Electrolux XXX Small *Metal* upholstery nozzle & duster? Where to find?!

[drlarch]

I've got an Electrolux XXX with most of the accessories except that it came with the gray/blue plastic (bakelite?) nozzles, which are deteriorating. I've been searching around trying to find just these items, but in the (earlier?) *metal* versions, with no luck. I'm new to this forum, so am curious if anyone knows if these are super hard to find, or if not, any advice on finding these.

I've also not had much luck finding the secondary round filter for this unit that is just inside the exhaust side. Any info appreciated/advice!

 

[hygiene903]

Lux XXX Attachments

These do pop up on ebay from time to time, and the filters as well. And sometimes they go fairly reasonable.
Jeff

 

[drlarch]

Great - thanks for the feedback. I'll guess I'll just have to keep watching then...

 

[hooverboy81]

like this one?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Ele...950?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2ec0bb0e2e

 

[odile]

metal model xxx attachments

I did find a few metal attachments just this morning for a model 30 Electrolux at a vacuum sales and service shop near me. They are Queen City Vacuums in Cheektowaga, NY. I know I got the last of the new old stock power cords that they had, but they may have some other metal accessories.

I got a round metal dusting brush attachment, the upholstery attachment you mentioned, and a bare floor brush attachment in addition to the cord. They did not have filters, but the service man told me that if I brought in the old filter, he could trace and cut new filters for me.

Here's a link to their store

www.queencityvacuum.com

I don't know where you're located, but you might want to try calling the oldest vacuum sales and repair shop that sells multiple brands.

 

[kevin]

What years were the bakelite Electrolux attachments made?

Also, I have seen hammertone blue-painted floor tools and rug tools, but were the dusting brushes and upholstery tools ever painted that color?

 

[super-sweeper]

Kevin-(May I call you Kevin?)

I believe the bakelite tools were manufactured during the War-World II era-As all metal was going toward the war effort. Bakelite isn't metal-So they were likely sold with rebuilt Electroluxes!


 


I don't believe they were ever painted-Charles Lester (The resident Electrolux guru, Who I'm sure you have met) Will likely know for sure.

 

[bikerray]

Are you talking actual bakelite or the plastic tools from the early 1950's? The plastic tools that came with the LXI (61 for those that don't read Roman Numerals)?

 

[caligula]

Hi Kevin.

I'm not 100% certain about all Bakelite tools such as the 'teardrop' upholstery tool, but the standard dusting brush, upholstery tool in the blue/gray, as well as the plastic top to some rug tools, were made during world war 11, when there was a shortage on metal parts. In addition, the top to the model LX sprayer was black Bakelite while the model XXX was metal.

According to my book on the history of Electrolux, written by the top Electrolux brass, the tools other than the rug nozzle and bare floor brush to the short-lived model XX were also Bakelite. Also according to that book, the model XX was slated to replace the XXX, but ended up being sold as the 'war model!' Some people like to challenge me on that, but I doubt if the Electrolux engineering department would state something that's not fact.

As for the painted hammer tone blue, my friend Charles Richard Lester is better qualified to answer that one.

Hope that helps,
Alex Taber.

 

[kevin]

Thanks for the info., Alex. Awhile ago I read somewhere that Electrolux (and other manufacturing companies) wasn't allowed to make domestic metal products from early 1942 to 1946 (during and right after the war); then they used repair parts to make machines for the next two years (apparently still a shortage of metal); and afterward began production with newly-manufactured parts again in 1949 when they introduced the 535-watt motors. So it seemed to me that the bakelite attachments were manufactured from 1949-1954 (around the same time as the sprayer tops).

I didn't realize, though, that the Model XX's small tools were bakelite, too. So, maybe the Model XXX's were just made in bakelite just prior to production ceasing, too; then in 1949 they went back to metal when new production resumed. I've seen so many metal ones around that it's hard to believe they were only manufactured from 1937-1940 or so.

I am also thinking that the bakelite attachments may have lingered around awhile until stockpiles were depleted. That is to say I'm sure that they weren't discontinued as soon as the calendar was turned to 1949.

 

[caligula]

Hi Kevin.

As for the model XXX, the postwar machines (1945-1954) used Bakelite, but the prewar (1937-1945) used the metal ones. Clearly by the time the LX was introduced in 1952, Electrolux had gone back to metal tools.

But it wasn't just Electrolux, or vacuum cleaner production that was halted, the day after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, all American manufacturing stopped overnight. Air-Way, Electrolux, Hoover, Kirby and countless others as well as Ford automobiles and every other company were told to go into 'war production.' Electrolux motors designed for vacuum cleaners, now powered generators, and other things. The term was 'motors that fight!'

Then in 1945, when the war was over, Electrolux launched into the most advanced vacuum cleaner made up to that time, the model LX.

And the rest, as they say, is history.

 

[ronni]

Hi Alex,

Thanks for the information. Since I have seen some of the 1950s Model XXXs with the bakelite attachments--at least the dusting brush and upholstery tool--I am wondering if they were used for them and the metal ones were used for the Model LX and LXIs as the Model XXXs at that time became the economy model? Also, the gray-blue color closely matched the trim of the floor nozzle and carpet nozzle.

In addition, I'm wondering if the prewar bakelite tools were black? I saw a black bakelite upholstery tool in this video which gave me the idea:

 

[kevin]

Good to know, Alex and Ronni--thanks. Now that I think of it I'll bet that the instruction manuals would probably provide information, too; that is if the pics were updated each time a new one was copyrighted. I have seen copyright dates for many years, so I would take for granted that the manual was updated annually--at least pre- and post-war.