What comes closest today to a 1960 canister Electrolux?

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If you are dead set on getting a brand new vacuum (aside from new old stock), you simply won't find a vacuum with the same build quality or amount of metal components as the older Electrolux or other vacuums from yesteryear. The Perfect canisters are the closest match. Someone had mentioned the Simplicity models, but I think you'll be disappointed with its construction and build quality coming from the 1205 Electrolux. You'll have to compromise somewhere.

By the way, what types of odors do you typically get from used models you have purchased and used in the past? I once bought a very, very, very dirty Electrolux Epic upright vacuum that someone allowed the dust bag to overflow and it had all sorts of dog hair and other stuff everywhere. It all smelled very bad! Anyways, I took it apart and cleaned it all out (vacuumed, wiped out what I could) and installed a new bag and belt. I also sprinkled Oreck Aroma Crystals on the carpet and also placed one scent tablet in the empty bag and I never once had a trace of the former smells from that dirty machine. I have cleaned up all of my thrift store purchase that way (with the exception of my aunt's Oreck that she apparently used to vacuum up dog doo - that one I took completely apart and soaked everything except the motor and in diluted Mr. Clean lemon scented cleaner in the bathtub and the odor was completely gone and did not come back.
 
The only way I can describe the odor is "dirty socks" or "smelly feet" odor. Eventually all of my Electroluxes get that odor. And this is not because I have a dirty house, because as I said I vacuum daily or every other day, mop, have my dog groomed, and I take at least two showers a day! I'm a neat freak!

Maybe I need to get some Mr. Clean?

I see that the Mieles now have a 10-year warranty (better than anything else except the Aerus). That is attractive. Maybe I can buy some after market horsehair attachments for the Miele?

I would get an Aerus but that all-plastic wand/power nozzle is a deal breaker for me.
 
Here's a pic of my baby, the 1205.

Issues are:

It smells like feet
The cord on the power nozzle is fried
The suction is at like 50% of what it was


I have another Electro in the background that I got as a gift but dunno its condition yet. Plus another Electro canister in the carport that is fried, have not gotten around to fixing.

cochitin-2018010911523908058_1.jpg
 
I always liked the color scheme of the 1205 and the Silverado models. I upgraded the original hose on my Silverado to a vinyl hose after the woven hose started to develop leaks and it improved the suction greatly! Yes! In know what you mean when you say the "dirty feet"; smell. That is exactly how that Electrolux Epic smelled when I got it. Part of the smell you experience could in fact be the old woven type hose. Couldn't hurt to try an inexpensive replacement.

Also, try disassembling the 1205 and clean out what dirt/dust you can, including blowing out the motor assembly with canned air. Mine had a lot of dirt/fuzz that had accumulated around the motor over the years. You could wipe it out with some of the Mr. Clean deodorizing cleaner to see if it helps some, but I wouldn't put any on any of the electrical components. Does the motor on your 1205 still sound good? If it does, I would try the cleaning route versus replacing it. Also, the Oreck Aroma II Crystals are about the best I have found in keeping vacuum odors at bay that can generate from the bags over time. In addition, I think the Perfect branded Type "C" bags work very well at filtering the air. They are made out of a cloth type material but not sure how they compare to the genuine Electrolux/Aerus bags. They seem to be very well made.

https://www.oreck.com/crystal-aroma-ii/AROMAII.html

http://www.vacuumbags.com/pevacstpchev.html
 
"I would get an Aerus BUT---"

The Aerus Classics I have seen do NOT use the 2 square plastic wands and troublesome swivel elbo on PN.Instead they have the 2 metal wands with plastic sheath on the upper wand and separate wands for other attachments very similar to what the 2 Elux in your closet had.Also the newer, more flexible hose is a big improvement.I feel that if you LIKE your 1205 when you see the standard Aerus you would LOVE it!
 
Lux Replacement

Hi,

I am not sure I like any of the machines avail as well as I liked the last all metal machine Lux made in 1992 and I sold a lot of the plastic canisters on the streets of Boston part-time over the years. I always thought the Silverado Deluxe/PN-5 was the best overall vacuum they ever made in terms of ease of use and overall durability.

My pick would be from the following: Miele Marin/SEB236, Sebo D4/ET1, Leftover Riccar Impeccable/Simplicity Moxie or Lux Platinum. Have three of the mentioned and had an earlier Miele. Favorite nozzle is Sebo, Like the Riccar for hose length and good performance. Love the Lux Platinum. Quieter, most powerful of the bunch, convenient, dual HEPA, best attachments. All will have something you don't like. For me it's the Lux wands but I hate the electronic membrane switches on the Riccar and tiny accessories and short cords on Miele. Sebo is clunky and the hose is stiff. All of the power nozzles clean well if you use them so it is a matter of machine preference. All mentioned are plastic except the Lux which is Stainless over plastic. Miele nozzle is a PITA to service.

Try a Downy Dryer sheet in a clean bag and change more often to control the odor. I use two bags/month having a German Shorthair in the house and the twin HEPA in the Lux works well for this issue. Another option is a Rainbow E2B which is an excellent machine and has great scent capability, performance and overall quality. It too is worth serious consideration.

Brian
 
Yes the motor on my 1205 is perfectly fine. Wheels are noisy. Power nozzle cord needs fixing. Needs cleaning, etc. Maybe the suction issue is in fact that hose.

Otherwise runs like a champ.

You guys are the absolute best thank you so much for all of your guidance!
 
repairing your 1205

First thing I would do is replace your hose with something like this one.
https://evacuumstore.com/p-2831-electrolux-metal-canister-vacuum-hose-with-swivel.aspx
You could try and repair the power nozzle, and a lot of them are available used. Or, you could pair it up with a different power nozzle entirely such as a Sebo ET1. If the suction motor stilll works well, getting this machine working again should be possible. For the odor issue, I would vacuum up some laundry crystals, I use those in my vacuum bags and they work well. The perfect bags are better than the ones that Aerus provides, they are cloth bags instead of paper.
Mike
 
I bought a new

Simplicity Wonder, used it twice and gave it away, like most new machines that clunky awful hose grip about drove me crazy, I will stick to my vintage machines! I just do not like new products, as much as I have tried, I cant do it!
 
REPAIR YOUR 1205! It's better than many new vacuums. The suction problem is most likely the hose. If you're still on the original one, then it's likely dry rotted and the rubber is probably cracked. Had this issue with my Electrolux Model G (One model before yours) and my Electrolux Model XXX. Hoses aren't that expensive on eBay. In fact, I just bought a new one recently. This one would work with your power nozzle. If your PN is noisy, it may be the motor bearings or brushroll bearings. They can be replaced by your local Aerus dealer. Keep your 1205! They're built like a tank and will run you another 30 years. It just sounds like the old girl needs a tune up, that's all.

http://https//www.ebay.com/itm/Elec...060443?hash=item3f88fa8a5b:g:WKIAAOSwnw9Z-p5R
 
electric hose on modern machines

I do agree about the electric hose grip on modern canisters, I'm just not a fan of the gas pump style grip. I prefer the grip style on these Electrolux machines, as well as the grip on many straight suction canisters, just personal preference of course, but I find the gas pump handle gets in the way more than anything.
Mike
 
Stick to electrolux 1205 spa day!

save your self the trouble and treat the 1205 to a NEW vinyl eletric hose now cord for the power head hepa bags type c from Aerus and voila if she runs good as you mention new vinyl hose wil ldo it .I own an Canadian Electrolux AP 200 it has a new vinyl hose and bag and exhaust filter and boy did that wake it up !! Pick it up last year for 40 $ nothign beats an old lux my firend .Electrolux are so wonderfull fix your 1205 and be good for 25 year of servie .
 
I concur. The 1205 is a great machine and very much worth saving. I have two of them and love them. I concur with the previous poster about the OEM vinyl hose. It really is the only way to go. One of mine I rescued from my parents' attic a couple of summers ago. Dad had previously rescued it from a neighbor's trash pile in the early '80s and back then, I had seen it as a pretty anemic performer. I brought it home thinking it would be most useful as a potential parts donor for my other 1205 but I decided just for fun to try it out with a powered vinyl hose I had on hand. The transformation was amazing. It now performs every bit as well as my other 1205. That also may well have been the first time the machine had ever been connected to a power nozzle as itse ridiculously leaky original hose was of the non-powered variety. That little test prompted me to clean the machine up, replace the broken handle, and return it to active use for the first time in a couple of decades. These days, vintage Electrolux machines dominate my collection with two 1205's, a Super J, a Diamond J, and three uprights--a Discovery II, Discovery Plus and Genesis LXe, along with a wide assortment of tools and accessories.
 
I would be leary about the hoses linked above. The reason is simple; all the aftermarket hoses on eBay and vac supplies are made in China now. It's not even like it was ten yrs ago. We have dicsussed this in many threads. The chroming quality is indifferent, sometimes won't fit acessories like the Sidekick etc. If you're gonna spend $69 at the vac shop for one, you might as well get the OE hose @Aerus for $100.


 


I know that's crazy money for a hose on an old 1205, but it works on other models and will save you from buying replacements in five yrs of hard work. The aftermarket hoses used to be great but that's long past. You could also buy a used OE hose off eBay. I've had some luck there and some duds.


 


As far as the suction...place the hose nozzle against your hand...then take the hose off the machine and palm the suction right on the machine. Feel a difference...if yes, it's your hose....common ailment.


 


The smell....well that COULD very well be your old hose as was said. Otherwise the whole machine needs a breakdown and cleaned with like lemon scented 409.


 


I'm totally in the camp of fixing your old 1205 et al. PN's are easy to find and/or repair. As I said earlier up, very easy to find a nice condition Diamond J on craigslist.  I have four 1205's but if I'm really serious about cleaning, I reach for one of the Diamond J's.


 


Kevin


 


 

[this post was last edited: 1/11/2018-12:30]
 
As I saw other people mention, I would recommend the Aerus/Lux Classic. It does have a plastic construction, but I have never had a problem with the plastic Electrolux models. In fact, I like how light they are. On top of that, they do come with the classic metal Electrolux power nozzle wand instead of the newer plastic one. Also, the hoses don't leak like the older woven ones and they are very flexible. They do come with the basic Electrolux/Aerus tools such as the combination brush/upholstery tool, so it would be an easy transition from the 1205 to the Classic.

http://www.aerushome.com/globalassets/sellsheets/CC_SS_Classic_Canister_MAIN.pdf
 
Electroluxes

Hose was always its weakest link, the electric braided hoses were terrible, Up thru the G the straight suction hoses were good, I have several older ones that still hold suction quite well, the new vinyl hose really makes a old Lux better than new, I personally like the PN1 and PN2 much better than the later units.
 

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