Electrolux Name Origins

[ronni]

I wonder if Electrolux fans/collectors know about the etymologies of the 'Electrolux' name?

Not a few companies' namesakes originated from their inventors and/or financiers such as James Kirby, Issac Merritt Singer, and W. H. Hoover; while others were well-known brands that manufactured or rebadged a variety of appliances such as General Electric, Eureka, and Hamilton Beach.

But what about Electrolux? Was there a James Electrolux or a Elec Trolux?

Nope

The Electrolux brand was introduced at the 1919 merger of two Swedish companies--AB Lux and AB Elektromekaniska.

AB Lux, now Lux International of Switzerland, began in Sweden in 1901 marketing and selling kerosene lamps (this was a separate company from the makers of Lux soap). The lux (symbolized lx) is the unit of illuminance in the International System of Units. In fact, 'LX' was used as a machine name suffix when Electrolux introduced its lighted power nozzles in 1991 (e. g. Ultralux LX, Diplomat LX, Genesis LX). Now you also know why the original Electrolux logo featured light rays.

Sven Carlstedt formed AB Elektromekaniska in 1910 using the combined Swedish terms 'elektro' (electric) and 'mekaniska' (mechanical). It began as a manufacturer of motors for an early vacuum cleaner model called the Santo.

In 1912 Axel Wenner-Gren and Sven Carlstedt developed a vacuum cleaner. After convincing AB Lux to mass produce the newly-designed appliance, it was named Lux I.

So there you have it.

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Keller Manufacturing Company 1910 Keller-Santo ad:

 

[electrolux137]

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http://www.1377731.com/lux

 

[ronni]

An enjoyable and informative read--thank you for the link.

Do feel free to add my information to yours if you'd like.

 

[collector2]

Just noticed that the Santo looks almost the same as the Lux model 1

 

[ronni]

I agree (minus the arms and legs--haha)!

 

[ronni]

I just learned that kerosene was used in Servel Electrolux refrigerators; so that was likely another contribution from AB Lux to the new Electro-Lux company--note the 1940 metal sign below (now listed on eBay).

From en.wikipedia.org (abridged):

Kerosene is a combustible hydrocarbon liquid widely used as a fuel, in industry, and in households. Its name is derived from Greek: κηρός (keros) meaning wax, and was registered as a trademark by Abraham Gesner in 1854 before evolving into a genericized trademark.

Kerosene is usually called paraffin in the UK, Ireland, Southeast Asia and South Africa. A more viscous paraffin oil is used as a laxative. A waxy solid extracted from petroleum is called paraffin wax.

Kerosene is widely used to power jet engines of aircraft (jet fuel) and some rocket engines, and is also commonly used as a cooking and lighting fuel and for fire toys such as poi. In parts of Asia, where the price of kerosene is subsidized, it fuels outboard motors on small fishing boats. Kerosene lamps are widely used for lighting in rural areas of Asia and Africa where electrical distribution is not available or too costly for widespread use. World total kerosene consumption for all purposes is equivalent to about 1.2 million barrels per day.