Electrolux...general questions

[Kevinpreston3]

I have an Electrolux I bought out of a newspaper ad about 5 years ago, from an elderly lady in Pomona who had it since new.

I know nothing about these. It is more of a grey/turqoise color, very very dusty, have never cleaned it. It has a turqoise hose with white stripes. There are a series of attachements, including some bizarre bottle attachment. I don't think I got a manual with it (geez I should know these things). But, I do have a steel rack mechanism that holds everything, even the vacuum, and there is a tag on it that says "Harry Binnquist" Electrolux, Upland California (next to Pomona) and a phone number.

It made me think...here was this woman, younger then, probably bought that vacuum from Harry as he went door to door, to her old frame house in Pomona that she has lived for 50 years in. Interesting to be a part of someone's reality many years ago.

Anyways, any suggestions on coming up with a date range on these items?

Thanks!

 

[Kevinpreston3]

Checked out website....

Wow, mine looks close to the 1949 model! Will have to get it fully out of storage and compare. Didn't know it was that old.

 

[westytoploader]

Cool! If it's from 1949 then it's a Model XXX (Thirty).

I had a Model XXX to play with when I was little...still looking for one now!

 

[mrcleanjeans]

dust sucker doo-dads

does it have a power nozzle, which is an attachment that contains a small motor to drive a revolving brush?is it on wheels or skis? the bottle is a spray gun to be used with hose on blower end to spray paint, insect repellant, etc.What is the model, located on suction end of machine,this will help with the date.

 

[mrcleanjeans]

p.s. while I was writing the above, you gave more info. The power nozzle E-lux didn't debut until 1959

 

[toggleswitch]

Electrolux USA Vacuum Cleaner

HI!

I believe if you should visit an Electrolux vacuum cleaner store (Now they are called AERUS/Electrolux) you will find a "place-mat" near the counter that has pictures and years of manufacture for these machines. I have seen it in each store I have visited over the years.

Electrolux Sweden is using that name here, of course, and they have their own vacuuem cleaner line--that they are trying to sell at Electrolux USA prices..HA!!!

I don't think you mentioned if it is your main vac,or if mostly as a collection piece.

IMHO the orig co, might go under soon, so you may want to get a new hose, orignal bags, brushes and whatever else you may need, if indeed, it is your main vac!

Enjoy--- they are wonderful machines.

I had a 1950 and have a 1985- and they both sounded exalty the same! I found antoher one from around 1990 in the garbage because the hose was clogged. Nothing a wire hanger couldn't fix. So I'm back to having two!

Why- oh why oh why would someone throw out an $800 machine that can live to be over 50 years of age?

The 1950 was donated to a friend who needed a vac, and who likes antiques- he was SOOOOO happy!!!

be well,
Steve

 

[mrcleanjeans]

vacuum mania

also, see www.137.com , under Electrolux

 

[drmitch]

The title to this pic is, Never fear your vacum! or the only good vacum is a dead one!

 

[Kevinpreston3]

drmitch...

Mine is very similar to that. But it is very dingy, chrome is super dull. Just have never done anything to it.

Maybe it's time for a project and some before and after pics.

I had it stored in the trunk of my Imperial for a while (don't ask) and I believe, hopefully, that the few attachements that are missing are in there.

I will have to sort it all out.

 

[bostonwash]

that was my first electrolux

When I was 12 i found one of those in the garbage, brought it home and tried to "convert" it to be more modern. even at that age I knew what they "should" be like. I wanted to get rid of that chinzy 40s50s "old" chrome and dank. lol, I took it apart, cleaned it, then, lol, painted it white with latex interior paint, yes with a brush. It was awful! then instead of putting the skis back on, put on 3 SWIVEL wheels from the hardware store. I guess that wasn't the worst. Then instead of the coffee-pot cord connection, removed that and put on a white vacuum cord and replaced the hose with a polyvynil.

Seriously, as 40s DANK awful as those machines looked they have lasted, good or bad? the ones from the 60s were apparently the quietest.
In america, back then, we were building things to be reliable. Those days, much like gas for less than $2 a gallon, are gone.

 

[veg-o-matic]

Don--Love the sign in your carport. "Good health to all from Rexall!"

Anyone remember Rexall's famous One-Cent Sale?

And Don, you don't know how hard it is to call you that! Even though I know better, you'll always be "Doctor Mitch" to me!

veg

 

[Kevinpreston3]

Well, yes and no....

Quote:

In america, back then, we were building things to be reliable. Those days, much like gas for less than $2 a gallon, are gone.

----------------------------------------

This is only partly true. You can buy things that last, but you have to pay a big premium for them (although who knows about washers, even the best are probably not as good as they once were, I will leave that to those who disassemble these to remark on).

That said, people generally have a skewed outlook on quality. They want to pay $10 for a toaster at WalMart, then complain that it doesn't last.

As an example, we paid $200 for our UK-made Duolit toaster 10 years ago. It still works fine and we hear people using these toasters very, very harshly and they continue to work. But few people want to pay that for a toaster. Look at what appliances cost when the mainstream ones were built to last, and then adjust the prices for inflation. You will find appliances priced at levels people would not pay for.

Another example of this off the top of my head is bikes. People complain about the quality of bicycles, but they think $60 for a bike at Toys-R-Us is what bikes cost, and many people will not pay for the few premium models out there that will last. In 1972 my 10 speed bike cost $69.95. We offshore all our production to China, where they are paid slave wages, use low quality parts to continue to keep the price down, and sell gobs of the stuff, be it bikes or appliances, at WalMart, whose senior management pushes for even cheaper products.

Then we wonder why things don't last!

 

[drmitch]

The Doctor is in!

I agree with you Kevin, It used to be that QUALITY sold products and people wouldnt buy the junk they do today.I remember my Grandpa didnt want us to throw our money away on anything made of plastic. I always got metal toys, Heaven forbid a child getting a metal toy today! Thanks for mentioning the sign Veg. I put it up there because I couldn`t part with it. Our old drugstore when I was a kid was next to the lumber co. my dad worked for and my uncle owned. Yours Truly Donald R. Mitchell alias DRMITCH (no doctorate degree)LOL!