Electrolux Olympia One ... 2 Models?

[kevin]

Yet another comment from the lister ...


The cleaner was purchased from State Vacuum in Tampa.


(Was this an Electrolux branch office as he thinks?)

 

[Gr8DaneDad]

An Electrolux branch would not have had a name other than Electrolux  since all branches were company owned and operated at the time. This is a late run Olympia One vacuum made after the switch to the plastic inner door switch over.. the mold was intended for the Silverado and so had the 1505 designation. I can be fairly confident that it was sold as a 1401 Olympia One not as a 1505 Silverado. I'm having the service mgr at my franchise look it up...

 

[Gr8DaneDad]

Reading the history of State vacuums, this was likely a trade in on a new Kirby in the mid 80's. Service Manager just called and said this vacuum is listed as an 1401-B Olympia One, sold in August of 1982 from the Tampa Branch of Electrolux to Mrs. Ephraim Cohen of Tampa. There are no records of any service at an Electrolux Branch post purchase.

 

[rugsucker]

Electrolux

A bit more on some of the above-
The Silverado was introduced April 82 and ALWAYS gray color.Some sales for the first week won a silver ingot with Silverado(about the size of charm bracelet item).April (& October) were the big 'drive months'for maximum sales.If a new model was introduced the current vac would be closed out at a sale price.As above any product manufactured can have changes.Electrolux would sometimes change to simplify or reduce cost if they could maintain quality.Thus the bag door became plastic.Another change at no loss of quality was the screen molded in the bag compartment instead of a separate wire screen.A division manager told me the top trim configuration was voted on at a div mgr meeting leading to the new model and drive month preparation.Factory and home office officials would often visit Elux trips and banquets to talk to all from the newest salesman to the long time managers for opinions.
PN-4 top cover-This can be found in 2 different materials(one heavier than the other).I was told by a factory official that the cost of original material went up and they changed to the cheaper(again no loss of quality)until later the prices reversed and they were back with the original.

 

[rugsucker]

Electrolux changes

There was another change that would fit in between reply 16 & 17.The new wand latch with push button release and easier removal of lower chrome wand from plastic upper sheath was first seen on the last PN-4 models.The boxes noted 'New Wand Latch System'.

 

[kevin]

Thanks for the information, Rick, Tom, John, and Jimmy.

Jimmy--please post photos, if you can, of the wand differences.

The lister has since communicated that he isn't sure that the cleaner was purchased at State--just that parts and repairs were.

Rick and Tom - (re: comment to Rick in reply #4) I need to admit my error in thinking that the Olympia One/1401s had a different length handle than the Super J/1401s as you both stated. I wonder now if I'd seen a 1401-B with a missing vertical carrying handle--which would have left the shorter horizontal carrying handle? Anyway, I apologize for my confusion and subsequent error.

While I understand that the last of the Olympia One used the new molds intended for the Silverados, it's too bad from a collector's and tech's standpoint that the model designation was not kept 1401-B.

I like how they'd done that with using the Model AE caster mount plates on the Model F (which is why so many mistakenly call the cleaner Model AF). One would think they could have done something similar with the 1401-B and 1505 interior cover plates.

I wonder if there is an Olympia One collector in our midst that has all the different versions--like Charles Lester's Model Es, Model Fs, and others? I would think such a collector would want to bid on the one that inspired the conversation today!

 

[kevin]

@tom (re: reply #31)

From the eBay lister:

"Not my mom, and does not explain the model number embossed in the case."

 

[tig21er]

The

model F as you call it is in fact called by Electrolux - Model AF. This is from the 30th Anniversary book of The factory in Old Greenwich, Conn.

 

[Gr8DaneDad]

I should say that the information in the database at Aerus is not infallible. Dates tend to be fairly close, but names and addresses from before the mid to late 80's can be hit or miss. Phone #'s are almost non-existent before the late 90's.


 

 

[s31463221]

Well this thread piqued my interest

It's definitely a unique machine and indeed it doesn't seem to be re-painted, but sheesh! $529.99 plus another $30 for shipping....too rich for my blood!

 

[kevin]

John,

Thanks for the information. However, there is a lack of consistency within Electrolux documents, then, because the manual states "Model F" (see photo). Also, the manual for my aqua-colored cleaner states "Model G"--even though it, too, is an automatic machine. Model E and Model AE makes sense because there were two different Model E versions--manual and automatic. Model AF would make sense if the G models were called Model AG.

 

[kevin]

Tom,

I wonder if either the lister's number was off by one digit, or if your service tech entered it incorrectly. Of course, it could also be that the number was originally recorded incorrectly.

I like how Electrolux started doing the serial id stickers on the machines that were supposed to be taken off and affixed to the sales contract (even though some were never removed from the machines). I wonder if Aerus still does this?

As for the database, I'd understood that Aerus had maintained quite an extensive one from its sales (and the sales of Electrolux USA). I wouldn't expect any such system to be 100% accurate, but my guess would be that companies--including Aerus/Electrolux--would have done their best to keep accurate records for sales follow-ups and future sales.

 

[Gr8DaneDad]

The database was much improved in the 90's, before then anyone in the company (well almost anyone) could edit records so there has been some data drift as records were updated incorrectly. The ability to edit records is almost non existent now. Records can be added to, maintenance - sales - services - additional addresses and phone numbers, but the data cannot be altered or deleted any longer.


 


Serial # stickers to remove from the unit and attached to the contract are no longer used.  I cut it off the box when I sell a machine and then write it on the contract. The cutout is then stapled to my copy of the transaction in case any issues arise for my customers.

 

[kevin]

Tom,

That's too bad that the former database's editing method was so prone to inaccuracies. Glad to hear that over the last 20 or so years that the system has been improved.

Also, it sounds like you have a good system for accuracy. It's too bad, though, that Aerus hasn't retained the sticker system. I would have enforced such a system by penalizing the commission of those sales contracts that did not have a serial id sticker affixed to them. That way, unless the stickers were incorrect the records would be very likely to be accurate.

Another thought would be to provide a barcoded option in which sales contracts could be individually printed with the serial id as each machine is checked out for sales. By the way, do sales contractors have the option of filling out sales contracts electronically and printing them instead of writing them out by hand?

 

[Gr8DaneDad]

Everything is handwritten on 4 part NCR forms.  Nothing, and I mean nothing, is automated - at least in the franchise I work in, and I suspect in most. For the most part, franchises were bought by former branch managers that had been with the company for years.... many are technology phobic. It's taken me a long long time to get my franchisee to let me utilize the web or social media in any way.... baby steps, baby steps. Just registered a domain name and have begun building a web site for me, not even for the franchise... same on Facebook, and I have to explain it all over and over again, progress is slow We are forbidden to sell directly online, but pretty much anything else is allowed - it's cheap exposure and people like to msg, email and set appointments online rather than over the phone - their schedule. I get more e-mails from the little sign on my car than I ever get phone calls... the world has changed and it's way past time to adapt.