My partner brought home a great find

[caligula]

Hi guys.

This afternoon my partner Ira went to clean out one of the storage bins he has, and casually mentioned tonight " I brought home an old vacuum cleaner for you, it's still in my truck!" "What brand?" I asked, do you know?" "Not sure what it is, but it's a dark colored Electrolux!" Now My ears really perked up. "On wheels or on a sled?" "A sled!"

What I brought in is an Electrolux XXX with ages of dirt on it, but when I get it cleaned up.

As it has the round runners, saloon doors on the exhaust end, companion (ride on tool holder) and cord winder; my guess is about 1948. On the dust bag, there are patent numbers but the ones in my patent book for the companion, cord winder, and power polisher are not listed, but are mentioned on the bag as optional equipment. So the patents were still pending at the time the vacuum cleraner was sold! It also has two filters, one old, one new. the older one was inside the dust bag. My guess is it was his mothers vacuum cleaner and was stored away. It's quite a find guys.

As I post this the front cover assembly, and rear assembly (where the filter goes) are soaking. I checked, and what I thought was rust is only dirt. Thank God! I haven't tested the power yet, as we run a residence hotel I don't want to chance throwing a circut breaker. However the plug is original and the cord seems to be okay, and yes, the cord winder works! Ira is great with electrical stuff and if there are any motor problems, our man Friday, Chad can fix those.

I'm on the look-out for a hose, wands and tools, but let's get this puppy checked out first.

With a little work this machine might just be the start of a new collection, however, I still want my stuff from storage.

Tonight Alex Taber is one happy man!

 

[caligula]

Purrs like a kitten

Hi guys!
This morning I plugged in the Elextrolux XXX and it had that nice Electrolux sound. Suction is fantastic, and it will look great when I'm finished cleaning it.

This morning my partner said. "And to think that I was going to throw it away!"

I was wrong, it was not his mothers vacuum cleaner, she used a Kirby.

I'm still a happy man!

Alex Taber

 

[gottahaveahoove]

That's a great

story. It's always nice when someone thinks like this.

 

[caligula]

It's a work in progress.

When I brought in my new find, the old Electrolux model XXX I expected to clean off the dirt and maybe have a rather dull finish on the chrome. Tonight I used a basic metal polish and couldn't believe the look. Yes there are scratches, but the shine is awesome. I only did one side so I can post before and after pictures.

Now all I need are vintage tools. Here is what I need. Gray cloth Hose with standard ends, two steel wands, dusting brush, floor brush, rug nozzle, and narrow space tool (crevice tool). I could also use the white bristle dusting and bare floor tools, spray gun and moth crystal thingy. As I said, the cord winder and the companion were with it.

This Electrolux has great suction and the motor sounds ok too.

A very happy, Alex Taber

 

[hygiene903]

Congratulations, Alex!

The XXX has always been one of my favorite Luxes. My Mom had one when I was growing up. Unfortunately, the one in my collection isn't hers, because it was traded in for a 966 Electro-Hygiene tank (which I do have in my collection) when I was selling Electro-Hygienes in 1974. And the XXX was probably Mom's all time favorite vacuum. She never liked the EH as well as the Lux and tried several other machines hoping to find something she did like as well as the XXX, including a Filter Queen 350 and Hoover 858 Constellation (both of which I have in my collection), but nothing suited her as well as the Lux XXX!
Sounds like your XXX and mine are both from about the same year, as mine also has the saloon doors and round runners, but still has the 475 watt motor. I bought it on ebay about 3 years ago and it was complete with all attachments (even the sprayer, vaporizer, and companion) and also had extra filters in the original box. The hose and dusting brush were both replacements but I eventually found an original dusting brush cheap on ebay, as well as a cord winder and polisher.
Speaking of which, it shouldn't take you long to get a set of attachments rounded up. Seems like Lux XXX attachments are on ebay quite frequently, and they usually go pretty reasonable. Finding an original hose will probably be the hardest part.
Jeff

 

[caligula]

I really love the old uprights

Thanks for the nice words Jeff:

The machines I really love are the old uprights like the Apex, Bee-Vac, Cadilac, Electro-Hygiene, Energex, Eureka, Franz Premier, General Elecric, Health-Mor, Hotpoint, Kirby, Regina, Royal, Torrington, Universal and others. As for my favorite tanks, Air-Way, Electrolux, General Electric and Modern Hygiene. Of the Electrolux models I like the LX best because of style, design and of course the ejection system. As a historian I also love the Non-Electric machines of the mid to late 1800's, in fact I own several of them.

As a kid growing up in Connecticut I often took the train into New York and it went right past the Electrolux factory, what a treat!

This Electrolux XXX really is sweet! purrs like a kitten, has fantastic suction and will be a joy to use. And as I work in a hotel, it will get a lot of use.

I'll keep you posted on when I get the hose and tools, I understand there are a few vacuum cleaner shops in the area, I will keep you posted on tha too.

Again, thanks for the nind words,

Alex Taber

 

[hygiene903]

You're Welcome, Alex!

I love the old uprights too, and have more of them in my collection than tanks or cannisters. Some of my favorite uprights are Electro-Hygiene, Royal, Kirby, and Hoover. Tank favorites include Electrolux, Electro-Hygiene, Royal, Airway, and of course, the Kenmore "torpedo" tank. Favorite cannisters include Hoover Constellation, Filter Queen, Lewyt, and Westinghouse. My favorite Electrolux models are the XXX, AE, and G.
Do you have any information on Apex or Regina? One of my oldest uprights is a Rotarex, which was made by Apex. Runs great ans still has the original cloth cord in excellent condition. I also have two Reginas, models 39 and 59. The 39 runs like new, the 59 needs work. Sure would like to find out just when these machines were built.
Would I be correct to assume you grew up in (or near) Greenwich, CT if the train went past the Electrolux plant? I have cousins who have lived in Connecticut since the early 60's, near Hartford. First they lived in Thompsonville, then Enfield, and currently live in Somers.
Jeff

 

[caligula]

Wallingford!

Hi Jeff: I was a very lucky boy, my grandfather was the House Director for a boys school called Choate, now Choate/Rosemary Hall. His job was to hire the staff to clean the classrooms, dorm rooms and all public buildings; he also bought the vacuum cleaners! There were two salesmen that he dealt with, one was a Kirby guy, the other worked for Electrolux. He encouraged my interest and often let me into the store rooms where the discarded Hoovers, Electrolux's and Kirby's were kept. One Saturday he brought home a brand new Electrolux. This was their first commercial, the C-A. I got to clean my room with it. By the way, this was the only wet/dry model Electrolux ever made.

In case you are wondering, my birthdate is September 2, 1950. The same guy who sold to my grandfather all those XXX's and a few model XX's, sold our neighbor one of the first model LX machines in 1952. This was the very machine that started my interest. I've been hooked on Electrolux ever since. In my collection I have the models V, X1, X11, XX, XXX, LX, LXI, E, AE, L, G, 1205 and a newly acquired C-A. (not shipped to me yet.) My first paying job was with Electrolux, selling the 1205, but I later joined Kirby as a training manager.

If you have any more questions just ask me.

Alex Taber.

 

[caligula]

My Electrolux Model XXX just got a baby brother.

The latest Electrolux find.

This afternoon our handyman Chad was working in the basement and he brought up an Electrolux model L. It appears to be from 1968 as it has the pistol grip hose that went with the models L and 1205. A few months ago we found a B-8 polisher dated around the same time. Like it's big brother the model XXX, the model L purrs like a kitten.

God knows what other treasures are down there, but as my partner bought the building almost 20 years ago, there must be a vacuum cleaner gold mine in the various storage rooms.

Once again Alex Taber is a happy man!

 

[hygiene903]

Congratulations Your Latest Find!

The L is another great machine and had quite a long run if I remember right, sold alongside both the G and the 1205. Looking forward to seeing pics of both the XXX and L when you have a chance to post them. Again, Congratulations!
Jeff