Electrolux Power Nozzle Parade

[rugsucker]

Electrolux Power Nozzles

Many good observations above.As a vac shop owner seeing many nozzles(but few from Europe) over the years I will add a bit more.
Dircik has good observations on the newer nozzle.If he had first done a PN 5 with no headlight or swivel elbow he may have a more positive opinion.The direct swivel elbo IS a weak point after time and milage but easy to change.I have felt that the headlight lens does magnify and spread light but any light is not really needed.Gear belts are much better.(I had a lady bring in a late model,expensive Rainbow with the corner rotating brushes and said it would not clean.The main problem was the smooth,worn belt that they continued to use on that model.)Both Sears and Elux belts can break,usually from repeated jamming on throw rug,etc,but of the 2 I have seen the Elux belts last longer and break less often.Since the PN 1 the Elux nozzle has been best for the average customer.But not perfect.The early PN 5 had a weak cover over rear axle,the PN 4 had a rubber part that could crack and lose suction,the PN 2 could short at the plug-on cord,the PN 1 early wands could crack on so on.
When you consider that any smooth belt that is replaced can wear and break in the first 5 minutes of use if caught on a sock,throw rug,etc I favor any Elux nozzle and the 80s-90s Sears.(Later Sears work well but not as well and often lose a rear wheel.)Again,little experience with European nozzles.
One of the first 2 motor canisters I saw long ago was a mid 60s Sears PowerMate.A neighbor had bought one the the best Sears vacs when the Sears store was 60 miles away and the first time she used it when she went under the couch it 'ate' a spool of thread and broke the belt!

 

[DesertTortoise]

Rugsucker I had never even seen an Electrolux vacuum of any kind until I encountered what I jokingly call the "shop vac" at a Salvation Army store. It was hammered, but for $25 what the hay. Take it home, open her up, clean her out and see what she does afterwards. A lot cheaper than a night out at the movies. I knew they can be expensive vacs to buy new so I was curious to see if it was that good a vacuum. What does that extra $500 - $1000 over a Kenmore Elite or Miele canister buy you?

What I have written are my impressions so far. Gr8DaneDad will tell us that the particular model I bought was a turd and don't judge all Electroluxes by this one experience, but the powered floor brush and plastic wands are shared across current production Luxes, Aerus and Electro.

My preferences in things like cars, motorcycles and home appliances tend towards a European sensibility. I like their ergonomics and how the Germans in particular screw things together. Usually. But in this case the Swedish/American thang ain't working for me, at least in the powered floor brush and complete lack of secondary filtration in the vac itself. When my new hose arrives and I mate it up to the handle and plug it into the vacuum I will finally be able to run this thing and see what she does on my carpet...... assuming she doesn't stink when I run her. Then I can draw a more complete conclusion. Side by side suck off with some older Kenmores. Who wins this competition?

 

[kevin]

Dircik, Thanks for your informative response and for stating your opinions. I didn't perceive that you were forcing them on anyone but just sharing your observations and experiences in a fun way. Vacuumland is great when we can learn from one another and poke fun without becoming defensive and condescending. No appliance is perfect, but it behooves manufacturers to pay attention to customer criticisms and try to improve on those that are valid instead of just using their brand name to defend or gloss over weaknesses. If I were the CEO of an appliance company I'd be checking out sites like Vacuumland as another way of staying connected with customers' needs and desires such as your edge cleaning. However, if conversations were limited to only saying nice things about brands and refraining from criticizing that would be pointless. Most CEOs presumably have a healthy view of their products, so in order to continue improving they need criticisms along with compliments.

"If you can't say something nice don't say anything at all" is a good frame of reference when dealing with others--especially behind their backs. However, where would pastors, doctors, counselors, and even good friends be if they attempted to follow that as a rule and not as a guide? We all need constructive criticism from time to time in order to improve as human beings.

Intent and approach are key to constructive criticism. I perceive that most--if not all--who visit Vacuumland care about the success and continual improvement of vacuum cleaners and the companies who manufacture them; they are not out to bash them. In reading several of your posts in this thread and others you don't appear to be an exception. As for the approach I took your initial post as a fun challenge to prove you wrong. Had you meant to bash Electrolux you would have been more harsh in your tone and said things like "All Electrolux products are pieces of ... (fill in the blank)." And, in fact, you wouldn't have even purchased an Electrolux cleaner if you'd felt that way. So I am looking forward to hearing about your Electrolux cleaner impression when you get the new hose and can compare its performance with other cleaners you have used.

I am somewhat partial to Electrolux, because it's the only brand I collect and I have been satisfied with their overall performance. Still, I value learning about other brands and features they have which may or may not be superior to Electrolux and am always open to someone who can prove me wrong--with facts instead of feelings--when I offer my own criticisms.


_________________



Jimmy, I really appreciate your knowledge about many brands of USA vacuum cleaners and their accessories based on your personal experiences along with your impartial and respectful response. Rather than being emotionally-charged you chose the high road of stating facts based on your wealth of experience in an objective and dispassionate way. I can imagine that you are an excellent businessman as a result.

Thanks for your contributions in making Vacuumland a friendly and educational place to visit.

 

[electromatik]

The animosity that I read toward Electrolux on this board surprises me often. I can't understand how anyone could not appreciate such a legendary company that has always been at the forefront of technological advancement in vacuums. They are not perfect for sure. Their history is littered with successes and failures like any other. For DECADES Lux was the world's best selling vacuum cleaner. Their quality was long lasting and world famous. Their tools were high quality and among the most advanced. They held #1 market share in canisters until the 1980's. None of this is to say they were flawless. Their decline started with the boom in Asian made mass produced vacuums. What really irritated me and others was the increasing loudness. They continued to follow rather than set standards until the coming of the Renaissance which made a pretty good case for being the most advanced machine on the market at the time. I thought they missed the boat with the Guardians with that stuck-on HEPA. They totally missed the boat with the Guardian Ultra when they rehashed old tech and removed several features. I criticized their recent problems which are mostly laid at the feet of Joe Urso. I hate that some are disappointed to learn that Lux wasn't perfect, but none of the vacuum companies are. There never was a perfect machine. You won't find a lapdog with me. But I believe in fair comparison. There is simply no way you can claim that modern Lux/Aerus products are uncompetitive. They still make a great quality central vacuum. The FreshEra is an excellent small upright. Their full size upright needs a few updates but is by no means obsolete. The Guardian Platinum is by anyone's standard a Grade-A excellent vacuum. It's sealed. It's one of the quietest on the market. It's one of the most powerful canisters ever made. It's cord and hose is long. It's attachments are legendary. And it's the ONLY vacuum that has two HEPA filters which allows the very highest filtration. It matches or beats it's competitors in most features. I think Aerus and Lux International should just go ahead and merge. Their vacuums were always pretty much the same anyway. The European Luxes had the same features (auto shut off/eject/bag light/dial control) as the American Luxes. The biggest differences was cosmetic but they still looked similar. The Platinum may be the machine that saved Aerus.

 

[DesertTortoise]

It's a fair question to ask how much that extra money buys you. That Electrolux is of comparable vintage to the Kenmore Whispertone I just cleaned up tonight (see "My new Hoover" in the vintage section). Someone offered a really clean Kenmore Whispertone vacuum with Powermate, hose and Pet Powermate in the Hoover section of eBay. I guess if you squint real hard or drink enough it might be mistaken for a Hoover Spirit. I swooped and got the whole ensemble for $41. When those vacs were made there was a good $700 separating them from an Electrolux price wise. Go ahead and look at the images of my tear down of that Whispertone and you tell me if the extra money that Electolux charged was worth it. I don't see it.

Both have some flaws compared to modern vacs, the Whimpertone has no exhaust filtration at all and I don't have a work around for this either. I enhance the Kenmore foam secondary filter with Electrolux bulk filter material like I do with all my Kenmores (does that make them Electromores? Or maybe a Kenlux? ), but I had to use a Kenmore secondary filter to protect the motor intake of the Electrolux "shop vac" cuz there's nuthin' between the bag and the fan on that beast, not even a cheap piece of foam to catch the bigger chunks.

Motor wise, are you going to tell me that non rebuildable Electrolux motor that has no provision for even replacing brushes is superior to the big two stage Lamb in that Whispertone? Both vacs have outstanding motors, but the Lamb motor can be rebuilt a couple of times in it's life and you can see from my images that the original brushes are barely worn. This thing is at least 15 years old but it has most of it's life left in it still.

So is that Electrolux really worth the more than double the original sales price of that Kenmore? That's not hostility, it's a legitimate question. You can look at my images of the tear downs of both vacs, and some earlier Kenmores of mine and be your own judge regarding their relative quality.

 

[kevin]

N106F C104H/Renaissance (N106K was paired with it later--see reply #39):

 

[kevin]

N115L for C101J/Ambassador III

 

[kevin]

N106M (version 1 w/red logo) for C133A/Epic 8000; (version 2 had a blue logo for the Guardians that came after the Epic 8000--see reply #30):

 

[jo]

I have to agree with Charles Lester. My favorite power nozzle currently for daily use is the same as his...L shaped and includes the light and the more dense bristles. I believe it came with an Ultralux. I use it with my Silverado and now my model G now that I’ve obtained a genuine pigtail hose as I have two of these identical power nozzles. I have a Lux Legacy and the power nozzle has the swivel neck...a different feel for sure which goes along with the whole plastic wand and gas pump handle thing. For collectible purposes, I have always loved the PN2 with its silver cover which doesn’t have canchipping paint problem or breakable cover problem and preferred the glide of it where I can get it to “dig deeper” by applying more pressure, not possible with the PN 4 (or later models) with its floating head. I’ve had several pn1’s and always find myself wanting the pn2 instead when using a pn1. The pn1 my Mother had that came with her brand new Model L literally wore out, the bearings were worn and other parts started breaking down inside causing a lot of noise and it just wouldn’t work right after taking it to the Electrolux store a few times so I bought her a PN 6a and she’s had that ever since. A friend had the pn2 with her model L and I used to clean her house...I really preferred it over the PN1 using both every week.

I don’t have a PN2 but my Mom does now with one of her more recently obtained machines at their vacation home. It works beautifully.

Perhaps I’ll treat myself to a PN2 purchase on eBay if I find a nice one .and even don’t mind if it has the 50th anniversary sticker.....which by the way are incredibly durable stickers with a heavy thick plastic coating....sure would complement my dark blue hammered finish gloss painted model G with polished aluminum bag door and cordwinder nicely though it wouldn’t be “period correct” but would still make for a nice looking set with the polished aluminum on both the canister and power nozzle. Plus then I can enjoy using it when I’m in the mood for a PN2 rather than just when I visit my parents in the summer...and usually there’s not much vacuuming to be done when I’m there except to clean the room I stay in which is mostly hardwood and 2 small area rugs.

I’ve had the issues of the flex duct in PN4’s ripping causing loss of suction...in fact I bought one of those necks from the Electrolux shop but can’t remember what it was supposed to be for and it’s now in my tub of parts with the receipt from 2007. I think someone told me to get one before they discontinue the part as I had the one 4 at the time but have since given it to a friend.

Jon

 

[jo]

The floor brush on the power nozzle

Our PN 6a (later diamond jubilee power nozzle) has that little tiny bristle strip behind the main opening to prevent stuff from being flung out the back when used on hard floors when on and also if off, it would sweep the floors. This model Says it is a “carpet and Floor” power nozzle and also has an on and off switch integrated with the reset switch and was the first of its kind to have these features. The Marquise matching model also had this. I think the concept here was to be able to go over floors without necessarily having to change to the hard floor brush, just flip a switch I was told when I bought it new at the Electrolux store for my Mother. While we don’t normally do floors with the power nozzle...having this option for a quick pickup on a floor area when doing carpet just by flipping the switch has come in handy now and again. I wonder why they discontinued that bristle strip...they still make the option to shut the power nozzle off separately from the main suction unit.

Jon

 

[opelgtkarl]

Convenient timing! I’d love to join the parade!

This week I was finally able to make my 1968 1205 complete with its original one piece sheath PN-1! I noticed that one hadn’t been posted yet, so I thought I’d post mine! This of course is an early 1205 with the PN port in the front of the machine, non textured sides, no grate in the blower port, and a black control panel.

 

[human]

Nice 1205...

Both of my 1205s are the next iteration up from this—smooth sides with no separate power port. One of mine came with a PN1, telescoping wand and teal electrified hose with pistol grip. The other came with a non-powered hose and metal wands and just a flippy floor tool. Both have been retrofitted with vinyl hoses and are used with whatever power nozzle strikes my fancy at the moment. And I have an overabundance of power nozzles:

• PN 1 (Teal, came with a 1205, mostly retired)
• PN 2 (two of them)
• PN 4 (polished)
• PN 4A (two of them, both Silverado gray, one repainted and one original)
• PN 5 (sand, came with my Diamond J)
• Model 1692 (trash find with somewhat trashed Diplomat Lx attached)

That makes eight power nozzles for five Electrolux canisters (two 1205s, a Super J, a Silverado, a Diamond J, plus a pile of parts that next week will hopefully rise again to become a Diplomat Lx, which will then make six).

 

[huskyvacs]

Do you know what this power nozzle is? I have never seen it before and it's not in your post either.

 

[eurekaprince]

That is a Canadian Electrolux power nozzle with a Canadian suction only carpet nozzle. Made right here in Pointe-Claire, Quebec at the Canadian Electrolux factory on the Trans-Canada highway on the western edge of the island of Montreal.

 

[huskyvacs]

Oh wow, thanks Brian!

I seen that on eBay and never seen it before so I was like "whats that?"

It's on an eBay listing from....Maryland or Massachusetts - I forget. How unusual!

 

[eurekaprince]

Yes - because both Canada and USA run on 120 volts and our plugs and outlets are the same, you can find many Canadian-made vacs south of the border. Canadians who have moved to the US for whatever reason often bring their appliances with them.

 

[paul]

Its model number is either PN-V or PN-100, and it was factory-paired with the automatic AP100 or non-automatic AP. Production was 1973-76. According to Doug Smith, it is a modified US model PN-2.

 

[eurekaprince]

Yes....Doug's website shows many Canadian Electroluxs including the cafe au lait coloured one that came with these carpet nozzles. It's an excellent resource!!!