Electrolux Product History

[paul]

Does anyone have a complete and accurate list of Electrolux products (vacuum cleaners, shampooers/polishers, turbo polishers, sidekicks, et cetera)?

The photo brochure on the Aerus website isn't complete and doesn't seem accurate when compared with Charles' survey. And since Charles isn't as interested in machines past the 1205J I can't be sure that other "copycat" photo brochures' information is accurate.

Regarding the vacuum cleaners I am wondering about "special" (what appear to me to be Electrolux's term for "economical") machines such as the Olympia One Special. In what years was it manufactured? Also, what is its model # (along with other vacuum cleaners with names)?

Regarding floor polishers/shampooers, the Aerus brochure doesn't include an aqua B8. It shows that there was a gray one from 1962-67. Yet, I thought I saw a photo of an aqua B8 with starbursts on the shampoo tank.

Anyway, if anyone has more complete and accurate information I would appreciate it.

BTW, I wonder if Vacuumland has ever considered a tab devoted to complete and accurate lists of each brand of machine that we could use as a quick reference. I would like to suggest that it be created. Then accuracy and completeness could be a shared responsibility, and the bugs could be worked out.

 

[kenkart]

One of the VCCC newsletters

From 1995 I believe is devoted to Electrolux and its history, Charles Lester did the newsletters then and Alex Tabor was President so the history is thoroughly covered.

 

[floor-a-matic]

The aqua B8 was made from 1960-66

Tan B8 from 1967-68

Turquoise B8 1969-74

Gold B8 1975-78

Brown B8 1979-81

The grey B8 shampooer/polisher is from the Silverado-era (1981-84) the last B8 before the current style 105 Series was introduced.

SideKick PN was introduced in 1987, when the Marquis came out; also at the same time the Rug Washer had been discontinued.

In 1993, Electrolux no longer made metal tank vacuums; the Epic 6500 & Renaissance came, but are plastic/lexan instead of metal.

 

[paul]

Hans and Erik,

Thanks for your responses. Sounds like I will need to contact Alex Taber and Charles Richard.

Erik--Thanks for confirming my suspicion regarding the aqua B8; along with posting a chronological sketch of the B8 colors. Can't understand why Aerus doesn't have more accurate information!

 

[paul]

Below is a preliminary list I have composed up until the Hi-Tech 2100. I am confused about which machines were manufactured during which years--or were all the ones listed together made from 1984-2002?

Also, I wonder if anyone can substantiate certain years of production--besides just relying on Aerus' information. For example, were new machines typically introduced in January, or was there sometimes an overlap in years. Some common machines that have different start years mentioned: Model R--1959, 1960;
Olympia One--1978, 1979... It would be helpful to have more specific information sometimes (i. e. December 1959--which may be the case with the Model R).

METAL BODIES (*economy model)

1924-27: Model V (Brown)
1927-30: Model XI (Black)
1930-37: Model XII (Brown)
1937-54: Model XXX (Gray, Blue)
1952-55: Model LX (Blue)
1955-56: Model LXI (Blue)
1954-57: Model E (Seafoam Green)
1956-57: Model E Automatic (Seafoam Green)
1956-57: *Model T (Blue)
1957-59: *Model S (Gray Blue)
1957-59: Model F Automatic (Gray)
1960-63: *Model R (Gray)
1963-79: *Model L (cream 63-65; taupe-66-67; turquoise 68-73; gold 74-79)
1960-65: Model G Automatic (aqua) 1966-67: Model Automatic G (bronze)
(Hospital Model Automatic Gs were produced concurrently with the domestics. They were cream with the following trim colors: 1960-65 (turquoise); 1966-67 (taupe)
1968-73: Model 1205 (turquoise)
1974-75: Model 1205J/Golden J (gold)
1976-78: Model 1401/Super J (gold)
1979-1981: Model 1401B/Olympia One
1979-1987: *Model 1453/Special Edition (brown 79-81; silver 82-84; sand gray 85-87)
1982-84: Model 1505/Silverado (silver)
1985-1987: Model 1521/Diamond Jubilee (sand gray)
1988-94: *Model 1521/Marquise (taupe 88-89); Grand Marquise (blue 89-90); Legacy (blue 91-92);
Ultra Lux (blue 93-94); 1993-94: Ultra Lux LX (white); Ultra Lux Classic (blue);
1994-95: Ultra Lux (black)

PLASTIC BODIES
1984-06: Hi-Tech 2100
(From Aerus Brochure) Hi-Tech 2100 1984–2002 [Diplomat/Diplomat LX/Lux 5000 EW (Blue)]

 

[caligula]

Hi Kenkart.

Thank you for the kind words, but I need to make one correction. I was not the president of the V.C.C.C., untill 1995 ther were no officers in the club. It was only after I decided to retire into private life that we had a president to manage the club, and that honor goes to Tom Gasko. He understood how I ran the club over the years and did great things with it.


The newsletter you speak of was winter 1994/95. It was a joint effort of Charles Richard Lester and myself. I'm deeply proud of that newsletter, but it was not our first. The very first Electrolux newsletter was published on June 30, 1984.

Here's a look at our first logo.

Alex Taber.

 

[floor-a-matic]

Two different variations of the Olympia 1401B

1978-79 version had the Super J style handle on top of unit

1980-81 version had the Silverado style handle & thicker side bumpers

1980 version also had the 1980 Winter Olympic Games sticker on the rear behind blower port

 

[rugsucker]

more on B-8

The aqua model started as T shape handle B-7 polisher and later became B-8 shampoo/polisher.
Early brown B-8 had removable plug and cord later changed to permanent on later brown and gray.

 

[dysonman1]

@paul

Did you forget about the Model 20 (XX)? Made in 1940-1941 only. An economy model, selling for $49.90, it had the same flat filter as the model XXX, only it was in FRONT of the motor rather than behind. It was a unique and excellent machine. VERY Art Deco looking.

 

[caligula]

Thanks Tom.

Nice model XX!

The story I heard from Charles Vale, manager for the Hamden, Connecticut branch office, back in 1968, was that the XX had been slated to replace the model XXX. In September 1941, production for the XX was underway to introduce it for Christmas. Then on December 7, came the attack on Pearl Harbor and all manufacture of Electrolux vacuum cleaners was stopped. Now they went into war production, making genorators and what Electrolux called "motors that fight!" The stockpile of XX's were used during the war, then on September 11, 1944 the war production board allowed Electrolux to go back to limited production. The XXX was put back in production, and by November 18, (1944) Electrolux was fully functional as a vacuum cleaner company. This is why there is the pre war XXX, and the post war XXX. In my book 'Electrolux-The First 40 Years 1924-1964' there is a lot more info on the war years and how Electrolux earned the coveted Army/Navy E flag, as well as the praise of the nation.

I have a model XX and love it, but it's not in as good condition as the one here. Thanks for posting it. By the way, I still have that great box for the model LX that you gave me in Naperville.

Alex Taber.

 

[paul]

Tom and Alex,

Thanks for the info. and pics--wow, the Model XX was a classic! I'm glad you reminded me to put the Model XX in, Tom, because some resources do not include it.


Now for the discrepancy in year(s) of production.

According to Tom--1940-41

According to Alex--1940

According to Aerus--1941-42

I have run into this sort of thing frequently. Is there a way to know for sure, or is it sometimes just by what others have said (such as Charles Vale)?

 

[caligula]

Hi Paul.

Actually the date I gave for the debut of the model was Christmas 1941. I think the reason it wasn't mentioned in any of the Electrolux publications is the connection with Pearl Harbor. Like 9/11 today, that was a painful subject, and the top brass of Electrolux would not want to go there. Keep in mind too, that the model XX's that had already been produced, served as back-up vacuum cleaners that could be sold during the war years. Once that stockpile was exhausted, production of the post war XXX was well underway.

Another model that was never mentioned was the T. This stood for the thrift model, or what we here at the V.C.C.C. would consider a frankenlux! The model T was a hodpodge of parts that the factory wanted to get rid of. Here I'll depend on Charles Richard Lester and Tom Gasko to correct me if need be, but generally this was the design of the T. A long, sleek body perhaps from the model XII, wheels from E, the handle was definately from the LX, and the cloth dustbag was from the XXX. The model T was hammertone blue and had the cord, hose, wands and attachments of the E. The cost was rock bottom low, but as I recall, it was one powerful machine! Basically the T was a joke, one that Electrolux would just assune forget.

And so Paul, there you have it, an off the cuff answer to why certain models were never listed.

Alex Taber.

 

[paul]

Erik and Jimmy,

Thanks for your information about the Model 1401B/Olympia One and the B8.

Erik--Do you know of any similar changes in the Silverado? I have one, but it doesn't have a "Silverado" sticker on it like I have seen, and the top looks more like a Silverado Special Model.

Jimmy--Was the aqua B8 the only one with the starbursts on the shampoo tank? Also, I heard that there was a B9 shampooer/polisher. What do you know about it? Was it the last of the B series?

 

[paul]

Alex,

Thanks for the clarification on the Model XX. Sorry about the mix-up. It seems, then, that Aerus has the accurate years: Christmas 1941-1942. I can understand Electrolux's position as you mentioned.

As for the Model T even though it turned out to be a flop I give the company credit for trying to use the over-supplies of materials instead of just tossing them. I don't know if metal was being recycled at that time--but in any event that was a creative and prudent use of resources.

Interestingly, both models appear on the most recent product history brochure!

 

[caligula]

Hi Paul.

Because Electrolux was a high priced vacuum cleaner, I think the model T was a good idea. People who couldn't afford an E automatic could easily afford the T, and get the same Electrolux quality. Also, the factory got rid of outdated parts. It was a win/win for everybody.

I had a model T which is shown here, located above the 1205, and found it to be a fantastic machine. A great, no frills Electrolux.

Alex Taber.

 

[caligula]

Hi Paul, I found it!

I told you of the Electrolux polisher I saw as a kid, and while this is not Electrolux, this Vactric is an exact likeness. I have no idea of the year of this ad, but it was in a box of V.C.C.C. archives.

 

[caligula]

Hi Paul.

In 1968 the 1205 had just came out and when I saw it in the window of the Electrolux branch office in Hamden, Connecticut, I knew I had to work with it. The manager was Charles Vale, and he understood a budding vacuum cleaner collector when he saw one. I was only 17, my mom needed to give approval in writing before Charles would hire me. As far as I know, I was the youngest employee at the time. Not only did Charles train me to demo the 1205, but told me the history of Electrolux. With his approval I spent hours in the basement with the trade-ins, I was also given several instruction books of all brands to take home.

The Electrolux factory was located in Old Greenwich, Connecticut, about 50 miles from my home town of Wallingford. Charles mad a few phone calls and let me see the museum at the factory. The following weekend my mom and I went there, it was awsome, prototypes galore!

Unfortunately, school and other things took up a lot of my time and I was too young to be a full-time employee for Electrolux, but it was a great summer job. And what I learned from Charles Vale in 1968, I put into practice with Kirby in Dubuque, Iowa in 1975.

Charles Vale was no longer with Electrolux when I started the V.C.C.C., he never knew the doors he opened for me, but I've never forgotten him.

Alex Taber.

 

[floor-a-matic]

The Special Models 1452 & 1453 was the economy model during the Olympia, Silverado & Diamond Jubilee era; they had the same color, hose, PN & tools as the deluxe models Olympia 1401B, Silverado 1505 & Diamond Jubilee 1521. The Special models had detachable power cord or automatic cordwinder & lacked Automatic Control (mechanism that shuts off vac when bag is full)

Later during the Diamond Jubilee era, the Special model was replaced by the 2100, which was the first plastic tank units. The 2100 uses a different machine end hose coupling, which was plastic & has a V-notch cut-out.[this post was last edited: 6/5/2013-06:13]

 

[dysonman1]

The Electrolux model XX was reviewed in the 1940 Consumer's Digest along with the Model B Rexair. It was actually sold for two years. Production of vacuums did cease in December, 1941 - Electrolux was sold out of cleaners by February of 1942. People wanting to buy them were put on the "preferred customer" plan after paying a down payment. As soon as production started up again (whenever that would be - no one knew how long the war would take), you would be 'first in line' to get a new Electrolux.

The Model XX was not a replacement for the model XXX, it was in addition to it. Hoover had three models - they had an 'economy' model ever since the launch of the 543. Electrolux was doing the same thing. The XX was the economy model, coming with only three attachments. It is made much cheaper than the XXX, so the $20 difference in price was significant.