Todays find; The Prince and the Electrolux

[petek]

I'm stumped but at least it's 1963 or later.. Maybe Doug in MJaw knows, I'll email him since I don't think he checks in here often.

 

[sireluxomatic]

Electrolux 89 Memories

Hello all. I’m new to this site (just introduced myself in another thread), and I thought I’d share my memories of Electrolux 89 vacuums and the 80 series Electrolux machines in general.

As far as the 89 goes, it was hands down the most popular vacuum of my young days, at least in my little city. A great many relatives, neighbors, and friends had one, not to mention a lot of businesses, stores, and hospitals. These included all the variations; some with green electric hose, some with green standard hose and wrap-around cord, some with the PN III, some with PN IV, and some with the green telescopic wand and some with the newer style sheath and steel wand. Every time I saw one I’d stand there staring like an awe-struck schoolboy, appreciating that beautiful green color and the solid looking appearance. Of course, when I got to actually use one, I was in heaven. That smooth, super-quiet sound just enthralled me.

However, my actual obsession dates from my very young days, when my grandparents owned two beautiful 86 machines. It pains me now to think they’re gone (along with all the above mentioned machines of friends and relatives), and I didn’t snap them up. Both of them were power nozzle equipped, but one of them only had the standard non-electric red hose and attachments, while the other had the green electric hose, telescopic wand, and PN IV of a model 89. I can still remember being good-naturedly chided for spending too much time playing with those machines (I suspect most of you have had the same experience), and thus began my half-thrilling, half-shamefaced, obsession with vacuum cleaners.

Going back to the 89 for a moment, I wonder if anyone remembers a “scent-filter” that attached to the blower receptacle? A great many people who had 89 machines also had one of these little filters, and the scent is firmly connected in my mind with the 89. Also, I often wonder why the 89 was so much more popular than the 88 and 86, at least in my experience. I rarely saw the latter machines, while the 89 was everywhere. Oddly enough, when I finally found an 88, I found myself liking that beautiful cherry-red color much more than the 89 green, but who can choose between two such lovely machines?

I also ran into a lot of confusion regarding the age of the 86-89 machines. I’ve asked several people who worked with Electrolux/Aerus, and got a different answer every time. One fellow told me (in 2003) that the 89 was over 50 years old! The official model history published by Aerus doesn’t help much either; several of the models are left out entirely. I’d love to see some original documentation on these machines.

 

[petek]

That's interesting that there were so many of them. I can't imagine there being a lot of selection back then in Nfld other than an Elux salesman and the Eatons catalog especially out of town in the small places so a salesman could probaly have done quite well. My in-laws are all over the place around Clarenville to Bonavista and there's lotsa them, can you imagine one family member a salesman and all those sales LOL. I kid him about it, but it's true, just about everyone knows everyone and/or are somehow related by blood or marriage it seems.
Now I have to call him to see what vac lurks in his dads house LOL but he won't have a clue

 

[charles~richard]

Hello sireluxomatic, and welcome! I am in the U.S. but appreciate and admire Canadian Electroluxes very much and have five of them - a Canadian XII, then ZB30, ZB54, ZB55, then a Z89. I used to have a Z88 but gave it away to someone who was dying to have it.

I also have the Canadian versions of the "Junior Polisher" and the early TurboTool.

 

[sireluxomatic]

Charles Richard:

Many thanks for your welcome. I believe your site was my first sight of the many beautiful American Electrolux machines. I particularly like the looks of the G in all its variations. There was a decent looking turquoise G on Ebay recently, but the shipping price was a bit of a heart breaker, not to mention a nice tan G (ditto on the shipping price).

Pete:

It does seem that Newfoundlanders have that kind of close connection. I can't speak for other places, but in St. John's, in my younger days, I can remember no less than 5 Electrolux branch/sales offices. Today, there's approximately 1 Aerus outlet...a sad reminder of how times have changed. I happened to be there in the summer buying some bags, and saw an 89 stuck in a corner behind all the Guardians and other "new-fangled" machines. The 89 outshone them all, in my opinion.

 

[countryguy]

It seems like motels/hotels used the lux 88, 89 quite frequently also. I can remember as a kid staying at many hotels and seeing them in the hallway. I was always trying to get a closer look at them.

Gary

 

[sireluxomatic]

Hose Abuse Reminder and Question

Hi Gary. Your point about motels and hotels using the 80 series machines reminds me of a time I was in a hotel watching a janitor vacuuming the room with an Ambassador. The power nozzle kept cutting out, and I could see why after I saw the vacuum sitting in the hallway. It had one of those too short white/blue patterned hoses, and the janitor had stored it with the power nozzle standing up on its top end and the canister flat on the floor. No wonder the power nozzle was cutting out...that hose was bent out of shape. Vacuum abuse distresses me.

By the way, have you or anyone else seen an 89 with a little green clip near the bag door, presumably for clipping on an attachment? Mine has it, and yet its the first one I've ever seen. The color matches the dark green of the handle and switch, so it seems to be a genuine "product".

 

[aeoliandave]

Bob, I always assumed that that clip is to hold the clip-on exterior power cord attractively down by the side of the canister. My cord is certainly long enough that I can spiral it snugly around the hose and the clip keeps the slack from looping out.
On the other hand, I don't have a pigtail hose to know if that short piece of cord has the length to comfortably go through that clip on its way up to the handle socket. The clip is simply a force fit under the trim strip and not difficult to pull straight out.
Which type hose was the clip provided for? My vote is for the add on wrap around exterior power cord.
Does anyone have a manual that includes a section on the power nozzle connection innstructions? Mine doesn't even show the optional power nozzle and shows a non powered hose with no pigtail. The only mention is on the machine illustration indicating the location of 'recepticle for power nozzle cord', leading me to think the power nozzle came with its own manual?

 

[sireluxomatic]

Dave:

I never even thought of that as a cord clip. Sadly, I'm many thousands of miles distant from the vacuum, so I can't check to see if the pigtail cord will fit into the clip. I did try to clip the attachments on, but they fit only loosely. I bet it is a clip for the wrap-around cord.

 

[countryguy]

Bob/Dave,

My 89 does have that clip also and I thought it was for the pigtail cord also although I don't use it. I just wrap the pigtail cord around the hose once and then plug it into the receptacle on the handle. I find that keeps the pigtail tight enough so that it does not get in the way. I have the instruction manual but I can't remember if it shows the hose or not - I will have to check it out tonight.

Gary