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.

A Trend That Still Echoes Today

Presenting the AP100, made in Canada by Electrolux Canada, between 1973 and 1977, in colors befitting the '70's, namely a sort of pinkish-beige.

I bought this machine (made in 1977) from a fellow collector, and, as far as I know, the only (standard) attachment missing is the crevice tool. Unlike the American models, which featured the combination tools, the Canadian models right up until the 80's had all separate attachments with a storage caddy.

This is definitely a standout model in the history of North American Electrolux, mainly because its the first to be made entirely of plastic*, but it does have other features that both set it apart from previous machines, and provide the prototype for models to come.

1. The body mould, style, and features are still used to this day, albeit in a modified form. The body consists of two halves, held together by the side bumpers, and the whole machine assembles and reassembles somewhat like a puzzle, with pieces slotting here and fitting there, exactly like the plastic machines that followed. The placing of the switch, automatic bag full shutoff dial, handle, blow port, filter, and filter cover carried over to all subsequent plastic models as well, with modifications over the years.

2. The top mounted, "electrostatic" after filter was used on all subsequent models, and is still used on current models (Classic and Legacy).

3. The vacuum-end hose connector became the standard for all subsequent plastic Style C models, including the current ones.

I believe, although I can't be sure, that the AP100 shared the same motor as the later 89...they certainly sound the same, and both are rated at 5 amps. Naturally, the AP100 is louder, but is still very quiet, and has more than enough power to do the job, a lesson that vacuum manufacturers of today could profit from.

Earlier AP100s featured a beige telescopic wand, but this was abandoned in favour of the "sheath", not one of Electrolux's best inventions, as it can really only be sensibly used with the power nozzle and/or the bare floor brush. I suppose the telescopic wand was a little flimsy, as the upper part was only a single layer of plastic, but the sheath really takes the cake, as far as I'm concerned.

The earlier hoses for the AP100 also featured the trigger to control the power nozzle, another feature that should have been kept. I personally don't like having the power nozzle running all the time unnecessarily, which is why the trigger handle and the Style R handle suit me down to the ground. The hose handle also featured the sliding suction vent control, as opposed to the for-the-birds knob (I'm really a VERY lukewarm fan of U.S. Electrolux and its features at best**).

One notable thing about this model and others that followed it is the minimalist styling...they look very functional, with little or no decorative touches, and the "Electrolux" and "AP100" have been reduced to a small area on the top of the (removable) after filter cover. I always found it strange that the company would minimize their name in that way, unless they figured that the shape and style would be enough to show what brand the machine was.

When this machine was introduced, I was a (very) wee lad, and consequently saw scores of them in use in my younger years. Altogether, the AP100 is a machine ahead of its time, if you ask me.

*I know there are vacuum "purists" (can't believe there is such a thing, but there you are) who dislike plastic machines simply BECAUSE they are plastic. Aesthetically speaking, there may be some truth to their assertions, but for everyday, practical use, I infinitely prefer the plastic body models, and, as evidenced by this 35 year old model, they can stand the test of use and time. Come to think of it, it really doesn't look all that bad, either.

**I mean the machines that were solely produced and sold in the U.S. as opposed to those made there and sold there and in Canada.

The Rug Doctor is On Call

I recently rented a Rug Doctor carpet cleaner to clean the living/dining room, as well as my sister's sofas. I must say, I'm impressed by the performance of these machines, and their ease of use. They really do make carpet and upholstery look almost new again, and the amount of brown water poured out from the recovery tank is astonishing, not to mention disgusting. Imagine spending all that time with that amount of dirt in your carpet and upholstery!

After giving the carpets a good working over, I connected an old Electrolux floor brush to the end of two wands, and ran it over the carpet, as if I was vacuuming it, to fluff it up a bit, and finally, after several hours of drying, I used the floor brush on the Shop Vac to pick up any leftover residue and/or surface moisture. As a final step, the morning after the cleaning, I gave the carpet a full-on Epic 3500-ing.

The Shop Vac. Not an Electrolux, but still a vital member of the household cleaning team. I've used this fellow for every dirty job imaginable, from unclogging sinks and vacuuming wet front porches in the winter, to clearing the front steps (in summer) from rocks and gardening debris. Oddly enough, I never use it in the car, unless the floors and/or mats happen to be wet. I always use one or another of the Aerus/Electroluxes.

Epic 3500. Possibly my favorite among the uprights I have, due to its near flawless, all-original cosmetic condition and excellent running condition.

Mind you, the results after all of this labor are not perfect. The carpet is a relatively old one, and has had and will continue to have a lot of traffic and spills, but it does look fresher and "fluffier".

Really, the Rug Doctor does such an impressive job that I'm half tempted to buy one.

A Work in Progress, Even Though Things Have Retrogressed

If Aerus Electrolux had made a few small changes to the Style R models, they would have been near perfect, as much as any vacuum can be perfect.

1. Thinner hose handle, wands, and power nozzle elbow. The existing system works fine, and is very adaptable, but it is a bit on the big side. A thinner diameter would have made attachment use much easier.

2. Thinner, recessed HEPA filter. Perhaps by their very nature, HEPA filters need to be big to accommodate the various odour-absorbing and particle capturing layers, I don't know. Indeed, the box filter seems to work quite well. Pity it gets in the way when trying to pick up the machine, and it interferes with the aesthetic flow of the machine. I have seen pictures of a thin, flat HEPA filter...I suppose this was some kind of early prototype, or perhaps a salesperson's demonstration filter?

I wonder if the company could have made a HEPA filter as thin as the Renaissance and Epic 8000 after filter? Then, they could have kept the configuration of those models, with even better filtration.

3. Variable (2?) speed power nozzle. I'm not sure if any vacuum cleaner has ever had a multi-speed brush roll, but I think it would be a great idea, especially for lightweight rugs. Even with the suction on low speed, the power nozzle can chew up small rugs.

I really can't think of any other "deficiencies" in the Style R models; as pointed out elsewhere in this blog, these are very nearly the only vacuums I use, other than the uprights.

This is my first post with the iPhone Blogger app...just wanted to give it a go. Posting with this app is surprisingly easy, actually.

Somewhat Shopworn, Still Certainly Serviceable

Sometimes, taking a chance on a less than stellar looking vacuum can pay dividends, as evidenced by more than a few machines in my collection. The same goes for my latest acquisition, an Aerus Lux 9000 Model C134F. When I first saw it advertised, I was hesitant. According to the description, the power nozzle didn't work, it was missing the dusting brush and combination rug/floor tool, and it looked fairly dirty. On the other hand, it was all original, not to mention cheap. I could have gone for a "better" one from some vac shop, but it would have cost at least twice as much, and vacuums from such sellers don't come with a "perfect" guarantee. All in all, it turned out to be worth it.

Here is the young fellow, cleaned up as nicely as possible and ready for service. Yes, the hose is discolored, but its airtight, the switches work properly, and its been disinfected, so its good to go.

The suction motor sounds and sucks just fine. It sounds pretty much exactly like the Guardian 75th Anniversary I have, as a matter of fact, and the suction is more or less the same. Perhaps they used the same motor in all of the machines in between these two, I don't know. As I suspected, the machine was fairly dirty, both inside and out, but one of my favorite things to do is to clean and detail vacuums, so I gave it a fairly thorough cleaning and disinfecting, inside and out. The one part of the Style R machines which I haven't been able to clean properly is the side bumper...Magic Eraser doesn't seem to work at all, and I haven't yet found anything else that works.

The seller had indicated that the power nozzle needed a new motor, but rather than bothering with it, I just transplanted the "Lux" top cover and blue bumper to another power nozzle I had. As an addendum to this power nozzle, I'm not sure what that little extra piece is on the elbow (the gray piece in the first picture on the power nozzle), but it makes the top cover bloody difficult to remove. I've seen other elbows with it and without it, so I'm not sure if its completely random, but I don't like it, and I doubt if it serves any practical purpose.

(Update 07-28-13: In fact, I've long since removed the bloody thing! I assume its there to give a little extra support to the elbow, but I wanted it gone.)

Top view. The logo is a bit scarred, but things can't always be perfect.

Side bumper logo, with "handwritten" script. I may be wrong, but this script seems to hearken back to earlier models, I can't remember which ones.

Ratings sticker. This seems to be the first ever "Aerus" branded Style R model, and, wonder of wonders, it doesn't even say "Electrolux" anywhere! Going by the attachment compartment door logo, the company really wanted to emphasize the new name, as opposed to later models.

Going by the graphics, the Aerus Lux 9000 appears to be the top-of-the-line companion to the Lux 7000 and Lux 5500, but given the company's propensity for releasing models in wild profusion in short time periods, I'll make that claim with reservations. 

As I pointed out in Note 6 here, I'm not sure why the company issued a machine identical to the Guardian in every way, and called it "Lux 9000". The only sensible reason is that it wanted to get rid of the "Guardian" name. At any rate, I'm quite happy to have another useful and serviceable vacuum.

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 Last of a Great Line?

Electrolux and Aerus vacuums are the only vacuums for me, but really, there are times when it gets downright confusing trying to keep track of all the models and their changes. As I mentioned elsewhere, it was somewhat easier when things were simply "Electrolux", but oh well.

All that said, I'm happy to add yet another great Style R model to my collection...the "Lux Guardian by Aerus", Model C154E. This machine, to the best of my knowledge, is the very last Style R machine the company made* before ditching the design and coming out with the Guardian Ultra**. It didn't come with the proper power nozzle, so I won't be picturing it here, but other than that, its in great cosmetic shape*** and works very well.

This hose looks like it just rolled off the assembly line; in fact, its still stiff with newness (or from sitting coiled up for a long time, who knows). In fact, this is some sort of after-market hose; its noticeably fatter than the others.

Side bumper and attachment door logos. These have a very shiny surface.

Taken after cleaning the floor. I gave the machine a good workout, and it runs quietly and perfectly, with plenty of suction and cleaning power. It would make a perfect daily vacuum, as would the C154B. These two are every bit as good as any of the other Style R models, except in the looks department - the dark grey/light grey/white and grey models look considerably better - with added power**** and lighter weight.

As I said above, this is the perfect daily vacuum*****...relatively quiet, very powerful, efficient, and loaded with attachments. The power nozzle is borrowed from the Guardian C154B until I can find the matching one for this machine. At least the colors and name match.

I assume that this model was the top of the line companion to the Lux Legacy and Lux Classic uprights and cylinders (at least the "LUX" graphics are similar on all of these).

*As I pointed out in Note 2 here, I'm not quite sure of the exact sequence of the Style R HEPA filter models, but I have to assume that "Model C154E" comes after "Model C154B", and I'm reasonably sure that the Model C154E is the last in this series. If the company made another Style R model after this one, I've never seen or heard of it.

**I've never used the Guardian Ultra, so I'm saying nothing about its cleaning effectiveness. What I do say is that it obviously lacks the features of previous models (see note number 3 here).

***Electrolux/Aerus certainly used this white and pale blue color scheme on quite a few models. I wasn't enamored of it at first, but I'm used to it now. Still, its a pity they didn't reverse the colors...pale blue with white trim would have been interesting. They could have used a white or pale blue cord and plug as well; the black looks slightly out of place.

****I've never done tests with suction gauges and the like on any of my vacuums, but I do notice an appreciable difference in suction between the C154B and C154E (with the newer motor) and the older Style R models (which still have fantastic power and suction).

*****In fact, the Lux Guardian has been my "go-to" everyday vacuum ever since I got it, and I don't see that changing anytime soon.

A Gorgeous Modern Classic

I can't say how happy I am to finally have one of these in my collection. Presenting the Renaissance, model C104A...a radical and beautiful new model for the Electrolux company.

This specimen came to me in excellent running and cosmetic condition, and with a full set of attachments (the Sidekick and floor brush aren't pictured here). I'm guessing, as far as the Sidekick goes, that this was the first model with the newly designed Sidekick II. The Sidekick II that came with this machine is from the next Renaissance, the battleship gray C104H, as are the hose and wands, but they do match the bumper trim, so all is good. It does have a replacement plug, but we can't have everything we want, I suppose.

Electrolux had never made a machine quite like this one before, or, as events turned out eventually, since. It was the first ever Electrolux to feature:

• fingertip power and speed controls. Although some Canadian models from the late 60's to the mid 80's did have a trigger on the handle to control the power nozzle, and the near contemporaneous Epic 6500 featured a switch for the same purpose, no previous model had the main power control on the hose handle. 
• the 3 speed motor. The late 70's/early 80's Canadian AP280 had a 2 speed motor, with the selector switch on the top of the vacuum.
• detachable electric wand set. Previous models had either the electric telescopic wand or "sheath" wand, but the only sensible attachment these could be used with was the power nozzle. Quite a few models came with an extra set of plastic accessory wands. With the Renaissance, one set of wands could be used for both standard and powered attachments.
• power nozzle with direct connect, swivel elbow. Previous models had a cord running from the power nozzle to the bottom of the sheath, and a static elbow. 
• recessed, on-board attachments. Various other models, of course, had a clip on the top to store the combination dusting/upholstery tool and/or the "baby" crevice tool, and the Epic 6000 and 6500 had the enlarged top cover with space for the dusting/upholstery tool and crevice tool, but the Renaissance was the first to store the attachments in their own, hideaway compartment, which contributed to the streamlined, bullet train styling of the machine.
• adjustable attachments. The elbows on the dusting brush and upholstery tool could be swiveled to four different positions, and the crevice tool collapsed for storage.
• latch fit attachments. Older attachments slipped onto the outside of the hose or wand and were "held in place" by friction, which meant that they could (and did) fall off in use.
• the top mounted, pedal controlled cord rewind. In addition, no other model had such a long cord (28 feet, I believe, but I've never measured it).
• the factory preset automatic bag full shutoff function. Older models had, of course, the manual control dial.
• the "electric blow port". Since the hose must be connected to power the machine, the blow port has electrical contacts, and you can choose low, medium, or high speed for blowing.
• dual carrying handles. I may be wrong, but I don't think any other model had more than one handle.
• 2 wheel/3 caster movement system. The American Model G had two "extra" static wheels, which were there to balance the machine when it was moved around. 

I'm sure there might be a few other firsts, which I'll think of later. Its interesting to note that the Lux Guardian Ultra did away with the variable speed motor, handle power controls (except for the powered accessory switch), on-board/adjustable/recessed/latch fit attachments (is a little clip on the wand considered "on-board"?), variable speed blow port, and the long cord...in short, most of the features of the Renaissance and subsequent Style R models. Progress is strange sometimes*.

The Renaissance is both a highly useful and highly collectible model, as are most or all of the other Style R machines*. The Renaissance models are only between 15-18 years old, and that's not very old for an Electrolux, if you ask me. This one is every bit as powerful and dependable as anything that followed it, and, as for looks...

Seriously, no Electrolux or Aerus model looks better than this. Period.

It looks so good it deserves a footrest of its own.

Top view. The handle is ever-so-slightly different than successor models; it doesn't have the small "grooves" in the underside, and is a tad bigger.

Bottom view. This has a smooth bottom, compared to the textured ones of later models, and it also has the two large rear casters, instead of the smaller ones on later models (i.e. the Epic 8000 and beyond). The middle wheels are slightly different, and the ratings sticker is also moved towards the top. Actually, I like the smaller rear casters much better...the Renaissance seems much less maneuverable than the other Style R models.

Logos. Successor models (the Epic 8000 and Guardian 75th Anniversary) have the "Electrolux" in raised and colored letters on a flat background. After that point, all the models featured a silver decal on the side bumper.

Attachments. Another set in great condition (can't have too many of these excellent Style R attachments!). Really, these are the most user-friendly and useful attachments Electrolux/Aerus ever made. I'm at the point where I almost hate using the older ones (non-adjustable and always falling off the end of the hose handle or wands). Note the lack of arrows near the front latches for the attachment tray...successor models all had them.

Inside bag door. I'm not sure why they put the "Electrolux" there, but it looks cool.

Hose handle, with very futuristic looking push button controls and lights. As mentioned above, this hose is from the later battleship gray Renaissance, but it does work with this one, although I believe the later ones with slider switches won't work at all with this machine. This must have been the first ever gas pump style hose handle for Electrolux. It is indeed a bit on the "fat" side, but I've gotten so used to having all the controls at my fingertips, and the lock-fit attachments, that I almost hate using anything else.

The bag light always stays on when the machine is running; I believe it flashes when the bag is full and the machine shuts itself off, but I haven't yet experienced a full bag (the Renaissance is a recent acquisition). The off button light flashes to signal a missing bag, and the machine always starts on high (floor) speed. This is of course quite different from the later slider switch hose handles, which I sort of like better. Still, I'm very far from complaining about this one.

In the middle of Renaissancing the carpet. The performance of this machine is more or less at par with its successors (Epic 8000 and Guardian 75th)**

This Renaissance is in a class of its own, as there were no lower-line models produced in matching colors***. This is an entirely fitting situation for this beautiful machine. Whether you call it a REHN-uh-sahnse or Reh-NAY-sahnse, its all the same, and its all good. I could end my collection right here, and be perfectly satisfied.

*The Style R design is, alas, no longer made, and I'm not sure why. After adding several Style R models to my collection, I don't really want to use anything else, other than the uprights.

**Its difficult to compare the performance of different models, even though they may be quite similar or the same mechanically. First of all, all of my machines are used, and of a certain age, and I have no idea what their usage history is, or whether they've ever been repaired, serviced, or refurbished in any way. Those that I've bought from "vac shops" may have replacement parts, or they may be entirely original, and who knows what might have occurred during shipping? I always keep these factors in mind when comparing machines. To tell the truth, I don't really like comparing vacuums anyway...every machine I have has something different and special about it, otherwise I wouldn't want it.

***The lower-line models out at the time were, to the best of my knowledge, the blue and white Epic 6500 (also with gas pump hose handle, electric wands, and Sidekick II), and the blue and white Ambassador III. In fact, I often think its a pity the company didn't bring out the Lux 4000/6000 redesigned upright at the same time, name it "Renaissance", and color it in the same beautiful dark grey.

A Surprising (To Me) Addition

I shouldn't be at all surprised by this, but I am. I bought what I thought, according to the description, was an Epic 2500 upright from eBay. All well and good, until the machine arrived today, bearing the name "Epic 3000".

Epic 3000?

This is the first time I've ever even heard that such a model existed. I thought the next model after the 2500 in the Epic upright series was the 3500, but I've been proved wrong. As soon as I unboxed the machine and saw the logo, I really did do a double-take, and I had to look hard at the logo to make sure it was "real".

Close-up of the "real" logo:

After this, I googled "Epic 3000" and found out that it did indeed exist as a real model (Model 1717, by the way). Who knew? Its hard to pin down the year of production, but I'm going to guess that the Epic 3000 is the companion upright to the Epic 6000 (which had the same blue power nozzle with beige bumper) and blue/white Ambassador III.

The blue boy makes his debut. I still need to give this a cleaning treatment, but its in pretty good shape as is.

As can be seen in the pictures, this model has an original blue handle with slider switch, although the cord is a replacement. I gave this "blue boy" a brief test run today, and he sounds just fine. As mentioned elsewhere, I've totally fallen in love with the Electrolux/Aerus uprights, and love using them, so I'm happy to have another perfectly functioning model in my collection.

The blue power nozzle gives the Epic 3000 a little extra dash of color and style versus the other beige and blue machines (such as the Genesis, which has the beige power nozzle):

The top cord hook on this model seems to be a little higher up on the steering handle than the successor models. It was around this time that Electrolux uprights with the "ponytail" cord coming out of the top of the handle were recalled, and if memory serves, the Epic 2500 was one of those, so its a good guess that this Epic 3000 was the first model to have the cord coming out of the bottom of the handle, as all subsequent models did:

Assuming everything on this model is original (except the cord, as noted), and I have to admit it certainly looks so, then some of my upright suppositions need re-working. All well and good...as I pointed out elsewhere, I love the endless questioning and re-questioning of Electrolux and Aerus minutiae. Everyone needs a hobby, to be sure. One point...I saw an Epic 3000 for sale on eBay, and it had a beige cord and carrying handle, so perhaps this was the first model to include the carrying handle?

Re: the surprise of receiving a different model. eBay titles and descriptions tend to be, I won't say misleading, but certainly confusing to anyone who is familiar with the different models and their names. If, for example, I do a search for "Electrolux Guardian", I wouldn't be at all surprised to come up with something like this: "Aerus Lux Epic 9000 Guardian Electrolux 8000 Renaissance Vacuum Cleaner". 

Discovering the Dirt

Presenting the Electrolux Discovery III upright vacuum cleaner, made between 1987-9, if memory serves. I paid all of $30 for this old boy (machine only), and I'm quite glad I did, because it started off my love affair with Electrolux and Aerus uprights.

I got this model by answering a local classified ad that read "Electrolux vacuum, $30". Well, it could have been anything, and, at first, I wanted to say no when I found out it was an upright, but how could I go wrong for $30?

I believe this is one of the earlier models made, because the cord is permanently attached. Eventually, the cord became removable, apparently to facilitate the addition of the port for the cord and the Sidekick plug, which became available as an optional add-on (see note 7 here).

Its not in perfect shape; the bearings are a bit dry, and I need to get them replaced sometime soon, but it still works and sucks fine. The hand grip is ever-so-slightly loose, and there is a small bald spot on the cord, but for a 23-25 year old machine, you can't expect perfection. The two gray Epic 3500s I have came to me in much worse shape with regards to cords and handles. This lovely Discovery III is in all original condition, and I have no problems with putting a little money into it to bring it back to top operating condition.

Plugged in and ready to clean. Keeping in mind the above-mentioned bearing issue, the Discovery III does an excellent job at cleaning; not as good as its successors, but still quite good.

Attachments + cardboard kit. I bought this separately, from another local seller, so I'm not exactly sure if this is original to the Discovery III, or the other Discovery models (II, Advantage, and Plus). At any rate, everything fits, matches, and works.

Side view of attachment kit with contents. I wonder how much this kit was to buy separately?

There was a certain 1980's action or science fiction movie that had opening credits like this...it may have been "Superman". A bit gaudy, but very 1980's. Based on the brown and beige colors, I'd say the Discovery III was issued along with the System 90 and LE, both of which were also brown and beige.

There you have it...the Electrolux Discovery III upright vacuum cleaner, Model 1572E. My first ever Electrolux upright, and therefore a special model in my collection.

A Beautiful Blaze of Red

Presenting the made in Canada by Electrolux Canada ZB88, or Z88, or 88, vacuum cleaner, made in two versions between 1957 - 1967. I'm happy to own examples of both versions...the one in the middle is the first version, from 1961, and the left and right are examples of the second version, from 1965 and 1963 respectively. This is, beyond a shadow of a doubt, my favorite vintage Electrolux, and is in a near tie with the first Renaissance as my favorite Electrolux of all time.

The first version was the first Canadian machine with:

• paper Style C bags
• bag-full automatic shutoff system, and
• fully integrated* automatic cord winder

The second version was the first to feature:

• the power nozzle. The first power nozzle was exactly like the American one...permanently connected to its own long plastic wand, with a cord on the outside of the hose. Later, the power nozzle got its own, detachable elbow and electric telescopic wand, but I'm not quite sure if this development happened with the 88, or the subsequent 89.
• rubber wraparound furniture bumper
• the telescopic wand. The 88 was certainly the first to feature the non-electric telescopic wand, but, as mentioned above, the electric version may have come after the 89 came out.
• the electric hose handle with trigger on-off switch. Again, this may be a "retrofit" after the introduction of the 89.

All three of these machines have their original cords, and two still have the original plug. I have a full set of standard attachments in their "Handikit", and original hoses and wands as well, although these don't get used. The only thing I don't have is the original power nozzle; they are somewhat rare, and I've never seen one in person.

Original plug, with stamped "Electrolux" logo and bulb stopper:

Some personal observations about this model:

• The 80 series (83, 86, 88, 86 Mk.II, 88 Mk.II, 87, 89) is arguably the quietest set of vacuum cleaners ever made, with the exception of a non-electric carpet sweeper. The sound of the motor gets drowned out by the cyclone rush of air through the hose, wands, and attachments. You could, as they say, run one of these in a sleeping baby's room while having a telephone conversation, and not notice.
• Despite the quiet sound, the 88 is very powerful, with plenty of suction and airflow, produced from a 5 amp motor. I'd say it could hold its own with any machine that says "12 amps of cleaning power".
• In the looks department, all I can say is that I think if it wasn't for the first Renaissance, this would still be the best looking Electrolux of all time. The dark red, cream, and silver combination is absolutely beautiful. Incidentally, I like the 2nd version better than the 1st...the addition of the wraparound bumper and the positioning of the "Electrolux" logo gives it an extra dash of style.

Some differences between the first and second versions:

1. front door: 2nd version on the left, 1st version on the right. The "88" clearly needed to be moved due to the addition of the wraparound bumper. The automatic shutoff control knob on the 1st version is the same as those used on the contemporary American models.

2. side bumper and logo:

1st:

2nd:

Attachments: Canadian models up until the 2100 always had a full set of dedicated attachments, stored in a kit (first of cardboard, as seen here, and then plastic). Incidentally, the 88 (and earlier Canadian models) featured an astounding array of optional attachments and accoutrements that I'd love to have. I do actually have a sprayer and vaporizer for the 88s, but these are not pictured here.

Filter: As noted above*, the cord winder is technically not fully integrated, as it can be opened to install an after filter. Depending on who you ask, the after filter for these models is no longer made. I have, in the past, cut a Style R after filter to the right size, and it works fine.

Bag chamber "basket". This configuration seems to produce quite a bit of airflow.

Purely for the fun of it, some shots of the 88 with his "brothers and cousins". Perhaps its silly to personalize vacuum cleaners, but people do it all the time with other objects.

The 88 and his younger brother, the 89:

The American cousin Model G comes for a visit.

The full lineup. If you have an 88 with an updated, airtight hose and updated attachments, you have an amazing cleaning system that can hold its own with many modern cleaners, including all the modern Electrolux and Aerus models, and that's saying something!