Electrolux Model XXX Help!

[luxy1205]

Hi everybody! I'm new to the vacuum world! The vacuum that started the soon to be madness was my mom's Electrolux 1205. My grandma bought it brand new and then sometime in the 90's gave it to my mom. That's the only vacuum I ever remember us having! Well, my mom just passed away a few months ago and my dad is going to give me that 1205. Anyways, my husband bought me my own 1205 that I affectionately named "Luxy". He bought her off of Ebay for me and I use her every day!!! So, needless to say, I got sucked in literally, to the Electrolux world!!! Ha Ha! I just got in the mail a Model XXX and I got an LX, named "Lexy", on it's way. My Model XXX I've affectionately named "Exxy", she is in dire need of help. She doesn't have a cord to even test if she works, all of the chrome is completely corroded, and the vinyl is in rough shape! This doesn't scare me for the fact I collect and restore chainsaws, mixers, and clock/radios as a hobby; plus my husband restores antique cars for a living and has a degree in electronics. I'm wondering if anyone out there knows exactly what color the Model XXX is? Also, I wonder about the vinyl? Basically, any info that people can share with me, I would LOVE to hear!!! I'm very intrigued with these vacuums!!! I want to restore her! I've started the laborious task of hand sanding her with steel wool to get her chrome shiny! She's cleaning up nicely! Glad to be a member! Thanks to all!!!

 

[suckolux]

Looks just like mine! There are minor changes over the years and some of the experts here will jump in on that I am sure.

 

[s31463221]

Michelle

First off, let me say welcome to the club! Being an electrolux collector myself, it's always nice to see someone else who appreciates these machines as much as I do! Since I have over 100 vacuums in my collection, I haven't tried to name them but I like them all, in fact I have a brand new in the box model 1205, but the xxx is one of my all time favorites! Not too long ago I completed a resto/mod on an xxx (I'll include a photo) and they are super easy to work on. The cords can be found on ebay or vac supply places such as Hesco, also new bags and handles, etc. If you wish to test the motor before you take it apart, a standard two prong coffee pot cord will fit it. Don't be surprised if that old motor takes right off though as they are bullet proof! Good luck with your machine and your collecting!

 

[caligula]

Hi Luxy1205

Welcome to Vacuum Land.


 


  I'm the founder or the Vacuum Cleaner Collector's Club, and an Electrolux collector, in fact, my interest began at the age of 2! What did it for me was the brand new Electrolux model LX, though, my family all had the model XXX. What you have is a post war model because it has round sled runners and a light gray underside.


 


The model XXX, also called the model 30 was introduced in the fall of 1937, just in time for the Christmas rush. It was an instant hit, and out-cleaned anything Electrolux had made before. It was also the first American Electrolux. The company was based out of Stockholm, Sweden. The factory in Old Greenwich, Connecticut had opened a few years before and made the last of the model XII's, but the XXX was the first completely American Electrolux.


 


The early ones had a dark gray underside with a matching leatherette to cover the upper body. The polished chrome trim added to the majestic look.  These were outfitted with flatter sled runners, and the doors on the exhaust port was vastly different. Another change was the snap in hose connection, as opposed to the screw in style of the model XII.


 


The post war style like you have featured some very nice tools, as well as a ride on tool holder called a Companion, and a cord winder.


 


  Please keep us posted about locating a cord and attachments, this is what it should look like when complete.


 


And again welcome to the club.


 


Alex Taber.    

 

[electrolux137]

To s31463221, you have a beautiful XXX and I really love the wooden storage chest! Is that something you made yourself? I've never seen one like it before.

 

[s31463221]

Charles

Thank you so much! I really appreciate that! That machine was given to me in terrible condition, not running etc. I stripped it down completely and put a new motor in it (as much as I hated to), new handle, and I hand polished all of the chrome and stainless trim on it. Oh I also put several coats of red paint back on the unit behind the lettering so it would stand out better. I'm not thrilled with the aftermarket hose, but it works well anyway. As for the "storage box" I have an original cardboard box that an XXX came in, so I took several photos of the box to a friend of mine who runs a sign shop and I found a blank wooden toy box on Walmart.com (of all places!). After I assembled the box, I gave him the dimensions of it and he recreated those logos in vinyl and I put it on both sides of the boxes. I recreated an Electrolux owner's manual, and thanks to Alex Tabor, I have a copy of the early history of Electrolux to put inside the box as well, in case someone would like a little addition "recreational reading" when playing with it! Thanks again Charles!

 

[luxy1205]

Steve

Thanks for writing!!! I love your restoration!!! Very nice!!! I've only just begun the tedious task of restoring "Exxy". She has major pitting even after polishing her chrome! She won't be 100%, but whatever she turns out looking like it'll still be way better than when I got her! I'll include a photo of her, from the listing on Ebay, so that'll be exactly what she looked like when I received her. The pic of my first post is after I got her. Her chrome is shiny, but not perfect, I've just only begun kinda polishing her up. The only reason why I bought this model xxx was because I had a connection with this one. I personally wanted to fix it instead of getting one that was in good shape. I felt sorry for her and knew I could make her better. It's funny, I name every in adamant object that I love. I have over 100 chainsaws and they all have their own name, so do my stand mixers, hand mixers, clock/radios, my car, my lawnmowers, and vacuums! Thanks again! -Michelle

 

[luxy1205]

Alex

Thanks for the welcoming!!! I'm glad to be a part of vacuum mania!!! Ha Ha!!! Thank you for the info! Is there a way to know exactly what year she was made? Can you read the serial number? For example, I collect chainsaws, and I know how to read the serial numbers of Homelites. I don't know if that applies to vacuums as well. I knew about the cord winder and companion, but I bought mine because I felt a special connection with it. I personally wanted to fix her and make her like brand new. I could have bought one that had all the bells and whistles, but right after I bought "Exxy", that's when I found my LX "Lexy" and decided to buy her as well off of Ebay. My LX comes with almost everything. It has the companion, most of all the attachments, a hose, and is in good condition. So, I knew I would have one to fix and one that's basically ready to use and plus the LX's attachments that I don't have for my XXX I can use on her until I get her the ones she's missing. Anyways, I included a photo of the attachments that my model xxx came with. I forgot to include them when I first posted on here. I know I'm missing the brush attachment for my XXX and LX. What other attachments do I need for my XXX? Thanks again!! -Michelle

 

[caligula]

Luxy1205

Have a look at these.


 


I just brought my entire collection out of storage. These are a dozen or more boxes of attachments, wands, hoses and so on to go through. The hose you have is not for the XXX, but will work. The bare floor tool you have looks like it's correct. I also have the companion that goes to the machine. My machines and boxes of tools are in a holding room about a mile from my home, so let me go through my stuff next week, and put stuff together. Just cover the shipping and they are yours.


 


As for the history of the model and pinpointing the year, here's what I suggest. Look up Electrolux history, written by my good friend Charles Richard Lester. You can also check out his cyber vacuum cleaner museum. Both are well worth looking at.  


 


Here's a look at some of my wands and tools for numerous brands. Some of the rug nozzles on the wall are the ones I can send to you once I locate them.


 


Alex Taber.

 

[luxy1205]

Alex

Thanks for helping me out!!! I looked up Charles Richard Lester and his cyber vacuum website, very informative! Thank you for that! I like your impressive room of attachments! You mentioned that the hose I have that came with my model xxx isn't the original one, do you know what that hose originally is for? You're a very nice and considerate person!!!!! Just let me know how much shipping is and then I'll send you the money. Thank you so much, that's very nice of you!!!! I'm including a picture I just took of my 1205 named "Luxy", I use her daily. My husband bought her for me off of Ebay a while back and she came with almost every attachment, except the newer hose, I just bought that because her braided hose was loosing suction. Plus, today we took apart her power head and rebuilt it, it works great now! Thanks again for everything!!!! -Michelle

 

[caligula]

Luxy1205

Nice 1205.


 


My first paying job, I was only 17, was selling that model Electrolux, so I know it well. As for Charles Richard, when I started winding down after creating, writing and publishing the V.C.C.C. newsletters from January 2, 1983, to May 1993, I turned the task over to Charles Richard. I retired from the club in May of 95, and was away till 2004.


 


That picture was only one shot of the V.C.C.C. museum and clubhouse. It was located in Naperville, Illinois. When I bought the house in 85, I made a guestroom the club museum, (see photo) but the collection grew. Around 92, I converted a 3 car garage into the museum.


 


While I love all vacuum cleaners and especially Electrolux and Kirby, it's the non electric machines of the late 1800's that fascinate me most. I have about a dozen of them and will post pictures of them to see.


 


Alex Taber.

 

[caligula]

Luxy1205

The museum in 93. The blue Kirby came with the wrong bag.  

 

[caligula]

Luxy1205

Museum.

 

[caligula]

Luxy1205

Museum.

 

[caligula]

Luxy1205

Museum.

 

[caligula]

Luxy1205

And here's the oldest known vacuum cleaner. It's called the Whirlwind. Invented in Chicago, patent date June 8, 1869, and the inventor was Ives W. Mc'Gaffy. It was mass produced by 'The American Carpet cleaning company' of Boston which was lucky for Mc'Gaffy, as the great Chicago fire of October 1871 wiped out all the Whirlwind's he sold. This one was located by a friend of mine at auction in New Hampshire, I acquired it in 1988.


 


Alex Taber.

 

[rugsucker]

Electrolux XXX

Congradulations on the classic of classics.Every collection should have a XXX both as antique and good usable vac.In reply 7 the rug nozzle is fron a Eureka of similar age and the hose seems to be a later genuine Elux after the suction control was added.Happy Vacuuming.

 

[luxy1205]

Jimmy

Thanks for the info! The only Electrolux vacuum I ever knew that existed was the 1205 because that's what my mom had. Before my husband bought me my 1205, I was doing a whole bunch of research on Electrolux vacuums. I was amazed when I saw the Electrolux vacuums on sleds!!! I absolutely fell in love with them! Now I have 2 of them! Still waiting on my LX in the mail, should be here tomorrow, then I'll post some pics of her! I was able to squeeze in a little time yesterday to work on my XXX. I polished her chrome some more and vinyl wiped her down. Now she glows! Down the road I will have to replace her vinyl. For now, I'm just trying to make it look the best I can. If we had some extra time yesterday we were going to work on her motor. Hopefully this week we'll be able to blow it out and rebuild if necessary and then rig a cord so we can see her run! That's really cool that one of the rug tools is from an old Eureka! It's very interesting and fun to learn about vacuums!!! Thanks again! -Michelle

 

[luxy1205]

Alex

Wow that's so cool that you used to deal in 1205's!!! How awesome that would be! I love all of the pictures!!! You said the club museum was in Naperville, IL? I'm originally from Plainfield, IL that's my hometown!!! Amazing how small of a world it really is! I love the Whirlwind! Gotta love the pulley! Archaic inventions are my thing!!! Simplicity sometimes is the best! Thanks for sharing all of the photos! By the way, I love your Kirby Heritage! I'm slowly learning other models, lots of them to learn! From the research I've done, I love the 500 series and the first Heritage!!! I do like the Heritage II as well, but not as much as the Heritage. -Michelle