My New Aerus Vacuums - Part 2

[kirbyloverdan]

That Kirby rumor

was started by Tom he told me it was on its way and all that ever came out was the Sentria II .

The new fresh era is an excellent light weight vacuum . You know there are always rumors about every product made not just vacuums .

Dan

 

[dysonman1]

Many do not know this but: all manufacturers share their new vacuums with each other. Several years ago, I took a group of collector friends to the 'vaults' at Tacony's engineering department. Rows upon rows of new cleaners. Most without serial numbers, as they were never for sale, and sent before they were launched to the public.

Working for a major manufacturer, and having helped with the design of the three new models coming from Tacony this year, I can say with total certainty that it takes as long as two years to prep a new model for launch. From design, to field testing of the prototypes, to ordering the VERY expensive tooling for injection molding, to the Marketing Department's long process of preparing photos and brochures, then sales has to weigh in on 'how' it's going to be sold, then boxing has to be created and drop and stress testing done, as well as life testing. It's a long, drawn out process.

The Generation Three was actually in life testing in people's homes while the Legend was being sold as the new cleaner.

Many years ago, when I was President of the VCCC, we went to Filter Queen's headquarters as well as Kirby. At Filter Queen, we saw the prototype of the Dyson-designed Filter Queen Cyclonic. At Kirby, John Lochner (head of engineering) took us into the Engineering Room and demonstrated what will be the Avalier to our group. The G5 had just come into production at that time. Mike Pletcher took some great shots of myself and Clay Floyd using the Avalier.

 

[luxman107]

Tom, ,makes sense now about the capture and the power to the sidekick. To bad they don't make the dry lux anymore. It would be a great addition to my platinum,

 

[luxman107]

You are absolutely right Dan about product rumors. Look at any of the Apple products. Talking about major rumors.

 

[electromatik]

The FreshEra also has features the others do not. It has an LED headlight, 5 layer filtration, variable speed motor, and a long warranty. The Hoover Signature doesn't much look like the new FrehEra, I wonder if it's still the same manufacturer?

 

[scvacuumguy]

I seriously doubt that the new Fresh Era is made anywhere near the Hoover Signature. It looks to be too nice. I'll try to slip by and check it out in the next couple of days and find the mfg origin. Lindhaus still uses a power nozzle on both uprights and canisters that is adaptable to dry cleaning the carpet. I sold two today based on the fact that they both offer that feature.

Tom, I'll have to check out the platinum when I get to St. Louis in a few months for our get-together!

 

[kirbyloverdan]

The Fresh era is manufactured by

TTI made in China same as Hoover and Royal .

Dan

 

[kirbyloverdan]

Second

Bag and zero dust in the canister or on the Hepa filter .Plus my home is very low dust like I am using the Rainbow E Onyx .

I'm really loving my Aerus ...


Dan

 

[luxman107]

Me too Dan. Just checked my forth new bag today. Probably about 3/4's full, no dust at all leaking through. Use it daily.

 

[luxman107]

Any word about the scents for the platinum being out yet?

 

[kirbyloverdan]

Mike

nothing yet I have been rather busy so I haven't called my Aerus guy yet .

Dan

 

[dysonman1]

Agree with Dan

Aerus Vice President, Rich Luisi, sent me the Platinum Edition that I have. He actually sent me a new one of each model Aerus currently makes, for our Museum display. I use the Platinum at home (I actually purchased one for my house - the ones sent to the Museum were donated). With the new bags, I've had NO problems with dust leakage or bag breakage. Just to be on the safe side, I cut open a Simplicity True HEPA bag, cut out a square of the bag material, and put it between the pre-motor HEPA filter and the back of the Aerus bag. The white bag material is still clean after three bags, as is my Pre-motor HEPA filter. I'm completely pleased with the new Platinum Edition, I have no complaints. I did put the green bristle brush roller in my Power Nozzle, I feel it picks up dog hair better and leaves the carpet more 'well groomed'.

Now if only I could get my Dan to stop using the Miele Salsa and use the Aerus. He doesn't care for vacuums in general or canisters in particular. He's quite hard on them, just like any other member of the public. He won't even turn off the brush roller of the Miele to clean the kitchen floor - say's "It's too much trouble". As long as he vacuums and the house is clean when I get home, he can use what ever he wishes.

As for me, I'll stick with my Platinum Edition.

 

[luxman107]

Is the green brush rolls easy to come by Tom? Is it easy for a mechanical klutz like me to change out? It is a genuine Aerus/lux part.
Thanks

 

[cc]

Does anyone know if there is a way to order the scent packages from different countries? They seem available lots of other places.
ALSO I AM DUST FREE AS WELL.

 

[dysonman1]

@luxman

I got my green bristle brush roller from Rich Luisi directly. They were sold ten years ago - so it's a "new old stock" (NOS) part. I feel that the stiff green bristles, combined with absolutely no space between the brush tufts (or "fully tufted" as GE used to advertise) cleans beautifully. It makes the Power Nozzle "self propelled" and grooms very well. While it makes the nozzle slightly louder, I feel that the vastly improved cleaning ability is worth it. I don't know if any more are available.

In all honesty, the Aerus power nozzle is actually very easy to work on. The screws are removed from the bottom, which allows the top cover to come off. A single set screw on each side of the brush roller, holds the brush roller bearing/end cap in place, so it's very easy to change your own brush roller.

The picture is of my partner, Dan, with my new Platinum Edition and a 1937 Pre-War model XXX (30) Electrolux. It's probably the only time he's used it. I do vacuum with it - on my day off from work. Otherwise, he's using the Miele Salsa - his personal favorite.

 

[mark40511]

Chemicals in the scents

I worry about that too ........ Even though I love the smell of the Genuine Rexair scents, I use essential oil in my rainbow, it doesn't foam either. Amazingly, some of the Rexair scents FOAM which isn't good for the machine. In my Areus, I put some essential oil on a cotton ball and suck it into the bag.....I think it may help kill anything growing in there.

 

[luxman107]

Thanks Tom. Love your wealth of information. Awesome picture of Dan with than and now luxes. Probably the two best machines ever made

 

[luxman107]

BTW, that GE roll easy in the background looks awesome. If I ever get out to Mo, I could probably spend days in your museum

 

[dysonman1]

Luxman107

The Vacuum Cleaner Museum is open six days per week, Monday through Saturday, 9 to 5. Admission to the Museum is free. If you come Monday through Thursday, I can also take you up to the factory floor for a tour. You can see a Tacony vacuum cleaner built from the ground up. The Museum is a resource for ALL vacuum collectors - while we get thousands of visitors every year from all over the world, we tend to get mostly very young vacuum collectors. Brought to the Museum by their parents. I always encourage the parents to encourage their children's hobby. Mine did. I grew up to become a successful vac shop owner, and now I'm the curator of the Vacuum Cleaner Museum. Without their support and encouragement, I might have just become a chef instead.

Like Charles Lester, Electrolux is one of my all time favorite models. Aerus has done a great job continuing the legacy of great vacuums. I believe I have one of every model they've ever built. Come by anytime and I'll show them all to you. The Museum is interactive, so you can plug in and try out every machine in the Museum if you wish. We also have an EXTENSIVE library of instruction manuals and brochures for all brands.

 

[luxman107]

That's awesome Tom. Thanks.. Will for sure take you up on that offer some time.. Thank you

 

[electromatik]

It's amazing how we accept everything we read on here as fact. The member dysonman1 has directly contradicted everything funeraldirector has said. Funeraldirector said he PERSONALLY SPOKE with Joe Urso himself and was told a new upright was and new power nozzle was being designed. Funeraldirector claims Urso told him the Platinum was designed by Aerus and Lux together. Dysonman1 has reported otherwise. It really makes one wonder what to believe. I'm not sure I can believe any of it now. There will be no new Aerus upright this month. I will now only believe what I read on the company website. LOL

 

[dysonman1]

You could always call Rich yourself. He's the Vice President of Sales for North America. He's in Georgia. Google him, and pick up the phone. NO NEW UPRIGHT! The Platinum Edition is here ONLY because Derreck Fricke and I talked to Rich about it at the VDTA (vacuum dealer's trade association) Convention in New Orleans. It's actually that simple.

 

[electromatik]

By the way dysonman1:

I didn't mean anything hateful or rude by what I said. I'm just noting the contradictory info we've seen written here. I didn't mean to direct any negative vibes toward you or your statements.

 

[GM1982]

agree, I don't think there is a new upright, It was all chatter. I will believe it when I see it. I have the Guardian Upright, its good vac, some flaws. However, I am not a vac shop owner or claim to be a big vacuum buff... but I can tell you there are better options than the Guardian Upright for the price.

 

[pr-21]

Aerus new upright.......

Normally they do match the upright to the canister when changed. I would at least think that would happen. I have had the Lux uprights before including the one they have now, which I gave as a present to my cousin. I like the L shaped power nozzles for getting into tight spaces I would normally have to use an upholstery tool....For a long while Aerus did nothing as far as research and developement. Hardly even did a color change. I think that hurt them until bringing out the Guardian Platinum. As other people have mentioned, there are a few issues, but overall I really like it. One new thing I have noticed is the bumper on the power nozzle is black and I have white woodwork. I am getting a mark along my woodwork since using the Guardian Platinum. Checked the bumper and there is a small nub (bump) on one side, which I will file down. Not sure if it is due to the nub or just that it is black....I have the Lux Classic in the latest white color and it has not put a mark on my woodwork...I always check for this when I get new machines so I know it isn't from any of my previous vacuums. This might not be noticable if your woodwork is dark or stained.....

PR-21

 

[dysonman1]

I would love to see Aerus design a completely new upright. The only problem is that the cost to tool up to make it, plus the engineering cost to design it, are extremely prohibitive for a company that's no longer 'at the top of their game'. If there were still legions of salesmen going door to door, if they were still selling thousands per week, it would be a different story.

 

[funeraldirector]

Aerus Platinum

Electromatik,


My conversation a few months back in regards to the Guardian Platinum was with Kevin Hickey who is now the President of Aerus and started with Lux back in Old Greenwich if memory serves me. This is not the first time they have looked at or partnered with Lux International. They were considering introducing an American version of the Lux-1 as early as 2003 as one was in the Dallas office of their chief engineer when one of the guys I worked with at the time had seen it. He went down to Dallas to purchase his franchise which is since closed. I had this same discussion with Andy Eide about bringing a Lux-1 style machine to North America at the convention in Manhattan in 2003, which would have required some engineering changes to the cordwinder and front cover as well as powerplant. Andy is still the chief engineer. They re-visited this idea again around 2005 or so and were going to bring the Ecolux 8000 steamer to market here. It was about this time I think that the development process began on the Intelligence. I was told it took six years and was a joint effort by both companies, with the North American introduction delayed a couple of years due to the exchange rate with the euro. Lux USA does supply Lux AG with Floorpros sold in South America. However, the Intelligence/Platinum is entirely produced in eastern europe and Lux USA spends little on R&D so what does this tell us?

The last two remaining 48011 green HPO brush roller assemblies in Aerus FOAS were located for me by Tim Vadnay who oversees parts and warranty for Aerus. I have known Rich Luisi for many years as well and spoke at length with him after Tom suggested he might still have one laying around. He too said this development process took six years but I did not get into a great discussion about how this unit came into existence.

It has been a while since I spoke with Joe Urso. Most of what I was told is from those above mentioned. A new updated power nozzle was said to be in the works due to its 30 year old design and noise when partnered with the Platinum. We have some great stuff coming I believe was the quote. The new Guardian upright I heard is a new blackish color like the Platinum power nozzle cover. The original rumor about a re-designed upright came from Lux up here in New England.

At the end of day I think Tom is probably right on as we have talked about this a couple times recently when he took time to answer several questions I had about the Lux Intelligence and purchasing a 2013 Rainbow to poo my berber carpets. In twelve years with Lux I learned never to take anything at face value.

Did anyone else notice the Aerus logo on Tom's machine is between the switches not on the stainless cover? I like it better.

Brian

 

[GM1982]

dysonman1

very true.... where I live in New York, a little research, and I discovered four locations closed in the last several years. I would actually call the numbers on the website, and turns out the location is no longer in business. Seems they are trying to make a comeback, but I feel its very closeted and unknown compared to the competition from Sebo, Miele & Tacony. The Platinum is a nice stride, but they are loosing focus and trying to profit from air purifier and water purification sales; some which are basically re-baged Blue Air purifiers, that are marked up ridiculously.

 

[dysonman1]

@Brian

VERY good eye. I'll be the first to admit Aerus knew about the vacuums of Lux International. Rich was familiar with the machine when I first spoke about it with him. But the company, at least to my knowledge at the time, was not considering having it designed for our voltage for U.S. sales. Two things occurred at the same time at the VDTA convention in New Orleans. Perfect was launching their copy of the plastic bodied Lux. And Rich Luisi flew to New Orleans to attend the convention and see the Vacuum Museum display. Derreck Fricke, Evan Rogers, and I had the opportunity to speak to him at length (several hours) about the need for a new model as the Perfect copy made the Guardian Ultra redundant. Derreck had personal knowledge of the Lux Intelligence. Two weeks after the convention, Rich called and spoke to me at length once again about the machine. He told me they were having prototypes sent with the new control board. My Platinum Edition came directly from Rich Luisi to my hands. I believe that without the 'kick start', the Platinum may very well not be the current new model. Or perhaps it would have happened anyway. I do know that Rich's new-found excitement over the Intelligence (which became our Platinum) get the ball rolling very fast.

 

[electromatik]

Thank you funeraldirector. I was in no way trying to accuse you of being a liar. I hope you believe that. It appears to me that the European Lux was adapted by Aerus to the U.S. market and little more. I don't mind that because the two companies share engineering and other projects all the time. I would feel a lot better if Aerus wouldn't abandon U.S. manufacture. I would hate to see them become yet another brand that slaps thier name on other companies' vacs. I hope that goes some way toward explaining my own biases. I hope it remains a company that can come up with it's own products. I hope we do see some new introductions in VACUUM CLEANERS. I don't really like all these tangents Aerus is going down. I guess we should be glad that the Platinum is here because many are saying it's a runaway success. Most of the comments on the Aerus youtube video are positive-people love it.