Electrolux that I don't know anything about

[vacuumfreeeke]

Hey guys, I'm usually over in contemporary because I'm not really into straight suction or really old machines, but a friend gave me this tonight and I don't know anything about it except that it is missing the cord! So I can't play with it or run it or anything... I'm sure the hoses and attachments aren't original (maybe the black metal crevice tool is, but not anything else). Can I find a cord for this thing? Where does it go? Are the original attachments available? What bags does it take?

Any info would be appreciated!

 

[caligula]

Hi Vacuumfreeke

There were two models fit to be called the granddaddy of Electrolux's The first was the model XXX 1937 to 1955, and the model LX 1952 to about 1956.


 


You have a 1952 LX, but it's stripped down with out all the bells and whistles. I'll say this, your friend gave you a fantastic machine.  To learn about it go to the Vintage archives 2013, and look scroll down for the thread 'lux model 30/XXX tools.' Posted by Powermate1970. Everything you need to know is there.


 


As for a cord, any Kirby cord before the Generation series will do. No the two hoses are not original, but will work, there are two sets of wands, one with the swivel connector to the rug/floor tool that looks like model E. As for the bags, they were called 'wrappers' and any grocery store has them just look for 'Electrolux tank/canister.'


 


I said earlier that this is a stripped down machine. The optional tools that most of us have are the ride on tool holder, called the 'Companion,' and the ' cord winder.' Pictured here is the complete set.


 


So check out that thread, and learn about this great machine.


 


Alex Taber. 

 

[caligula]

Hi Vacuumfreeke

The cord plugs into the compartment on top. There is a trap door with a tab, open it and there is the cord connection. (See photo). Any cord with a single female end will work until you get the right one.


 


Besides reading the thread I mentioned, go to the site 'Electrolux Model LX Extravaganza,' which was compiled and written by my friend Charles Richard Lester, and while your at it check his entire Electrolux site, it's fantastic!


 


You have a wonderful Christmas present, and we'll see that you get all the correct tools to go with it.


 


Happy Holidays,


Alex Taber.

 

[caligula]

Hi Vacuumfreeke

The thread I spoke of is 19227. It offers a wealth of information on both the model LX which you just got, and the model XXX which preceded it and ran for about 18 years, and is still alive and kicking. This thread was a lot of fun to contribute to and is a composite of stories, pictures, advice, and restoration data from a good cross section of the V.C.C.C. membership. I think it is the best way to get to know the classic 'sled runner' Electrolux's, their tools and other items.


 


And here's a look at a former Electrolux wall of fame in one of my display rooms. This one is circa 1999.


 


Alex Taber.

 

[electroluxxxx]

Hello bobby!

as alex taber stated it is a WONDERFUL machine! has some excellent features that I wish that electrolux stayed with such as the bag ejection system. all of the tools are available through ebay and they are affordable. hope you like it and if there are any more questions on it there always answers!

 

[vacuumfreeeke]

Thanks guys! I'm starting to get excited about it and I'm not a lux/canister/vintage/straight suction dude... I like modern uprights mostly! I do have a Diamond Jubilee and Renny but rarely use them since the power nozzles are whiny and not aggressive enough for my tastes.... but this is just a completely different animal. I have a cord winder on the way from another collector, but I may just take the cord off my Kirby Dual 80 and see if it fits this thing so I don't have to wait to play with it.... I've got a good bit of metal polishing to do!

Alex, thanks for all your info! I did find that thread but didn't have a chance to really delve into it yet! Thanks for holding my hand through this new and exciting journey!

 

[caligula]

Hi electroluxxxx,

thank you for posting.


 


I agree fully, the ejection system was WONDERFUL! The design, development and testing took many years before the model LX appeared in 1952. I have copies of several of these patents, and they are very interesting to look at. What I scanned in is too big to post, as are the pictures of the Electrolux museum circa 1953.


 


I 've boxes of tools in my holding building, and several that fit the model XXX and LX. I'll go through these boxes next week and see what I can spare so that Bobby has all the tools. Other items like the Companion, cord winder, garment bag, and power polisher are easily acquired from other club members, or as you said, he can get them on E-Bay.   


 


My biggest question is how well the ejection system on his newly acquired, model LX works. If things work right it can toss the wrapper several feet. Seeing that is quite a sight, and far better in your living room than watching it on Youtube. And here's a look at the components of the ejection system when they were on display at the V.C.C.C. museum in 1994.


 


Happy Holidays to both of you,


Alex Taber.


 


 


 

 

[vacuumfreeeke]

OK, I used it for the first time tonight. I first tried the cord from my Kirby Heritage 2 and that wouldn't fit, so I tried the one from the Dual Sanitronic 80 and it worked perfectly. Then I robbed the bag from my Diamond Jubilee... but first I had to figure out how to get the bag chamber open which took about 20 minutes! There were spider webs and seeds and all kinds of mess in the bag chamber so I vacuumed that out with the Diamond Jubilee first. Then I put the Diamond Jubilees bag in the LX and attached the hose and flip floor tool. I fired that puppy up and I was amazed. It was so quiet I couldn't believe it. I had to turn around and make sure my Miele hadn't crawled off the shelf and plugged itself in because it was as quiet as my Miele! I live in an apartment, so if I vacuum at night, I usually go for one of the Mieles since they are the quietest things I own, but I think I've found a new late night vacuuming companion!

I don't like the rails though... it is pretty hard to drag around... and it does not like to stand on its hind end, especially with the hose attached. And I know that will be impossible once I get a cord winder.

The cool thing was that the dirt just raced into the machine, even on carpet! The motor not only was pleasant and quiet, but also sounded solid. I didn't even miss a power nozzle! There is a bit of bearing noise after I turn the machine off when it winds down, but I guess that's to be expected with a machine this old... I don't know anything about greasing bearings so I guess I'm not going to worry about it unless it gets worse.

There were no odors coming from the machine... The bag ejector system doesn't work... I practically fed a whole roll of paper towels into the machine trying to trip it and it just didn't activate. There is a little tube down in the corner and it is hard as a rock and filled with dirt, but the guy who s sending the the cord winder is going to send me a rebuilt diaphram as well so that should take care of the problem.


Alex, that would be so cool if you found the tools for the machine, just let me know how much you want for them. I did see some on ebay, but they weren't all in the best condition... I've never liked the carpet/bare floor flip tool (I have it with the DJ and Renny too), so I think the original attachments would be fun to play with and use... metal attachments wow!

I'm impressed! Here are a few pictures...

The DJ getting ready to clean all the mess from his older brother...



We share in this family because daddy was too lazy to go digging for a new bag in the bottom of the bag/belt closet....




Excuse the mess... I've been sewing more than vacuuming lately and whenever I sew, the entire place becomes a disaster area.



Here's the Renny just so he doesn't feel left out... until now, this was my favorite Lux...

 

[vacuumfreeeke]

By the way, my friend got this from one of his friends whose parents recently died and they were clearing out the estate... the friend said that the parents, when they bought this, were a young just starting a family, a new minister and a stay at home mom so they didn't have much money and didn't even buy anything extra, they were poor... and even as they got older, they got more money but remained frugal and still always only bought the basics so that's why the machine didn't come with any upgrades like the cord winder and such.... so cool to know something about the history of the machine!

 

[caligula]

Hi Vacuumfreeke

There is a little lever under the dirt chamber that activates the ejector. Open the front cover but have the bag inside, and push that lever up. If working correctly, the bag will be shot out. If this lever doesn't move, then the mechanism needs work. This is common with a model LX that's not been used for many years. Most likely the tubes need work, or there's rust on the parts that depress the pins to activate the ejector. Both are shown in reply #6. The entire process is explained in the archived thread I mentioned. After I post this, I'll go to that thread and get the exact reply so you can make the repair. I also wrote the entire process on another thread and will locate that for you too.


 


As for standing the LX on end, that won't work without the cord winder, because the machine is resting on the exhaust port. There are special wheels that fit on the sled runners. See reply 3, the cut-away model LXI. With these wheels, you can use the hose to lift the machine slightly, and glide it across the floor/carpet. Yes, the model LX can pop wheelies!


 


  I strongly suggest you read the thread I mentioned as all questions will be answered.  In the meantime, enjoy your new 'to you' Electrolux.


 


Alex Taber.

 

[vacuumfreeeke]

Alex, I will read it with great interest.... when I looked for it earlier, it was on my phone at work and I just didn't have time! It was easy to find though... thanks for your help and advice!

 

[caligula]

Hi Vacuumfreeke

I located two threads dealing with the model LX. The first and most important is the one I've mentioned lux 30/XXX tools. Start with reply 86, then scroll down to reply 117, through reply 126 and read all that apply. These threads are devoted to repair of the mechanism that works the ejection process. And finally scroll down on this site 'vintage' till you find thread 23069( Electroluxxxx). Not only do I talk about the models XXX, and LX, but share convention photos, and other info including a photo of me at age 2 with my model XXX.


 


I know it's a lot of reading, but well worth it.


 


Alex Taber


 


 

 

[caligula]

Hi Vacuumfreeke

Once you get a cord winder you WILL be able to stand it on end, as it's meant to be stored that way. But makes it impossible to activate the locking mechanism in the winder. You'll need to lower the machine on the runners to work the winder. But more on that later. For cleaning purposes it can stand on end, but the ejection process, is not as dramatic, but will still work. I suggest you go to the Vacuumland library on the main page of the site. Type in Vacuum cleaners, then Electrolux, and locate the instruction book to the LX, and download. With this you can learn all about your latest find.  Once I help you get the ejector working, you'll have a fantastic machine. By the way, my full name is Robert Alexander Taber, but go with my middle name Alex.


 


 

 

[vacuumfreeeke]

Thanks Alex, I'll wait to look for attachments on Ebay until you tell me if you find anything in your stash. I think it's time to break out the mothers and steel wool and give this baby the shine it so richly deserves. I was waiting to clean it up until I found it if it worked and if I was going to be able to get all the "stuff" it needed... I was going to get rid if it otherwise.... but you, Mr. Alex, convinced me it was worth saving and I'm grateful! I learned that if you are opened minded about vacuums, you it can be a rewarding experience.... there's more to vacuums than cyclonic action, dirt sensors, and self-propelled transmissions!

I was thinking about buying a straight suction machine for the shag rug (my constellation is in terrible shape, I guess I could use the Sanyo transformax, but I wanted a real vacuum)... I was looking at Eureka Mighty Mites, but I think I'll just use this instead!

I wouldn't even know it worked if you hadn't told me a Kirby cord would work on it so now I feel safe about getting the cord wrap from the other collector!

And I promise I'll do my homework and read those threads if I can stop playing with the machine long enough!

I just tried to lift that rod and nothing happened.... there's definitely some rust going on in there, so I will have to follow the instructions that the thread you are talking about.

 

[kirbykid]

Alex, I am sending vacuumfreeeke a rebuilt ejection mechanism, and a cord winder. 

 

[caligula]

Hi kirbykid

How kind you are.


 


Do you plan to send him the instructions on how to install it? if you don't have that info, I can write it out for him. (I repaired so many of them that I think I could do that repair in my sleep!") And I have the standard tools packed in boxes, they'll need a good polishing, but the only thing missing is a Companion, as I gave the last one to a fellow collector last year, I have at least 6 spray guns, and several rug nozzles, I even have the wheels for the back of the runners.  Not that it matters, but is the winder chrome or hammer tone blue? Chrome is LX, the blue is LXI.


 


  Thanks again,


Alex Taber.

 

[kirbykid]

I will send some pictures of how to install it, and maybe a video. The cord winder is chrome.

 

[caligula]

Hi Vacuumfreeke

This what I love about the V.C.C.C. and Vacuumland. We are a group of people eager to help each other out. As I mentioned to kirbykid, I have boxes filled with tools. And if I don't have a particular part, there are people who do.


 


Way back in 1989 I wrote 'The History Of The Electrolux Corporation.' and in there I go into a lot of detail on the model LX. I'll see that you get a copy.


 


For me, the Electrolux model LX is a personal favorite. I was only 2 years old when I saw it eject, and that was it. Result, a lifelong interest. And yes, that LX was brand new! What I love is style, design, and history. You'll read all that in the thread, but what I love most is helping people discover the wonders of this and all vacuum cleaners.


 


You have a lot of reading to do, and these threads, as well as the sites of Charles Richard Lester will help you fully understand that Electrolux.


 


And what a great way to usher in the 31st year of the Vacuum Cleaner Collector's Club( January 2nd) and our first convention (meeting) May, 1985.


 


I'm so glad you got, and liked this great machine. Between kirbykid and me, we'll help you get it working.


 


Alex Taber.  

 

[caligula]

Hi kirbykid

That's great.


 


Have a Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year.