UK Electrolux through the years

[turbo500]

Hey folks,

Thought it's about time I got all these together. Here is my collection of UK Electrolux cleaners. I don't have as many examples as I'd like. I'm aiming for 1 of each style, but I'm certainly getting there.

Electrolux are my favourite vintage brand. Whilst Hoover will always be king of the carpet, for me, vacuuming is way more than just carpet. Hoover were fantastic at floor cleaning but I find them lacking in above floor - poor suction & inconvenient to use. Electrolux were offering cleaners that found a happy middle ground between carpet and above floor cleaning.

Anyway, here they are! Sadly the Electrolux brand is no longer found on the UK market.

 

[turbo500]

First up, the 502 & 502S from 1976 & 1980 respectively. There was a model before these, the 500, launched in 1971. There was also a slightly lighter weight dirty fan upright sold as the entry model upright but unfortunately I don't have any examples of those. Yet.

I have the manual and full tool kit for the 502.

 

[turbo500]

Bit of a jump here, the z1020 from 1988 & z1070 from 1992 which was the last of this style. You can see that the 1020 was the TOL with variable power and electronic bag full light. I'm missing examples of the 504-560 style. [this post was last edited: 5/21/2016-11:05]

 

[turbo500]

The z616. Top of the line 2nd generation 600 series, the first domestic upright with on board tools in the UK. This one is from 1989, but this style were launched in 1986.

 

[turbo500]

Into the 90's now with the second line up of Glider & Contour. The 90's was a funny time for Lux - they seemed to have a whole heap of different line ups and exclusives all on the go at the same time, but the basic line up was z1070 Turbo2, Glider, Contour & Airstream.
The Glider was launched in 1990 and the Contour & Airstream followed in 91. Originally intended to replace the Twin Turbo style and 600 series, but the back stock of Twin Turbo's sold in such large numbers that Lux brought the Twin Turbo style back as the even more basic Turbo2 and kept it as the budget upright until 95 or so.
Both these models are mid-90's examples. The earlier style came without a pedal handle release and had a horrid friction fit handle release that nearly always broke.
After the Contour line up, I start to lose interest. The next line up, Powerline & Widetrack, our US members will recognise as Eureka's with the back saver handle. Those marked the first time the UK market had a Eureka rebadged Lux upright. A trend that would continue until the Electrolux name was dropped.

 

[turbo500]

And onto the cylinders! Bit of a gap between these 2 - 302 from 1973 and the z2020 from 1986. The latter being my favourite cylinder ever.

 

[turbo500]

Into the late 80's/early 90's with the Slimline from 1989 and the Dolphin from 1992.

 

[turbo500]

And finally onto the late 90's - the Ingenio from 1996 and the Mondo from 1999/2000. Also a quick shot of the onboard tool storage on the Dolphin & Ingenio.

 

[turbo500]

And now for a few examples of cleaners I don't have, but on the hunt for. First up, the z355 from 1980.

 

[turbo500]

The classic z345. This brochure is dated August 1978 but I'm aware that they were on sale prior to that.

 

[turbo500]

The 400 series uprights and first of the slimlines. These were the entry level uprights and cylinders, launched in the early 80's. This brochure is dated June 1982 and the range appears to be being modelled by Goldie Hawn.

 

[turbo500]

The 1975 range. This one features a few I don't have, including the z170 which was the entry level upright I mentioned in the first post and the z504 which was the TOL sold alongside the z502. The 504 shape would later dominate the early 80's range

 

[turbo500]

<p style="text-align: left;">The z550 and z560 from 1983. The last of the traditional 500 style before the twin turbo style took over in 86.</p>

 

[turbo500]

and to round things off nicely, the 1986 TOL uprights - z610 and 612 Electronic. These were the series that came before the 616 I posted above and the very first domestic uprights in the UK with on board tools. The first ever of course being the Sebo 350, but this was a commercial machine not found on the domestic market.

 

[dysonman1]

What a beautiful collection. And so VERY different from what the USA knows as Electrolux through the years. Thanks for sharing.

 

[turbo500]

Hi Tom,
You're welcome and thank you .
Yes, very different indeed although from what I know of Lux US, both equally good in there own way. These were all made by Electrolux of Sweden. The uprights all made at their UK factory in Luton.

If you're interested, here's a demo of the z1020 which shows how the tools attach.

http://https//youtu.be/OZIm19yJ1fk

 

[dysondestijl]

That Mondo looks familiar!
Then again, so does that grey Twin Turbo! [this post was last edited: 5/21/2016-16:03]

 

[chestermikeuk]

Eelectrolux Throughout The Years...

Great vacs you have there Chris, Elecrolux was my first "Like" brand as most of my family had them..

 

[chestermikeuk]

Electrolux throughout the years !!

The Z65 was the most popular throught my family, loved the salmon pink colour and all the accessories, radiator brush, flip over floor tool and the "Car Polisher".