Electrolux PN Sales Question

[bagintheback]

I think the first Electrolux Power Nozzle was introduced with the Model G, but I might have be corrected on that. So this is my question:

Lets say I bought a Model G without the power-nozzle, when they were new in the 60s. Later on I decide I want one and call back over the Electrolux man. Would I have been able to buy the power nozzle as single unit without a new vacuum? If so, how would they demo it? Would they use my own machine? What if they no longer sold they current power nozzle for my model? Like the model G should have a PN1 but I could only buy a PN2.

This just came into my head last night and I hoped someone would have an answer.

 

[trebor]

The PN-1..

Actually was a difficult sale to the salesmen, believe it or not. They resisted the notion, and said they were not selling Hoovers. Electrolux actually put up prizes and trophies for the most power nozzles sold. As newer salesmen were recruited and trained with the power nozzle as part of the demo, the old guard gradually came around. The 1205 was the first Electrolux to have the power nozzle packed in the box with the machine, although it was still written up as a separate item on the sales form, and had its own serial number. I do not know when that ceased.

The power nozzle was adaptable to previous models, all the way back to the model XXX. The strip from the handle to the front cover was replaced with one that had a receptacle for the power nozzle cord. The G first had the receptacle on top and later on the bottom, underneath the front cover to the right.

The sheaths and power cords were available for a long time after the plastic current conducting plastic wands were introduced. I do not know what is currently available.

 

[danemodsandy]

Once Initial Objections....

....Of the sales force were overcome, you not only COULD purchase a PN as an add-on, you received every encouragement to do so, in the form of telephone and/or postcard contacts.

It was a great "add-on" sale, and it could be used to "save" a sale that was being hard to close, since you could suggest it be left off for the time being, to lower the purchase price. You could always go back and sell it later.

 

[briankirbyclass]

Yes, in fact my Grandma had a standard Model E, bought from the salesman in around 1957. No Automatic Control or Cord Winder. Just the basic hammertone blue Model E. It had a black Belden cord with the halo.
In around 1965, my Grandparents had wall to wall carpets installed, and a Sister in law recommended to my Grandma that she get a new Electrolux with the Power Nozzle for the carpets. Grandma called the Lux man, and he came and showed her a new Model G, with PN.
She was resistant,(when she found out the price) because there was nothing really wrong with the Model E ,(except that if tended to fall over easily when you pulled it along), so right then and there the salesman converted her Model E for use with a PN by installing a new metal strip across the top of the Model with a plug for the PN.
He then installed a blue PN Cord and straps on her hose, and sold her a new PN1. She was thrilled! I want to say all of this cost around 79-89 dollars, i seem to remember.
Only problem was that by the early 1980s the Original Model E hose, and the motor on the Model E itself were getting tired,,and the hose leaked like a sieve. Grandpa often used the Model E as a blower, and for cleaning out the garage.
So in around 1983-84, Grandma bought a new Electrolux Silverado and PN 5.
The old converted Model E lived the rest of its life as a garage vac, I still have it,,and that PN1. Its like an old friend!

Her Silverado is still going strong BTW,,all its ever had to have was a new hose once about 10 yrs ago. I got her a new style hose that wont leak!
Grandma is now 91 yrs old, and still using the Silverado to this day.

 

[Real1]

Nice.....

story, Brian! For all us dyed-in-the-wool LUX fans....wouldn't it be nice to have a bound book with NA LUX stories like these going all the way back to WWII? Hmmmm.......


 


Kevin

 

[kirbyvertibles]

Just adding my 2 cents,
The af was the first to introduce the pn1 in 1959 and it was grey to match then the g came out and the pn1 color changed to the white until the tan g

 

[vacman1961]

The first power nozzle was introduced in 1959 with the last model AF. It had one long snap on cord which went from the power nozzle all the way to the top trim of the tank. The clips were just plastic snap on clips that clipped along the hose and were quckly removeable. In October of 1968 both my parents and my Aunt purchased tan model G's. The salesman came to my Aunt Vera's house and did the demonstration there, my Aunt had a model 30 and we had a model E which my Mom only used on the bare floors and stairs, we had a Kirby 518 for the rugs. I remember the salesman took my Aunt's new G out of the box, installed the strap cord on the hose with the little plastic button fastener tool, he did the demonstration with the PN1 and my Aunt decided she just wanted the straight suction vacuum with no power nozzle, so he opened our box, gave her our new hose without the wire and put the one with the wire in our box and we took the power nozzle home. My aunt paid $125.00 for her tan model G, and we paid $175.00 for ours with the power nozzle. A few months later when I went to visit my Aunt and Uncle, I seen her model G in the bed room and she had a new 1205 colored blue power nozzle on it, I guess she decided it was easier to clean the rugs with it, I don't remember hearing much conversation about it. At that time, the salesmen didn't take either old machine on trade, he might have took my Aunt's model 30, but I am not sure, he took our model E and overhauled it and gave it back to us for my Dad to use out in the garage.

 

[briankirbyclass]

That sure would be a fun book to read Kevin! Just like Vacman1961's story!

The part of the country where i was born and raised(small town in SE, MN) was total ELECTROLUX territory. There was Hoover and Kirby too of course, and some people did have them, but usually they would have the Hoover or Kirby upright for the carpet, and an Electrolux tank for the bare floors and above the floor cleaning.
Most everyone tho had an Electrolux PN for their carpets tho.

This was at the time when Wall to Wall and eventually Shag Carpets were the thing to have.

Like DamonSandy said,,it wasnt WHAT vacuum you have, it was WHICH Electrolux you have!
I remember ALOT of Model Es, Gs, AEs, and 1205s, as a kid with the ocasional Model L. Most all had PNs. It was rare that someone did NOT have a PN with their Lux.
I remember marveling at a neighbor's new tan model G with the tan PN and attachments. I have never seen such a thing before.

You can imagine my disappointment when my own mother bought a Hoover Connie that spewed dust like tornado. ( I HATED that vacuum, i found it clumsy and awkward to use)
When we got a new house with wall to wall carpet, she then bought a new Hoover Dial A Matic with Power Drive,,that i also hated. - I wanted an new ELECTROLUX! - The 1205s were new at the time, and i dreamed of us getting one. That DAM we had was nothing but trouble,,evidently was a lemon.

My dream did come true tho in a round about way. - Grandma (other Grandma that had a Kirby DS50) bought a brand spanking new out of the box Electrolux Golden Jubilee,,with the 50th Anniversary sticker on the back, and on the PN. HA,,be still my heart! lol She kept the DS50 for an upstairs vac.
(yes, i still have the Golden J in my collection,,lots of good memories connected with it)
I could kick myself for getting rid of the DS50,,but i did get one again in later yrs,,thanks to ChadinKC here on the forum.
Fun memories!