Odd Early Electrolux Accessory

[jadney]

When I was young, my mother had an Electrolux XXX with all the usual attachments. But there was also a very unusual attachment that I barely remember. It was an attachment that was made to hold moth balls and blow the vapor into areas where wool clothing was stored. I don't have much of a mental picture of it after all these years, but I THINK it may have had a glass jar to hold the moth balls. I don't think my mom ever used it.

Unfortunately that vacuum, and all of its accessories, was sold when my folks moved out of their house.

Does anyone remember this accessory? Got a photo?

If I'm wrong about the mothball accessory having a glass jar, was there some other Electrolux accessory with a glass jar? Got a photo of that?

thanks,

 

[vacuumlad1650]

The glass jar accessory was a sprayer. You could spray anything from floor polish and paint, to shampoo and other cleaners.

The mothimizer was metal. I have one at home, I will take some pictures once I return tonight.

 

[completenutt]

Here you go..

Gorgeous,  thoughtful,  and useful attachments from my favorite brand!

 

[unconscious]

mothimizer - vaporiser

It's not the first vacuum cleaner I see having a moth killing related attachment. I'm pretty sure I've seen a few other brands having similar tools. What would vapour creating moth balls of that era be made of?

I remember that Zyklon B was used as moth killer for a while in the early 20th century, before the nazis used it for sth else. How safe is such wardrobe vaporising anyway? Always been interested in that. Anyone?

 

[completenutt]

Owner's manual doesn't list ingredients.

You're right, most likely it was toxic earlier on.   But let's hope they changed the formula by the 50s!


 


And, yes, other brands like Lewyt had similar attachments.

[this post was last edited: 8/26/2018-13:26]

 

[electrolux137]

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Originally, moth balls and crystals were made of n<span class="st">aphthalene. When that compound proved to be highly carcinogenic, a new material called </span><span class="st"><span class="ILfuVd yZ8quc NA6bn">paradichlorobenzene was substituted. The two compounds smell totally different.
</span></span>


 


<span class="st"><span class="ILfuVd yZ8quc NA6bn"><span class="st">(</span></span></span><span class="st"><span class="ILfuVd yZ8quc NA6bn"><span class="st">N<span class="st">aphthalene is </span>now on the list of products classified by the E.P.A. as carcinogenic and in California is prohibited from being transported via U.S. mail and shipping carriers.)</span></span></span>


 


<span class="st"><span class="ILfuVd yZ8quc NA6bn">Both types of moth balls (and moth crystals) work with vacuum cleaners in the same way: They are placed into some sort of receptacle that is connected to the exhaust (blower end). When the hot exhaust from the motor hits them, it vaporizes them and creates a gas that is deadly to moths and some other flying insects. </span></span>


 


<span class="st"><span class="ILfuVd yZ8quc NA6bn">The gas has to be contained in some sort of enclosure. Electrolux had a rubberized fabric bag called the "Garment-aire Bag" that you could hang your firs and woolens in, then the hose from the vacuum cleaner was attached to a port at the bottom, then the other end was connected to the blower.</span></span>


 


<span class="st"><span class="ILfuVd yZ8quc NA6bn">By the way, have you smelled moth balls? Really? How did you get his tiny legs apart?!</span></span>

 

[kirbylux77]

Unconscious

You just HAD to bring up the Nazis & Zyklon B, now didn't you?!

No offence, but next time you should think before you post & be just a bit more sensitive to other member's feelings. I know there are AT LEAST 2 Jewish members on this site, possibly more, & I personally am dating a Jewish man right now. There's a pretty good chance these members may have lost family members during the Holocaust in the concentration camps, or they know other Jewish people who did lose family members during that time. I don't think they would want ANY reminder of what Hitler & the Nazis put them thru.


Rob

 

[hygiene903]

Demothing Units

It's also interesting the different names that were used by vacuum cleaner companies for their demothing units. Electrolux called theirs a vaporizer, Hoover had the Mothimizer, Lewyt's was the snufficator, Regina had the Reginerator, Kirby's was the crystalator, AirWay had the whirl-away demother, and Filter Queen had the Jet Demother. Unless anyone else can add to this, I'll just assume the rest of the manufacturers just called theirs a demother.
Jeff

 

[seijun]

Has anyone tried using the Sprayer attachment? I assume it just sprays automatically once the vacuum is turned on (no way to control the flow other than turning the vacuum off).

 

[electrolux137]

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On the later sprayers with the Bakelite top, there's a thumb-screw on the top of the nozzle to control the flow of paint.

 

[dysonman1]

Air-Way and Electrolux had the moth ball (crystals) vaporizing attachments earliest. Both by 1928.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

The old closets in our house had 'springs' in them

which held moth balls. My late mother always used the Snow white moth crystals... she'd even pick them up in the Hoover.
Hoover also sold the 'mothmizer' attachment. The old manuals taught how to 'remover the bag, attach, seal the closet, etc... and turn on the cleaner...."
I never heard of that awful Zyklon B used for anything but for that horrendous use in WW-II. I shudder to think about it now.
However, the Snow White can of crystals, (orange and black) did a nice job. I still have a large canister of it.

 

[unconscious]

kirbylux77

Sorry to offend anyone! I actually lost a great chunk of my family tree during those horrendous events as I am actually 100% Polish through and through. Didn't mean to upset anybody, just genuinely confused and curious.

 

[kenkart]

I look at it diffrently...Think guys

If we don't talk frankly and openly about things, good and bad, the younger generation will never know about things like Zyklon B, There are still groups denying that these atrocities ever happened, But slavery happened too, and people talk of that, I don't think the poster was being disrespectful in any way, just making a comment, I for one want to learn every detail of WW2 , because my Dad fought in the Marine Corps in that war, If we forget history we are doomed to repeat it,and with the current state of rascism and white supremacy being exhibited in this country, we better be talking about things!Faeit, their are people in politics right now calling for death for Gays, Atrocities can happen again!