Electrolux vacuums to become extinct?

[completenutt]

Omg, EurekaLux... that's so funny!  First time I've heard it!  Well, now that they're out of the picture, will Sanitaire build a higher-grade materials product?  Hope so!  And I totally get how the original Electrolux's were so addictive, I just watched the attached video of a Model 30, I saw you have one in the pic (btw, I love the two old GE vacs on the top shelf behind you in that pic... quite a pair!) being disassembled and inspected.  Absolutely stunning art deco design and built to last forever apparently!   What a well thought out machine for that time!  I can imagine the difference in owning one at the time and absolutely having a superior and more powerful machine to use compared to your neighbors.  Probably was a status symbol.  Fantastic.


 


Attached are my current collection of contemporary vacs.  Small and limited, but I love 'em all for different reasons.  That's a second UltraFlex in the box that I'm giving to my friend as an Xmas gift next year.  I can't even tell you what she's using now.. it's horrifying!  All my friends, after they've given me the customary amount of sh_t for being a vacuum collector, actually then are very supportive and seem interested in hearing a little about why I like them.. so she's my bestest, so she get's what I like the most at this moment.


 


In the rear, under all the tools under the Coach bag, is a brand new, never opened, factory sealed Hoover Z700.  I know it was a dud success wise, but I still think if it had maintained suction longer, had stronger suction, and had filtered better and was about 10 Pounds lighter, it could have been a big hit.  I'm saving it for the day when someone who just needs one to complete their collection, per se, contacts me to buy it.  I'm sure it's one of the last factory sealed ones anywhere in the world.. I mean, what other nutt would hold on to a random thing like that!

  I saw an ad for Dial a Matics that were originally touted as the first convertible vac.  They were so cute!  Looked from the rear view like they had a little tummy with a bellybutton that you attached the hose to, with the suction dial above it.  I doubt any more "convertible" vacs will ever be developed.


 


 


My newest purchase is the Hoover Air Revolve.  It came with 6 attachments including the power nozzle (no headlights, though.  That's a "cheaped out" pet-peeve of mine).  I couldn't believe it, no other non-specialty vacuum has ever included that many out of the box that I've ever opened before.  Not the best quality at all, but handy when needed.


 


Tomorrow my new in-box UltraCaptic arrives..  Same model that you have, Tom.  I'll probably keep that one pristine for a while and use the UltraFlex when I feel like it.  I'm moving the unused UltraFlex and UltraCaptic machines as floor art pieces on either side of my tv, and before the speakers, so they'll be on display, as well, in full view as variations on a theme.


 


After tomorrow's arrival, I'll be on Vac. purchasing hiatus for a while (space and budget), but one day, I'd like to get a Connie,  and also the Model 30 that reminds me so much of the Art Deco trains I was fascinated by in magazines as a kid.

[this post was last edited: 4/26/2018-17:16]

http://https//www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzbUGdW-rcM

 

[vacerator]

I don't think Aerus is going away. They have zero ties with E-lux AB. Anything made by Electrolux AB is Chinese junk.

 

[cheesewonton]

Mike, thanks for the very interesting detailed history on the brand. I am impressed by another enthusiast's knowledge!

I knew some of what you layed out, but learned some new things as well... I actually looked up and found a video (attached) of the Cyclone Power! So cool, but still using the in-line configuration, that is still used by Aerus today, which, albeit classic, hasn't advanced the industry with any new direction or evolvement of what we can now manufacture with advanced knowledge of motor technology and air flow, better machine weight distribution, and maneuverability.

It appears that when Aerus, who apparently was originally formed solely as the distribution company for Electrolux, divested the Electrolux name, but not the original streamlined architecture of the wonderful early models, it seems they never until this day thought to expand and be creative to compete with other popular brands like Dyson, who really reimagined and tested other configuration's efficacy, i.e. DC39 et al, and were able to capture a large market share by doing so.

I remember studying some tenants of Architecture, namely "form follows function", which seems common sense and, what Aerus has still adhered to, is clearly still used today. This configuration, although recently re-imagined by Dyson in the new V10.

I do understand the dilution of the original contributions given by the original Electrolux, and really think that the later models, like the Ultra Active, Ultra One, etc. have advanced using updated design styles while hopefully adhering to the purpose of a vacuum which is performance in all regards. I really think they added to that conversation, wherein Aerus has not contributed. For example, it appears that the first separated cyclone and dustbin were in the UltraFlex and UltraCaptic.. this seems to be copied currently by Miele in the Blizzard, and Hoover in the Air Pro Canister. What I deduce, is that aside from advancement the "new" Electrolux namesake made in appearance, albeit cheaper construction, they still advanced to the point of being imitated in what are still current alternate configuration releases by other companies.

Surely, that is not a good riddance scenario!

http://https//www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlMDHf1eF2o

I don't think you know the story of how the US side of Electrolux came to be a wholly American owned company with no ties to the original Swedish parent. Electrolux AB of Sweden was formed in 1919 by the merger of Lux AB and Electromechanska AB. Electrolux AB set up a wholly owned subsidiary in the US in 1924 called Electrolux USA to sell vacuums in the US and Canada. Circa 1930-ish a ship with a year's supply of vacuums for North America sank on its way to the US forcing Electrolux AB to find a place to produce vacuums for the US and Canadian markets. They ended up with a factory in Mississagua Canada and one in Greenwich Connecticut.

By 1939 the Electrolux USA was making a vacuum that was completely different from what Electrolux AB was selling in Europe. That same year Electrolux AB began selling shares in Electrolux USA. By 1959 Consolidated Grocers had become the majority shareholder in Electrolux USA and in 1969 Electrolux AB divested the rest of their ownership shares in Electrolux USA to Consolidated Grocers. From that point on the US/Canadian and Swedish companies bearing the name Electrolux were two separate companies under different owners selling different products. Electrolux AB by then was making the full line of household appliances ( stoves, refrigerators, washers, driers, small kitchen appliances, you name it ). Electrolux USA was only making vacuum cleaners.

Over time Consolidated Grocers became Sarah Lee Foods and had neglected Electrolux USA, which went bankrupt. But Electrolux AB was busy buying up Frigidaire, Tappan, Gibson, Eureka and they split Sanitaire off from Eureka as a stand alone company. When Electrolux USA was put up for sale at a bankruptcy auction it was bought by Engels Urso Capital Corp. Two years prior they had bought Interstate Engineering from Figgie International when that company imploded ( old man Figgie was a piece of work, read up about him some time ). The new company was called Electrolux LLC. Interstate was still a separate company but owned by the same holding company.

So now Engels Urso Capital Corp led by Joe Urso owned a couple of vacuum cleaner companies. He spent a pile of money redoing Tristar vacuums with a whole new body using Electrolux USA style wands and power nozzle. To raise capital he negotiated with Electrolux AB of Sweden for them to buy the rights to the Electrolux name. The deal closed in 2003 after which Electrolux LLC became Aerus LLC. At some point Interstate Engineering died off and became part of Aerus. Aerus was still making the Classic and Legacy in the US, along with the big Heavy Duty upright and those revamped Tristars. I want to say around 2011 or 2012 Aerus started to bring over the Lux Intelligence but equipped with classic Electroux style hose, wands and power nozzle, calling this the Guardian Platinum.

Aerus was also fooling around with home air purifiers and a detergentless cold water system for washing clothes. When the Covid pandemic hit there was suddenly a surge in demand for air purifiers and Aerus moved into that business in a big way. Now it is their bread and butter and why they changed their name to ActivePure LLC after the name of their proprietary air filtration technology. Aerus ceased production of Tristar vacuums and moved production of the Heavy Duty upright ( along with its Pro Team twin ) to China. They also opened an additional production facility in Greenville.

After Electrolux AB bought the rights to their old name back they started to sell some of their European and Chinese made vacuums in the US including models that were previously sold as Eureka models with Electrolux branding, which confused most consumers who knew nothing of their respective corporate histories and various name changes along the way. For reasons I don't understand Electrolux AB made a decision to exit the North American vacuum market ( much as Panasonic did ) and in 2018 sold Eureka to the Midea Group. A year later they sold Sanitaire to Bissell.

One other note, around 2008-2009 ish Electrolux AB decided to sell their direct sales subsidiary Lux International. The Asia Pacific side was sold to Vorwerk of Germany who continued to sell Swedish made Lux D820s for a time before they started to sell Vorwerk Kobold vacuums with Lux branding across the Asia Pacific region.

In Europe Lux International was bought by some Swiss investors but they promptly went bankrupt and sold out to Eureka Forbes of India around 2011. Around this time Electrolux AB of Sweden ceased making vacuums for Lux International and Eureka Forbes had to come up with a premium vacuum to sell. The result was the Lux Intelligence, which is made for them by a Slovenian company called Kolektor. Kolektor makes the Guardian Platinum for Aerus too. What I don't know is who designed the Intelligence. Was it also an Electrolux AB design? Is it a Eureka Forbes design? Or did someone else design it? I have seen some really early versions sold in the EU as the "Lux D920". Don't know if they were made by Electrolux AB or by Kolektor. A mystery for me to solve some day. But by the time Aerus was selling the Guardian Platinum in the US, Electrolux AB was long out of the picture.

 

[cheesewonton]

Sanitaire was sold to Bissell in 2019. The local vac shop owner is a friend and he tells me the Sanitaire people were so incensed that they destroyed all of their records and refused to even talk to anyone from Bissell. Bissell staff had to resort to browsing the internet and phone books to figure out who was selling Sanitair products then contact these sellers to find out what the terms of their contracts were and how much if anything they owed. We laughed about it but it was a real headache for the people at Bissell, and a real insult for the people at Sanitaire to be sold off to Bissell.

 

[cheesewonton]

@ Brian, Awesome! Good sleuthing! That "it follows you" thing has me curious.. does it have sensors to avoid furniture? Does it follow the handle with the user by bluetooth... I'm dying to know. Literally, I think I'm flying to Scandinavia. Just the fact they spend money on developing that ahead of everyone else. So fun.

As I posted the vintage and modern Electrolux ads, I noticed they both had really similar, almost exact detail. Both women as portrayed as they are "seen" in that time, both with one foot behind the cleaner, both with the hose in the same hand and swirling in front of the leg, the cleaner positioned as it is in each ad, with the supporting character up and to the right rear.... really too coincidental.

So, I wonder if they have indeed followed a "maintain higher quality product image" path and had maintained a dedicated Electrolux division with heads who were familiar with the original designs and concepts, etc. that worked within Eureka but mandated additional things to Eureka, perhaps all the motors were similar or something else that saved money, but they may have given more R&D funds to "what it takes to please the average upscale family" which still could be higher expectations of appearance and genuinely making cleaning easier ergonomics, or the engineering division to create more interesting and quieter shells, had superior filtration.. whatever... and that resulted in the UltraOne, etc., which was clearly touting better design and performance, I didn't even remember to mention the "brushroll clean", seemingly gimmicky thing before, but it does thoughtfully solve a previously unaddressed and annoying problem that other companies don't utilize, but actually needed a solution in order to more keep the intake area unobstructed to attain the best cleaning result each time... it was kind of a game changer, I thought.

It really reminds me of how the original machines brought a better experience to the customer at that time, and I really see continuity in that regard.[this post was last edited: 4/26/2018-02:34]

Many if not most 1990s and 2000s Eureka canister models and most Sanitaire canister models were not much more than 120 volt rebrands of vacuums sold in Europe by Electrolux Group subsidiaries like Volta, Progress, AEG or even Electrolux itself often with an electric hose and a made in Mexico or China Eureka power nozzle. The Eureka Excalibur Mega was based on the Volta Mega. The Eureka S6982/83/84 "Europa"/ "Home Cleaning System " is the same basic vacuum as the Progress P49 and the Volta Gemini U2800 series minus the "Steptronic" feature. The Sanitaire S490A is a rebrand of the Electrolux Z457 with a big honking two stage Ametek motor. The Sanitaire SP6950/51/52 is the same vacuum as the AEG P3 System Pro. One of the Eureka Europa models ( S6997 I think ) is the same as the Electrolux Excellio. That green GE branded vacuum sold in Walmart, also sold as the Eureka HP ( made at the Eureka plant in Juarez Mexico ) is a US market version of the Electrolux Mondo / Volta Elyps.

 

[paul]

Good information. I have read some additional facts from first-hand online sources regarding AB Electrolux, Electrolux Corporation and Electrolux (Canada) Ltd. along with some corrections:

1. AB Electrolux was a minority shareholder of Electrolux Corporation until 1968 when it sold its shares to Consolidated Foods, who then became the majority shareholder. It sold its shares in Electrolux (Canada) Ltd. to Electrolux Corporation in 1961. There has since remained some interaction among the companies as seen in such features as the use of the scripted "Automatic" lettering on the US and UK tank-type cleaners in the 1970s. It may also be that the two companies in produced the Globaltek tank-type vacuums with the 220V motors and Electrolux Corporation's Renaissance/Guardian tanks beginning in 1995. A service tech also also mentioned that AB Electrolux supplied Electrolux LLC motors for a time after it sold its motor division. And some years ago, Joe Urso in fact had a position on an Electrolux Group board (if I can find the reference I'll post it.

2. Electrolux Corporation and Electrolux (Canada) Ltd. merged in 1985. Manufacturing still took place in both countries. Consolidated Foods changed its name to Sara Lee that same year. Then, as a result of NAFTA, the Canadian manufacturing plants and printing presses were closed in 1987 and 1989; moving all operations to the U.S.

3. A leveraged senior executive buyout of Consolidated shares, arranged by First Boston Securities Corporation and Wesray Capital Corporation for $230M, occurred in 1987.

4. Sara Lee bought back its shares in 1990 and became the majority shareholder once again.

5. 1998 was the year Lux International and AB Electrolux dissolved their partnership which had started in 1919. That same year Electrolux Corporation and TriStar were acquired by Engles Urso Follmer Capital Corporation; the former then became Electrolux LLC. Corporate offices are relocated to Dallas, Texas.

6. The motor division was sold to Electro Motor in 2002. Vacuum cleaner production at the Bristol plant ceased in 2003 and was transferred to the Electrolux/Eureka plants in El Paso Texas and Juarez, Mexico. It's unclear if production of the shampooer-polishers and attachments continued at Bristol, or if it was also transferred. It has yet to be verified if full manufacturing of Lux Aerus floor & surface care products has since been transferred back to the Bristol plant where other ActivePure products are assembled and possibly manufactured; the company's website lacks the information).

7. In 2000 the North American Electrolux brand and trademark were sold back to AB Electrolux for 50M USD. Electrolux LLC and Electrolux, Inc. became Aerus LLC (US) and Aerus, Inc. (CA). Around that time Electrolux became affiliated with Lux International and began labeling its surface cleaners with the "Lux" moniker. Aerus branding was phased in beginning in 2002 at first as "Aerus by Electrolux".

8. ProTeam and Aerus formed an alliance in 2001 to produce commercial upright vacuums, including Electrolux's Commercial and X-treme/X-treme Plus cleaners and ProTeam's ProForce line. New features include a similar L-shape nozzle is with performance indicators, an ergonomic handle grip, and onboard upper casing in addition to the standard upper casing that Electrolux had been using. The Lux 4000 household version with onboard hose and attachments also premiered.

9. In 2004, Aerus discontinued its use of 'Electrolux' and AB Electrolux begins selling its newly-designed vacuum cleaners under its original brand name (it had purchased The Eureka Company in 1974 selling its brand of floor & surface care products).

10. Aerus launches its Veridian line in 2008; which includes two rebadged commercial uprights (with and without onboard hose & attachments) as well as different designs.

11. In 2013 Beyond by Aerus, with ActivePure technology developed with NASA, began. Late that year the Lux Guardian Platinum, based on the Swiss Lux Intelligence, debuted.

12. AB Electrolux sells The Eureka Company in 2016 to Midea Group Company, Ltd. (It is unknown if Midea took over production of Aerus floor & surface care products).

13. Aerus Holdings LLC changed its name to ActivePure Technologies LLC in 2020.

14. Aerus's 100th anniversary was in 2024 with little fanfare and no anniversary decals affixed to its cleaners. This, in part, has lead to speculation of the discontinuation of Aerus floor & surface care products. Correspondingly, only the color of the Lux Guardian tank has changed in the past dozen years. The other products have retained their main black color, and no new features or accessories have been introduced except for rebrands.

 

[vacerator]

The Eureka Excalibur canister of the mid 90s was a Volta, and succeeded the first plastic bodied Express models. Then came the rounded front one with the hose connector on the top. Then the first Oxygen 1 series made in Vastervik Sweden. That was their final product. The Oxygen 3 was made in Hungary. Walmart sold the Mondo branded a GE.
Aerus still makes the Epic canister like Service Merchandise sold in the 80s.

 

[cheesewonton]

Good information. I have read some additional facts from first-hand online sources regarding AB Electrolux, Electrolux Corporation and Electrolux (Canada) Ltd. along with some corrections:

1. AB Electrolux was a minority shareholder of Electrolux Corporation until 1968 when it sold its shares to Consolidated Foods, who then became the majority shareholder. It sold its shares in Electrolux (Canada) Ltd. to Electrolux Corporation in 1961. There has since remained some interaction among the companies as seen in such features as the use of the scripted "Automatic" lettering on the US and UK tank-type cleaners in the 1970s. It may also be that the two companies in produced the Globaltek tank-type vacuums with the 220V motors and Electrolux Corporation's Renaissance/Guardian tanks beginning in 1995. A service tech also also mentioned that AB Electrolux supplied Electrolux LLC motors for a time after it sold its motor division. And some years ago, Joe Urso in fact had a position on an Electrolux Group board (if I can find the reference I'll post it.

2. Electrolux Corporation and Electrolux (Canada) Ltd. merged in 1985. Manufacturing still took place in both countries. Consolidated Foods changed its name to Sara Lee that same year. Then, as a result of NAFTA, the Canadian manufacturing plants and printing presses were closed in 1987 and 1989; moving all operations to the U.S.

3. A leveraged senior executive buyout of Consolidated shares, arranged by First Boston Securities Corporation and Wesray Capital Corporation for $230M, occurred in 1987.

4. Sara Lee bought back its shares in 1990 and became the majority shareholder once again.

5. 1998 was the year Lux International and AB Electrolux dissolved their partnership which had started in 1919. That same year Electrolux Corporation and TriStar were acquired by Engles Urso Follmer Capital Corporation; the former then became Electrolux LLC. Corporate offices are relocated to Dallas, Texas.

6. The motor division was sold to Electro Motor in 2002. Vacuum cleaner production at the Bristol plant ceased in 2003 and was transferred to the Electrolux/Eureka plants in El Paso Texas and Juarez, Mexico. It's unclear if production of the shampooer-polishers and attachments continued at Bristol, or if it was also transferred. It has yet to be verified if full manufacturing of Lux Aerus floor & surface care products has since been transferred back to the Bristol plant where other ActivePure products are assembled and possibly manufactured; the company's website lacks the information).

7. In 2000 the North American Electrolux brand and trademark were sold back to AB Electrolux for 50M USD. Electrolux LLC and Electrolux, Inc. became Aerus LLC (US) and Aerus, Inc. (CA). Around that time Electrolux became affiliated with Lux International and began labeling its surface cleaners with the "Lux" moniker. Aerus branding was phased in beginning in 2002 at first as "Aerus by Electrolux".

8. ProTeam and Aerus formed an alliance in 2001 to produce commercial upright vacuums, including Electrolux's Commercial and X-treme/X-treme Plus cleaners and ProTeam's ProForce line. New features include a similar L-shape nozzle is with performance indicators, an ergonomic handle grip, and onboard upper casing in addition to the standard upper casing that Electrolux had been using. The Lux 4000 household version with onboard hose and attachments also premiered.

9. In 2004, Aerus discontinued its use of 'Electrolux' and AB Electrolux begins selling its newly-designed vacuum cleaners under its original brand name (it had purchased The Eureka Company in 1974 selling its brand of floor & surface care products).

10. Aerus launches its Veridian line in 2008; which includes two rebadged commercial uprights (with and without onboard hose & attachments) as well as different designs.

11. In 2013 Beyond by Aerus, with ActivePure technology developed with NASA, began. Late that year the Lux Guardian Platinum, based on the Swiss Lux Intelligence, debuted.

12. AB Electrolux sells The Eureka Company in 2016 to Midea Group Company, Ltd. (It is unknown if Midea took over production of Aerus floor & surface care products).

13. Aerus Holdings LLC changed its name to ActivePure Technologies LLC in 2020.

14. Aerus's 100th anniversary was in 2024 with little fanfare and no anniversary decals affixed to its cleaners. This, in part, has lead to speculation of the discontinuation of Aerus floor & surface care products. Correspondingly, only the color of the Lux Guardian tank has changed in the past dozen years. The other products have retained their main black color, and no new features or accessories have been introduced except for rebrands.

Interstate Engineering was sold to Engels Urso Capital Corp in March of 1996.

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-03-04-fi-42977-story.html

Based on what a German Lux dealer friend tells me Lux International was a wholly owned subsidiary of Electrolux AB until 1996 or so when Electrolux Group made a decision to divest itself of Lux International. Lux was not originally a separate company but a fully owned division of Electrolux AB. "Lux the best of Electrolux" was the old saying in Germany. The European side of Lux International was sold to some Swiss investors who failed majorly and subsequently sold out to Eureka Forbes of India, the current owner. Their Asia Pacific side was sold to Vorwerk.

Based on what my friend Trent who owns House of Vacuums Aerus dealer in Tennessee tells me he has personally seen Aerus Classics and Aerus Legacy's being assembled in the Bristol VA plant just last year. I have no reason to doubt him. If you look at Facebook posts for the Bristol plant they mention company picnics for "Vacuum Operations" and things like that. Tristars were being assembled in Bristol through 2021 ( or was it 2022 ? ) when they used the last of the castings they had.

Electrolux USA and Tristar both had international sales arms. Something like 40% of Tristar sales were in Japan where they were sold in 100 volt form as the house brand of Fuji Medical Instruments. I have a bunch of "Fujiclean Airstream" EX-20s, Sunstorm EX-30s and a modern Airstream EX-60 in my collection. The EX-30 was a model designed specifically for Japan ( and routinely available on Japanese on-line flea markets though you almost never see them in the US ). There is a 240 volt European model Tristar on eBay as well. Old Electrolux USA also sold internationally. They sold 100 volt models in Japan with Concordia branding. I have a 100 volt Ambassador branded as a Concordia Tiger. Those Globaltek Renaissances were sold independently of Electrolux and were competitors to them. Same in Japan with Concordia.

Both Tristar and Electrolux LLC / Aerus LLC did indeed the VM3 motor from the Electrolux Group for a time in their vacuums. The same motor is in my Sanitaire SP6952 and my Lux 1R D820 from Japan ( big surprise when I opened it for a good cleaning expecting to see the big two stage Swedish motor the European versions were equipped with ).

Not sure Aerus had any kind of partnership with Lux International. Aerus negotiated to keep the rights to use "Lux" in their branding as part of the 2000 deal to sell the rights to the Electrolux name in the US and Canada back to the Electrolux Group. By then Electrolux Group was fully divested of Lux International. Kolektor was happy to sell Intelligence / Guardian Platinums to whomever. In the US that was Aerus. In Australia a big retalier named Godfrey's sold them under their house brand Sauber. In fact it was kind of funny that as Godfrey's was selling the "Sauber Intelligence" in Australia, the Asia Pacific side of Lux International was selling a rebranded Vorwerk Tiger 260 in Australia and New Zealand as the Lux Sora. No partnership there !

 

[vacerator]

The reason Aerus became the sucessor to the American and Canadian Electrolux vacuum concern was because AB E-lux wanted to market Electrolux up level major appliances made by Frigidaire in Ontario, and a new laundry plant in North or South Carolina. Beam was also sold, having been bought prior to.

 

[huskyvacs]

As far as Aerus is concerned, Electrolux was already extinct.

 

[paul]

Interstate Engineering was sold to Engels Urso Capital Corp in March of 1996.

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-03-04-fi-42977-story.html

Based on what a German Lux dealer friend tells me Lux International was a wholly owned subsidiary of Electrolux AB until 1996 or so when Electrolux Group made a decision to divest itself of Lux International. Lux was not originally a separate company but a fully owned division of Electrolux AB. "Lux the best of Electrolux" was the old saying in Germany. The European side of Lux International was sold to some Swiss investors who failed majorly and subsequently sold out to Eureka Forbes of India, the current owner. Their Asia Pacific side was sold to Vorwerk.

Based on what my friend Trent who owns House of Vacuums Aerus dealer in Tennessee tells me he has personally seen Aerus Classics and Aerus Legacy's being assembled in the Bristol VA plant just last year. I have no reason to doubt him. If you look at Facebook posts for the Bristol plant they mention company picnics for "Vacuum Operations" and things like that. Tristars were being assembled in Bristol through 2021 ( or was it 2022 ? ) when they used the last of the castings they had.

Electrolux USA and Tristar both had international sales arms. Something like 40% of Tristar sales were in Japan where they were sold in 100 volt form as the house brand of Fuji Medical Instruments. I have a bunch of "Fujiclean Airstream" EX-20s, Sunstorm EX-30s and a modern Airstream EX-60 in my collection. The EX-30 was a model designed specifically for Japan ( and routinely available on Japanese on-line flea markets though you almost never see them in the US ). There is a 240 volt European model Tristar on eBay as well. Old Electrolux USA also sold internationally. They sold 100 volt models in Japan with Concordia branding. I have a 100 volt Ambassador branded as a Concordia Tiger. Those Globaltek Renaissances were sold independently of Electrolux and were competitors to them. Same in Japan with Concordia.

Both Tristar and Electrolux LLC / Aerus LLC did indeed the VM3 motor from the Electrolux Group for a time in their vacuums. The same motor is in my Sanitaire SP6952 and my Lux 1R D820 from Japan ( big surprise when I opened it for a good cleaning expecting to see the big two stage Swedish motor the European versions were equipped with ).

Not sure Aerus had any kind of partnership with Lux International. Aerus negotiated to keep the rights to use "Lux" in their branding as part of the 2000 deal to sell the rights to the Electrolux name in the US and Canada back to the Electrolux Group. By then Electrolux Group was fully divested of Lux International. Kolektor was happy to sell Intelligence / Guardian Platinums to whomever. In the US that was Aerus. In Australia a big retalier named Godfrey's sold them under their house brand Sauber. In fact it was kind of funny that as Godfrey's was selling the "Sauber Intelligence" in Australia, the Asia Pacific side of Lux International was selling a rebranded Vorwerk Tiger 260 in Australia and New Zealand as the Lux Sora. No partnership there !

Somehow you are misunderstanding my communications was your replies indicate time and again, so I will try to explain more clearly:

1. Attached is a screenshot of Lux International's timeline indicating its independence from AB Electrolux occurred in 1998.

2. I have no reason to doubt that Trent saw the ASSEMBLY of the Aerus tanks at Bristol recently. However, online information suggests that the MAKING of the parts is outsourced as it was when AB Electrolux/Eureka took over production in 2003 after the Bristol operations were discontinued. That means pouring the plastic into molds and actually MAKING the tank parts.

3. AB Electrolux did/does not own the rights of the Lux brand and therefore could not give Aerus the rights to it - Lux International did/does. At one point I read on Lux International's webpage that Aerus was its North American subsidiary; which makes a very good case of why Aerus cleaners have been also labeled with 'Lux'.

The bottom line is that ActivePure Technologies does not operate in the same way as Electrolux Corporation. It's much more diverse and focused on purification and heating products more than surface care appliances. All online indications are that the PRODUCTION of Aerus Lux Classic and Aerus Lux Legacy is outsourced; including Trent's viewing only the ASSEMBLY of them.

 

[cheesewonton]

Where are you getting this information that the Electrolux Group was molding Electrolux USA body parts in the Eureka plant in Juarez?

Somehow you are misunderstanding my communications was your replies indicate time and again, so I will try to explain more clearly:

1. Attached is a screenshot of Lux International's timeline indicating its independence from AB Electrolux occurred in 1998.

2. I have no reason to doubt that Trent saw the ASSEMBLY of the Aerus tanks at Bristol recently. However, online information suggests that the MAKING of the parts is outsourced as it was when AB Electrolux/Eureka took over production in 2003 after the Bristol operations were discontinued. That means pouring the plastic into molds and actually MAKING the tank parts.

3. AB Electrolux did/does not own the rights of the Lux brand and therefore could not give Aerus the rights to it - Lux International did/does. At one point I read on Lux International's webpage that Aerus was its North American subsidiary; which makes a very good case of why Aerus cleaners have been also labeled with 'Lux'.

The bottom line is that ActivePure Technologies does not operate in the same way as Electrolux Corporation. It's much more diverse and focused on purification and heating products more than surface care appliances. All online indications are that the PRODUCTION of Aerus Lux Classic and Aerus Lux Legacy is outsourced; including Trent's viewing only the ASSEMBLY of them.

From another thread in Contemporary Paul posted this:

 

[cheesewonton]

I would be curious where your information regarding Aerus body parts being molded in an Electrolux Group ( former Eureka ) plant in Juarez Mexico is coming from. Electrolux Group sold Eureka to the Midea Group in 2018 and sold Sanitaire to Bissell in 2019 so they no longer own that old Eureka factory in Juarez. Electrolux opened a new factory in Juarez to make refrigerators. I am not even sure Bissell operates that old Eureka plant in Juarez because you see many Sanitaire products formerly made in Mexico are now made in Vietnam.
My post above shows that the Electrolux Group of Sweden has no affiliation with Electrolux LLC, now known as Aerus LLC. There seems to be a lot of wild stories floating absent good documentation.

 

[cheesewonton]

So I have been corresponding today with a friend in Germany who was a long time Lux distributor and now does a nice business selling Lux parts and supplies on the German eBay site. You will see him selling there as "Michi". In the process of chasing down some of the companies he mentioned like AllClean of Leipzig Germany I found this website showing a Lux branded Sebo Felix ! They call it the Lux Handyclean. They also sell a cordless direct air upright called the Easymove that looks like a Simplicity Freedom / Riccar Supralite based machine.

https://allclean.de/produkt-kategorie/saugen-staubsauger-wischsauger/

The site also shows the S115 Intelligence. Confusion reigns : /

 

[vacerator]

I found some youtube videos and Flickr photos of AB Electrolux cylinder models preceding the Oxygen and Ultra one series such as the Excellio Z 5405, 5235, also sold as the Eureka Excalibur (not the first series by Volta) the Ingenio, and Microlite, Slimline, and Dolphin.

 

[cheesewonton]

I found some youtube videos and Flickr photos of AB Electrolux cylinder models preceding the Oxygen and Ultra one series such as the Excellio Z 5405, 5235, also sold as the Eureka Excalibur (not the first series by Volta) the Ingenio, and Microlite, Slimline, and Dolphin.

Oh yes! In fact, weird as this probably sounds, those Swedish and Hungarian made Electrolux Group vacuums sold here as Eureka and Sanitaire models are a major part of my collection. A clean Excellio based Eureka Europa ( S6997 I think is the model ? ) is way up there on my Holy Grail list. I have most of the other Electrolux Group models including the Volta based Excalibur ( such a strange machine ) and the Z457 based Sanitaire S490A. The latter is sitting disassembled however as the wiring disconnected itself as I was taking it apart ( several of the spades crimped to the wires fractured and popped off the main board ) and now I don't know what wire goes where. I have the S6982/84 based on the Volta Gemini and the green GE branded thing sold by Walmart, and also sold as the Eureka HP that is based on the Volta Elypse. I also have the Sanitaire S6951 and S6952 based on the AEG P3 System Pro. So yeah I am definitely weird for the Electrolux Group sourced Eurekas and Sanitaires.

 

[paul]

Where are you getting this information that the Electrolux Group was molding Electrolux USA body parts in the Eureka plant in Juarez?

From another thread in Contemporary Paul posted this:

View attachment 169189

Hmmm,

Did I mention that Aerus plastic injection was done in the Juarez plant? Those are your words or maybe one of your friend's. I have no idea what specific operations were done at the Eureka plants. I do know that the Bristol MANUFACTURING was shut down in 2003 according to the news release I posted, and that AB Electrolux took over production. I first learned of this from a local vacuum cleaner salesman who used the term "Eureka-Luxes" to describe the Aerus Lux vacuums; I even clarified as I had initially thought the term was solely used for Electrolux-branded vacs made at the Eureka plants. I have found no news releases that ActivePure took back the MANUFACTURING OF PARTS of its Lux Classic and Lux Legacy tank-type vacuum cleaners at Bristol when AB Electrolux sold Eureka to Midea in 2016; and nothing on its website makes the claim. Its even possible that the vacuum cleaner ASSEMBLY was never shut down there.

The 1999 attachment that you copied from my post, is when the former company Electrolux LLC was still in business and indeed was unaffiliated with AB Electrolux. That changed when AB Electrolux supplied Aerus tank vacuums with VM3 motors beginning in 2002 and when it took over PARTS MANUFACTURING circa 2003.

Electrolux LLC focused on surface care powered appliances and made its own products from start to finish. "ActivePure Technology owned and DISTRIBUTED by AP Sciences Group LLC" (see attachment), is more diversified and likely only assembles and distributes most, if not all, its air, laundry, and surface care products.

https://activepure.com/about-us/

____________

Btw, it would seem, too, that the Richter S115's manufacturing is outsourced due to the fact that it is devoid of the Lux brand and sold by some former Lux International subsidiaries.

 

[cheesewonton]

Sorry but that new release doesn't align with what people who have been in the Bristol plant have told me. They were making Tristars there until late 2022. They ceased production when they used up the last of the magnalite castings from 2019.

I just spoke to my friend in Tennessee. I literally just set the phone down. He was in the Aerus factory in Bristol last August. They were assembling Legacy and Classic models in house in Bristol. The plastic body parts are molded at another site in West Virginia. The hoses are made in South Carolina ( Flexible Technologies ). Aerus manufactures their attachments in house in Bristol. The suction motors, Sidekicks and power nozzles come from China. My friend saw all of this with his own eyes. The Guardian Platinums come in a crate from Europe and are placed in a box with their US made wands, attachments, hose and Chinese power nozzle and Sidekick, sealed and made ready to ship.

 

[paul]

Sorry but that new release doesn't align with what people who have been in the Bristol plant have told me. They were making Tristars there until late 2022. They ceased production when they used up the last of the magnalite castings from 2019.

I just spoke to my friend in Tennessee. I literally just set the phone down. He was in the Aerus factory in Bristol last August. They were assembling Legacy and Classic models in house in Bristol. The plastic body parts are molded at another site in West Virginia. The hoses are made in South Carolina ( Flexible Technologies ). Aerus manufactures their attachments in house in Bristol. The suction motors, Sidekicks and power nozzles come from China. My friend saw all of this with his own eyes. The Guardian Platinums come in a crate from Europe and are placed in a box with their US made wands, attachments, hose and Chinese power nozzle and Sidekick, sealed and made ready to ship.

You're funny! Your disagreement with presented facts or premises based on available information can be refuted with your opinions and/or friends' limited knowledge rather than news releases, photos, or company statements.

The 2003 news release of the closing of the Bristol factory accurate, or it would have long ago been retracted or redacted.

Where is your proof that TriStars were manufactured - not just assembled - at Bristol? I found no online verification of this.

The other site in West Virginia where the Lux Classic and Lux Legacy tank parts are manufactured must be an outsourced company's plant; just as I suspected all along. AP Science Group LLC's plants are in Bristol, VA and Greenville, TN; along with a distribution plant in Piney Flats, TN according to its website.

 

[vacerator]

Oh yes! In fact, weird as this probably sounds, those Swedish and Hungarian made Electrolux Group vacuums sold here as Eureka and Sanitaire models are a major part of my collection. A clean Excellio based Eureka Europa ( S6997 I think is the model ? ) is way up there on my Holy Grail list. I have most of the other Electrolux Group models including the Volta based Excalibur ( such a strange machine ) and the Z457 based Sanitaire S490A. The latter is sitting disassembled however as the wiring disconnected itself as I was taking it apart ( several of the spades crimped to the wires fractured and popped off the main board ) and now I don't know what wire goes where. I have the S6982/84 based on the Volta Gemini and the green GE branded thing sold by Walmart, and also sold as the Eureka HP that is based on the Volta Elypse. I also have the Sanitaire S6951 and S6952 based on the AEG P3 System Pro. So yeah I am definitely weird for the Electrolux Group sourced Eurekas and Sanitaires.

I have an Oxygen #6997, blue. I just reassembled the hose handle after it separated and the power head switch fell inside. I couldn't get the screw in the bottom front in. An awl went in at an angle. The suction bleeder is lined up and working so I used electrical tape around the lower front to snug it up. I ordered new snap buttons from Amazon that also fits the Rainbow E2, because that fell off because the plastic around the rivet enlarged from wear and fatigue. New hoses are not available and a replacement handle is $50-$60. Not original style. I bought it new in 2002.

 

[panasonicvac]

Hmmm,

Did I mention that Aerus plastic injection was done in the Juarez plant? Those are your words or maybe one of your friend's. I have no idea what specific operations were done at the Eureka plants. I do know that the Bristol MANUFACTURING was shut down in 2003 according to the news release I posted, and that AB Electrolux took over production. I first learned of this from a local vacuum cleaner salesman who used the term "Eureka-Luxes" to describe the Aerus Lux vacuums; I even clarified as I had initially thought the term was solely used for Electrolux-branded vacs made at the Eureka plants. I have found no news releases that ActivePure took back the MANUFACTURING OF PARTS of its Lux Classic and Lux Legacy tank-type vacuum cleaners at Bristol when AB Electrolux sold Eureka to Midea in 2016; and nothing on its website makes the claim. Its even possible that the vacuum cleaner ASSEMBLY was never shut down there.

The 1999 attachment that you copied from my post, is when the former company Electrolux LLC was still in business and indeed was unaffiliated with AB Electrolux. That changed when AB Electrolux supplied Aerus tank vacuums with VM3 motors beginning in 2002 and when it took over PARTS MANUFACTURING circa 2003.

Electrolux LLC focused on surface care powered appliances and made its own products from start to finish. "ActivePure Technology owned and DISTRIBUTED by AP Sciences Group LLC" (see attachment), is more diversified and likely only assembles and distributes most, if not all, its air, laundry, and surface care products.

https://activepure.com/about-us/

____________

Btw, it would seem, too, that the Richter S115's manufacturing is outsourced due to the fact that it is devoid of the Lux brand and sold by some former Lux International subsidiaries.

I'm beginning to think this now makes more sense to me. Because it'd explain how Sanitaire came out with their VPS uprights that were sold in both red and black (don't know if they also made a blue one but wouldn't be surprised if so).