The first Power Nozzles - History, Queries and Suppositions.

[sireluxomatic]

When the AP 100 first came out, it had the beige PN V which was identical to the PN IV, and I guess it was changed very shortly thereafter (1974?). There was also a beige telescopic wand (another item for the want list, come to think of it). I recall my next door neighbor had an AP 100 with the telescopic wand and PN V.

Re: that chocolate brown PN V. I saw one of those on Ebay, and thought someone had painted it, but now it seems to be genuine. I wonder if it was offered as an option with the basic chocolate brown model SAP?

 

[aeoliandave]

Bottom plate

 

[aeoliandave]

Full side profile. Here we see the familiar chevron V on the hood and the ease with which dust wrappers could be removed.

But what is that raised turret over the motor...an awkward cordwinder?

 

[aeoliandave]

Nope, It is the motor rotated vertically. A larger motor.

But now the idea appears of a separate Power Nozzle at the end of the hose as an accessory.

 

[sireluxomatic]

Seems like this design morphed into the 80's Electrolux uprights (with the exception of the bypass dirt fill tube).

 

[aeoliandave]

Here's what the world has been waiting for (If Lewyt hadn't done it first).

The Lurelle V Guild PN-1 design is locked in.

 

[aeoliandave]

Page 2 drawings

 

[air-waycharlie]

Dave,

I have some very rare, most likely, not seen before diagrams of various versions of Air-Way's with twin motors that never came to fruition. They came my way by various folks that used to be in high places with Air-Way.

When I return home, I will scan them and post them. They may even end up in a newsletter some day! It is amazing what the Air-Way engineers came up with at those particular time frames.

Charlie

 

[aeoliandave]

Just for fun, a 1963 variation on the PN-1.

A Rug Scrubber with detachable piggyback solution tank.

 

[aeoliandave]

Details of the solution deliver system and distribution bar over the brushroll.

 

[andken23]

well in vintage electrolux power nozzles i only got the pn4 USA. Here is a picture of it with the wand.
Andrew

 

[aeoliandave]

This thread is so much fun and for trivia-obsessed me what the Forums are all about. Thanks, guys for your generous enthusiasm for but one aspect of our beloved vintage vacuums.
There's much here that informs the evolution to contemporary power nozzles.

So, Lewyt Model 107-E wins with the first detachable motorized Power Nozzle in 1958, Air-Way having shown the way. Electrolux wins 2nd Prize in 1959 by sticking with 115 AC volts.
Hoover, I'm sure, had a PN in the testing stages to follow up the 1959 Constellation 87 electric hose but late to the market, the timing was all wrong with the Lewyt cascading disaster through 1959-60 as the 'improved' low voltage Model 111 versions deteriorated and failed with shocking results.
Consumers and Dealers would have been aware of the lawsuit and would have been leery of something similar, even from Hoover. Advertising departments would have been working overtime to to overcome the Lewyt stigma yet would have wanted to trumpet their All New Electric Hose and Power Nozzle.

Here is the McCalls magazine ad for the late 1958 Model 111. Note the cordless wands and hose - this is the low voltage model. "Beats, Cleans, Fluffs Rugs...Without Wires...Without Batteries!"
[this post was last edited: 3/19/2011-22:21]

 

[aeoliandave]

I know where a Motorized Beater Sweeper nozzle for the 111 is, with the Automatic Rug Regulator sticker label on top. It is a hammertone Silver with a pale blue tint, a different shade from the 107 plain blue and the sky blue hammertone 121.

 

[aeoliandave]

Lastly, a fragment of a magazine article showing the 111 and Singer Golden Glide in colour.

 

[air-waycharlie]

"Shocking results"..............

indeed! I'm still laughing. I think, one of the things that did Lewyt in, was that someone was shocked to death using one of those early low voltage power nozzles!

Well, what a way to go..............

I still can't help but laugh at your turn of the phrase!

 

[air-waycharlie]

BTW,

wonderful, wonderful pictures of all the vacuums! Thanks so much for providing a great visual for us.

Charlie

 

[electrolux~137]

Let's not forget...

 

[aeoliandave]

Hooray Charles! In stunning colour, too.

Looks to be a variation of the Compact PN with a Lewyt-esque handle yoke.

Wish there was a copyright date.

I see now from the bottom plate that the Compact was an IEC product.

 

[aeoliandave]

The shell profile is different but the motor is mounted high above the dirt path like funnel the RCA Whirlpool.

 

[aeoliandave]

underneath the rug plate - wide open twin tunnel volume.