Somewhat of a Landmark Model

First of all, as a Canadian and devotee of Canadian Electrolux models, the "75th Anniversary" of Electrolux didn't actually occur until 2007, not 1999 as in the U.S. When Electrolux Canada and Electrolux U.S. "merged", the Canadian side of the history was, in a sense, deleted, even though the models offered after the "merger" and until today are based on Canadian designs (i.e. the 1982 E2000 and 1985 LE).

Putting all that history aside, I'm absolutely pleased as punch to own the very first Electrolux Guardian, 75th anniversary model. This was an eBay buy* that arrived today, thankfully quite intact and in good working condition. Everything is original, even the filter (although I certainly won't be using a 13 year old filter!), and, although the unit is a little dirty, its nothing that a relaxing "spa treatment" won't cure. It didn't come with the Sidekick, combination rug/floor nozzle, or correct crevice tool, but I have enough extras of these attachments anyway. The only other "flaw" is the darker gray power nozzle elbow, but I've since swapped it for a matching one.

Top, with 75th Anniversary badge and logo:

Ratings plate:

One of the things I like about the Electrolux Guardian is that it clearly says "ELECTROLUX" in large letters. Some of the other Guardians have the whole "Aerus by Electrolux" and "Lux Such-and-Such by Aerus" going on**.

Power on and ready to go. I really like this hose handle and its graphics, although the later white and blue handles are even a little bit cooler, with the graphic of the cylinder and power nozzle underneath the "O/I/II":

Guardianing the carpet (which needs to be Rug Doctored again, alas):

"Resting from its labors":

Guardianing the kitchen floor:

The Electrolux Guardian is somewhat less powerful than the later Aerus Guardians, perhaps partly due to the fact that its older, and also due to the different motor, but it does the job just fine. Since I got it, I've been using it a lot.

I'm not sure if this model came with the dedicated floor brush or the combination rug/floor nozzle, but this floor brush matches, and I think it works better than the combination tool. It seems that Electrolux carried on the white-gray-red Epic 6500 and Ambassador III as lower-line models with the Guardian 75th...the first two models didn't change, as far as i know, until they became white and pale blue, presumably to match the Guardian Encore. This seems to put the Guardian 75th in the same league as the first Renaissance as a unique, standalone model. Very fitting for both machines, if you ask me.

I must say, I've developed quite a soft spot for this machine already. It's a bit of a landmark model, being the first Guardian, an anniversary model, and the first machine with a HEPA filter. To my mind, it gets a bit overshadowed by its successor white and blue machines, but with this one and its graphics, colors, logos, and performance, I feel like I'm more "connected to classic Electrolux".

(According to the post count, this is by far the most viewed post on this blog. Not that the Guardian 75th isn't a wonderful vacuum, but it makes me wonder what makes it, at least as far as this blog is concerned, so popular. I suspect it's the "75th Anniversary" designation...the Epic 6500, Ambassador III, and Epic 3500 also had anniversary editions, and a search for "Electrolux 75th Anniversary" could turn up any of those.



*I rarely indulge in buying vacuums on eBay, not because of the quality of machines on offer, or even the selling price, but because the combination of price + shipping + customs fees can sometimes be ridiculous, from the Canadian point of view. Sometimes, as with this Guardian, I can't resist.

**Aerus has certainly gotten a lot of mileage from the "Guardian" name, putting it on 7 different cylinders (Guardian 75th C134A, Guardian 75th C134B, Guardian Encore C134C, Guardian C134E, Guardian C154B, Guardian C154E, Guardian Ultra), the current upright, the air purifier, and heater. I wonder if they'll come up with something new for their next model line?

UPDATE 03-03-14: As it turns out, Aerus has continued the use of the "Guardian" name with the Aerus Lux Guardian Platinum.