Electrolux XXX question

[toddk13]

Decided to take the plunge and get a reasonably clean looking Electrolux XXX on EBay. From what I could tell by our archives, it’s a circa 1952 machine. I love the rails. For about $60 including delivery, I just couldn’t pass. Hose pulled out of the connector to the vacuum. Advertised as missing. It’s clearly still attached to the machine. Duh. Three floor tools, crevasse tool, and upholstery brush are in good shape. I hope to see it next week.

A lot has been written about the canisters. I’m hoping to run it regularly in my new office at work. I found a new bag and motor filter for it so that’s taken care of. I’m not afraid to get a generic hose if the current one leaks or doesn’t go back together.

A couple questions. Can the tool holder (used on the Deluxe model) be retrofitted, and are there any sitting in somebody’s drawers (pun intended). Also, there are a number of cord reels on EBay at reasonable prices. Is it worth getting? Thanks!! Todd

 

[dysonman1]

The cord reel is handy, but makes the machine heavier, and somewhat awkward since all the weight is at one end.

The tool holder for the 'deluxe' model fits all model XXX's.

A generic vinyl hose is recommended for full suction.

Congrats on your 'new to you' Electrolux.

 

[ultralux88]

I'd also recommend getting a modern hose for use, but keep the original unless its really trashed.

 

[toddk13]

Pictures from the auction

I hope that I can reattach the hose to the coupling. Thanks Tom for your thoughts on the cord reel. They are nice lookng, but would add weight. Generic hoses are around $30 on Ebay. Certainly makes sense to use one for heavy vacuuming.

 

[vacuumlad1650]

Nice Vac!
Just slide the hose back into the coupling and glue it in with Goodyear Shoe Goo...that's what the old timer at the Vac Shop used.
If you want a disposable bag in the vac, slide an Electrolux C bag in the cloth bag, cut off the staples, and flare it around the rubber gasket, into the bag chamber. Works marvelously.
Also, that's an original hose to an Automatic-F...just saying...

 

[vacuumlad1650]

Typo...use a HOOVER C bag...I have not had my coffee today...

 

[toddk13]

Thanks vacuumland1650 for the advice on the Type C bag retrofit. As I check more archives, I see that I have a 1954. I've seen some pictures of the modified bag / hose adapter to use the disposables.

 

[s31463221]

C Bag Adapter

Todd,

Congrats on getting an XXX! They are wonderful machines, and if you take care of it, will last you for a long time! I too use one in my office, and I get tickled at all of the stares and comments I get on it! It's actually proudly displayed when not in use, and it has started more conversations that you can imagine! That bag adapter you mentioned is about as rare as hen's teeth. I have over 150 XXX's and only ONE bag adapter, and I had to fight to get that one! In fact the old XXX it came in looked so trashed when I got it, I didn't think it could even remotely run......boy was I sure wrong! I hooked the cord up to it and that old motor purred to life......nevermind the cloud of "garbage" it blew out the exhaust port, it still run nonetheless! As Tom and some of the others have said, you can't go wrong with a good modern hose for it, and the non-electric hoses are relatively inexpensive. I have used the Hoover C bag trick on many of my XXX's and it works wonderfully, just be careful when removing it as you don't want a nasty face-full of dust when you go to toss the bag! Enjoy your "new" vacuum and be sure to post lots of photos when you get it!

Steve

 

[phaeton]

Sorry that is not the original hose

Hello,
That is not an original hose to the Electrolux XXX but those are the original hose ends. In the 70's and 80's we could get really sharp looking aqua vinyl hoses, not the swimming pool type hoses, and off white vinyl cuffs that adapted the hose to the hose ends. I know you can still get the cuffs but I have not been able to find the type of hoses we used back then. You could check with "The Henry Company" which is also "VacPartsPlus" and see what they have. I buy a number of vintage parts from them for old machines I work on. We sold so many in store refurbished Lux XXX back then it is not funny. They were great machines. I know we sold paper bags the fit inside the cloth bag and I think it fit many other tank type vacuums. As for the cord winder for me that is the only way to go. The cord is always there when you want to use the XXX.
There was a chrome one on eBay still with the original Belden cord but it was $60.00 I think. I have the chrome one on my XXX and a blue hammer tone on the XL.
Good luck with your XXX.
Thank you for looking,
Pete

 

[toddk13]

Call me crazy...or obsessed

Having cut my teeth on coffee can Hoovers and seasoned Kirby's, it was time for a canister. The Vacuum Museum had so many cool examples. Lux's stood out to me. So I started searching. I was tempted by a fairly clean Lux G with PN1. No...not quite right. Then a cheap 1205. Nice but pedestrian (too new looking for my taste). I finally threw my hat in on this late production XXX. Pretty good deal, and appears clean (should have it Friday).

Now for my downfall - EBay. Hmmm Lux XXX cord winder that appears to have the right plug. Mine. NOS filter and bag. Mine. Reasonably priced generic hose. Mine. Must. Find. The. Companion. Wow. Nothing from nobody. I looked up the archives and realized I'm not the first to ask. Ebay...(slaps head). YES! A beat up, filthy, overpriced sorry excuse for an XXX...that had a companion, non functioning cord winder, and no tools. It actually had all the clips in place on the companion. I've seen a number that had some missing. I offered less than half of what the seller was asking. Accepted. Still paid more than this beautiful blue XXX. What can I say. Had to have the companion tool holder, even though it's green hammertone.

I can't wait to put everything together. The green hammertone paint on the companion will not look right. I'll strip it, and either leave it a satin / brushed appearance, or find a light blue hammertone paint.

I SO VERY MUCH APPRECIATE the wisdom of those here. I have to laugh when I think that I have an original question, and find it half a dozen times in the archives. Oh well.

I don't think that this has been asked before: A vac repair guy that I talked with stated that the XXX never developed more than a 30" lift. That sounds really low. Has anyone ever tested the suction?

 

[human]

Toddk13 wrote: The green hammertone paint on the companion will not look right. I'll strip it, and either leave it a satin / brushed appearance, or find a light blue hammertone paint.

I respond: Rustoleum has a line of hammertone 'paint and primer in one' products that are great for this sort of application. I redid the aluminum top shell of my PN4A last month with their "black" paint, which was really more of a semi-metallic charcoal/gunmetal gray. It's considerably darker than the original Silverado gray, but it now looks great paired with my Diamond Jubilee. It was one of the easiest and most successful rattle can painting experiences I've ever had. The paint went down easy and it looked great when I was done. Before painting, I buffed out the nameplate area and masked it off for a subtle custom touch that almost looks factory.

 

[toddk13]

Aesthetically pleasing or original

Good point on the hammertone. I'll check out Rustoleum. I believe in preservation when practical. Do you try to repair a very tired cloth hose, or keep it for display and find a nice one that wasn't original? My first Hoover 105 factory special was rebuilt in 1947. It was ugly. Grey paint was flaking off the corroded aluminum housing. Motor cover was painted a rough dark green. Preserve that? No way. Still a ways to go before I get that all back together. It'll be reasonably correct with a better paint color match for the housing and motor cover.

I'm praying that POS XXX with the companion won't clean up. The pictures look like it was stored in a swamp. With my luck, I'll plug it in, and it'll whirl to life. Then I'll have to fix that cord winder and deep clean. Hmmm.

 

[human]

I don't use my leaky woven hoses at all. There's really no reason to when I have a good assortment of OEM and generic vinyl hoses that outperform the originals by a ridiculously wide margin. The only reason for me to even think about connecting up a woven hose is for purely aesthetic purposes.