Lux model 30/XXX tools

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Hi powermate1970

Sorry about the damage, but if you've saved the broken piece, it can be repired with little notice. There are special glues out there, and while there'll be a deep scratch, the machine will work fine. At it's age, a few dents, scratches and what not are understandable.

The dial is not on the inside of the front cover, but in the part called the diaphram. Stand the cleaner on the cord winder, and look to the right, there should be a dial which reads 'hasten/retard' with an arrow. If it's not there then it is indeed a first generation, like the one shown here.

I noticed the wheels, they were an optional tool that went with the LXI, also the cord winder is in hammertone blue. The original were chrome, and the nameplates are also LXI. However, all this is cosmetic. Why? wheels, cord winder, nameplate are all interchangable, as is the diaphram. Nobody can say for sure if the previous owner didn't change them. I know I have taken a LXI, and turned it into a LX (many times!) Now is there a swivle caster on the bottom? If not, then there should be an oblong space, and roller thingy. This was a special compartment to store 3 wrappers (bags). The swivl caster is another option used with the LXI.

The best way to date the machine is to look at the top piece where the handle is. On the left (same side as the front cover latch) it should read. "Model LX DC to 60 cycles AC 116 Volts 535 Watts UL." If it is indeed a LXI, it will say so here.

There is a way to test the ejection system manualy, but be sure you have your fingers clear of the ejector, and be prepared for a loud BANG! On the left side of the diaphran is a lever, with the front cover open, and the ejector pushed down, ( space for the bag), press that lever upward. If it will not move, then it will need major surgery. (Which means a printout from me) however, if it works correctly, the ejector should pop.

So test the ejector, and let us know how it works. Think I'll email you the printout anyway, so you know the entire process, and how to repair it.

Alex Taber.

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powermate1970.

Printout was sent, the chip is not that bad. The above picture is from the late 1970's, and is first generation LX with no dial.

The 'Companion' I have for you has the holder for the crevice tool, however, the upholstry tool will need to be up-side-down. Still I think it should work fine. Once it's cleaned up, that LX/LXI should shine like a new penny, and work great. Between Dave and I, we'll see to that.

Alex
 
Congratultions powermate1970.

You have a first generation LX! However, the nameplates and cord winder are not original!

Hopefully my emergency room treatment has worked, if not we'll get Dave to work his magic. As I said, we WILL get this LX working in top form.

Keep me posted here and via email.

Alex Taber.
 
Powermate1970

Looks like surgery on the Electrolux LX ejector is going fine.

How about pictures from the o.r., and our LX diaphram during the operation.
Glad all is going well.

Alex Taber.
 
well.....not so good

it looks like I may be at a stand still on my model 60 ejector. At least till I can find a part! The spring release pin(?)is froze in the body and it will break off before it comes out in one piece. I doubt I'd ever find the pin new, so now I'm on the hunt for a used pin or a parts machine.

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Now that you have the component parts separated...

Before going to all that delay, try soaking the piece overnight in a bowl of Rust release solution from a hardware or autoparts store. It will enter and saturate the corroded areas and make removal almost a sure thing.

Do not soak any Bakelite or plastic parts in rust-breaker. They are best brushed clean with a brass metal-bristled suede brush or abrasive dish pad.

While you're in there, it is also advisable to open up the clear plastic differential 'puck/drum' enclosure - a few screws - and clean out any fine dust accumulation under the rubber diaphragm and in the nipples.

Dave[this post was last edited: 1/21/2013-18:45]
 
ALEX.....OMG!!!!

YES, YES, YES!!! Thats it. I can still kick myself in the *** for not getting my grubby mitts on it before it went in the trash.LOL
 
powermate1970

Hi my friend:

I'm not sure if this model X1 is in my storage unit back in Indiana, or not. (I might have given it to somebody back in California.) But if it is in there, then it's yours! I plan to go to Indiana in the spring, most likely, in April.

In the previous post with the 'Electrolux wall of fame,' the models are V, X11, XXX, XX (20), LX, E, 1205, and L. The last is a LXI in a cut-away to show how the ejector works.

From 1985 to 1995, club headquarters was located in Naperville, Illinois. In the early days, my collection, which was also the club museum, was located in a spare bedroom. However, by 1993 the collection had outgrown the room, so I converted My 3 car garage, into the museum.

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Powermaye1970

The club museum in Naperville, Illinois, around 1986. Sorry that these are mostly Kirby's, as they don't fit this thread, but it's the only pictire I have. The Electrolux wall of fame as seen in the previous post was on the wall to the right. The models were the V, X1, X11, XXX, XX, LX, LXI, E, T (Thrift model), E, G, 1205, and I think L.

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LX bags

There was an ad in Business Week(or similar)from the company that supplied glue and/or paper for the then new 'wrappers'describing the quality of their products that met Elux need for strength when ejected.
 
Hi powermate1970.

The Electrolux Companion is on it's way. Bitter cold here, and snow up to my ..., took till today to get the driveway plowed. The truck couldn't make it, (not good on icy roads) but the Suburu Forester did! (That can handle anything!!) I also included several bits of vacuum cleaner history that I wrote back in 2005, and were in my files. As I said, after the trip to Indiana, I'll have all my Electrolux notes, books, instruction books, ads and so on. I really miss the patent books, but that'll have to wait.

I really had a lot of fun chatting about Electrolux, Kenmore, and so on. In my files is a report John Lucia did on the vacuum cleaners in the sears catalougs, starting with the non electric Dust Killer of 1909. (Pictured here.)

Thanks again.

Alex Taber.

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Alex, you were already high on my list of fellers I know I'd enjoy meeting in person and having a vacuum gabfest with but now you're shot up even higher in my admiration.

You drive and have a SUBARU!

Woo-hoo.

I'm on my 3 & 4th ones. Since the day I got my first one used years back I've been devoted to the brand.

Compact, entry level luxury, build quality, and then the tenacious mountain goat traction and reliabilitry in winter when outfitted with real Winter tires...

My current vehicles and as I say, 3rd & 4th are a 2006 Newport Blue over Graphite Outback XT turbo wagon and now my mid life crisis/retirement car, the Blackberry (officially Black Pearl with subtle ruby red undertone metalflake) Spaceboy Dreamship 1997 Subaru SVX Luxury Touring Coupe.

I know we have a member in St Louis that drives a Forester and please forgive me I am having a brainfart recalling his name...and I even stayed in his house for a few days. Oh, I am ashamed and embarrassed. :-(

Anyone else here drive Subarus? We should start a thread in Off Topic.

Dave

Photo from 2 days ago while tootling around town by the river in the sub zero weather. Like all Subarus, drives and handles like it's clamped to rails.

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Model 60 update....

well....I soaked the ejector release pin in penatrating oil for 3 days and it still broke off inside the housing! LOL So I am at a stand still on it till I can locate the pin and mechanism or a parts/donor 60. If anybody happens to have one they would like to sell, give me a shout. Thanks
 
Thank you Dave.

Great Suburu. But I can't tell, is that dark blue, or black?

Are you sure we have not met? Seems that I met you at the convention in 2009 that was held in Itasca, Illinois.

Alex Taber.
 
Alex, the SVX is black pearl with an all leather tan/sand interior. In sunlight there is a metallic undertone of ruby red that shimmers but does not turn the car red. Premium factory 3 stage process that all SVXs had regardless of colors. In 1997 this was a CN$42,000 car. Back then the Canadian dollar was worth about 65 cents American.

Due to work schedules the only Convention I have been able to attend was Minneapolis, since discovering and joining the club in 2007.
I will be in Milwaukee this coming June.

It's a matter that I am a trouble-shooting technical director/crew supervisor attending backstage while the shows are on, at a large 5 stage Repertory summer theatre where I've been employed going on 37 years. It is rarely possible to simply take a week or a few days off from my duties when others are depending on me, particularly as I bargained 9-10 consecutive weeks paid vacation about 10 years ago. Sweet deal I will not tamper with.
But, as I near the retirement years and have a large staff and Minnesota and Wisconsin are a relatively straight line from Stratford across Michigan to the Milwaukee ferry I pulled a few strings and called in flavors to persuade Management that I had earned this perk.
My other major hobby being mechanical Music Machines I have attended a few of their Conventions, also held in a different city every year around June/July but as it is in San Francisco this year, that's out of the question. I will not fly commercially and dang, that's a long drive. :-)

Dave[this post was last edited: 1/24/2013-20:45]

http://www.cars101.com/subaru_svx.html
 
Vacuun cleaners and musical theater.

Hi Dave, the love of theater and vacuum cleaner history are the two loves of my life. Not only was I blessed in knowing a great deal about vacuum cleaners, I was also privilaged to know at an early age, some of the most promonant people in musical theater. Icon's of the 50's and 60's, and singers of the most sucessfull shows of the time. But the icing on the cake, was that my family knew the real Maria Von Trapp. And yes, she did have an Electrolux!!!
 
"New" Electrolux XXX

I promised Alex Tabor (caligula) some time ago that I would post photos of my latest project. It's not completely finished, but here's what I have so far! I took an old Electrolux XXX that was a complete basket-case, not running, handle broken, metal tarnished/filthy, etc. I decided to completely re-work this machine over and see what I could do to bring new life back into it! I completely disassembled the vacuum and cleaned/sanitized it from one end to the other. I hand polished all of the shiny metal parts until they looked better, installed a brand new Ametek Lamb motor (1300 watts, slightly higher than the original 535 watt motor it had in it!), purchased paper bags to go in it (however I was able to salvage and clean the original cloth bag and after motor filter), bought a new hose for it, new handle and power cord for it, and decided to create a storage box for it.

I know the purists among us will cringe at this idea, but had I not saved this vacuum cleaner and rebuilt it as such, it was headed for a crusher at the dump, so while it may not be a perfect original machine, I am pleased at how it turned out. I'm still working on cleaning/polishing the original chrome accessories/tubes/etc. Thanks to Alex, I now have an air polisher that I will be putting in the box and I'm always on the look-out for XXX vacs and parts. Let me know what you all think! Thanks!

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Owner's Manual

I have an original owner's manual from 1950, but since I didn't want it damaged, I took the copy of the manual from VacuumLand website and created a "new" owner's manual to include in the box. Here's a close up of it along with some of the history of Electrolux, again thanks to Alex (caligula)!

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New Electrolux XXX

Wow!

The box looks fantastic, so does the XXX. Not only that but I love the coffee table.

The hose you sent is great, the suction is very powerful, now all I need are the wands, but that's a work in progress with another member.

I also like how you have a place for the instruction book.

Alex Taber.
 
My first LX...

I went to a neighbors house two days ago (actually my moms neighbor, two doors down from where I grew up) to help her pack for a move and she gave me her LX! My first LX. I was very thankful (appropriate for this time of year) to find the information on this site/thread and to receive a response from founder Mr. R. Alex Taber to my personal email. Thank you to all for such a great and informative website. Thank you, Alex, for the additional information in the form of your article “ The History of the Electrolux Corporation “. I will post more photos after I have cleaned the LX with windex and brasso. All I have done so far is dust it sufficiently to bring it in the house. I did manually test the ejection, it moves freely. I have not plugged it in yet. Happy Thanksgiving, Jeff.

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Nice neighbor, great looking Model LX.

Happy Thanksgiving to you too Jeff:

I have very happy memories of the days when all of us were posting hot and heavy on these early Electrolux's. Maybe we can get the experts to work their magic again and help you put this treasure to work for you.

As I suggested, get the instruction book, it will provide a wealth of information .

Alex Taber.
 
Ejector works, yay!!!

Jeff:

May I suggest not going with the Brasso, instead try Mothers polish, it will make the chrome sparkle. And try not to get it on the leatherette. Actually cleaning polishing these are super easy.

Glad to know the ejection system works, no surgery. Now make up a test wrapper (the correct term for the disposable bags of that time).

Attachments and optional tools are easy to find on eBay and I'll see what I can locate for you.

So read the posts here, soak up the info. as this thread has advice from the best minds of both Vacuumland and the V.C.C.C.

Oh, while I think of it. The name Caligula refers to the cat in the pic above. He was the only mascot the V.C.C.C. ever had, and it translates to 'little boots,' for the gold markings on his paws.
 
These old Electrolux's don't need much polishing,

to have them shine like a new penny. However, I see a slight dent, but once the you have the companion and tools in place that won't be noticed. Have you tested the motor yet? I'm interested to know if the bearings, etc. sound good.

Keep me posted,

Alex.
 

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