A few hours ago I decided to check out some local thrift stores. At the last one of the three I found a Model XXX for $5.00, and since it was Half-Price Day I paid a grand total of $2.68! I don't have a camera, otherwise I'd post photos.
According to Charles Lester's website, it is a 1949-1951 version. Here are the details:
Top Front End Trim Info: Serial ID: H88463U
Bottom Front End Trim Info: Model XXX D. C. to 60 Cycles A. C. 115V - 535W
Addresses on inside cover: 500 5th Avenue, NY and 417 Montgomery St., CA
Canister top: Light gray reptilian-pattern leatherette
Canister bottom: Teal-colored wrinkle paint
Handle: Light gray
Bag Chamber Cover: Chrome
End Cap: Chrome
Air Filter: Black Foam
Flange: Chrome with saloon door exhaust louvres
Cord: detachable--generic light gray
Mobility Device: Round Runners mounted on body
Upholstery Tool: blue-gray bakelite
Dusting Brush: (none)
Bare Floor Tool: chrome and blue-gray bakelite
Carpet Flip Tool: chrome and blue-gray bakelite
Narrow Space Cleaner: blue-gray bakelite
Wand Sections: chrome
Hose: ivory-colored, generic vinyl with ivory pistol grip
Date of Original Purchase: unknown
Can anyone tell me if the brush plate of the floor tool should be chrome or blue-gray? The one that's in there now is chrome (with a gray rubber edge) and fits the holder, but doesn't align with the screw holes; so it is held on by two thick rubber bands. I'm also curious to know in which years the bakelite tools were made. I've understood that this was a necessity during WWII.
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I'm inviting Vacuumlanders to list their Electrolux Model XXX canisters on this thread with their serial IDs and descriptors like above in order to get a better idea of versions and their attributes. Please reply with your machines' and attachments' information--you can just copy and paste my information from above and edit it with your information. Depending on how this turns out we could do the same for later canister and tank models, too. Would be nice if we had Aerus/Electrolux salespersons in our midst who kept lists of serial ids according to years of manufacture from the Model XXX era up to the present.
