kirboover
Well-known member
I have an Electrolux Model 1205 in my collection with a PN1 and PN2, which is correct.
Lux 1205
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human
Well-known member
Both are correct. Earlier ones, made in 1968 and '69 had the PN1 while the later ones, stating in about 1970, had the PN2. There were also a couple of different hose and wand setups. Both of my 1205's are 1969 models; one came with a PN1 and a Canadian style teal pistol grip hose, which is different from the later gray pistol grip hoses, and the rare telescoping wand. The other one did not come with a power nozzle at all and had a leaky teal non-powered hose. I had the pleasure of putting a power nozzle on it for the first time about four years ago. Some PN1's were permanently attached to a color coordinating plastic wand but I believe those were for earlier model machines.
dysonman1
Well-known member
This is the first model of 1205 from 1968. No dusting brush clip, no electric hose, power nozzle with attached wand, serial number engraved into the underside of the bumper, round bag lock out switch.
Most 1205s
Were sold with the electric hose with a curved metal handle grip. The plug was where the handle grip met the hose. The hose made a direct Automatic electrical connection when connecting to the front of the machine. The power nozzle Stainless steel wand had a sheath That was blue and had the connector wire hanging from it and Either a PN-1 or PN-2 was sold with the machine. The PN-2 was a change in the early 70s close to the end of the blue 1205s run. PN-2 was also used on the Golden Jubilee but had the blue 50th anniversary sticker on it.
Again, this was the way the majority of 1205’s were made and there were very early ones with the wrap around the non electric hose wires you see above in the picture. But these were much more rare, an external plug directly under the hose inlet existed on those very early 1205’s but I think only for that first year. A pigtail hose with integrated built in wiring come out shortly thereafter as well and it had a handle that had integrated wiring in it as well and connected to the wand which was telescopic, but those were quickly discontinued as they were prone to cracking.
Jon
Were sold with the electric hose with a curved metal handle grip. The plug was where the handle grip met the hose. The hose made a direct Automatic electrical connection when connecting to the front of the machine. The power nozzle Stainless steel wand had a sheath That was blue and had the connector wire hanging from it and Either a PN-1 or PN-2 was sold with the machine. The PN-2 was a change in the early 70s close to the end of the blue 1205s run. PN-2 was also used on the Golden Jubilee but had the blue 50th anniversary sticker on it.
Again, this was the way the majority of 1205’s were made and there were very early ones with the wrap around the non electric hose wires you see above in the picture. But these were much more rare, an external plug directly under the hose inlet existed on those very early 1205’s but I think only for that first year. A pigtail hose with integrated built in wiring come out shortly thereafter as well and it had a handle that had integrated wiring in it as well and connected to the wand which was telescopic, but those were quickly discontinued as they were prone to cracking.
Jon
luxflairguy
Well-known member
1205!
This is the exact 1205 my Mother bought on June 30, 1969 in Tacoma WA for $212.00. Metal hose wand end and no brush clip which frustrated her for years!
Salesman was Fred Kaelin who was a one armed US Veteran who really knew how to use his abilities to demo the machines! Mom almost went for an L but all the add-on's took the total over that of the loaded 1205! She wasn't interested in the rug washer at all, even with a white carpeted house! Vac is still in my collection. Greg
This is the exact 1205 my Mother bought on June 30, 1969 in Tacoma WA for $212.00. Metal hose wand end and no brush clip which frustrated her for years!
Salesman was Fred Kaelin who was a one armed US Veteran who really knew how to use his abilities to demo the machines! Mom almost went for an L but all the add-on's took the total over that of the loaded 1205! She wasn't interested in the rug washer at all, even with a white carpeted house! Vac is still in my collection. Greg
human
Well-known member
Family vac...
That's very cool that you have a vacuum that's been in your family since new. My 1205 has been in our family since my dad snagged off of a neighbor's curbside trash pile in about 1980 or '81. It was a base model with no power nozzle and no powered tools but it had all of the other tools with it. The hose leaked like a sieve, which I did not understand at the time. It baffled me why it had great suction straight out of the machine and almost none from the end of the hose. Surprisingly, they held onto it when they moved from Raleigh to Charlotte in 1997 and I found it in their attic in 2016. I refitted it with a good vinyl hose, a teal pigtail style wand and PN2 and it's like an entirely different machine.
My other one came from Goodwill in about 2004 and has a power nozzle with a rare teal pistol grip hose and Canadian style telescoping wand. I use the two pretty much interchangeably. Although the powered teal hose and PN1 are now pretty much retired, I do still use the telescoping wand.
That's very cool that you have a vacuum that's been in your family since new. My 1205 has been in our family since my dad snagged off of a neighbor's curbside trash pile in about 1980 or '81. It was a base model with no power nozzle and no powered tools but it had all of the other tools with it. The hose leaked like a sieve, which I did not understand at the time. It baffled me why it had great suction straight out of the machine and almost none from the end of the hose. Surprisingly, they held onto it when they moved from Raleigh to Charlotte in 1997 and I found it in their attic in 2016. I refitted it with a good vinyl hose, a teal pigtail style wand and PN2 and it's like an entirely different machine.
My other one came from Goodwill in about 2004 and has a power nozzle with a rare teal pistol grip hose and Canadian style telescoping wand. I use the two pretty much interchangeably. Although the powered teal hose and PN1 are now pretty much retired, I do still use the telescoping wand.
kirboover
Well-known member
Family Too
My 1205 was also my grandmother's, she bought it for 250 in the late 60s
My 1205 was also my grandmother's, she bought it for 250 in the late 60s
real1shep
Well-known member
I always like.....
a story or provenance with a vacuum. Something that's changed hands a lot or considered mostly junk is just stuff you find. If you're showing folks your vacuums it helps to have stories.
I wound up with a lot of PN1's when I was collecting....some are still waiting to be renewed. There were some slight mechanical differences in the PN1's as they were produced. I noticed that when I was restoring them. The PN2 is quite a different animal.
A lot of controversy in the States about the PN3, but I'm told although it had an absence here, it did show up in Canada? I was never really clear about all that.
a story or provenance with a vacuum. Something that's changed hands a lot or considered mostly junk is just stuff you find. If you're showing folks your vacuums it helps to have stories.
I wound up with a lot of PN1's when I was collecting....some are still waiting to be renewed. There were some slight mechanical differences in the PN1's as they were produced. I noticed that when I was restoring them. The PN2 is quite a different animal.
A lot of controversy in the States about the PN3, but I'm told although it had an absence here, it did show up in Canada? I was never really clear about all that.
human
Well-known member
PN3...
I've often wondered the same thing. I've heard anecdotally—and possibly apocryphally—on this site that the PN3 was a variant of the PN2, used for Electrolux's commercial vacuums of the era. The '3' supposedly refers to a third ground lead, which would have been required for commercial applications. Of course, that begs the question of whether anybody has actually seen one of these beasts in the wild.
For what it's worth, I really like the PN2's refined design far better than the very similar PN4/4A, which seems to have fallen victim to sacrifices made for manufacturing efficiency at the expense of performance. Although all PN2s had beautiful polished aluminum cases, there are two minor color variants of the PN2: teal or white necks with color coordinating rollers underneath. The teal necks are the earlier variant and would have been included with the 1205s, although I have seen some with 50th anniversary stickers on them, indicating they would have shipped with the Golden Anniversary 1205s. The necks switched over to white during this 'golden' era and would have been shipped with the aforementioned golden anniversary models as well as early Super J machines. Later Super Js shipped with polished PN4s, as did some early Olympia One units before they made the unfortunate decision to start painting them chocolate brown and then Silverado gray. The PN5 "Omniflow" power nozzles were introduced late in the Silverado's run.
I've often wondered the same thing. I've heard anecdotally—and possibly apocryphally—on this site that the PN3 was a variant of the PN2, used for Electrolux's commercial vacuums of the era. The '3' supposedly refers to a third ground lead, which would have been required for commercial applications. Of course, that begs the question of whether anybody has actually seen one of these beasts in the wild.
For what it's worth, I really like the PN2's refined design far better than the very similar PN4/4A, which seems to have fallen victim to sacrifices made for manufacturing efficiency at the expense of performance. Although all PN2s had beautiful polished aluminum cases, there are two minor color variants of the PN2: teal or white necks with color coordinating rollers underneath. The teal necks are the earlier variant and would have been included with the 1205s, although I have seen some with 50th anniversary stickers on them, indicating they would have shipped with the Golden Anniversary 1205s. The necks switched over to white during this 'golden' era and would have been shipped with the aforementioned golden anniversary models as well as early Super J machines. Later Super Js shipped with polished PN4s, as did some early Olympia One units before they made the unfortunate decision to start painting them chocolate brown and then Silverado gray. The PN5 "Omniflow" power nozzles were introduced late in the Silverado's run.
All this talk of 1205s
Is making me want one! We’ve had them pass through the family and my Brother’s ex wife has one That she took in the divorce but she got a shark so not sure she still has it.
Personally between the PN 1 and PN2 I far prefer the PN2 having used one for quite some time for someone I cleaned for who had one with her model L. I thought I like how easy the PN4 was but now, after having used them all I realize the 2 is my favorite of the pre L shaped models.
I enjoy seeing the Electrolux rebuilt 1205s too.
Is making me want one! We’ve had them pass through the family and my Brother’s ex wife has one That she took in the divorce but she got a shark so not sure she still has it.
Personally between the PN 1 and PN2 I far prefer the PN2 having used one for quite some time for someone I cleaned for who had one with her model L. I thought I like how easy the PN4 was but now, after having used them all I realize the 2 is my favorite of the pre L shaped models.
I enjoy seeing the Electrolux rebuilt 1205s too.
real1shep
Well-known member
Interesting theory.......
on the PN3s'. I could swear I saw one in a Candian discussion about vintage Electrolux vacs.
I think I only have one PN2 and it's a metal polished Anniversary model. I had it apart waiting on that bottom pigtail....finally found one, but never got around to finishing it.
The 1205 is a terrific vac....always liked the color. I sent one to my son in NYC at the time and his GF thumbed her nose at it when they moved into new digs with carpeting and I didn't send the PN fast enough. He had to hide the 1205 in his car so she wouldn't throw it out. I paid him to send it back.
Kevin
on the PN3s'. I could swear I saw one in a Candian discussion about vintage Electrolux vacs.
I think I only have one PN2 and it's a metal polished Anniversary model. I had it apart waiting on that bottom pigtail....finally found one, but never got around to finishing it.
The 1205 is a terrific vac....always liked the color. I sent one to my son in NYC at the time and his GF thumbed her nose at it when they moved into new digs with carpeting and I didn't send the PN fast enough. He had to hide the 1205 in his car so she wouldn't throw it out. I paid him to send it back.
Kevin
I will admit
If the power nozzle brush isn’t replaced once in a while on the Electrolux’s With fresh new ones they will seem to not work very well and if people keep the automatic control turned up too far wanting to stuff their bags the machine’s suction will be weak especially on the older models like 1205 and earlier. It seem more often than not, when I find Electrolux canisters with the automatic control at thrift stores or on eBay...almost all the time they are set on 6.
Kevin... good that you rescued the 1205 back from your son. I only wish my Brother could get that good one back from his ex-wife... I doubt though that she would ever give him anything as he ended up with the house in the divorce. When he was preparing one of his Electrolux’s to give to her he consulted me on what to give her and so I guided him on the oldest of the units. A Silverado, a brown 1453 and the 1205. I did t realize the 1453 was in as bad of shape as it was or I would have had him turn that one over to her because it really was in much worse shape than the 1205. She ended up with an old braided hose that was taped and a PN-1 and that’s is fine but the 1205 main unit actually is the best part of the setup so I’m only hoping she didn’t throw it all away when she replaced with a Shark the Christmas before last. She has a two story house so perhaps she put the 1205 upstairs or something. They have two kids, youngest is 15 so they still communicate but very limited and minimal.
Jon
If the power nozzle brush isn’t replaced once in a while on the Electrolux’s With fresh new ones they will seem to not work very well and if people keep the automatic control turned up too far wanting to stuff their bags the machine’s suction will be weak especially on the older models like 1205 and earlier. It seem more often than not, when I find Electrolux canisters with the automatic control at thrift stores or on eBay...almost all the time they are set on 6.
Kevin... good that you rescued the 1205 back from your son. I only wish my Brother could get that good one back from his ex-wife... I doubt though that she would ever give him anything as he ended up with the house in the divorce. When he was preparing one of his Electrolux’s to give to her he consulted me on what to give her and so I guided him on the oldest of the units. A Silverado, a brown 1453 and the 1205. I did t realize the 1453 was in as bad of shape as it was or I would have had him turn that one over to her because it really was in much worse shape than the 1205. She ended up with an old braided hose that was taped and a PN-1 and that’s is fine but the 1205 main unit actually is the best part of the setup so I’m only hoping she didn’t throw it all away when she replaced with a Shark the Christmas before last. She has a two story house so perhaps she put the 1205 upstairs or something. They have two kids, youngest is 15 so they still communicate but very limited and minimal.
Jon
real1shep
Well-known member
Jon....
thanks. I was VERY happy to get that 1205 back. The motor rpm varies and I have to get into that someday. My plan is to put aside time to devote to all the 1205's, the G's and the Super J's and then miscellaneous. If I group them that way, they actually may get done.
Yeah, that divorce sounds like a bad one. Hopefully, she'll turn lose of the 1205 at some point if it's still there.
Most sourdough Electrolux salesmen were good about telling the customer not to keep the fill dial all the way up and why. I find that as the vacs got older, the owners got rougher and more negligent with them.....cheap too about the bags. And you're correct, every one I ever saw used at a secondhand store had the dial turned to max.
Kevin
thanks. I was VERY happy to get that 1205 back. The motor rpm varies and I have to get into that someday. My plan is to put aside time to devote to all the 1205's, the G's and the Super J's and then miscellaneous. If I group them that way, they actually may get done.
Yeah, that divorce sounds like a bad one. Hopefully, she'll turn lose of the 1205 at some point if it's still there.
Most sourdough Electrolux salesmen were good about telling the customer not to keep the fill dial all the way up and why. I find that as the vacs got older, the owners got rougher and more negligent with them.....cheap too about the bags. And you're correct, every one I ever saw used at a secondhand store had the dial turned to max.
Kevin
Varying rpm motors
Yes I know exactly what you are talking about on the varying rpm level. My Mom’s model L did that when I was a kid and she still has it, ii haven’t experienced it doing this in later years but always thought it was odd. My Silverado did it but rarely and now the motor finally crapped out in it and finally the Marquise I am using as a daily driver now does it too...it has a motor in it from a Renaissance. In fact I cleaned the house this morning with the Marquise and it did it. It seems to go down to a lower level for a while and then back up again after several minutes. When I first noticed this on Mom’s L when I was a kid I asked my Mom why is it doing that? She agreed that it was sounding weird but said she didn’t know and just kept on cleaning!
Jon
Yes I know exactly what you are talking about on the varying rpm level. My Mom’s model L did that when I was a kid and she still has it, ii haven’t experienced it doing this in later years but always thought it was odd. My Silverado did it but rarely and now the motor finally crapped out in it and finally the Marquise I am using as a daily driver now does it too...it has a motor in it from a Renaissance. In fact I cleaned the house this morning with the Marquise and it did it. It seems to go down to a lower level for a while and then back up again after several minutes. When I first noticed this on Mom’s L when I was a kid I asked my Mom why is it doing that? She agreed that it was sounding weird but said she didn’t know and just kept on cleaning!
Jon
real1shep
Well-known member
I think......
it's a brush/armature thing to be honest. I'd thoroughly test the armature, put in new brushes if it pasts the test, use a brush stone on the commutator and I'd bet it will quit...if not, time for another motor.
I've got new armatures somewhere too in boxes.....might warrant that from the get go.
Kevin
it's a brush/armature thing to be honest. I'd thoroughly test the armature, put in new brushes if it pasts the test, use a brush stone on the commutator and I'd bet it will quit...if not, time for another motor.
I've got new armatures somewhere too in boxes.....might warrant that from the get go.
Kevin
dysonman1
Well-known member
The carbon brushes are urged against the commutator by the spring behind the brush. When enough carbon brush dust accumulates in the carbon brush shunt (tube), it makes it difficult for the brush to 'slide forward', cause the change in the rpm of the motor as one brush makes good contact but the other doesn't make the same good contact. Remove the brushes from the shunts and clean the brush shunts with alcohol and q-tips. You'll be amazed at how much carbon dust you'll remove. Once reassembled and the carbon brushes seated with a seating stone, you'll be fine.
real1shep
Well-known member
Yeah.....
that would be part of the motor inspection/cleaning job. But it's a good point often overlooked by many.
Kevin
that would be part of the motor inspection/cleaning job. But it's a good point often overlooked by many.
Kevin
