"So good, it carries a 5-YEAR service guarantee!"

[bagintheback]

I'm referring to the vacuum-of-the-day Modern Hygiene advertisement. How unusual was a such a warranty back in the day? Was 5 years really such a big deal they used it to advertise? Considering what is offered today (Oreck, Aerus, Miele), 5 years is nothing. However, I doubt many Hygienes were taken for repairs in the first place.

 

[caligula]

Modern Hygiene.

This is one of those brands that eludes me. I love the design, looks a lot like the body of the Electrolux LX, and might even have been based on that.

A number of our members in the early days thought it was a spin off of Royal. That Electro Hygiene, and Modern Hygiene were one and the same, they are not, as the ad above proves. I've only worked with one, and liked it, as I liked the Hoover Air Dyne, and the Kenmore Commander. But there are no outstanding features. No bells and whistles go off when I see one, whereas there is a feeling of a brass band approaching each time I see an Electrolux XXX, or LX!

If anybody has any info on the history of this brand, please post it, I'd love to learn more.

 

[aeoliandave]

The archives are invaluable for subjects like this that have been covered (in the past decades what vintage vacuum hasn't been researched intensely by our 'vintage' senior members?)
Typing the vacuum name - spelled correctly - in the 'word search' box on the appropriate forum threads page usually generates an astounding list of archived threads that mention the vacuum in question.

I know you all know this. It's the best way to review information without having to cut & paste a whole new thread.
Quite often someone has some new info to add to the history and ultimately this too will be stored in the archives under the word search feature. This is only one of the things the VCCC and Website do so well...There's a picture of the previous and the next teardrop shaped MH models within the archives, too. Beautifully made machines.

This style Modern Hygiene is a 1948/49 re-design of the previous M-H cylinder by the famed industrial designer Brooks Stevens. It certainly never saturated the market like Hoover or Electrolux and I imagine it carried a premium price.


But just look at the style and flash you got! Every detail was re-imagined and produced in the finest of materials.

BTW, the two polished aluminum end caps are hollow simply to add visual length to the machine. The motor and dust bag all fit within the center Burgundy section - that's marketing! The machine weighs no more than any standard cylinder of the era.

Dave



http://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-DDSearchalator.cgi

 

[briankirbyclass]

I like the teeeny little upholstry nozzle!

I'll bet that machine was a beast to schlep around a large multi level home with wall to wall carpet, AND carpeted stairs,,Poor Hazel!

 

[caligula]

So this inspired the Electrolux LX?

As I have been away from the club from time to time, I've not had the pleasure of reading about this machine. As all of our old timers know, I welcome corrections, updated information and data from the experts in all brands.

The Electrolux LX, while on the drawing board from 1945 till it was introduced in 1952, had a number of designs, most of which were rejected. Perhaps the Modern Hygiene inspired the idea of Leon P. Borkoski, who designed the LX.

I'm open to suggestions, corrections, and ideas. This is one machine. I want to learn about.

 

[caligula]

Memory is a bit fuzzy

Dave, I think you posted this a long time ago, back when I lived in San Diego perhaps. The memory is vauge, but returning.

A lot of members falsly think I know everything about vacuum cleaners, which is not true. I only know about those I've worked with, or researched. And if my research information is not correct--.

Yes I knew somebody who owned one, and I got to play with it for a few hours, but I was only 10, or 12 years old. So please take pitty on a 62 year old collector, and provide a lot of info on this and any other M.H. machines you have. Perhaps a look at the instruction book?

Yes this old dog can learn a few new tricks, at least I want ro try

Thanks,

Alex Taber,

By the way I really like the cats!

 

[caligula]

BrianKirbyClass.

You mentioned Hazel. Was this the vacuum cleaner used in the Hazel episode, where she goes to a vacuum cleaner convention with her defective vacuum cleaner, dragging it by the hose? I have a dim memory of that. As I recall it was a tank style machine.

 

[aeoliandave]

I surely mean no disrespect, Alex. No pity required - I turn 60 myself in March. Yikes!
I too welcome corrections, updated information and data from the collectors in all brands and do not regard anyone with the term 'expert'. But if you are the type to totally dismantle and understand how a particular vacuum works then you are definitely experienced and knowledgeable. I'm pleased enough with the evolutionary changes to the Forums to once again share freely what I know for sure.

Like you, I think the LX model 60 and final variant LXi (is it LX 'eye' or XL 'one' ?) is my top favorite of all 1950s cylinders.

Electrolux had the resources and expertise to manufacture into the LX everything they knew. I have searched over decades and downloaded over 200 patent pages for every aspect of the LX showing its first experiments to final product. (too bad they didn't create the PN1 at that time (but I'm working on a working prototype).

The outward design, the generous use of polished aluminum, the colors and the fascinating first use of a door pop/self-sealing dust wrapper ejection mechanism really appeal to the engineer in me. It surely must have blown the minds of housewives and husbands. I have 8 of them, all restored to ejaculatory perfection.

I think of it as the masculine Electrolux for it's sheer weight and yet it slides as smoothly as any cylinder on runners. The LXi wheels add to its mobility. The saddle holds ALL the tools on board which was a practice somewhat abandoned in the years to come.

Indeed, in the archives I have a How-to to dismantle, restore and adjust the bag ejector as well as the in-house Sales Technician kit to measure the flow and adjust the LX for the individual home...before the dial was introduced. I have two keys for the first edition that were found wedged under the plug door.
I have on my drawing board a scheme to add a 2-prong PN socket inside the hose door bumper so that the LX door and hose will fully drop to the floor for the 'floorshow' while still connected to the PN1. I plan to bring it to the Milwaukee Convention and crush the competition.

Is it strange that a boy from Canada where the LX was never available is fascinated by pre & postwar vintage USA, European and yes, Canadian vacuums? Nope. LOL.

Hello, My name is Dave and I am a rabid hobby vac-a-holic...

Dave

[this post was last edited: 1/15/2013-21:14]

 

[caligula]

Electrolux LXI.

Hi Dave:

The correct name is LX, LXI, Romam numeral 60 & 61, Prior it was the V (5), X1 (11), X11 (12), XXX (30), and XX (20).

I must confess, I'm an Electrolux junkie, and everything begins and ends with the LX (60), as for the LXI (61), I tollerate it! Why? because it's not a dazzling as the 60! The chrome, the blue/gray leatherette, the flashy nameplates. Yes, it's a man's Electrolux, and I do think there is a gender issue here. The LX/LXI is masculine, the E/AE is femenine!

But perhaps the root of this goes deeper. The woman who lived next door to me when I was about 2 was a second mother to me. I adored her. It was her Electrolux that ejected the wrapper, and as I was only 2, or 3, I connected the two. Even now, 60 years later, that memory is crystal clear! As for this lady, her name was, Jeanette Pletincks, and both John Lucia and I made her an honorary member of the club.

As I said in a previous post, I'm not, nor do I claim to be an expert in Electrolux, Kirby, the non-electric's or any other vacuum cleaner. I simply read all I can, and learn the history of what I love. I'm wrong as often as I'm right. We have a club full of experts, John and I merely got the ball rolling.

As you probably have learned by now, I didn't plan to drop out o the club after the Rainbow Roundup, but moved to a location where there was no cell phone service, or internet. Also, all my VCCC paperwork is in storage in Indiana, with my non electric machines on display in my mom's apartment. Once I got internet access around the end of September, I went back to Vacuum Land. Yes, I came home! Since I did not know of the services you mentioned I had no idea what was going on, and I'm still stumbling in the dark so to speak.

Please contact me via email, lets talk Electrolux, especially the LX. I plan to get my VCCC paperwork in a few months, and if at all possible, will attend the next convention.

Please stay in touch.

Alex.

 

[stricklybojack]

Richard Lester's page on the Modern Hygiene

See link

http://www.1377731.com/modern/

 

[briankirbyclass]

Alex, your memory is very good! There most definatly IS an episode of Hazel where she is using this exact same MH, but its NOT the episode your thinking of.

The one your thinking of,is where Hazel (or her boss Mr. B) buys a new vacuum cleaner that is faulty, and Hazel shows up at the board of directors meeting of the said vacuum cleaner's company with her faulty machine to complain.

I just happened to see this very episode not long ago. The machine used in this episode is a totally exagerated monstrosity that looks like the body of a childs pedal car toy of the time.
When the "Vacuum Cleaner" is turned on, it sounds just like an Electrolux, and it does have an Electrolux hose, wands, and carpet nozzle.
So, evidently it IS an Electrolux with this sort of "body" layed over it.

Evidently they (the producers of the show) had to do this to avoid a fight or infringement with Electrolux or any vacuum company.

The Hazel episode with the MH, is one where Hazel is sponsoring a sleep over at the Baxter residence for a shy neighbor girl, and is using the MH before the guests show up!

 

[aeoliandave]

One of the Hazel Modern Hygiene screenshots w Mrs B in the background:

 

[rugsucker]

Modern Hygiene

All good info above.A bit more-I had also seen the disguised Elux show but NOT the MH.Thats a lot of living room to clean!--Brooks Stevens-Milwaukee Art Museum had an exibit that I was able to see when there for VCCC convetion.Ranged from cars to luggage to first dryer with window to Evinrude motors and inclded the MH vac.B Stevens was from Milwaukee and a design genious that is known for 'planned obselesence'.Museum also had Stude prototype and video of Stevens relating a meeting with FLWright at Wingspread when designing a motorhome for Johnson(of J wax).I was told after exibit came down it could be seen on cyber archive.Might want to check.--There was also a Model Home vac that only changed the nameplate and could use the same att 'monogram'.Maybe a vac shop only machine?--I wonder if the 5 year guaranty was free service only and not parts?In any case as a quality machine that was built by Royal I dought it needed much of either.

 

[caligula]

BrianKirbyClass

The Hazel episode you speak of is the one that eluded me. When I saw that one, my grandparents and I were at the home of friends. Being they knew I was into vacuum cleaners, we watched that episode, but, with adults talking, and what not, I missed a lot of the show. Over the years I've seen a few Hazel episodes, but never saw Hazel with a vacuum cleaner. And yet, you'd think as a maid, there would be a lot of vacuum cleaner plots.

I like Shirly Booth, and loved Hazel, but have never seen anything with a vacuum cleaner in it's entirety, only snippits, like when she dragged it into that boardroom, or whatever it was in her typicle Hazle the 'steamroller' fashion.

Thanks for the info.

Alex

 

[caligula]

aeoliandave

Thanks Dave:

I went to Charles Richard's link, WOW! I now recall that I DID see that picture of your cats with the M.H. back in 06! Major case of C.R.S. (can't remember sh..!)

Those are really nice model Lx's. I'm very fussy about my LX's, everything has to match, if not be original. Problem is that all the hoses I have leak, some far more than others, point is that they are all inoperable. I'm now reduced to using an ugly, black hose from an online vacuum parts store, and while it works great, it's damn ugly! A club member has found a hose that might work, all he asked for was the cost of shipping. So I'll let you know how good it is. However, I have a question, and as an engineer, and vacuum cleaner collector, you are best qualified to answer it. If they can make Halloween face masks, why can't the inside of a vacuum cleaner hose be lined with latex rubber?, yes I know it would need several coats to get the thichkess to keep the latex from being punctured, but, could it be done?

As for my collecting, that's on the back burner. I'm now fully retired and living with a friend, who's not into vacuum cleaners (what else is new?) so all my electric machines are in storage, so are numerous boxes of attatchments, tools, paperwork (both club related and personal). As for my non electric's, that's another story. My mom, who once wanted nothing to do with vacuum cleaners, till I made her club secretary in 1983, said the Whirlwind and others needed to be kept in a warm place. Now they're in her apartment in a retirement community. She's having the time of her life showing them to people who enter the apartment.

In the spring, I plan to go to Indiana, load up all my machines and bring them here. Yes, they'll be in storage, but locally. Then one by one I can restore each Electrolux, Kirby, Air-Way, Hoover and so on. I have a small amount of paperwork loaded into this computer, but nothing club related. That will also change. If time, and money permit I'll attend the convention, but no promises just yet.

So thanks again for the M. H. info, as I recall my ex stepdad worked for M.H., seems he was rather good, he even sold one to a woman without electricity. Why did she buy it?, to force her husband to wire up the house. Seems that it worked. No that's a salesman!!!

Alex Taber

 

[caligula]

Hazel

Why does Mrs. B. look so mad?

 

[aeoliandave]

New life for tired vintage hoses!

"why can't the inside of a vacuum cleaner hose be lined with latex rubber?"

Oh, but it can be done, Alex. I applied myself to this problem a few years back and developed an easy-ish process to re-line any cloth or rayon'saran braided hose with success.

If you examine a cut apart section of vintage woven hoses you can see the contruction layers most Manufacturers used. Inner core is black rubber impregnated tape spiral wound before the wire coil is laid over it. Then there is a layer of thicker rubber tubing and finally the decorative woven surface bonded to the rubber tube. The only adhesives used are thin liquid rubber sprays to retain maximum flexibility.
Hose stock of infinite length are possible this way as is comes off the shaping mandrel and I lament that so many manufacturers chose to save a few pennies rather than produce longer hoses of 8 & 9 feet. Air-way and Filter Queen made admirably longer hoses, for instance.
As you know, Electrolux made their early hoses with a tapered diameter from intake coupler to handle end to help keep large objects from entering the hose proper. If it won't pass through the wand handle it cannot clog the hose length and makes removal of the offending clog an easy matter with forceps or a long wood pole.

The ingenious 'knitting' machine that weaves the continuous outer braiding is a variation of that used to create cloth power cords, braided brake lines and motor stator, field coils, commutator and transformer windings. It is capable of creating the chevron patterns in the visible weave that is so familiar and striking in a vintage woven hose.

My methodology is not meant to turn an old hose into a heavy duty Daily Driver (tho my experience is that you could) but rather to restore the original suction of a cherished vacuum's hose so that any one of mine can be plucked from the display shelf and demonstrated/used at the peak efficiency originally intended at mini-meets, for my own productive amusement...or winning vacuum contests at Conventions.

It's written up in the archives several times but I can't seem search it out right now.

There's a fair amount of careful preparation and exquisite timing involved but basically, 30 minutes work and a 60 minutes curing using the hot exhaust from vacuum then dusting with talcum powder totally reseals a woven hose to like new suction.
Liquid latex begins to thicken and cure on contact with the open air so technique speed is a major and controllable factor. The close confines of the hose interior slows down the cure reaction and I use this property to continue to blow latex through the hose weave under hot exhaust pressure preventing gravity from allowing the remaining latex fluid to pool. The talcum powder addresses the tendency of even cured latex to remain sticky to those first blasts of micro dust. Overnight curing finalizes the bond. Does not work on solid vinyl wrapped coil hoses. Remove as much of the coupler and handle fittings as possible (you don't want the hassles of coating the metal tubing then peeling it away). It's just the flexible portion of the hose material you want to coat so I will wipe just the inside metal collars with Vaseline or line with masking tape for easy release in those areas so that the cured latex has no chance to curl up and glob the openings. Again the timing to know when to do that cleanup peel comes from experience (at least an hour - no more than 3). Leave it too long and the latex will roll back & ball up in that joint area and defeat all your careful work. Later you can paint and smooth out the joint with an artists brush dipped in liquid latex. But this must be done before any talcum powder is layered in.
It will leave barely noticeable clear latex stains on a cloth hose but on saran woven hoses the outer excess bleed simply wipes off after curing. My method blows the milky liquid latex through the weave of the hose locking the layers together and coating the internal diameter without reducing the diameter, clumping or clogging.

I have done this to all my older Lux hoses and many others, from Air-Way to Eureka to lesser brands.

This would make a terrific illustrated article for the Bulletin if someone gives me a kick in the butt. Definitely I will give serious thought to bringing my materials to Milwaukee for a workshop. It's time devoted collectors saw this in person...

Dave

Just found an instance - scroll down to post #9.[this post was last edited: 1/16/2013-19:01]

http://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?8695

 

[caligula]

Here's a heads up Dave.

When I go to Indiana in the spring, I'll send the original LX hose to you so you can work your magic, then you can send it to me here in Pa.. We can work out the cost and so on later, but I'm glad this process can work.

Thanks again, and I'm glad you're on the mend. Take care of yourself, we need members like you.

And check out the picture of me back in 1985, with our club mascot, Caligula.

 

[thermokid]

Modern Hygiene

my grandmother had a Modern Hygiene tank, but I think it was an earlier model. It was round not square and it was gray in color with a big Modern Hygiene metal label on the top of the tank right by the suction end..... Dan