An Elusive Model Finally Shows Up

I'm not sure why this particular machine is 'elusive', but it is true that I very rarely saw it for sale or elsewhere. Today, however, the 'Guardian by Electrolux' Model C134E arrived, in great cosmetic and working shape. 

Full ensemble shot, including the unseen small attachments, which were the only accoutrements to come with the vacuum. The wands, combo nozzle and Sidekick are shared with other models, while the hose was received some time ago. The power nozzle is shared with the later Aerus by Electrolux Guardian C154B. 

Attachment door logo. They certainly wanted to emphasize the 'Guardian' with this one...the 'By Electrolux' is not very visible unless you look closely.

Side bumper. Identical to the C154B.

Ratings sticker.

Some comparison shots of the C134E's brother models. First, a side view of the C134E and C154B together. Identical save for the attachment door badge, the 'Made in USA' sticker (which I have seen on some C154Bs), and, in addition, the C154B has a different motor.

Attachment door badges. 'Guardian by Electrolux' and 'Aerus by Electrolux', and, of course, there is the later 'Lux Guardian by Aerus'. I miss the straight-up 'Electrolux Guardian' nomenclature, but, what can you do?

The C134C (Guardian Encore) and C134E together, looking almost identical.

There you have it. It should be noted that, despite my nitpicking the details out of the Guardian and Lux 9000 Style R models, that they are pretty much all exactly the same in terms of cleaning efficiency, power, and usage, except perhaps for the C154B and C154E, which have different motors. I haven't measured, of course, but I daresay the latter two are a little bit more powerful. 

My Style R collection is nearly complete. All I need now is the Guardian 75th Anniversary C134B and the Aerus Lux 9000 C154A, and I daresay they'll come along. I wouldn't mind, in addition, having a complete set of attachments and accoutrements for each of the machines, instead of having to share them. We shall see.

Polishing Off the Style R Collection

 First, the Aerus (by Electrolux) Guardian C154B, the first Style R machine I ever got, finally, after pretty much 9 years, gets a proper pale blue cord winder pedal. 

A new full ensemble shot. Looks better than ever now that he's back to 'original' status.

Next up, two 'new' PNs:

The left matches the Aerus Lux Guardian C154E, and the right the Electrolux Guardian Encore C134C.

134C:

C154E:

Guardian Encore with PN:

Lux Guardian with PN:

Finally, the matching set of the Guardian Encore and Lux 4000:

Next, the elusive* hose with the "Guardian" logo:

Logo closeup:

*I say 'elusive' only because the model this hose supposedly goes with, the 'Guardian by Electrolux' C134E, is almost never seen around. I'm always on the hunt for it. 

Some Forgotten About Pictures

I was tooling through my 'Vacuums' picture folder on my external hard drive, and came across a few pictures that I thought looked nice, and a few oddities as well.

First, a blurry picture of the (later) 88. I like the perspective on this one.

The 89, with the PN III, cleaning the carpet. A very common sight during my younger days.

The Epic 8000 sits on the table. It isn't as elegant as the Renaissance C104A, but much more so than the C104H.

Yet another table picture, for the Guardian C154B.

This is the second of the vacuums I had when I was living in China, the Electrolux Ingenio. It was fairly powerful, had a variable speed motor, reusable cloth bag, and a telescopic wand. I regret not snagging this and bringing it back home.

The bronze Model G. Very elegant...in fact, the most elegant American Electrolux.

Another view of the bronze G:

The blue Model G, decked out with hose cord and power nozzle. I'm not sure if the original hose cord would have been in matching blue or not.

Black vacuums look better in the shade?

The first of the two vacuums I had when in China, the Electrolux 'Tabby'. This is the first, and to date only (thank heaven) machine that ever conked out on me. I was vacuuming with it one day, and it gave a dismal groan and blew up in a puff of smoke. Oh well. It did serve me well enough for a couple of years.

Don't worry, I didn't vacuum the driveway with it!

It's not uncommon, when looking at pictures of vacuums for sale online, to see said vacuums posed dramatically in all manner of outdoor positions: in the driveway, on the patio, or even on the lawn.

Well, even though my trusty old Guardian isn't for sale, I thought I could make a contribution to the world of outdoor cleaning appliance photography. It was a gorgeous day, sunny and warm, so I thought I'd bust out the Guardian and vacuum the car. This explains the missing HEPA filter; there's no need to purify the air outdoors, so I sometimes remove the filter when I'm vacuuming the car. One drawback: the HEPA filter-equipped models are incredibly loud when run without a filter, but for the time it takes to vacuum the car, it isn't a huge drawback.

The Sidekick isn't pictured here, but its an absolutely indispensable attachment for car cleaning, at least for me. Straight suction on carpets and seats doesn't cut it for me, unless I happen to vacuum the car again very shortly after having done so.

My Style R Electrolux and Aerus Lineup

Just for the heck of it, I felt like taking some shots of all my Style R vacuums. I don't have all of them, of course*, but this is a good representation of machines from the beginning to the end of the run.

Back row, left to right: Aerus Lux 9000 C134F, Aerus Guardian C154B, Aerus Lux Guardian C154E .

Front row, left to right: Electrolux Guardian 75th Anniversary C134A, Electrolux Epic 8000 C133A, Electrolux Renaissance C104H, Electrolux Renaissance C104A.

Electrolux Style R models, clockwise from top (Guardian 75th C134A, Epic 8000 C133A, Renaissance C104A, Renaissance C104H). These are much better looking than their Aerus counterparts, partly because most are missing the HEPA filter and are thus much more streamlined, and partly because gray is a nicer color than pale blue:

Aerus Style R models (Guardian C154E, Guardian C154B, Lux 9000 C134F):

As an addendum, here is this week's cleaning team: the white, grey, and red Epic 8000 and Epic 3500. It's certainly a fetish with me, but I do like to use similarly colored and/or styled machines when I'm using them in pairs, not to mention the fact that I like to use all the original and/or matching attachments with a particular machine.

It's difficult to say whether one of these is my favourite. Certainly, the Renaissance C104A blows the others out of the water in terms of looks (and for that matter, it does the same for all other Electrolux and Aerus models, before or since), but the two newest machines, the C154B and C154E, have more power than the others. Like I said in another post, comparing machines is difficult. Each model or series of models has something distinctive and interesting about it. In short, there's good to be found in everything.

*Just to keep it straight, I don't have the Electrolux Guardian 75th Anniversary C134B, Electrolux Guardian Encore C134C, Electrolux Lux 9000 C134D, Electrolux Guardian C134E, and the Aerus Lux 9000 C154A (assuming this model exists). Funds permitting, and reasonable prices offered, I'd like to add these to the collection.

Two Guardians Plus an Epic Prepare for Christmas

For both everyday, 'lightweight' cleaning and full-on, hardcore, use-every-single-attachment cleaning, I can't think of anything better than these two vacuums:

I had to do the sofas, living room furniture, bare floors, baseboards, counter tops, table tops, and bathroom, and figured that the (Aerus) Guardians could take care of it all very easily. Naturally, they did.

These are by far my most used, most effective, go-to cylinder vacuums, and when you have a (relatively) large selection to choose from, that's saying something.

The logo on the Lux Guardian almost looks like its lit up, but its just very shiny.

I did the carpet with one of the battleship gray Epic 3500s. This one is in rather better cosmetic condition than the other, especially with the replacement handle:

Funnily enough, I've never gotten a vacuum or anything vacuum related for Christmas.

Not a New Machine, but...

...after dismantling, cleaning, disinfecting, and "refurbishing" it, I think the Guardian C154B deserves a new post.

(Not only that, but I'm going to "re-watermark" every picture on this blog. I happened upon an eBay auction for an Epic 8000 which used one of my pictures, and I'm not about to waste my time here so nitwits can steal my work to flog their junk on eBay. Yes, believe it or not, I do get pissed off when people steal other people's property. All that said, this blog and its contents represent a real labor of love for me, and I have no intention of stopping.)

Anyway, the first thing I did with the Guardian C154B was to paint the cord winder pedal white, to more or less match the body of the machine. I was utterly sick of looking at that horrible black pedal, and I think this paint job improves the look of the machine significantly (although its a somewhat rough paint job; painting is not my forte). One of these days, I might happen upon a replacement pale blue pedal, although I was told it was a discontinued item. Sounds odd to me, as most of the Style R machines are blue and white, but mine is not to reason why.

"New" cord winder pedal. As I said, the painting is a little rough, but it looks a hell of a lot better than black:

I also got rid of the two black wand latches I had (this machine came with two sets of wands) and replaced them with matching pale blue, and added a "new" crevice tool and dusting brush (the old ones were a little the worse for wear).

Then, I thought I'd actually have a go at dismantling this baby to see what was going on inside. I've dismantled some of the Style C cylinders before, but never a Style R, and I wasn't sure what to expect. The layout is actually not all that different from the older machines, with the only noticeable differences being:

• single stage (single fan) motor: I'm not sure when these first came in, or if they were used across the board in all of the subsequent Electrolux/Aerus models. All of the other models I've dismantled have the two stage (two fan) motor.
• plastic fan surround: most or all of the others I've dismantled were metal.
• wiring: the cord winder is not "directly" connected to the motor, like in the older models...in this one, a series of wires run from the motor housing back around to the cord winder. In the older models, a series of contacts on the cord winder housing "plug in" to the motor housing.
• circuit boards: There are two circuit boards; one near the bottom of the motor to control the main suction motor and power nozzle, and one at the top of the motor housing, near the exhaust port (to control the motor when the hose is connected to the blow port for blowing).

I gave the old boy a good scrubbing and disinfecting (except the fans and motor...they'll wait for another day, although I did blast them out with air to kick out some of the dirt), and then reassembled everything and put him right back into service. The assembly/reassembly is not radically different from the older models, except the two halves of the body are held together by six screws, and the bumper tucks in between the two halves (somewhat like the bumpers on the power nozzles).

Here he is, the Aerus Guardian C154B, "in all his splendor and power":

I can't resist adding a few comments and observations about this machine, which more or less apply to all of the other Style R machines:

1. Going by the "hand-over-the-end-of-the-hose" suction test, the C154B is the most powerful vacuum I own. The hose almost gets squashed when your hand completely covers the opening. It seems to have slightly more suction than its successor, the C154E.

2. When I use this machine, I get much more work (cleaning) done than I would otherwise. For example, every time I clean the kitchen, I dust off the counter top, table top, place mats, and stove top with the dusting brush on low speed, clean corners and edges with the crevice tool on medium speed, chair cushions with the upholstery tool or Sidekick on medium speed, and the floor with the floor brush on high speed. My house is definitely cleaner when I use this machine.

3. Because of the long(er) cord, on board attachments, and fingertip controls, cleaning takes less time (i.e. there is less time spent unplugging the cord and moving to a different outlet, finding attachments, and turning the machine on and off and/or adjusting the power). Whenever I use an older model now, I always ask myself "Where is the rest of the cord?" (after pulling it out to its extremity); "Where are the attachments"? "Why is the attachment falling off the end of the wand/hose?" and "Where is the power switch?" (i.e. its NOT on the hose handle, where I think it should be)

4. My house truly does smell better when I use this machine. Its not "as fresh as mountain air" or anything, but the atmosphere is definitely cleaner. The HEPA filter seems to do a good job for a longer time of trapping odors and small particles, even from a fairly full bag, and there is no air leakage anywhere else on the machine that I can find. Some of the older models leak (unfiltered) air through the cord winder opening and underneath the handle, and/or anywhere else there is a hole on the machine).

5. I believe the automatic bag-full shutoff function is preset to "normal" conditions. I wondered at first whether this might lead to the bag "declaring itself full" rather earlier than necessary, but I haven't found this to be the case so far. I've changed VERY full bags several times on this machine.

6. This applies to this machine in particular, because it came with two sets of wands, but I leave one wand set connected to the power nozzle, and another connected to the rug/floor tool, to save a little time, depending on my cleaning task. For example, if I'm only using this machine to do the bare floors and dusting, I don't have to disconnect the power nozzle from the wands.

7. This machine and all of the white and blue ones give me a vague "medical appliance" feeling, and not necessarily in a bad way. Its not only the HEPA filter sitting on top of the machine (which always reminds me of the little "houses" that sit on top of buildings to house the elevator machine room and other building controls), but the neutral white and pale blue wouldn't look out of place in a hospital. Perhaps this was the effect Aerus/Electrolux was going for, who knows...i.e. guarding your home and health from damaging dirt.

8. I have rather a soft spot for this model. It's the very first Aerus, Style R, Guardian, and HEPA filter equipped model in my collection, so it's a 'special fellow'.

The pity of it all is that there were (or perhaps still are) no less than 3 Guardian C154Bs for sale on eBay recently, at relatively decent prices, but the sellers only shipped to the U.S. :(

The Grandfather of My Collection

73 years old* and still doing what it was intended for? It must be an Electrolux vacuum cleaner. Presenting the ZB30, made in Canada by Electrolux Canada.

I bought this machine from a fellow collector; it came complete with an original, detachable power cord, and some of the original attachments. Best of all, it still works just fine. At 400 watts (about 3.5 amps, I believe), its amazingly quiet, and has more than adequate power on all bare surfaces. As seen in the pictures, I use updated attachments, and retrofitted an upright hose with the original ball bearing connector (Electrolux Canada used this connector on all their hoses right up to 1973, I believe).

This whole series of Canadian Electroluxes (the 30, 54, 55 [in three different versions], and 57) share the same body style, with gorgeous patterned designs on the main body, and bakelite ends. Bakelite, I believe, is an early form of plastic. The 30 is arguably the plainest of the lot, but its still a very nice looking machine. As seen in the pictures, the body covering has some rips, tears, and dents, but what can you expect from a septuagenarian vacuum cleaner?

Cord. It looks somewhat like an "old-school" kettle cord.

I find the current "bagless" vacuum trend somewhat amusing, considering how paper bags were such a revolutionary development, freeing the user from the need to empty out a dust container after every use. The 30 uses a cloth dust bag and gauze-like after filter (even in the 30's, Electrolux thought after filtration important!), and I empty the bag after every use. Is there really any difference in emptying a vintage cloth bag and a modern "dust bin"? I think not (obviously leaving out issues of performance and filtration on the respective machines).

I have to say, it really is heartwarming to see this beautiful ZB30 still ready to serve after so many years. I wonder how many current machines will have similar longevity?

*I'm in some doubt as to the exact age of this machine. Apparently, it was made from 1939 - 1949, and the year of manufacture can be read from the first digit of the serial number. In this case, the first digit is 9, so it COULD be from 1949. However, the last patent date on the information plate is 1938, and, in addition, my 1949 ZB55 shows various patent dates throughout the 40's, so I'm assuming this machine was made in 1939.

Now, purely for fun, a couple of pictures of the oldest and the newest, side by side, living together in harmony, and not arguing over which one is better! The basic design of Electrolux/Aerus machines hasn't changed radically over the years, has it?

Guarding Your Home From Evil Dirt?

Since I used this vacuum today, I suppose its as good a choice as any to start off this blog with. The Aerus (by Electrolux) Guardian (Model C154B) is by far the topmost top-of-the-line vacuum I own. I bought it about five months ago from a local seller, and paid, for a used vacuum, a decent price, but I have to admit its worth it. It came with all the standard accessories, namely the Sidekick, upholstery nozzle, dusting brush, crevice tool, and combination rug/floor nozzle. As an added bonus, the seller also threw in an extra hose, Sidekick, wand set, bags, and Clean Sweep Chips that she had saved from an earlier machine, and I recently added a brand new HEPA filter. The only noticeable "problem" is the replacement black cord rewind pedal...it should be pale blue.

The Style R Electrolux and Aerus vacuums (namely, the two Renaissances, Epic 8000, two or possibly three Lux 9000s*, and six Guardians*) are my personal favorites of all the models produced by the company. They came at a premium price, for sure, but when using the Guardian and the other Style R machines, I do get the feeling that I'm using something "first class". 

Here are a few pros of the Guardian, gathered over 5 or so months of use:

1. Relatively lightweight - not as light as the Style C models, but not heavy either. Its noticeably more lightweight than the other Style R models, perhaps because the newer style motor is lighter (I can't think of anything else that would make the weight different)

2. Easy to carry with the top and middle-mounted carrying handles

3. Maneuvers and swivels quite easily on its 5 wheels/casters

4. On-board, recessed, telescopic/swivel/latch fit attachments (I love this attachment set!)

UPDATE 03-03-14: I've long since replaced the dusting brush and crevice tool, because, as can be seen from these pictures, the dusting brush latch was worn, and the crevice tool cracked. Also, the seller had a secondary filter underneath the attachment tray...why, I don't know, but I've since removed it.

5. Top mounted pedal cord rewind (a boon for an arthritis sufferer who finds bending difficult). Also, the flared plug and extra space under the plug makes it quite easy to pull the cord out.

6. Long cord; can clean entire floor of house from one outlet (previous models had considerably shorter cords)

7. HEPA filter - I'll admit to not understanding HEPA filters very well, but I will say that the Guardian doesn't emit much of a smell as the bag fills up, as other vacuums do 

8. Hose handle power and speed controls (one of its best features)

9. Variable speed motor (another of its best features) - pretty much every time I use the Guardian, I use all 3 speeds, for different tasks. 

10. Electric wand system and swivel power nozzle elbow - the wands and hose handle are indeed a bit "fat", but having all the wiring and connectors integrated in the housing is a huge bonus. The wands can be disconnected, and used with both the electric and non-electric attachments (I sometimes grip the underside of the handle to make it a little easier when using attachments), and the power nozzle can swivel 180 degrees to go under furniture.

My Guardian hasn't disappointed me yet...in fact, its made me want to collect all the other Style R machines!

The Guardian doesn't have many disadvantages. Perhaps the most obvious one is the top-mounted HEPA filter. If one is very careful, I imagine the filter would stay tightly latched until the end of its life, but in everyday use, its a mistake to have it there. Pity the engineers couldn't have recessed it in the body of the cleaner.

The pitch of the motor, especially on high speed, took some getting used to, but I don't mind it now. Its just considerably different from other models.

So, there you have it...the Aerus (by Electrolux) Guardian. Truly, even after only 5 or so months of use, one of my most prized vacuums.

*There are so many varieties of the Style R HEPA filter models (i.e. the Lux 9000s and the Guardians) that I've decided to create a separate page to see if I can catalog their differences.