesn't work on my LX, we'll take it apart and fix it or modify it so it will work. By the way, the LX is suppose to come with two wands, I had to write to the seller because they were not in the box! Hopefully he will be mailing those out to me! Hope you like all of the pictures!!! -Michelle

 

[luxy1205]

Alex

Here's another picture of Lexy!!!

 

[luxy1205]

Alex

...and another picture of Lexy...

 

[luxy1205]

Alex

...and one last picture of Lexy!

 

[luxy1205]

Vacosaurus (Bill)

Thanks for writing!!! That's really cool! I will look your info up! I know, there's so much info on this site that it's mind boggling! I just posted some pictures of my newest baby, my LX named "Lexy"!!! Can't wait to get my hands on her too! -Michelle

 

[rugsucker]

'Lexy'

Looks to be very nice.The hose is the standard from the time of 1205 and blue L.
Cordwinder-Use caution with any repair!The spring is sharp and must have no tension on it when opened.The 1205 and newer are much easier to service.
Wiring for power nozzle-I was told by a retired salesman who started with Elux in 1955 and was a manager in the 70s a bit of early Power Nozzle days.When it was introduced about 1960 it was shown with the Model G & R that had built in outlet.If an Electrolux customer liked the PN but did not yet want to trade a Model AE or AF there was an official kit to change the top trim to include the outlet.Beyond that many salesmen who thought that half a sale was better than no sale would find ways to wire an outlet to Es & XXXs as well as some other makes.
Happy Vacuuming.

 

[luxy1205]

Rugsucker

Thanks for the information!!! You could probably see that in the background of my LX pictures that my 1205 kinda snuck right in there! My 1205 I named "Luxy", her cord winder is slowly working less, but I use her everyday. We will be taking her apart and fixing that as well. "Lexy" got front row this morning watching me vacuum with "Luxy"! Ha Ha! Thanks for the tips!!! -Michelle

 

[caligula]

Hi Luxy1205

WARNING DO NOT TAKE THE CORDWINDER APART!!!


 


I know exactly what the problem is, the spring in the winder is sprung. That's common with winders of that age. That spring is razor sharp and needs special tools to rewind it. Your husband could get badly cut if he tries to work on it. I'm sure there are club members who have a cordwinder in proper working condition, and can get it to you.  I also noticed that it has a replacement plug, the cords were made for Electrolux by the Belden wire company, which is in Geneva, Illinois, but was in Chicago at the time the XXX, and LX, LXI's were made. I'll see that somebody gets you a working winder with correct plug. 


 


You have the Companion in the configuration I like, but the rug tool and bare floor tool are backwards, the swivel ends should point upward not down. The reason for this is so you can place the wand inside the connector and attach it lifting the desired tool off the Companion with ease. You are missing the upholstery tool, dusting brush, and crevice tool (which Electrolux called the 'narrow space cleaner.')


 


Do you get the instruction book for this LX? If not, that's easy to acquire. Go to the club library icon on the main page of the Vacuumland site, type in vacuum cleaner, and then Electrolux, and a few instruction books will pop up. You can easily download the book for your new LX.


 


It takes about 4-5 weeks for the bag to fill with common household dirt, but you can fill a test bag with cotton balls, Kleenex, packing popcorn or other material. Set the dial (if there is one) to 'HASTEN' and close the front cover. Turn the LX on, and feed it until it ejects. DO NOT OVER FEED THE BAG, AS IT'S AT THE CORRECT DEGREE OF FULLNESS! It will be common for the LX to run several minutes before it ejects again, but it will! There should be a compartment under the LX that holds 3 bags, see the instruction book.   


 


If your husband has to do surgery on the ejector, or any component thereof, go to the Lux 30/XXX tools thread, and scroll down, the entire process is explained, including pictures.


 


In some cases, the previous owners of these machines remove the ejector spring. If your LX doesn't have it, no problem, I have one, and will get it to you when I send the other tools, and I'll include the upholstery tool and a dusting brush.


 


Have a great time with your Electrolux, and watch for other info that I will scan in today and post tonight.


 


Alex Taber.

[this post was last edited: 12/4/2013-12:03]

 

[caligula]

Hi Luxy1205

Testing the ejector.


 


If you want to test the ejection system to see that it works properly, here's all you do. Open the front cover by lifting up on the latch, make sure there is a disposable bag in the chamber, not the cloth one pictured with your LX. Locate the lever under the cleaner (same side as the cover latch) and press upward, the bag should be expelled from the chamber. If it doesn't work, go to the Lux 30/XXX tools thread, and scroll down till you find the post dealing with repair. It's all there, including pictures.


 


If you need me, I'm here.


 


Alex Taber.

 

[luxy1205]

Alex

Thanks for the advice!!! About the cord winder, do you know if it's anything like a chainsaw recoil?

 

[caligula]

Hi Luxy1205

Two things I noticed.


 


The vinyl loop thingy on the Companion is used for hanging it in the closet, and not on the machine. People who leave the Companion on the LX, bring that loop back so it's placed with the dusting brush.


 


Secondly, the hose on your LX is the  correct hose for the 1205. I have the correct hose for your LX, but it needs a latex treatment to make it operable. That process is on another thread by two club members who are experts in this, and can walk your husband through the procedure.


 


I only have one set of white wall, and dusting brushes, and one Garment Aire bag, but I'm sure we can locate them if you want to acquire the 'entire set' of tools to make it complete. I also have a few original wrappers (bags) and will send you one so you have it for show.


 


More information as I think of it.


 


Alex Taber.

 

[caligula]

Hi Luxy1205

I don't know anything about chainsaws, but I assume it is the same mechanism. Charles Richard or my friend Tom Gasko would know that. Tom is the curator of the 'Vacuum cleaner museum' (not to be confused with the museum I used to have in Naperville, they were my machines, and as I founded the club, simply made them the official club collection.) In Tom's case, it is an actual museum open to the public and located near St. Louis, Mo.. A little trivia on Tom, he was the first President the V.C.C.C. had. Up to that point, John Lucia and I didn't want officers in the club, so I did not appoint myself as president, or John as vice president when we formed the club back in 82. Frankly, we never thought our club would go very far. Boy were we wrong!


 


So check out the Vacuum Museum, it's great.


 


Alex Taber.

 

[caligula]

Hi Vacosaurus

Sorry it took so long to respond, but getting Michelle, on the right track with 'Lexy' was important.


 


The conventions are fantastic, and the 2006 convention can be found in the section on Newsletters. I have that in my paperwork and will scan it in later today so You and Michelle can see for yourselves. Here's the background on the convention.  


 


The origin dates back to May 4, 5, and 6, 1985. While I founded the club after meeting with John Lucia in September of 82 and touring the Hoover Historical Center, (I'd already been there in August of 1980, and without knowing was laying the groundwork for the club.) Upon leaving Hoover with about 5 names of others interested in vacuum cleaner collecting, I asked John, "think we should form a club?" His response was, "I doubt if anybody's interested, but write to these guys and see, It won't hurt to ask!" When I got home I did, the first person I contacted was the late Craig Long of Buffalo, New York, and he responded with a phone call that same day. "Yes, I want to be part of the club! Other letters came in with the same response, and I went to work.


 


At that time, I knew nothing about publishing, but drafted a short newsletter, and went with the obvious name. 'The Vacuum Cleaner Collector's Club' was intended to be a temporary title till John and I could think of a better one, but as everybody liked the V.C.C.C., it became the official name. The first newsletter went to press in December, and was mailed out on January 2, 1983 (our official starting date!") The agreement was that I'd compile, write and publish the newsletter. John and I also agreed to alternate writing a feature article for each issue. He would cover all things Hoover, and I'd cover all the other brands both electric and non electric. At this point the membership was free, and the newsletters were published every other month.


 


In February I realized we needed letterhead, and an official logo, so I contacted Stacy Krammes, director of the Hoover Historical Center. Her daughter, Liz, was in the process of becoming a graphic artist, and I hired Liz to draw an abstract picture of a non electric called the Baby Daisy. By March, the V.C.C.C. had logo, letterhead and about 6 members. We were on our way!


 


In the fall of 1984, one of our members, Mike Pupek, came to see me in Lombard, Ill, and in the course of conversation suggested a meeting of the guys in the club. My response was "nobody is going to travel cross country to see some old vacuum cleaners!" To this Mike said, "put the question in the next newsletter." I did, and the result was the first meeting in 85. At this meeting, rules were set, bylaws were drafted, and all the important business was set in place. We even had an official cake cutting ceremony.


 


6 weeks later, I bought a house in Naperville, Illinois, and turned a spare bedroom into the club museum. As I mentioned in a previous post, everything was perfect for our meetings, as food, lodging and so on was right at my fingertips. From 1986 to 1993 the meetings were in my home. Then in 94, the club returned to it's birthplace, The Hoover Company. In 95, we went to Allentown, Pa. to see the collection of Bob Kautzman who is 'The Vac-Hunter.'


 


As I had just bought a house in San Diego, California, I decided to retire, turn the club over to Tom Gasko and become a private collector again. Tom was the one who turned our 'meetings' into 'conventions' and it was Charles Richard Lester who took us into cyberspace and thus expanding the membership to outrageous proportions. It's still growing.


 


I'll leave it up to Tom, Charles Richard and others to take it from there, but each time I attend a convention I still have that 'pinch me' feeling. I never thought we'd achieve anything like this.


 


Alex Taber.


 

 

[caligula]

Hi Vacosaurus, Hi Luxy1205

Great news!


 


The information about the Convention is posted!


 


On the main page of our site is "Clubs," click on the V.C.C.C. scroll through the opening remarks by our president Morgan, and you'll find the complete information on the Kirby convention. While I haven't read it fully yet, I can't comment, but all the prices, dates and hotel info is there. Having attended conventions as a basic member and not part of management since 2004, I know how great these events are. I strongly suggest you both try to attend, as you will be in a vacuum cleaner wonderland, and have the time of you lives.


 


I'm still trying to locate where the older newsletters are. As for those not published in Vacuum Land, I'll locate several of the ones I wrote and scan them in. This might take a day or so, but I'll see that you are able to read them. Pictured here, is my late partner, Charles Brookreson, and I at the 05 convention which was held in Los Angeles in 05.


 


Hope to see you both in Cleveland.


 


Alex Taber.

 

[caligula]

Hi Luxy1205

Newsletters.


 


The next few posts are from old newsletters.

 

[luxy1205]

Alex

Thanks for the info on the V.C.C.C! Thanks for the help with "Lexy" the LX! I actually put her tools on last night, I didn't realize they were on wrong! Learning! Ha Ha! I talked with my husband and he said he would take me if I wanted to go, but we will still have to see about his new job though, but plenty of time to figure everything out. I'm going to get my 1205, XXX, LX in a group picture maybe even today. I'll post it when I get a chance! Thanks again!
-Michelle

 

[caligula]

Hi Luxy1205

Back cover.

 

[caligula]

Hi Luxy1205

Convention in 2005. Front cover.

 

[luxy1205]

Alex

What is the top side of the LX rug tool for??? My husband asked me last night and I said that I didn't know, but I would ask and find out. -Michelle

 

[caligula]

Hi Luxy1205

A few more pictures from 2005.

 

[caligula]

Hi Luxy1205

V.C.C.C. banquets.

 

[caligula]

Hi Luxy1205

Another table.