Electrolux Power Nozzles

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compactelectra

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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
 
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++11-2-2010-20-30-17.jpg
 
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++11-2-2010-20-37-0.jpg
 
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.
 
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
 
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)?
 
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?
 
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
 
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.
 
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.
 
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++11-4-2010-10-17-35.jpg
 
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++11-4-2010-10-23-50.jpg
 
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