The big bad beast, aka Big bertha!

[kloveland]

Here is a vacuum that we haven’t discussed in awhile: the original Electrolux Upright. In my personal opinion it’s a great vacuum. Although it’s heavy and is somewhat difficult to convert to above the floor cleaning, it does a fantastic job on carpets. I’ve been working mine, and replaced both geared belts and the clutch assembly, from a donor that I picked up at an estate sale. The belts can be adjusted just on like on the earlier PN 1.

I’ve noticed some differences between the two uprights. The earlier one has the automatic control and the later one does not. The automatic control simply means a big red light will come on when the bag is full, or there is a clog. The bag door does not pop open like the canisters. The later version also lacks the clean out port for clogs.

Parts are probably impossible to find for these. It uses a brush roll almost identical to the PN 4, but it is a bit larger. Bags are also difficult, but I found some locally and on eBay for a reasonable price.

Anyway just thought I would share.
[this post was last edited: 2/12/2012-12:22]

 

[kloveland]

Motor cover removed

Very simple on the inside. I've heard Electrolux used the same motor they was used in the Super J. Not sure how the belt system works. When I first received it the guy was ready to throw it in the trash. Because it wouldn't run. When I took it home I noticed the brush roll was locked up. After I freed up the brush roll it ran perfectly.

It's a clean air design. A small tube carries the suction to the bottom of the bag housing.

 

[rugsucker]

Worlds most over engineered upright vacuum--

-as it was sometimes referred to at the local Bristol VA Elux factory.May have more to add when I have more time.(Be careful with spring between upper and lower body.There were special tools for this model.)

 

[kloveland]

Over engineered!!!

<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
<span style="font-family: helvetica; color: #333300;">I definitely would agree you on the over engineering. It reminds me of the LX and its bag ejection system. Thanks for the warning on the spring. When I took the hood off, the lead from the light is connected directly to one of the carbon brushes on the motor, it snapped! However I was able to reconnect the wire. If anyone else decides to open one of these, please do so carefully! </span>


<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: helvetica; color: #333300;">Also, there seems to be a lot of noise coming from the geared belts. I’ve tried adjusting them and I see no missing teeth on the belts. Any ideas? </span>

<span style="font-family: helvetica; color: #333300;">Finding parts for these is going to be like searching for a needle in a haystack! </span>

<span style="font-family: helvetica; color: #333300;">It’s definitely an industrial looking upright. That’s one of the reasons why I like it so much, it looks so powerful! Any other information you could offer would be appreciated. If possible, I would like to have a scanned copy of the manual. </span></p>
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<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; color: #3366ff;">

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[henry200]

Wow, what timing!

I saw one of those at the thrift store this morning for $30.  There were some extra bags for it too!  Now I'm thinking about going back to get it.

 

[kloveland]

It's your luck day! Henry

Yes, this is perfect timing! Try it out before you buy it! Hope it comes with the converter to attach the hose. I saw the pan for the brush roll at the convention (in the free pile), but someone grabbed it before I figured out what it was.


 


 

 

[rugsucker]

Electrolux Upright

I will try to add a bit more. These were introduced about 1978 in a classic case of management telling engineering when it would be on the market and not asking when it could be ready.The idea for the upright began when Elux salesmen would call on canister customers to sell bags and find many customers using and liking upright style vacs for some jobs.When the Elux upright was introdced it had automatic control,height adjuster on all 4 wheels,gear belts on magnetic clutch system,push button handle release,clean air fan system,top fill 4ply bags,available attachment set(same tools as Super J),and more. There was just one tiny little problem.If you cleaned with it and picked up dirt in an average home it would very likely and easily CLOG.The dirt passage zigged and zagged as dirt went from floor to bag.One of the solutions was the cleanout hole on side through which a coathanger could be used to attempt to unclog.Another fix was to divide the rectangular inlet behind brush with a wire in the center.This worked so well that soon service managers were told to remove any they saw. The first were yellow with the Super J,then tan with Olympia One.The second tan model shown above was the first to truly be fixed.The dirt passage then went straight back from brush to bottom of upper housing,then up to bag.On the much more rare occasion of clogs you can easily remove rectangular door on base and lift out and unscrew flexible hose.Then remove 'ramrod' from bottom edge of right side of upper body to push clog out. Then a grey model with Silverado and sandstone with Diamond Jubilee.When Discovery II was introduced in April 86 the last remaining uprights were donated to United Way.These rarely gave motor or belt trouble.Early models had 4 screws on handle grip,later changed to 5.Early hose converter had plastic latches,later changed to stronger metal ones.There were to types of attachment caddys.The first was a flat box similar to later Disc II kit that the service manager would fill with braided standard hose and other attachments.Then a box opening in middle with vinyl hose and all attachments shipped complete.

 

[rugsucker]

elux upright belts and parts

The 2 gear belts and magnetic clutch do make a unique noise.Is belt tention equal on both belts? Salesmen would demo the clutch by running on a towel,turn off,remove towel and turn on with no damage.Do not look for parts in a haystack!Maybe try place of which we do not speak(part warehouse-part Collyer bros memorial)here.

 

[electrolux-dude]

I actually have about 3 of those vacs! My last one I aquired at the Salvation Army Thrift store, with the original attachments in the original box, and it had some aftermarket bags with it, It is the Grey Silverado color--I think I paid about $5.00 for it.

 

[vacuumfreeeke]

I used to have one of those, but it was heavy and the wheel cracked during a move, and the hose on the bottom was loose, so I threw it away to make room for other vacuums. It was the only vacuum I'd ever seen with a push button handle release and it always reminded me of something Frankenstein would use. I liked the blender buttons! I've heard that they didn't clean well, and I believe it, mine didn't seem very powerful.... it was really heavy too!

Congrats though.... Hope you continue to enjoy it.

 

[briankirbyclass]

An Aunt of mine bought one of these in the early 80s, im sure it was the Silverado time period. I got to use it several times, and thought it was alot of heavy vacuum for such pityful suction,especially when you used the attachments. The suction was almost non existant with a half full bag.

I know she gave around 400 dollars for it brand new with hose and attachments from a Lux Salesman that stopped by.

The suction was marginally OK at best when a new bag was installed, but would reduce drastically as the bag filled, and the bags were VERY big and deep, much longer and wider than the Discovery bags.

I would imagine finding bags and or parts for these now would be nearly impossible.

I was really disapointed at the poor suction of these vacs, even with a brand new bag it was really pityful.

Like someone said, it does look like a very powerful vacuum cleaner, but looks are deceiving. (Never judge a book by its cover!)

When you would first go to turn it on, youd think this big heavy vacuum would roar into action, HA,,in reality it was like turning on a little kids play blender,,push buttons and all.

I remember trying to vacuum up some spilled flour or kitchen carpet with one of these one time and it couldnt even do that. Completly pityfully useless.

Trying to put ON the attachments was a wrestling match,,and not convenient to use at all. Try vacuuming a long stair case with that!- was impossible.

My Aunt said this vac got way to heavy for her to push,and she realized it wasnt that great of a vacuum, plus, the bags were hard to get even in the early 90s,(she lived in a very rural area) so she traded it for a G3 Kirby when they first came out. Has had the Kirby ever since!

Not meaning to bash anything by saying this,,but after having to actually use one of these to clean a large home several times when id clean for my Aunt, i can safely say there are better and easier to use machines out there.

They are kinda cool to look at,,good luck finding parts!

 

[briguy]

Thanks for sharing "Big Bertha" with us!

I remember a friend of my grandmothers had one of these when I was very little. I have always been curious about this Lux. Especially like the dual spoke handle. Never have seen one in person since though. Glad to see the insides. I wondered how it was engineered. How does the hose attach? Is there a rear port it connects into? Someone mentioned that these ran up into the Diamond Jubilee era, didn't realize they were around that long.

 

[vacuumfreeeke]

Kenny,

I was digging through my bags tonight (still trying in vain to find the U bags for my Ultralux upright, no luck) and I found a package of DVC bags that I bought when I got mine.... since I've thrown the machine away, the bags aren't doing me any good, so if you want them, I'll send them to you... you don't even need to pay me back for shipping, I'm sure it won't cost much... I just like to help out other collectors if I can and would rather see them go to someone that can use them than take up space in my bag drawer or go in the trash.... Just e-mail me your address through the link in my profile and I'll send them. There are five left, I only used one! That's how infrequently I used the machine.... I can't believe I paid 12.95 for 6 bags! I understand if you don't feel comfortable sharing your address or don't want to use bags that are not genuine, but if you want 'em they are yours )


When I got mine, I was 18 and I'd answered an ad in a newspaper for an Electrolux upright (kids of today don't even know what a newspaper is! We have Craig's List now, afterall....) and it was an older spanish lady who was selling it. I'd hoped it would be something like a Discovery Prolux style machine.... so when I called the sweet old lady and told her I collect vacuums (I've since learned not to do that), she had all her kids and neighbors bring over their vacuums.... She tried to get me to buy a Kenmore twin fan and an old filthy rusty metal Electrolux canister that looked like it was from the 60s.... I didn't buy anything else! I was so excited to get the thing, I went straight to the vacuum shop and bought the bags!

Bobby

 

[eurekaprince]

Big Bertha seems to have a similar "air travelling path" to the European Electrolux 500 series I have learned about here at Vacuumland - though it sounds like the European version was a much better performer......

The air is brought in first through the brush cavity and into a small hose that sends the dirty air up across the gap into the bag container on the handle. The air then is drawn up a plastic channel in the bag container to enter the disposable bag from the top. The air then does a u-turn down the bag container where it is filtered through the bag. Then there must be another hose or channel at the bottom of the bag container - sending the filtered air back down to the main floor unit where the single motor is located. That's where the air is drawn into the suction motor and somehow exhausted from the lower half of the vac. Strangely enough, the European version sends the exhaust air back up to the handle in a third air channel! It would seems simpler to just exhaust the air out the top of the motor hood on the floor....

It's amazing to think that the simpler fan first Eureka uprights of the 1980's (The Eureka Ultra, for example) outperformed this over-engineered machine, and probably cost half the price!

EP Brian

 

[eurekastar]

Is that big huge monster of a motor just for the brush roll or is it the suction motor too? It sure would be a HUGE brush roll motor!

 

[eurekaprince]

Bill - that's the suction motor too. It's a single motor vac, where the motor is positioned in the lower floor part of the vacuum, not the handle part like a Hoover Dial-A-Matic

 

[vac-o-matic]

I agree Brian....

I sold Electrolux vacuums back in 1980, and of course had a demo unit of each model. I remember carrying the beast up my stairs to my second floor apartment to try out and thinking it wouldn't be sold much to people with two story houses! Once upstairs, I fired it up and vacuumed with it and noticed that it barely raised the nap on my plush carpet. I at the time owned a Eureka ESP and it totally outperformed the Lux upright. I made an early decision at the time not to try and honestly sell them unless I had a die hard upright lover. Fortunately for me and my customers, over 100 Olympia One sales later, I only sold one of the uprights to someone who wanted both units, and the upright went out to their summer house.

 

[eurekaprince]

Hey Rick! Maybe Electrolux should have thrown in a Eureka ESP upright as a bonus with every purchase of an Olympia!!!!! :-D

 

[rugsucker]

elux upright -demo and cleaning

There was a padded cloth demo case available to salesmen about 1980.Looking like a childs sleeping bag with picture and features of the vac with carry handle.You would slide the upright inside with handle removed.For demos the handle went on quickly with 2 thumb screws.If sold the 4 screws and washers were used.--Cleaning on kitchen or glue down carpet could be a problem.There was a spacer kit with 2 plastic washers that were placed on base after removing bottom plate and screws that would tilt the back of bottom plate downward when reinstalled.