So lightweight and convenient of all Electrolux models
My parents still have theirs down in the basement as the basement vac. I did get them a new cloth bag as the other finally developed holes and my Dad had duct tape over the holes! I’ll likely get them a new hose for it as that’s been replaced twice now but a plastic or rubber one would do better as the current is leaking. I have the dusting brush upholstery tool for it somehow, think I took it when I got my Silverado which had a generic one which quickly broke and my Dad had several others he could use. The rug and floor tool tool got swapped with one from a 1205 we had obtained for a while and have to my Aunt who needed something easier than an old heavy Hoover and she ended up with the gray S rug and floor tool.
I replaced the stiff black cord with a Silverado era gray ge June Electrolux cord in the mid 80s. The old black one was ok but just stiff because I think it was some sort of cheaper plasticky rubber that had hardened over time.
We’ve replaced the switch at least two or three times...when I was little it was Moms regular vacuum. When the switch was going out the first time I remember it sparking and it was scary. I wasn’t using the vacuum but Mom was and kept complaining to my Father it wouldn’t stay on and sparks were coming from the switch. The second time we replaced it we didn’t have the sparking issue but you’d have to wiggle it to get it to stay on so my Father, having replaced it before, got a new one and we did it together...one of the earliest vacuum repair jobs I started with. Last Christmas I went to use the S to vacuum the carpeted basement stairs and floors and it wouldn’t start. I reached in the bag compartment with a screw driver and turned the motor fan slightly then tried it again and it started up. I think the motor is getting loose as it vibrates terribly when it’s winding down after switching off. After all these years at my Grandmother’s first until 1960!when it went to my parents first apartment, the second, then to their new house and then became the basement, workshop and car vacuum which it still is today...it’s still going. My Dad wanted to throw it away a couple of years ago but I told him absolutely not.
I really like this model because it’s so light and short. Easy to use on steps and for the cars due to its weight and size and is even great for quick clean ups nowhere you want a canister vacuum.
We had a problem once where the fans started disintegrating and on a quick turn of it all of the sudden it was coughing and shooting bits of twisted chopped up metal out the back of it! It was quite the scene. I took it all apart to find the fan blades had been worn down and were breaking off likely due to bits of dirt passing through from the cloth bag with holes in it. Probably gravel and sand was getting through the hole in the bag from using it to clean the car. There was always lots of sand in the car from the rough winters in NJ. I ordered new fans from the Electrolux store but they were all too thin and wide, I gave up and in the meantime acquired a model E and found it used the same fans so put those in to the S and then I visited our original Electrolux mans house when he was closing his store to buy some parts for other vacs as he had things discounted and told him about the issues and we found that the model E had the same fans but now I had this E that needed fans...he said how about we go back into the garage and see what I’ve got. He had tons of used Electrolux vacuums in the garage and I ended up trading the E for a nice used Gold Model L which now my Sister has.
So the model S has survived with replaced switches, bags, cord, motor fans, hoses...I don’t think anything else could go except the motor and handle now! The wheels are actually quite sturdy on this model compared to the model R and L wheels which were more prone to breakage.
Well I must get back to vacuuming...took a break. Using my usual Silverado today.