Somewhat of an Lx Restore

[vacuumlad1650]

Well, im going to be re-painting my Lx's nameplates (painted in 1983, along with the rest of the vacuum), and im going to change the crappy replacement plug on my Lx chrome cordwinder so i dont need to use my blue one (original belden plug).
how should I remove the paint from the nameplates? Thanks!
I dont have a picture of the chrome cordwinder as its in my Lx parts box at my storage place.
Thanks!
Andy Rousonelos

 

[human]

Media blasting is your best option if you have the equipment or happen to know someone who does. An auto body shop, especially one that specializes in restoring antique cars, might be able to help you out on that one. Short of that, you'll probably want a chemical stripper.

 

[Vacuummania]

Removing Paint

I'll second the paint striper. I found that the regular Orange Stripper works great on old paints and finishes - just keep the area "wet" with stripper overnight (don't be stingy, but don't overdo it). You shouldn't have any problems this way, and it's easy on the underlying metal.

 

[vacuumlad1650]

I will look into buying some stripper. Exactly what colors should I use to get that original lx nameplate look? As in certain Yellows and Reds?
Thanks!
Andy Rousonelos

 

[electrolux137]

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The thing is, they yellow and red logo was not painted -- it was an elaborate construction of metal foil (onto which the colored logo was printed) covered with a layer of plastic that was set into an indentation in the side strip.

(If one carefully removed the inlaid plastic piece, one would see that the metal behind it was plain, with no embossed logo.)

Undoubtedly, the production costs & complications were what led them to abandon the red and yellow logo in the next run of machines, going to a simple embossed metal piece -- even though the original was beautiful and eye-catching.

The photo below is small but I think you can see what I'm describing.

 

[vacuumlad1650]

I See it! I think Ray (BikerRay) once told me that, but as im sure they are hard to find, im going to paint mine

 

[electrolux137]

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They're not at all hard to find. On any given day there could be as many as a dozen LXs on eBay, many of them the early versions. You just have to be patient!

Indeed, right now there are six LXs, four of them early models. See link below.

Granted, a couple of them are overpriced, but I'll tell you a little secret... when an auction comes up for something I want and the seller's price is over-optimistic and the item doesn't sell (which nearly always is the case), I send them an eBay message when the auction ends and ask if they want to arrange a "buy it now" listing for, oh, half their opening bid.

Many, many times this has worked for me. Most people do want to get rid of the stuff they list and usually have no idea of the value.

"It never hurts to ask."

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...lectrolux+lx.TRS0&_nkw=electrolux+lx&_sacat=0

 

[vacuumlad1650]

Electrolux 137 (Charles)
I should have clarified that i meant the logo piece was hard to find. My mistake! I have no plans to replace this machine (there is a long story behind it...)
Andy Rousonelos

 

[caligula]

Model LX parts.

I fully agree, try to buy another model LX for parts. I also suggest looking up attachments. I found a Garment Aire bag in perfect condition for $10.00 last Easter, an extention cord (LX) a week later for $5.00 plus shipping a week later. Things are out there, and as I said in a private message, I'll help you all I can.

Alex Taber.

 

[caligula]

Here's almost a complete set.

The only items not here are the Garment-Aire bag, and the Tufter now I have them too!

Please note the cord winder was not original to this machine, that one was having the Belden plug repaired at the time.

 

[vacuumlad1650]

Well, im not going to buy a parts machine until next year. Im not working ring now and wont until mid January. I will try to get to my storage unit today for my box of Lx parts and I will photograph them all. I have Quite a few! i know i have an extension cord, but i cant justify the GarmentAir or the Tuftor. I would like to have them, but i cant justify buying them without intending to use them. Everything In my collection is used or is gotten rid of. I hate letting it all sit around. Should have my box un-buried in a few hours...

 

[caligula]

Garment Aire bag, and Tufter.

Hi my friend, I'm a purist when it comes to vacuum cleaners, I have to get all the correct parts to my machines. The Garment Aire bag was a coveted item, and in 04 I got one in poor condition, but at least I had it. Last year I saw one in perfect condition on ebay and bought it. I agree that it could be a 'useless' attachment, but in my case, both are in my closet and being used. The good one for dress jackets and so on. And I have it in the same closet where I have the model LX, so all parts are together.

As to the tufter, I agree, that's a useless tool, I don't even know why Electrolux made it. When put on the rug tool it makes it impossible to move the roating part, and won't work on any other carpet, so as I say, useless!!

I know about having things in storage, after I left San Diego in 06, my entire collection went into storage, and stayed there till May of 2010, only to be transfered to another one in Indiana till 2013, then a holding shed till last August. Now, to quote John Lucia, "the kids are home," and reside in the basement.

I'm a strong believer that we help each other, and if I can help you locate, or acquire needed parts I will. That's just one more thing we used to do in the early days of the VCCC, members helping each other. So send me a list of the needed tools and I'll see what I have.

 

[vacuumlad1650]

Here is the Lx, after I went to the storage property, as well as my box of spare parts. There will be a second response to fit all the pictures.
Up first, my messy storage property as well as the box of parts. The box was in the smallest bedroom, none of which are pictured

 

[vacuumlad1650]

Sorry for the repeats in the previous post! As you saw, i changed the brushes and bumpers on the white wall brush. here is the rest before I change the plug on the Chrome CordWinder and do some work on the Lx

 

[caligula]

Pictures tell me a lot.

What you have is a model LXI (61) with a replacement ejector mechinism. In picture 7 there's the swivel castor, and the rear wheels. Basically both the LX, and LXI are the same machine. There's no telling exactly when it rolled off the assembly line unless you give the numbers on the housing of the bag chamber to an expert. And yes, there are people at Vacuumland who can decifer them for you!

I suggest you keep this as is with side nameplates, then in the spring get another one with original yellow/red nameplates, and if it has the dial on the ejector, swap them, then BOTH will be correct. But it looks like the machine is original except for the ejector. Cord Winder is also original. The cord was made by Belden Wire of Chicago (later Genevia, Illinois) however, the tools in the box are NOT Electrolux, they are a dime a dozen so we can get you the right ones if you need them.

But I strongly suggest you hold off on restoration, bottom line here, if it ain't broke, don't fix it!

I think a LX, AND a LXI would be a nice addition to an already fantastic collection.

 

[vacuumlad1650]

Its an Lx. i added the wheels so mom cant say im scratching the floors. This came to me as a canister only with the box of attachments, minus the cordwinders and lux nozzles. Ill post a picture or how it came. the rest of my attachments are later acquisitions. Picture one is of how I got the machine, picture two is of it now

 

[vacuumlad1650]

Also, i beleive its a 1952. i had the serial number ran when i got it by a, elderly, local expert who just recently passed, im sorry to say

 

[caligula]

Changing the plug.

This is a huge job and without the right tools not easy. I did this several months ago, and ended up with burned fingers from the soldering gun. Weeks after that I found a cord winder with a Belden plug on ebay and bought it. I also found an extention cord in mint condition from the same seller. In reality, there is no extention cord to a LX, it was the main power cord, but when the customer bought the winder, it became the extention cord.

Let me mention winders for a second as this is important. If they fail to retract DON'T try to repair them!!! They have a spring that was installed by a special machine at the factory in Philadelphia. The spring is razor sharp, and can cut you baddly if you try to recoil it. I suggest you keep the cord in the winder, and plug the cord to it. Point is that winders this old tend to spring.

By the way, the winders were not made in Old Greenwich, the Electrolux factory was in a residential area, zoning laws forbid the manufacturing of rubber parts, so the Vacuum Cleaner Corp. made the winders and Belden made the cords.

On another note, I like the 1205's you have posted here, that was the model I sold in 1968. I was a few months short of 18, and had to get me parents permission to work for Electrolux. I was there when they introduced the electric hose, and telescoping wand. This was my first job, and I loved to demo. As to knocking on doors, well that was not so much fun, and I was far too young to master the hard sell or the close. But after work, in the basement with the trade-ins, or reading the instruction books. Those memories will last the rest of my life.

 

[vacuumlad1650]

I changed a crappy replacement plug that had exposed wires, not the Belden. The plug on the chrome cord winder was terrible! i got a replacement from walmart for it. The blue cordwinder has the Belden plug, and its in good shape which is why I dont use it. i wont want anything to happen to it