is this a XXX pre-war model?

[knoxfrzb]

just picked this up today..motor seems to work fine, pretty good shape all around...no hose though...i know its a model 30, but my lux knowledge is weak...enlightenement anyone? it has the sun emblem on the bottom side and does NOT have the detached filter think on the end..if that makes sense

 

[knoxfrzb]

nother pic

this might help...trying to use my laptop, i forgot my phone

 

[caligula]

Hi Knoxfrzb.

Unfortunately with the attachments in front of the runners, nobody can see the machine well enough to tell.

There are a number of ways to tell a pre-war from a post-war XXX. The color of the leatherette, the paint on the body of the machine, the runners, and the doors on the blower end to name only a few. The model XXX started in 1937, and ran till the end of 1954. Naturally, Electrolux was not making vacuum cleaners during WWII, as they were making what were called "motor's that fight!" (Generators and what have you.) Once they were given the go ahead to make vacuum cleaners they went back to the trusty XXX. The early XXX's 1937- the early 40's, were dark gray on both body and leatherette. The runners were flat on the bottom, and there were two or three sets of vents on the rear cover. Memory is failing as to if there were louver doors. Also, there was no 'Companion' (ride on tool holder), or cord winder. Those came out around 1948. The new model XXX's have the round runners, the paint and letherette gets lighter each year, till the last of them were a grayish blue, like the post-war XXX shown here. There were also the saloon doors as part of the real exhaust.

Both Charles Richard Lester and Tom Gasko are better qualified to talk about the other changes, but those are the key things to look for.

As for the attachments, they were standard equipment from 1937 to 54, with slight color changes in rubber trim. The only tool that changed was the rug tool. That design went through a number of changes during the years the XXX was manufactured.

Oh yes, I almost forgot! Look at the dust bag. If it says anything about the new automatic cleaner, then it was sold as the lower end model at the same time the LX was being sold. And I'm sure Charles Richard, or Tom can tell you the numbering system to determin the age. There should be a series of numbers on the area where the dust bag goes.

That's all I can think of for now.

Alex Taber.

 

[caligula]

The last of the post-war XXX's

While the war was going on, and just afterward, Electrolux had to cut corners and save metal. Result was that both the upholstry tool, and dusting brush, were made of a light blue gray plastic, or what was called 'bakelite,' this was also used on the top of the rug tool. As for the color of the braided hose fabric, that and the rubber trim in the attachments, should match the body paint of the machine. I know you said that there was no hose, but that's what to look for to complete the set. As for the wands, they were the heavy steel.

The items like Companion, cord winder, polisher, and garment bag all came out in the late 40's, but will not detract from the machine. Many customers with older Electrolux XXX's, bought these months or years after the original sale.

Please give us a look at the machine without anything blocking the view. You have a great XXX there, enjoy it! And here's a look at one of my LX's.

Alex Taber.

 

[caligula]

Special tools.

You may notice the white bristle dusting brush and wall brush. They were part of the complete package, and were designed for delicate places like wallpaper, or lamp shades.

What I've done here is recteat the picture from the instruction book. It's what my friend Charles Richard Lester calls a "beauty shot!" The only thing not original is the cord winder. I had the original, but the plug needed to be replaced.

 

[collector2]

Hey Steve:

Try taking the picture with the camera between the windows and the machine. The light from the windows is overpowering the camera so we cant really see much of the machine

 

[kenkart]

Post vs Pre

I have both so here is the difference, the rear housing of a pre war Lux is cast aluminum, the rear of the post war is stamped chrome plated steel..here is the pre war on the left post war on the right, the filter on the pre war is a can type thing.

 

[kenkart]

Opened..

The very first pre war has extra louvers over the blower, this was changed around 38 or 39 or so because it killed the use of the sprayer or vaporizer.

 

[kenkart]

uinderside..

of the pre war, it does have the round logo, this one was made sometime between 39 and 41 or so.

 

[kenkart]

The later one

Has a slightly smaller back housing.

 

[kenkart]

front

The older one on the right,the difference is the older housing is stamped aluminum, the newer is cast.

 

[kenkart]

Rug tools...

Different versions.

 

[kenkart]

New vs old..

Floor Brushes.

 

[kenkart]

The Original

Pre War Wands will have Electrolux and the logo stamped around them at the slots.also the side pieces are aluminum on the early machine, chrome steel on the later one.

 

[kenkart]

I think you may have...

A pre war machine, but the attachments pictured are definately post war, the rug tool you have is the later, 49 or 50 or later.

 

[kenkart]

If you notice..

In reply 12,the floor brush on the left is a very thin stamped aluminum,:Its missing the bumper" but I have a new one to put on it, Electrolux found they could cast this as well as the dusting brush and also the front cover much quicker and easier, so if you ever see a floor brush or dusting brush that looks odd and usually is banged up, its a rare early one.

 

[caligula]

Pre-war/post-war XXX'S

Thank you Hans, those are both awesome machines. This proves that a picture is worth 1,000 words! You also jogged my memory of the rear cover, as well as a number of things that slipped my mind.


By the way, Happy belated fourth of July.

Alex Taber.

 

[knoxfrzb]

video is uploading

i think its pre-war from your comments...i am posting 2 videos, one of the machine and one of the machine running...it pulls about 40 kilopascals, which isnt too damn bad really

 

[knoxfrzb]

1st vid

here is the machine in action..not original hose i know

 

[knoxfrzb]

full video

so what do y'all think?

 

[dysonman1]

Was that Lux a trade-in? I see you're in a vac shop taking the video. This is a late pre-war model XXX. It was made after they went to the flat filter instead of the basket type. Would really be nice to restore it.

 

[caligula]

Tom's right, pre-war XXX.

Those are two great videos. and now that I've gotten a good look at this machine, I can tell by the flat runners and dark color of paint and leatherette that it is a pre-war! However, the rug tool is not original to this XXX, as the rubber trim looks like a light gray, or perhaps the blue/gray that went with the LX. The other tools seem to be original, as I said, the rubber trim should match the cody of the machine. Rear cover (blower end) is certainly pre-war, but seems to have been altered. As Tom said, the filter is newer.

Since I don't have audio on my computer, I didn't get to hear it run, or your comments, but I did get to see it.

You need to complete the look by getting the Companion, correct cord, and correct hose. Hoses for the early Electrolux's are rare as hens teeth, but out there. With my LX, the hose is in fair condition, so I use it for show, and clean with the hose my buddy Steve, sent me.

As I said before, you have a great find, enjoy it.

Alex Taber.

 

[kenkart]

Im goung to be different...

I think its a VERY early post war, it still has the aluminum side pieces, darl leatherette, but the rear is clearly stamped chromed steel,although it does have the old round logo, the front cover is clearly the old style as are the runners, all right Charles Lester and Jimmy Martin, what do you all say????It also has the old style exhaust louvers, I think this style was made until about 48 as were the flat runners.im going to say its a 46, but who really knows..

 

[caligula]

Electrolux XXX.

Hi Hans, what I'm wondering is if it could be a pre-war XXX that was altered over the years? Most people are not interested in the historical value, and may have changed parts here and there. Certainly, I can't say for sure, but it could have been altered.

Just an idea,

Alex Taber.

 

[kenkart]

It sure

Is possible, in any event....its old!!!lol.

 

[tig21er]

Thanks for the lesson

I have worked on many of the Model XXXs with my Dad and brother but didn't think about how they changed thru the years. I guess that was because I was young lad of 9 learning how they worked and how to repair I didn't worry much on history and change . I did learn about the motor seal on the Model Xll and the crimped E. If the E was missing you knew it had been worked on. My Model Xll has never been worked on.

 

[kenkart]

Really..

There are many many variations, just like Hoover,they changed lots of details during the different years, I have a Model 84 Constellation,it is different than some of the others I have seen, it has a Round Hoover emblem on the top section above the switch, it does not have a chrome medallion around the top where the hose attaches, the carring handle says Constellation, I have seen others that did have a medallion around the top ??? so there are some differences in machines of the same model.

 

[tig21er]

Changes

Just like the handles on Silverado and the Olympia One or changes in color on the model G.

 

[dysonman1]

They are called...

"Revisions". The Simplicity Synergy has had 9 of them during its run.

When the model 30 was launched in '37, all the parts (including side rails) were made of aluminum and buffed by machine, as were the attachments. Even the switch cover was buffed aluminum.

The very first year of production, there were three slits above the exhaust door, that let air out. By the second year, the first revision had taken place with the elimination of these vent slits.

By 1940, materials were getting harder and harder to come by. The third revision involved a lot. The flat filter was now used. The motor had the most revisions. In 1940, the motor mount was bakelite, as were the carbon brush holders and bearing bridge. The aluminum back was changed to steel as was the front cover, and side rails. I gave a perfect example of this model to Reggie Ridlin a few years back. In 1941, the dusting brush and upholstery tool and rug and floor tools were made of bakelite. Production ceased early in 1942.

Back from the war, and the cleaner now had round runners and a saloon door exhaust port. This was the forth revision. The attachments were back to aluminum again and the cord winder, companion, and other special tools were launched in 1948.

The final revision was in 1954. The color of the top cover now matched the model LX. The front door and motor cover were painted blue to match the LX (and soon, the LX1). And the attachments were the same material they would use for the model AE and E's attachments, with the exception of the bare floor tool.