Needed a Little Sunshine at Tarantula Arms

[electrolux~137]

And there's an even rarer chrome-plated version that was a salesman's award. I've only seen photos of this, don't have one darnit! It's faaaaaaaaabulously gorgeous!!!

 

[kirbyvertibles]

I have never seen that color of green on the b8. I love that it matches the G. The only green one I've seen was the 1205 mate with darker green.

 

[electrolux~137]

There were two different versions of the turquoise or light-green machine. The first was the B7, with the long T-handle that the B7 had. The second was the B8 with a folding handle made of thinner-tubing chrome-plate.

Here's the earlier B7, photos taken eons ago.......

("Pay no attention to the man with the red clown hair!")

 

[electrolux~137]

[No message]

 

[electrolux~137]

The B7 came in three colors:

— white & gray (matched the Model F, 1959)

— chromeplated (special award model, 1959)

— light turquoise (matched the Model G, 1960)


The B8 came in five colors:

— light turquoise (matched Model G, 1961)

— dark turquoise (matched the 1205, 1968)

— gold (matched the Golden Jubilee, 1974)

— brown (matched the Olympia, 1978)

— slate gray (matched the Silverado, 1982)


I've never seen a B8 in any other color. I'm pretty sure the slate gray color was carried from the Silverado through the 1521 series (1984-88) until the plastic Diplomat came out in 1989 and a new plastic floor polisher - rug beautifier came out with it.

Thereafter, Electrolux made plastic-body machines that are lighter in weight. Which, with a floor polisher, is not a good thing. The newer models are nowhere nearly as fast or efficient as the older "cast iron" machines.

 

[compactelectra]

Charles

I have used a lot of polishers in my day including Regina, Shetland and Hoover. You are right, there is nothing like a B8 for polishing floors. The heft is just right to polish (with the brushes) and then buff (with the pads) to really doll up a paste waxed floor. I love the old Hoovers, but they just don't have the weight to do the job. In all the things I have tried, Butchers Paste Wax with the B8 can't be beat. Here is the instruction manual that came with the B8 shown above back in 1976. Still going strong. This thing has been shampooing carpets (when I still did that) and polishing and buffing floors for almost 40 years. My housekeeper Geneva used this gold B8 in the 70's in Chicago and then in the 2000's in St. Charles when I moved back and she was in her 70s. A lot of memories. Glad I kept it.

http://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/00ShowCollectionGETD.cgi?dir=/OWNERS_MANUALS/Lux B8 Polisher

 

[compactelectra]

And To Go Along With It

The instruction manual for the Super J. A lot of good memories. And a damn good machine. I'll take pictures of all of the series of the era (Super J, L, Upright and B8) together when I get a chance.

http://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/00ShowCollectionGETD.cgi?dir=/OWNERS_MANUALS/Lux Super J

 

[luxg]

Thanks for posting that manual Fred! I also have the B8. I wonder if you can still buy the Tile and terrazzo floor polish?

 

[electrolux~137]

I love the 1970s big-hair-country-singer hairstyle on the lady in the polisher manual!! And dig that smart polyester pants-suit outfit!!

 

[aeoliandave]

Charles and all other USA folks.

Does this mean that the Canadian folding handle triple pad B Series Shampoo/Polishers with cordwinder retractor drum surrounding the motor were exclusive to Canada?

This is the 1961 B-20 matching the red ZB 83/86/88

 

[aeoliandave]

The green 1967 B-21 for the 87/89.

 

[aeoliandave]

The B model continued virtually unchanged, except for the hood trim strip, throughout the AP Series in colors to match.

The 1973 B-22

 

[aeoliandave]

Three CanLux polisher shampooers spanning the ZB83 red BX-10 to AP 280 B in brown.

 

[electrolux~137]

That is correct Herr ÆolianDave, we never had that style of floor & rug conditioner here. I've seen a couple here and there, at thrift shops etc.

btw, the first electric Electrolux polisher to be sold in the U.S. was the B6, which was also manufactured & sold in the UK, Canada, Sweden, Germany etc. It was designed in 1944 by Raymond Loewy. It was olive green with black accents. The brushes were reversed from the later models, e.g., the single brush was in the front and the two other brushes in the back. I had one once upon a time but it's long gone.

I googled for a pic of one but nothing came up.

 

[aeoliandave]

Lastly, a 1980s cream & burgundy Model 20101-A Special Edition which de-contents the cordwinder for cast hooks on the handle.

 

[aeoliandave]

The BX 10 Chrome triple polisher shown in the 1953 Mechanical Maid Electrolux manual.

 

[aeoliandave]

This was a chance shriek-worthy find in a very small town junk shop. I almost fainted.

 

[electrolux~137]

"B10"

Lovely, pretty much identical to the aforementioned B6 (which was made in Sweden btw) except for the color scheme.

 

[electrolux~137]

btw the B6 and the B10 have a long, flat serpentine belt that winds around the three brushes and the motor shaft. The belt is about an inch wide and 1/8" thick. When you run the polisher, you'll notice that the brushes do not spin in the same direction as with the B7 and B8 and, I'd presume, the later Canadian machines as well.