One owner doesn't guarantee excellent condition!

[mjhoshaw]

I recently acquired another Electrolux 1205 because it looked really clean in the images, came with extra tools, and the seller stated that it was a one-owner machine. I thought great, one owner, it hasn't been passed around and probably was taken very good care of. Attached are images of what I found inside. I think at least a little water entered the motor because the fan housings were rusted together and the fans were caked with mud that made the motor run out of balance. Fortunately it suffered only cosmetic damage. It runs strong with no bearing noise and it draws its rated power. Before re-assembly I wiped the interior surfaces of the fan housings with a thin film of oil so they'll come apart easily next time.

There's a lesson here somewhere, but I'm not sure what it is because it's neither practical nor reasonable to ask a seller to open up a vacuum to show internal condition. Maybe the lesson is to be extra-careful when buying 'luxes with solid plastic bag cages, as they hide this kind of damage.

Joel[this post was last edited: 9/24/2021-19:01]

 

[ryan1994jeep]

I saw that 1205 on eBay also. It did seem to be in good condition. Hate that your having issues. I’ve give up on eBay. Unless from a few members that sell on there. I’ll stick to thrifting and curb funds where I can actually see the machine in person.

 

[huskyvacs]

Oh I don't doubt at all that it had one owner. But that one owner chucked it to the basement when something better came out and that's where it sat and has sat since John F. Kennedy was president. To quote Jeremy Clarkson: "it was owned by a little old lady, and she ragged it"


I really don't care about condition to me, as I do not have the money to afford museum pieces, but I can however buy a junker and make it a museum piece a little bit at a time.

 

[mjhoshaw]

It's always a risk . . .

. . . but in this case, clearly the onus was on me because the seller made no representation about internal condition. As bad as this looks inside, it's 100% functional, so I'm OK with it. Worst case, I have the critical spare parts to keep my other 1205 running for decades.

 

[human]

The gamble can be half the fun, though. I have many times bought things on eBay that were marked "for parts or repair" and found the needed repair was minimal or even nonexistent. And I agree with Huskyvacs, being able to see something 'in the rough' for what it can be instead of just what it is at that moment and then bringing out that potential is where most of the fun is. Your perspective with that 1205 is great because you're seeing a 'win' either way.