Got an Electrolux LX

[collector2]

You also have to keep in mind how they rebuilt these machines. They werent done one at a time. They would strip down a whole batch of machines and disgard all the broken / worn out parts. Repaint what they wanted repainted. Then build the machines from that. So you could easily have parts from several different years of the machines used on one. (EG early LX bag control with the LXI machine end).

 

[cheesewonton]

It wasn't unheard of for the Electrolux factory to change part colors / configurations and such mid stream as one lot of, oh, cords or something ran out and the next lot was a different color intended for the next year's model but they ran with them anyway on the current year.

 

[human]

You also have to keep in mind how they rebuilt these machines. They werent done one at a time. They would strip down a whole batch of machines and disgard all the broken / worn out parts. Repaint what they wanted repainted. Then build the machines from that. So you could easily have parts from several different years of the machines used on one. (EG early LX bag control with the LXI machine end).

Interesting. So the Metropolitan rebuilds were truly frankenvacs in the most literal sense of the word. That would certainly be an efficient way to do it, turning every incoming machine into parts bin fodder. Makes one wonder about the ratio of old machines coming in to finished rebuilds going out. I imagine there were some parts they had an overabundance of because they didn't go bad as often, while others had to be replaced on nearly every machine, or were simply removed as a matter of course.

 

[collector2]

Interesting. So the Metropolitan rebuilds were truly frankenvacs in the most literal sense of the word. That would certainly be an efficient way to do it, turning every incoming machine into parts bin fodder. Makes one wonder about the ratio of old machines coming in to finished rebuilds going out. I imagine there were some parts they had an overabundance of because they didn't go bad as often, while others had to be replaced on nearly every machine, or were simply removed as a matter of course.

Yep - Plus, because they put cheap plastic new attachments with the machines, they polished and sold the rug nozzles, floor nozzles and small nozzles separately to shops as spare parts. I can remember the floor nozzles still being listed as available in the 1990s.

 

[human]

Yes, not to mention cheap looking plastic hoses, which mine has. Although uglier, those might arguably be functionally better in the long run than the original woven ones, in that they would be less likely to spring leaks, provided they didn't split. Mine apparently has a split, as there's a piece of duct tape around it in one spot, but that's holding with excellent suction, so that's good enough for now. Mine came with a small assortment of white plastic tools, but it has a pretty nice bristled brush with a wooden body. Interestingly, it also came to me with an original metal floor tool. The person I got it from had the LX and an XXX, each with a set of wands, and a grocery bag of miscellaneous tools. We agreed upon a price, and then they told me to take whichever hose and set of wands I wanted, along with whatever of the tools I'd like. It's possible the floor tool belonged with the XXX, but we were both happy with the transaction, so it's all good.

 

[collector2]

From the 1979 Aldens Catalogue. These are the parts they sold with the rebuilt machines. The LX is the Delux machine referred to in the write up.

 

[collector2]

Another one from a 178 Aldens Catalogue - you can see the painted end and name plate in this one.

 

[collector2]

I saved these pictures from an Ebay sale. This would be the Rebuilt Gold machine mentioned as the Economy Rebuilt model above