aeoliandave
Well-known member
The filter pad has a handy twill tape pull tab for removal every 6 months as recommended. Fortunately this machine seems to have very little use and the fibergllas is still a nice healthy yellowish green color.
Emdeko FILTEX this n that
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aeoliandave
Well-known member
The Filtex, as the manual points out, takes an inner paper filter bag. Where does one find these these days?
I cut a 1/4" strip off the edge of a round Compact bag and that fits perfectly against the rubber sealing ring, tho the bag length is about 1/2" too short so doesn't touch bottom.
I cut a 1/4" strip off the edge of a round Compact bag and that fits perfectly against the rubber sealing ring, tho the bag length is about 1/2" too short so doesn't touch bottom.
Filtex Paper Bags
Dave....you can also use the open top GE/Premier pink or white filter bags. Just trim away the excess. Also, there are several old packages of paper bags offered on ebay that have the cardboard collar. They may be slighly short but that will work just fine. If a cardboard collar is too wide you can trim it as long as you don't cut into the stitching.
ANOTHER EXCELLENT bag is the Royal power tank type "J" bag. The collar is more closed in with only a hole in the center the size of a juice glass. Now, the cover opening on the machine and hole in the bag do not line up exactly however, if you push the bag up to the top within the cloth bag as far as you can, it will align just fine. OR, simply cut away the juice-glass size opening on the paper J bag. They are also bit longer and will fit closer to the bottom of the cloth bag, too! I use the Envirocare brand or DVC brand. They offer microfiltration. Let me know how this works!
Louis
Dave....you can also use the open top GE/Premier pink or white filter bags. Just trim away the excess. Also, there are several old packages of paper bags offered on ebay that have the cardboard collar. They may be slighly short but that will work just fine. If a cardboard collar is too wide you can trim it as long as you don't cut into the stitching.
ANOTHER EXCELLENT bag is the Royal power tank type "J" bag. The collar is more closed in with only a hole in the center the size of a juice glass. Now, the cover opening on the machine and hole in the bag do not line up exactly however, if you push the bag up to the top within the cloth bag as far as you can, it will align just fine. OR, simply cut away the juice-glass size opening on the paper J bag. They are also bit longer and will fit closer to the bottom of the cloth bag, too! I use the Envirocare brand or DVC brand. They offer microfiltration. Let me know how this works!
Louis
aeoliandave
Well-known member
Expanding on the cleaner concept of a paper filter dirt bag inside the cloth one, it's surprising that Electrolux didn't get around to marketing a paper bag sized for the XXX, or the Canadian cylinders, considering how long these types stayed in use. Incidently, the diameter of the Canadian cloth bag & rubber ring is smaller than the American XXX.
A Charles Richard question...
Some of my XXXs have the rubber ring around the cloth bag rim while others have the rubber cemented to the cover plate. ?
But! I have a Canadian ZB55 that some enterprising person fitted with a Hoover Type C bag, cut short 7" with the edge rolled over and under the rubber sealing ring. The C bag will fit an XXX the same way, if you're like me and like to actually use the vacuum to vacuum today's dust and the cloth bag has the inevitable pin hole leaks. A daily driver tip.
A Charles Richard question...
Some of my XXXs have the rubber ring around the cloth bag rim while others have the rubber cemented to the cover plate. ?
But! I have a Canadian ZB55 that some enterprising person fitted with a Hoover Type C bag, cut short 7" with the edge rolled over and under the rubber sealing ring. The C bag will fit an XXX the same way, if you're like me and like to actually use the vacuum to vacuum today's dust and the cloth bag has the inevitable pin hole leaks. A daily driver tip.
aeoliandave
Well-known member
Lou, you been reading my mind. Thank you for those tips. Compact and Type C bags are plentiful around here at the Hardware stores. I've never looked for Royal bags, though.
Emailed you those manual scans...hope AOL accepts the 6.5 MB attachments.
Dave
Emailed you those manual scans...hope AOL accepts the 6.5 MB attachments.
Dave
crevicetool
Well-known member
The paper bags
my friends mother used were the ones with no cardboard attached. You can find these anywhere, in stores, on line etc. Some packaging even shows a Lux XXX with one. They simply bottom out inside the cloth bag, then the rest just hangs over the gasket, and is clamped against that and the cover. The two to three inch excess then looks like a clown collar. De De didle de de de de (sound of circus music played on a Calliope)...Also I've heard of emergency room stories about vacuums and organs.
my friends mother used were the ones with no cardboard attached. You can find these anywhere, in stores, on line etc. Some packaging even shows a Lux XXX with one. They simply bottom out inside the cloth bag, then the rest just hangs over the gasket, and is clamped against that and the cover. The two to three inch excess then looks like a clown collar. De De didle de de de de (sound of circus music played on a Calliope)...Also I've heard of emergency room stories about vacuums and organs.
aeoliandave
Well-known member
Well, considering that this Filtex came with an actual brown paper lunch bag inside which no amount of air could pass through, anything would be an improvement. LOL
As for ruffled collars, dressing up my beautifully natural vacuum cleaners like insidiously pampered dog shaped objects is not my idea of a good thing...
As for ruffled collars, dressing up my beautifully natural vacuum cleaners like insidiously pampered dog shaped objects is not my idea of a good thing...
charles~richard
Well-known member
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- Aug 25, 2006
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- 3,021
I really don't think you need (or want) to use a paper liner in this machine. You already have a cloth bag; inserting another bag inside it is going to greatly reduce airflow. It's not that big a deal to take the cloth bag out and dump after each use.
btw EMDEKO was the name of the company that manufactured the Filtex vacuum cleaner. I have a hunch the name came from someone's initials + "CO" -- e.g., "M.D.Co." But I can't swear to that. I do know that the company's president was a woman -- a real first back in the 1930s when it was founded. They may be her initials, I dunno.
Originally the company was located in downtown Los Angeles, on Spring Street, but aren't there any longer. I don't know where they are located now. They are still in business but only making central vacuum systems.
btw EMDEKO was the name of the company that manufactured the Filtex vacuum cleaner. I have a hunch the name came from someone's initials + "CO" -- e.g., "M.D.Co." But I can't swear to that. I do know that the company's president was a woman -- a real first back in the 1930s when it was founded. They may be her initials, I dunno.
Originally the company was located in downtown Los Angeles, on Spring Street, but aren't there any longer. I don't know where they are located now. They are still in business but only making central vacuum systems.
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btw I used to have a very similar model but the leatherette was turquoise in color, and the nameplate on top only said "Filtex," so I assume it was an older model.
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btw I used to have a very similar model but the leatherette was turquoise in color, and the nameplate on top only said "Filtex," so I assume it was an older model.
I would love to know...
When they stopped making them, thanks for posting the instructions, I had never seen them, Filtex was sold here by a guy in Statesville who has been dead for years, I talked to him once in the 80s, but never really got any worthwhile info, I was a teenager and didnt have sense enough to ask the right questions!LOL
When they stopped making them, thanks for posting the instructions, I had never seen them, Filtex was sold here by a guy in Statesville who has been dead for years, I talked to him once in the 80s, but never really got any worthwhile info, I was a teenager and didnt have sense enough to ask the right questions!LOL
packardmanken
Well-known member
Filtex Floor tool
Hi Kenkart! Beautiful machine. I have a pristine rug tool for this machine in stash if you would like to contact me. I have kept it for many years as the design is beautiful and its in such good shape. Just reach out thru the site if you are interested.
I do (or did) have paper bags that fit the old Electrolux XXX and just saw a bag of them at an old store.
LEt me know if you would like me to grab them for you.
Congrats!
Hi Kenkart! Beautiful machine. I have a pristine rug tool for this machine in stash if you would like to contact me. I have kept it for many years as the design is beautiful and its in such good shape. Just reach out thru the site if you are interested.
I do (or did) have paper bags that fit the old Electrolux XXX and just saw a bag of them at an old store.
LEt me know if you would like me to grab them for you.
Congrats!
The rug tool ,
That came with the machine, is less than perfect, but I have 4 or 5 of them and a couple are about new, I really appreciate you thinking of me, but someone else might need it more than I do, I found out that Eureka 800 bags fit perfectly, and I have a bunch of them., Hope to get down your way soon, we havent made our annual trip to Atlanta this fall, Mary Macs Tea Room is waiting!...
That came with the machine, is less than perfect, but I have 4 or 5 of them and a couple are about new, I really appreciate you thinking of me, but someone else might need it more than I do, I found out that Eureka 800 bags fit perfectly, and I have a bunch of them., Hope to get down your way soon, we havent made our annual trip to Atlanta this fall, Mary Macs Tea Room is waiting!...
packardmanken
Well-known member
rug tool
Kenkart! Would love to see you when you get this way. YEs, MM's is a fun place. Familiar w the Colonade?
Didnt realize that you had a rug tool, must have mis-read the post. Great hearing from you though..
Ken
Kenkart! Would love to see you when you get this way. YEs, MM's is a fun place. Familiar w the Colonade?
Didnt realize that you had a rug tool, must have mis-read the post. Great hearing from you though..
Ken
beerad
Well-known member
A beautiful Filtex!
How about a video of the Filtex?
How about a video of the Filtex?
Newbie 
My partner and I just moved in together and he has one of these beautiful vacuum. Unfortunately he’s not the best at taking care of things and he never looked into replacing the filter parts. I discovered a mess. The fiberglass square is pretty full, I was wondering if anyone has every done anything to replace that? The cloth bag is also pretty gross, are those hand washable? I looked for the Eureka 800 mentioned in 2014 but I’m guessing the model is no longer in production. Has anyone tried those HEPA type filters that are cylindrical with the ruffles going around? I wonder if there is one that would slide right in and replace the other aspects. Or slide into the cloth bag? Any advice would be super amazing I’m so thankful I found this thread regardless, there’s been lots of helpful information.
Ruby
My partner and I just moved in together and he has one of these beautiful vacuum. Unfortunately he’s not the best at taking care of things and he never looked into replacing the filter parts. I discovered a mess. The fiberglass square is pretty full, I was wondering if anyone has every done anything to replace that? The cloth bag is also pretty gross, are those hand washable? I looked for the Eureka 800 mentioned in 2014 but I’m guessing the model is no longer in production. Has anyone tried those HEPA type filters that are cylindrical with the ruffles going around? I wonder if there is one that would slide right in and replace the other aspects. Or slide into the cloth bag? Any advice would be super amazing I’m so thankful I found this thread regardless, there’s been lots of helpful information.
Ruby
dysonman1
Well-known member
Hi Ruby:
If the cloth bag is very soiled and stained, hand washing it is the only thing you can do. But washing any cloth bag is not recommended very often. Sometimes the old fabric can just get holes in it. Just be gently and soak it more than scrub it.
If you need a new filter, the one Royal makes for the tank cleaner (and is included with a package of the HEPA bags) will fit and work.
I use my Filtex quite often. It was made in 1953. So quiet and powerful. The pics are my machine in my living room.
Congrats on a very nice, and rare, piece of history.
If the cloth bag is very soiled and stained, hand washing it is the only thing you can do. But washing any cloth bag is not recommended very often. Sometimes the old fabric can just get holes in it. Just be gently and soak it more than scrub it.
If you need a new filter, the one Royal makes for the tank cleaner (and is included with a package of the HEPA bags) will fit and work.
I use my Filtex quite often. It was made in 1953. So quiet and powerful. The pics are my machine in my living room.
Congrats on a very nice, and rare, piece of history.
huskyvacs
Well-known member
Are Filtex related to Electrolux in any way? A lot of their attachments and styling looks really similar.
I have the Model 1 I bought off eBay from some guy that found it in the trash.
I have the Model 1 I bought off eBay from some guy that found it in the trash.
History
They were made by airvac. They are from Los Angeles. They sold high end vacuums gradually sold central vacs. They sold vacuums and motors to in 50s-60s. They were in businesses in the 80s selling motors for central vacs. There no longer in business.
Les
They were made by airvac. They are from Los Angeles. They sold high end vacuums gradually sold central vacs. They sold vacuums and motors to in 50s-60s. They were in businesses in the 80s selling motors for central vacs. There no longer in business.
Les
huskyvacs
Well-known member
Interesting, its unique they are made of some kind of fiberboard material, never seen a vacuum made of that before.
