Electrolux

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dustin

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 12, 2010
Messages
707
Location
Jackson, MI
I have an Electrolux that I got last summer at a garage sale for $3 and if anyone knows, I would like to know what it is called, and what years it was made. It is a canister-style vac with a brown PN4 power nozzle. It looks very similar to the Super J, but the bumpers are slightly different (the sides of the bumpers on the canister stick out instead of being flat),and the handles on the canister are also somewhat different. The color is a brown-ish color,and it sounds EXACTLY the same as my Super J did. Everythimg else is the same. THANK YOU!!!
 
Dustin.

Vernon is correct. That would be an Olympia One. I will add that it was made from 1978 - 1982. It replaced the Super J as the top of the line model.

Rick
 
THANK YOU! Ihave had it for over a year and have called it "the brown Electrolux" ok,now I know what model it is and how old it is!
 
This pops up on the POD every so often.....thought you would like it.

The Olympia One was the official vacuum cleaner of the 1980 Winter Olympics...sometime around 1980.

1-14-2010-20-42-8--Crevicetool.jpg
 
Why?

Now this will probably upset some US members but I have to pose a question why has intrigued me since I have been collecting and became more aware of models in the US, whch is why, for most of the 1950s & 1960s are US Electrolux models so UGLY?
I am sure they performed well, and its clear that they had more features than UK models and from comments I have read on here they appear to have been excellent machines - I just cannot get over the styling - to my mind, looking at the picture above, its only when you get to the 1205 that they styling appears to come more up to date and perhaps typical of the late 1960s.

I would be the first to agree that the XXX is a style icon (and I have one myself) although more of the 1930s than 40s or 50s. We did not have the XXX here although you can see its influence in our post war models 30/55/62 - 62 shown below

1-15-2010-18-10-23--vacbear58.jpg
 
Maybe its an age thing

as these models seem to my eyes more elegant even than the models that came after them - they come from the period when I was first aware of cleaners (up to 11 years old).

But they just seem so clean and graceful to my eye when compared to the American models from the same years.
Al
 
Canadian Collectors won't be much upset as we got to enjoy our very own versions quite similar to European Electroluxes. American Luxes were much flashier in design as were the automobiles while we more conservative Canadians kept it low profile.

And we certainly didn't get the vast array of model changes that the USA did through the 1950s & 60s. Even through the 1970s & 80s when the North American lines converged we had a way to keep our exterior styling on the elegant, if dull side.
I have to say that the LX will always be a favorite of mine for its gorgeous, if excessively heavy expression of the best that American post-war engineering & manufacturing prowess could produce. What followed the LX does come across rendered top heavy and ungainly by the tapered and rounded body and narrow bag chamber perched high over its wheel axles exposed so indelicately below. The more demure Canadian 80 series hugs the ground, much the way conservative hemlines did on our womenfolk. :-)
Yet it will always be a feather in our cap that Canadian Electroluxes from that period can quietly suck the paint & performance off a USA model, comparatively speaking. Pay no attention whatsoever to what Crevictool has to say about handle ergonomics. :-)

Dave, Dominion of Canada

1-15-2010-18-47-45--aeoliandave.jpg
 
"Rick, when I snap my fingers - you will awake." "You won't remember anything about this thread". "It never exsisted" "Ready? One....two....(snap)!
 
Joe's right Dustin! The earlier Olympia One's had a colorful rectangular label with the five Olympic circles on it!

Rick
 
Ok mines not an early one then because it doesnt have any labels other than Electrolux on the sides. I looked at the picture that you posted and yes, mines definetely an Olympia one. Thanks!!!
 
Thanks guys for sharing all the pictures. Those UK lux vacuums are just beautiful!!
 
I think the US Golden J/Super J models are the most beautiful of all luxs,,especially when they are all cleaned up, and not all scuffed,beat up and dirty. There's just something about the gold color with the shiny chrome top,and shiny chrome PN,,very regal looking.
I remember an older neighbor lady that bought a new Golden J in around 1975-76,,brand new in box,,she had me take it out of the box for her , and put the PN together,,and let me use it. She had thick gold sculptured carpets,,the Golden J sitting on her gold carpet almost blinded you when the sun beamed in. haha
Always thought the Model L in gold was kinda cool looking too.
 
All In The Eye of the Beholder

Me thinks!!! having collected the UK/Swedish lux"s you see that they look "Sleek & Steamlined" and having used many US models I observe their look to be more "Round & Contoured" more automotive than Svenska..

Dustin, welcome to the club, you will find many interesting facts, vids, pics and features of electrolux vacs along with other brands from all over the world, I find it fascinating to be able to compare, design , build and functionality of all,,,heres the first part of the UK series!!! although this needs re-doing as now have a Z5 to add in...

http://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/00ShowCollectionGETD.cgi?dir=/COLLECTIONS/CHESTERMIKEUK/
1-16-2010-05-33-17--chestermikeuk.jpg
 
The Canadian/US/UK Electroluxes all have good points. I'm more partial to the Canadian models, as I grew up with them, but I do appreciate the merits of the US/UK models as well. One thing that perhaps made the Canadian/US models "ugly" is the externally mounted cord winder on some of the models; convenient in use, but it sometimes looked like it wasn't meant to be part of the machine at all, despite the color match/trim, etc.

I personally like the more rounded/contoured style of the Canadian/US "painted metal" machines (i.e. the 83/86/87/88/89, E/AE/F/G/R/S/L)...this is beyond a doubt where most of my interest in Electrolux lies. I love the combination of shiny, glossy painted metal with chrome trim and accents.

That's not to say I don't appreciate the "loaf" (is that the right description?) or the "boxy" style. I do feel, though, that starting with the Canadian AP and the US Golden Jubilee, the color choices left a lot to be desired. Everything became brown/tan/beige/cream/off-white/oyster/insert-another-word-for-a-derivative-of-brown. Not exactly the finest period, style-wise, for Electrolux (even though I do have an AP 100 and Golden Jubilee in my collection). Those who like brown shades would undoubtedly disagree.
 
I agree that "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" and with Electrolux, as with all brand names, what appeals to us as "most beautiful" are the models we know and grew up seeing.

Of the American Electroluxes, my favorite by far is the humble Model E, introduced as a "feather-light" economy model in 1954. It's not the most beautiful of all Electroluxes but it has the biggest soft spot in my heart. Why? Because the very nice family next door, the Strouds, had one. I, already sweeper-obsessed at three years of age, never tired of watching Mrs. Stroud use it.

From a beauty standpoint, the Model XXX of course wins hands-down. No American Electrolux before or since was anywhere nearly as stunning.



http://www.137.com/luxe
 

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