Electrolux Power Nozzles

[compactelectra]

OK - there have been a few threads here and there about Electroluxes and their power nozzles. Brian Jacob (Mercuryman) from Long Island started it with his posting of his beautiful Lux PN1. That started a discussion of the progression of Electrolux power nozzles and the various apparatus used to hook them up to the AF, G, L, 1205, etc., etc. Here is a link to that thread. Thanks for starting this Brian!

http://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?10407_39

 

[compactelectra]

Next - I posted a bitch session

About the tan G and tan PN1 that Charlie sent me. These posts raised many questions about the history of the Lux power nozzles. Some with direct connections, some with pigtails, some with cleanout ports, others not. I'd like to start a discussion of the Lux power nozzles since there seems to be long history of them with many variations. We haven't even discussed the PN2 that came with the later 1205 after Consolidated Foods acquired the company. Here is a shot of a PN2 that I found brand new. Interestingly, it had two leads connecting on the hose end, but three going into the power nozzle. What is that all about?

http://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?10444_23

 

[compactelectra]

Here is a full-on

Shot of the PN2 with pigtail.

 

[compactelectra]

There Also Seems to Be

A missing link. They went right from the PN2 to the PN4 that I got with my Super J. What's with that. Can anyone fill us in on the history of Lux during this period. I was talking with Charlie tonight and he really isn't aware of the "lower" Luxes, especially the L which ran for years and resembled the E, F and a bit of the G. It came in many colors and came with each of the power nozzles of the time. But hooked up with a pigtail, unlike its more expensive sister, the G, 1205 and Js. Anyone know the chronology? Here's my favorite, the aqua L. I love that you can still mix and match and get the hoses, bags, etc.

 

[compactelectra]

BTW

Here is one of my PN4s. They work with all the machines and are great cleaners.

 

[suckolux]

My 1505 is a 4A, newer I know.

 

[mercuryman]

Power Nozzles!

Fred, I also have a PN-2 with a blue sheath and pigtail connector. I haven't yet posted a photo of it because I haven't polished it up as of yet.

From my understanding, this is the progression of the Lux PNs from the earliest up until the Golden J...by 1975, PNs were "de rigueur" with a vacuum cleaner purchase due to the era of the "shag carpet":

1959: The upper-tier Model AF and lower-tier Model R were offered with a PN plug-in port. The matching PN-1 was offered in white with gray bumper to match the AF and the R. This was the first PN Electrolux offered. Connection from vacuum to PN was achieved through a wire which was "zip clipped" to the vacuum hose.

1960: The upper-tier, aqua-colored Model G was introduced, whilst the lower-tier Model R was continued in its original colors. The PN-1 was offered with the G in the same body color as it was with the AF, but the rubber bumper was aqua.

1963: The Model R was discontinued, with the Model L replacing it. Model L was white with aqua rubber bumpers, which matched the bumper on the PN-1 sold with the aqua G. The aqua Model G would run until 1967. PNs did not change from '63 until '67.

1967: Model G was offered in bronze, as was the Model L. PN-1 remained the same, yet the only difference was the changing of the bumper color to match its concurrently offered machines.

Up to this point, it seems that Electrolux knew that it would have a bit of difficulty selling its "newfangled" power nozzle to people...therefore, they made it so that any machine they sold between '59 and '68 could accommodate the same PN, and in a color that would match by merely changing the rubber bumper.

When the 1205 was introduced with the '68 Model L, it's obvious that they threw that idea to the wayside! It was then that Sara Lee had bought out Electrolux. The PN-1 had a blue body with blue sheath, to match the new 1205 and the blue L.

As for the PN-2, I guess it was introduced around 1972. My 1974 Model L was purchased with a PN-2 with pigtail connector. However, I know that the Golden J was sold with a PN-4...and it was a direct-connect hose. But I do contend that my mom's '77 Super J had a PN-2...which was really a PN-4...the only difference being the sheath color.

 

[electrolux~137]

Just one correction to the above ... The motor housing for the very first PN1 was gray, not white.

The earliest-earliest version did not have the hose-locking spring and I believe the sheath was gray as well.

I have the next version with a white wand sheath and hose lock.

Both versions had a long, continuous power cord that connected to the motor and then was attached onto the hose with plastic clips (as was the case for the earliest Model G PN1).

See link.


http://www.1377731.com/af/page5.html

 

[sireluxomatic]

Not to seem timid or anything, but can this thread include Canadian Electrolux power nozzles (which are by and large the same as or quite similar to the American versions)?

 

[kirbyduh]

I'll post this

link here... I also posted it on the first PN1 thread.

http://www.vodhin.org/Vacuum/main.html

 

[crevicetool]

So, the PN1 in various forms and colors is the plastic one right?

The PN2 is the cast aluminium with the inlet swivel situated within the housing.

The PN3 doesn't exist?

The PN4 is almost identical to the PN2 except the wheels/inlet connector have been moved behind the casting to facilitate the wands being able to remain in an upright position when parked.

The PN4 was used at least through the Olympia one when at some point they leveled part of the casting (I think I've seen these) not used to house the motor.

What model did the PN5 come with and what did it look like?

 

[suckolux]

Was the five the offset wide sucker? This is very interesting.

 

[compactelectra]

Sireluxomatic

By all means include the Canadian power nozzles. They are very interesting and close cousins to their American counterparts. And, as I understand it, the Canadians did have a PN3.

Fred

 

[sireluxomatic]

I'll try to get some pictures of the various PNs I have done tomorrow; have just cleaned and reorganized the vac storage room, so the time is ripe to break out the camera.

 

[elux89]

Canadian Lux PN'S

PN 2 I believe the PN 2's were used on our AP 100, 200, 280 series canisters. It had a few mods compared to the US. The Canadian version lid actually went over top of the power cord, you could not remove the power cord without first taking the lid off. The other difference from the models I've seen was that at the front base plate, there were four triangular shaped vents to allow more airflow at the floor.

PN 3 The only pn 3 I've seen is the green one that was on the Z89 that had the adjustable roller brush height.

PN 4 Both Canada and the US. However, the PN 4 on the Canadian E2000 did not come with a circuit breaker.

PN4 Canada and US. First versions did not have the eight slits in the front rubber bumper. I posted a question asking why the slits were put in a while ago, but no one responded.

Doug would be able to advise on the Canadian versions much better than myself.

 

[djkain2007]

I need another lux pn.....

 

[sireluxomatic]

PN Piccies

Figured I'd bust out the camera today and take some pictures of the older power nozzles I have. First up, my PN I. Other than the inevitable cracks in the wand, this is in very good shape, although I do handle it like eggs.

BTW, I like the simple "Electrolux" better than the "Electrolux Power Nozzle" logo.

 

[sireluxomatic]

PN I

Bottom, also in good condition

 

[sireluxomatic]

Beige PN I + PN II

This is the PN I with the blue elbow and cord. The PN II came with my Golden Jubilee, although its missing the decal. I'd have to say the PN II does the best cleaning job out of any of the power nozzles I have.

 

[sireluxomatic]

Canadian PNs

The Holy Grail items for me are the cream and red PN I with the long wand, and the detachable cream and red PN I with the red electric telescopic wand that were offered with the red and white 80 series machines. If I could find those, I'd almost consider my collection complete.

Anyway, here are the three power nozzles that came out with the 87 and 89...the PN II (back), PN III (left), and PN IV (right), with the telescopic wand. The only difference I can see between the light green PN II and the U.S. PN I is the elbow...the Canadian one has a push button latch instead of the friction ring.

 

[sireluxomatic]

More Canadian PNs

Bottoms. The PN III and IV have plastic brush rolls.

 

[sireluxomatic]

Some differences between the PN III and IV

Here's a closeup of the PN III brush adjustment button. Mine is completely stuck, and I might get around one of these days to opening it up and fixing it. The PN IV got rid of this adjustment.

 

[sireluxomatic]

More differences

The PN IV has two screws in the bottom plate; the PN III doesn't.

 

[sireluxomatic]

Still more differences

The PN III doesn't have any cooling vents on the side, whereas the PN IV does.

I have no clue as to the production dates for the PN II, III, and IV. My PN III has a serial number beginning with 0, indicating it was made in 1970, and the PN IV has a serial number beginning with 3, indicating 1973. Beyond that, I'm not sure of the dates of production.

 

[sireluxomatic]

Later PNs

There was a PN V offered with the early AP 100 which was, I think, identical to the PN IV except for color.

Here are the three AP series power nozzles I have...PN 100 (back), PN 200 (left) and PN 280 (right). These are identical to the U.S. PN II except for the color-matched finish, logo strip, and, as Vernon pointed out, the top has to come off before the cord can be removed. Why they did this I'll never know...its a fiddly process to get the cord plugged in properly while trying to put the cover on.

These are noticeably quieter than the PN II, even though they (presumably) share the same motor. They have sound dampening insulation around the motor.

 

[sireluxomatic]

Bottoms

Again, these are pretty much identical to the PN II, except there's no information on the metal brush roll plate. Actually, the PN 280 on the right has the bottom of a PN II...presumably, it should be either chocolate brown or white. All of these connected to the familiar sheath, either with a latch, or the friction ring.

Excuse the wall in the background; it had to be torn out to get at the water main valve, and its still in the process of being replaced.

 

[mercuryman]

Nice!

The Canadian PNs are quite nice. I like the fact that even though they're different from the American PNs, they're unmistakably Electrolux products.

Bob, with regard to your PN-1...have you found that the plastic housing/sheath has become more brittle over time? I did notice a tiny hairline crack at the very top of the sheath on mine, where the power cord goes into the wand. I'm thinking about attempting to Krazy Glue it, just to prevent it from getting worse.

 

[eurekastar]

So do the Canadian and U.S. power nozzles use the same brush rolls and motors?

 

[sireluxomatic]

Brittle-brattle

Yes indeed, Brian, I do find the whole PN I very fragile. Its a pity, because its arguably the nicest looking power nozzle Electrolux made. I'd say a small amount of glue wouldn't hurt.

I know nothing about the aging effect on various materials, but considering these power nozzles are between 40-50 years old, they must be considerably weakened by now.

I'm not sure how effective this is, but every so often I give all the plastic and rubber parts of my collection an Armor-All treatment. At least it keeps them shiny.