Finally a version of my most sought after vacuum

[gsheen]

My Gran who live in a Town called Oudshorn in the western Cape her in SA had a very cool old house built in the late 1800's. We went up to visit as a family at least once a year, I loved going there. 


 


My Grans had two cleaning machines that I just loved, A Columbus polisher, I own one of these and a Electrolux 404, A Locally designed Vacuum sold in what I had originally thought were two variations, The yellow hooded Electrolux 404 which had a height adjustment lever on one side and a On off switch on the other and a Columbus Carpet Saver which featured a Orange Hood and its on off switch was operated when the handle was released.  Both these machines were sold with a similar shaped 3 brush polisher.


 


 I have been searching for one of these machines for ages but never found one, However less than a year ago I got a Unique version of the polisher Called a Concorde Then a few weeks ago a good friend and fellow vacuum collector said he had seen a vacuum version of this machine in a repair shop in Pretoria, He was kind enough to get the owners name, The machine was not working but we arranged a price and I had the machine shipped to Cape Town 

 

[gsheen]

Some before pics, Tried switching it on but it Just hummed 

 

[gsheen]

Here it is with its polisher twin 

 

[gsheen]

Tear down, Wow it was dirty  

 

[fooseofhoove]

Gareth

What a unique looking vacuum. At first I thought it was a floor polisher. Could you please show a photo of the bottom of it. Thanks, Randy  


 


      

 

[gsheen]

Top bearing was still OK , Bottom one was jammed.


 


Motor made in November 1976 


 


The suction fan is aluminium It has cooling find on the back for cooling the motor


 


Holes in the base for the hot air to be drawn out of the motor.

 

[fooseofhoove]

Looks like you sent some more photos while I was posting the first message. Could you show a photo without the belt guard on. Thanks again.


 


I can't believe all the dust and crud under the hood!

 

[gsheen]

Here it is without the bottom plate on. The one I am looking for the most has a smoother looking hood , 


 


I did wonder why would you buy this over a Hoover Convertible?IE what was the selling point as when this was been sold in SA Electrolux was more known for their cylinders than Uprights. ( that all changed with the introductions of the 500 range )  But what I can tell you is it weighs about half the weight of a Hoover convertible ( metal base and is considerably lighter than a plastic based convertible too

 

[gsheen]

On the left is the Columbus carpetsaver vacuum version, The Electrolux 404 Looked the same exept it had a Yellow hood  and the Orange on the on the right is a Columbus B30 polisher version.


 


Underneath the vacuum versions and the polisher versions machines are all vertually identical exept for some small differences ( ie switches and handle release mechanisms  

 

[eurekastar]

That's quite the BEAST!  I would love to see a Youtube video of it in operation!

 

[nycwriter]

LOVE it!

Looks like a Bison that went on a diet.

 

[super-sweeper]

lol Matt!

That vacuum looks like FUN! Wish we got them here in the states!

 

[fooseofhoove]

Can't wait to see it when it's done. I love it! Hey, do you know the year it was made and what it might have cost new? Just wondering.

 

[fooseofhoove]

I assume that the bag would often get overfilled, which would explain all the dust and stuff under the hood?

 

[DesertTortoise]

My goodness that motor is filled with dirt! I just took apart a Powermate and cleaned what I thought was a surprising amout of carpet fuzz out of the motor and marveled that an electric motor can even function under those conditions. Then you show us this poor old vac and it's like you have to remove the dirt and lint to find the motor. Yeah, I think the motor is under here somewhere. Wow.

Keep us abreast of the progress. Btw, what kind of motor is it anyway? I am not very well versed on vac outside of Kenmores and Windsors.

 

[gsheen]

Hey Thanks Guys, Yes this was a designed in SA model but I do not know if it was exported, It may well have been.


 


I will say that this hood style is not the most stylish I prefer the style my gran had But its different. 


 


The motor is a 350watt motor similar to that found in Convertibles and Sanitares.


 


Here are the carbon brushes, Its hard to see in these photo's but these are the thinnest brushes I have ever seen. About half the thickness of a normal set of carbon brushes.


 


 


 


 


 


 

 

[gsheen]

<p style="text-align: justify;"> The base is super light, </p>

 

[gsheen]

Motor reassembled,


 


Fan on with out pulley


 


 


The pulley belt and brush on. 


 


I just realized the photo's are out of order, The fan had to go on first then it was attached to the base. 


 

 

[gsheen]

First test run with the hood off, Seated the carbon brushes as well