What does this knob do??

[funvacfan]

I'm hoping someone can help me here! Perhaps one of our European friends? I have an Electrolux z 505 upright. Here in Canada, they were re-branded Dometic (I think Viking in USA). Anyways...there is a flat knob on the top of the bag container. It is numbered 1 thru 6, and it has a tiny hole in the center. I know this is a pretty obsure question, but I don't have a manual for it, and I'm at a complete loss as to what it's function is. I wish I could post a picture, but I don't have a cam.

I like this vacuum, it's very quiet. I have the hose. Wish I could find attachments and a manual.

This is my second machine. The first one I had was a z 501. A little simpler (no knob with numbers), but same motor and brushroll. Really great machines!!

Any ideas??

Guy

 

[vacuumkid3]

Well, it sounds like an automatic vacuum. The knob adjusts when the machine is to turn off and open the bag door. At least that is what I think it does. My Automatic E has the knob, 1-6. So chances are that is it.

~~K~~

 

[ian88]

Its the "bag full indicator" the numbers would indicate how full you'd let the bag go, and when the bag was full it (in theory, my mums never did..) would whistle.

Ian

 

[ian88]

funny, i've never heard of 501 and 505 uprights, ours went 500, 502, 504 etc

Ian

 

[petek]

btw where in Canada are you Guy?

 

[funvacfan]

Hi Pete! I'm in Hamilton. I used to have a summer cottage close to Sarnia. It was at Ipperwash Beach. Sold it about 5 years ago.

Guy

 

[countryguy]

I'm from Canada also. North Bay area.

Gary

 

[rob_89]

505 Manual

Hi Guy,

I have a few manuals for the 500 series scanned on my computer- not sure if they cover the 505 model equivalent over here or not, but there were very few differences between the models anyway. They are still quite common here in England even now.
Let me know if you're interested and I'll try and post the scans on here

Rob

 

[funvacfan]

Hey Rob, that would be GREAT!! From what I can tell my machine looks like a typical 500 series! It has a slide opening on the hood that lets you switch from Max to Min suction (quite primitve, just an air valve). If you could scan a manual you'll make this Canadian very happy indeed.

They must be more common on your side. When I needed to replace the brush strips a few months ago, I was able to get them from an E-bay seller on Ebay.co.uk! The seller was gracious enough to ship it over here.

Guy

 

[rob_89]

550 Manual

Hey,

I have 3 different manuals, but this one is the most readable- I think the 550 was one of the most common models in the UK, I had a toy one when I was a little kid lol.

Rob

 

[rob_89]

550 Manual 2

Page 2

 

[rob_89]

550 Manual 3

Page 3

 

[rob_89]

550 Manual 4

Page 4

 

[rob_89]

550 Manual 5

Page 5

Just as a side note, did American Electroluxes ever come with the 'butterfly tool'- the small nozzle, dusting brush combo thing? I always thought it was a great idea, stopped being made around early 90s here tho.

 

[rob_89]

550 Manual 6

Page 6
Final page!

Rob

 

[ian88]

I've seen a few 60s/70s american lux cylinders with butterfly tools (i think they're on charlie lesters website), Rob..they look a bit different though.

Hope that helped

Ian

 

[funvacfan]

Thank you very much Rob! I hope I can return the favour sometime! I thought it was funny that the guide says you are to hold the cord out of the way!

Guy

 

[rob_89]

No problem,

Lol about holding the cord out of the way.. it's so you have that graceful electrolux style as you vacuum!

Cheers for that about the american butterfly tools Ian, I'll have to check out the website. Do you remember the later UK version, like on the Contour? A strange triangle shaped thing with two ends to attach it to the hose...I think it confused a lot of people!

Rob

 

[chestermikeuk]

Lux 501

hello Guy

Was your Canadian 501 like this?? was it the same colour??

A nice quiet clean air fan, and easily servicable....

http://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/0...TERMIKEUK.jpg&dir=/COLLECTIONS/CHESTERMIKEUK/

 

[ian88]

Oh yeah, I remember the Contour combination tool Rob..never as imaginative as the butterfly tool I always thought lol.

Ian

 

[petek]

Hmmm I never knew Dometic was the Electrolux euro brand sold in Canada but then again you never saw much of the Dometic stuff around that I remember either. I think they also sold small bar and apartment size fridges under that name didn't they?

 

[waterstreet]

Butterfly Tools

According to Charles Richard's website the butterfly tool had a long run in the US. Starting in 1954 with the Model E and going till sometime in the 80's ????

They came in many colors (the one on my Model G is two toned) and had a clip behind the handle where they could stow.

Electrolux really put a lot of thought into their products back then and really understood how people used them.

David

 

[ian88]

I notice that most old vacuums have had a lot of thought put into them, its not the same nowerdays.

Ian

 

[funvacfan]

Mike, that is exactly like the first one I owned. It was a 501. The 504 that I have now is a bright yellow, with a strip of black flowers (how cheery) running down the center of the bag container, and the rubber bumper was also black. It also has a lighted orange switch on the handle, the 501 did not. It also had the height adjustment on the left side, position 1 and 2.

I have the rigid cloth hose but I do not have the extension wand that I see in your picture. Do you think they are available on your side? I would also like to replace the
cord. In one of it's past lives, I believe someone ran over the cord and has then taped it up. I e-mailed a UK vac shop, to a ask about the cord, but they said no.

Guy

 

[ian88]

Thats a bit like the uk lux 504 like i have, bright yellow colour..strip of black leaves trim down the bag casing, metal bag catch it was the "posh" end of the 500 range at the time, with the 502 being the lower model.

Ian

 

[tommymilan]

knob...

Hello guys, I've noticed the adjusting knob also on other european Electroluxes, starting from the late 60s, but especially in the Seventies it became a very advertised feaure: AUTOMATIC was the most preferred word. Electrlux canisters featured this device that, depending on the type of dirt you were picking up, automatically shut the motor off and opened the front of the machine when airflow passing trough the bag wasn't enough so the bag was clogged and needed replacement.
People usually kept the feature shut off because it was very sensitive and sometimes it asked for bag replacement when it was almost fresh, depending on the model.I've also experienced that on an older model with a newer and more powerful motor, the feature would stop the motor everytime you turn it on.
In 1980 or so, this feature was replaced by a "full bag indicator" with 5 positions ( model D 728), and later by a simple full bag indicator lamp, much easier to understand!
Take care all!
tommy