Olympia Model 1505

[rodknock95]

Does anyone have a picture of a actual Olympia Model 1505? I have seen the brown short motor housing power nozzles, but have yet to see a actual Olympia 1505

 

[s31463221]

I’m confused......

The Electrolux Model 1505 was commonly known as the Silverado. It was a gray body vacuum instead of brown like the Olympia One. The Olympia One was a model 1401B, and the “Special” Olympia was a 1453 model. The only exception I can think of that would lead a person to think otherwise would be if an Olympia One had been factory rebuilt during the Silverado run and was painted to match the Silverado, or if the wrong plate was installed on the wrong machine (a Silverado’s plate that shows model 1505 installed on an Olympia One). Do you possibly have any photos of the machine you’re referring to that might help clarify your question? I’ll include two photos here for reference. The first is the Olympia One (1401-B), the second is the Silverado (1505)......

 

[rodknock95]

According to what im seeing. There was a Olympia 1401, which is essentially a brown Super J. Then the 1401-B, that got a different handle arrangement, finned bumpers and bigger wheels. Then a 1505 Olympia that was brown and came with the brown short motor housing power nozzle. But the latter was a short run.

 

[human]

Olympia Power Nozzles...

I believe the early Olympias shipped with the same polished aluminum PN4 nozzle that came with the Super J. There may have briefly been a PN4 with full width motor housing that was painted brown but most of the brown PN4's I've seen in Olympia brown have been the short motor housing PN4A, which was also painted gray and used on the Silverado until it was replaced by the PN5, which was the first of the L-shaped 'Omniflow' nozzles. FWIW, the only difference between the PN4 and PN4A is the top cover. Personally, I feel like painting the PN4 was a bit of a mistake because they show their battle scars too much, especially the brown ones.

 

[paul]

The Olympia One, introduced in April 1979, underwent several changes or upgrades identified by three different model numbers:

1401 (April-c. Sept. 1979): Essentially a bronze-colored Super J with bronze-painted PN-4 power nozzle (as mentioned earliest ones had the original polished hoods)

1401-B: (c. Oct. 1979 - mid-1982): featuring wider wheels for shag carpeting; "fins" on the bumpers for smoother mobility around corners and edges; a vertical carrying handle & shortened horizontal carrying handle; in late 1980 or 1981 the hose was updated with a "cuff" by the handle grip (like the commercial ones), for extra durability.

1505: (mid-1982 - c. Sept. 1982): same as 1401-B but paired with the bronze-painted model PN-4A power nozzle (plastic versus metal inner bag door panel?) The successor of the Olympia One, the metallic gray Silverado Deluxe was also a model 1505 and was initially paired with the metallic gray PN-4A power nozzle, so the 1505 Olympia One simply reflected the transition between the two cleaners. It may have been that there was a delay in the introduction of the Silverado Deluxe.

The PN-4 (1977-82) has the full length motor housing, and the PN-4A (1982-83) has the partial-length motor housing which provides easier cleaning under low furniture.

________

The Olympia One was the official vacuum cleaner of the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, NY. Those cleaners sold around the event were marked with Olympics decals by the exhaust port including some Model 1401s and some 1401-Bs.

________

Why "Olympia ONE"? Because there initially was a Canadian-marketed "Olympia II" for a brief period, which was a straight suction cleaner (not sold with a power nozzle). It was identified as the Special Model 1453 in the U.S. and shortly after became (or was it an option?) the Deluxe Special Model 1453, when customer preference dictated a standard power nozzle rather than optional. Anyway, 1453s are almost always sold on eBay and elsewhere with power nozzles. The 1453 was similar in appearance to the Olympia One but noticeably different in that it lacked the automatic control shut-off function with the bag capacity dial setting, a rocker on/off switch, the chrome top panel, the bumper fins, the chrome hubcaps, and the horizontal carrying handle. The bag door was also styled differently. In addition, the cord winder was optional instead of standard. Some collectors have nicknamed it the "Olympia Special", but no company literature used the term. The 1453 was later painted in two successive color combos after the bronze line was discontinued. Electrolux Corp. retired the 1453 in 1987.

To top things off, there was also a briefly-marketed commercial "Special Model 1453" with a 3-wired power nozzle (model PN-4C).

The bronze line also included the Model CB commercial canister, the Model B-8 Polisher/Scrubber/Carpet Beautifier, and the brown and ivory-colored single brush Turbo Rug Washer.

I have three Olympia One user manuals copyrighted: 1979 (1401), 1979 (1401-B) & 1981 (1401-B). I'm unsure if there were 1980 or 1982 updates.

_________

Information credits: Doug Smith, Jimmy Martin, Tom Gasko, & John Anderson; along with my personal research

 

[rodknock95]

I have 2 1401-B's, one 1401 with the Olympic label, and a 1453, which came with a power nozzle. And a dozen other models, lol.

 

[paul]

Cool. So are you mainly into Electrolux USA 1980s cleaners? Since you have so many of bronze cleaners you may want to consider obtaining at least the B-8 and a brown & ivory Turbo Rug Washer to make your set more complete; if not a bronze-topped Model CB.

P.S. If you don't have the users manuals Aerus may be able to supply you with free pdf copies. The Deluxe Special Model 1453's is more rare than the Olympia Ones.

 

[rodknock95]

Would love to find any model CB2000. I started my collection recently and its grown quickly. My goal is to find every accessory for the Olympia and Silverado.

 

[rodknock95]

The collection so far

 

[completenutt]

I love the way you guys actually know this stuff!

Such wonderful and informative and enthusiastic responses!  Thanks for helping me have the dates I'll want to share with my friends who see my new trilogy of Olympia Ones.  I have the 1401 (still with the Super J handle), and just ordered a gorgeous, near mint 1401B yesterday or the day before, and just now ordered a seriously stunning 1453. 


 


I'll do a photo shoot and post some in week or two.


 


Olympia Ones really have become stand outs for me.

 

[paul]

Be patient, Blaze. They're out there. Beyond online sites, check out thrift stores, rummage sales, and estate sales.

The Olympia One & Silverado Deluxe tools aren't too difficult to find. I may have an Olympia One combination floor/carpet tool and a combination dusting brush/upholstery tool I'd sell you. Let me know if you want me to look.

Fyi, the Olympia One tools are more of a greige color compared to their ivory-colored Super J counterparts. The Silverado Deluxe's are gray. The brush plates that hold the brushes were painted the same color as the tank body from their introduction in 1954 to 1984. Since then, they've just been a coated metal.

 

[quebecois]

I found that 1453 model close to Quebec City, they are not very common up here.

 

[paul]

Nice! I have one, too, but with the cord wrap instead of the winder. Wish I had it.

I'm curious if yours is a Model 1452 or 1453. The Olympia II (I believe it was the Model 1452) was sold for a short time in Canada without the power nozzle. The 1453, sold with the power nozzle, was called the Deluxe Special Model and sold in the U.S. and maybe later in Canada.

 

[quebecois]

I bought it from a Quebecois who had lived for several years in the States, he bought this vac when he lived there, and then his wife got sick so he came back here a few years ago.

The number 1453 is stamped in the bag door, so I'm positive on it, unless someone changed the door...

 

[paul]

Ok, thanks. As far as I know the Olympia II was only sold in Canada; so if yours came from the States then it's likely a 1453.

I appreciate, though, your leaving the possibility of the door being changed, because I'm sure that kind of thing does happen; especially with power nozzle covers and bases. That's a slim possibility, though, with your cleaner.

 

[rodknock95]

1505 or 1401-B

So I seen a Olympia that came with the short hump power nozzle and thought for sure it would say 1505 for the model number. The inside of the bag door was plastic and it still said 1401-B. So Im assuming a little newer ones will say 1505, and still be the brown Olympia?

 

[paul]

While power nozzles were popular during the Olympia One-era, there were still some customers that may have opted for straight suction either for functional or financial reasons at the time of purchase. They may have later purchased a power nozzle after adding wall-to-wall carpeting or when they could afford it. Another possibility is that their original PN-4 was switched out with a PN-4A at some point due to a defect or upgrade.

Anyway, the model 1505 was mainly used with the model name 'Silverado Deluxe' from 1982 to 1984. The Olympia One 1505 was a transitional model (there may have been a delay in the launching of the Silverado Deluxe) that would have been produced for a few months in 1982 along with the brown PN-4A. The Silverado Deluxe was painted metallic gray, so the PN-4A's color was changed to match that.

Hope that helps. I didn't know that any or all of the 1401-B's inner bag door panels were plastic, so thanks for the education. Something more to research!

 

[rodknock95]

[No message]

 

[paul]

Thanks.