*36 now, it being 2021.
**As of 2021? 2022?, it seems as if Aerus has gone back to the Lux 4000/6000 style with the 'Lux Heavy Duty' model, which has the built-in stretch hose and telescopic wand, and the onboard-the-vacuum tools. It doesn't appear to have the electric hose and Sidekick, though, but I haven't examined it in detail. Seems like a ProTeam (?) clone to me, and, of course, the ProTeam was based on the Lux 4000/6000 in the first place.
Note 1: I am not an expert on this subject. These are, at best, educated conjectures, based on models I own, models I have used, and pictures and literature about models found on the internet. As always, my list poses more questions than it answers, but that's part of the fun of vacuum "scholarship". There are plenty of sources out there for information on vintage Electroluxes, but not so many for the newer ones and/or the uprights.
Note 2: All of my uprights have their own posts in this blog; see those for more general comments.
1. Cord "origin" - in addition to these, there was of course the infamous one that came out of the top of the hand grip, which caused burns and shocks (I believe this started with the Genesis, or at least some of them, because an aunt had one with the cord coming out of the bottom of the handle, like the Discovery III below). The Electrolux Lux 4000 and Aerus Lux 6000s had the same arrangement as the Discovery III below, because of the altered handle. If memory serves, the Discovery II cord came out of the bulkhead as well, but on the left side.
I'm guessing this style started after the top-of-the-handle debacle, and this has remained the standard to this day.
Lux 6000. There is a little tab on the plug that sits under the handle, when the handle is inserted, to keep the plug firmly in place:
2. Top cord hook location - the third example, which is the one still used today, is infinitely the best one.
3. Plug - the first of these is from the Discovery III, and the same is used on the Discovery Advantage and Genesis, and no doubt others. Incidentally, this is the same as the plug on the Trivac I have, from the late 70's. The second is from the Epic 3500, and this same plug, minus the cord clip, is used on the Style R models. This "flared" plug is easy to grip.
4. Slider switch vs. rocker - was the blue and beige Epic 3500 the first with the rocker switch? The first rocker switch was slightly different from the one shown (I believe it was black with white letters, or perhaps the other way round). The Lux 4000 and Lux 6000s also had a rocker, but on the underside of the hand grip, as below.
5. Hand grip shape - It seems as if the addition of the rocker switch made the hand grip a little pointier...perhaps so one's thumb wouldn't slide off when switching the machine on and off? The models with the on board hose and tools, namely the Lux 4000 and Lux 6000s, have a different hand grip altogether, as does the Ultralux.
6. Carrying handle - Was the blue and beige Epic 3500 the first to feature this? I recall an aunt owning a Genesis which didn't have one, and pictures I've seen of the different Genesis models don't show a carrying handle, nor does my Epic 3000 have one, although I have seen an Epic 3000 with one before (naturally, you can add the handle to any of the machines if you desire). In my searches through the owner's manuals, the carrying handle first makes its appearance on the blue and beige Epic 3500, but the Electrolux/Aerus manuals often reuse pictures and details, so who knows?
7. Sidekick port - I believe this was the only location used for the Sidekick. I recall seeing pictures of some models with a dual port* on the back for both the cord and the Sidekick. The Lux 4000 and 6000s had the direct connect electric hose, so there was no separate Sidekick port.
Lux 6000. Very deluxe arrangement, if you ask me.
*I happened upon two Ebay auctions today for an "Electrolux Discovery III Sidekick adapter kit", which was basically a port that connected to the bottom of the steering handle with an outlet for the power cord and an outlet for the Sidekick cord. I had no idea this was a genuine Electrolux product, and I'd love to get one of them for my Discovery III, but these sellers only ship to the U.S. See here for pictures of this port on the Discovery Advantage. As a matter of fact, as can be seen from these pictures, the on/off switch on the port is brown, so it obviously matches the Discovery III.
8. Power nozzle reset button location - I'm guessing that somewhere around the time of the Epic series, the power nozzle reset button was moved to the top of the power nozzle, rather than on the rear of the machine underneath the bottom cord wrap. Some of the manuals show both locations, and my Genesis LX and Epic 3000, which have the reset under the cord wrap, have a cutout for the button on the top of the power nozzle. Perhaps one of the early machines (Discovery II?) had the button on the power nozzle, and then it was moved to underneath the cord wrap?
9. Hoses + attachments + carrying caddies - According to the owner's manuals, the plastic caddy was first introduced with the blue and beige Epic 3500, but I vaguely recall an aunt who once owned what I think was a Genesis LX or Genesis LXe, and it had the plastic caddy, so it could have been introduced earlier. Attachments for the Discovery models came in a cardboard box. I believe the combination upholstery and dusting tool, crevice tool (either full length or "baby"), and plastic wands were and are common to all of the models, except for the Lux 4000 and 6000s which had the built-in telescopic wand, and thus no need for accessory wands. The only changes I can call to mind were the introduction of the Sidekick (on the Discovery II?) and the various hoses:
Cardboard and plastic caddies:
Rear view of plastic caddy. I've seen a slightly different version of this...I believe the Sidekick and dusting/upholstery brush traded places. This particular example is from the white, grey and red Epic 3500.
Hose compartment:
Rear view, with attachments from the white, grey, and red Epic 3500 inserted:
Hose (from the white, grey and red Epic 3500). This is exactly the same hose that comes with the bottom of the line cylinders, except for the modified machine end with pigtail cord. I'm guessing this hose was introduced on the Genesis LXe, hence the addition of the "e" for "electric" to "LX"? Mind you, this is mere guesswork.
Incidentally, an aunt had a Genesis which had the attachments pictured above (save the floor brush), and they were in a cardboard box. I don't think it said "Discovery" on the box, but I can't remember what it DID say.
Both types of upright attachments have their good and bad sides. Since the standard, Discovery II style has separately-stored attachments, it is somewhat lighter and easier to use when doing carpets and floors. On the downside, one has to find and attach the attachments when doing non-floor cleaning. The Lux 4000/6000 style is great for dusting (just whip the wand out of the receptacle and go) in addition to carpets and floors, but the on-board storage does make the whole ensemble a little bulkier.
10. Side-mounted vs. front-loading after filter - I believe the models with a front-loading after filter are the Aerus Lux Classic, Aerus Lux Legacy, one of the Aerus Lux 6000s, and one of the Aerus Lux 3000s. All the others I've seen use the side-mounted filter, and the Guardian of course came out with the side mounted HEPA filter. This latter, by the way, can be attached to any of the machines that use the side-mounted filter, merely by clipping it on to the exhaust grille. I believe the current Lux heavy Duty uses a similar filter to the ProTeam.
11. Power nozzle headlight - The Genesis LX was the first upright with a headlight. The headlight is a useful and classy feature, to be sure, and I do prefer the models with a headlight, but those without one can get underneath certain types of furniture easier.
12. Power nozzle bottom plates + brush rolls - These were, as far as I can see, a match for the corresponding power nozzles on the cylinders.
The first is from the Discovery III. Instead of plastic tabs, this one has metal, and there is a brush strip running along the length of the nozzle, presumably to help pick up dirt when cleaning bare floors. The small wheels, too, have a groove in the middle that disappeared on later models. Never mind the fact that the picture is "upside down".
This brush roll is from the Genesis LX, and is missing the two plastic "retaining" tabs across the bottom. The Epic 3000 has the same configuration, which leads me to believe it was used for a little while on several models.
Notice the side channels, which are a little wider than on successor models, and the small brush strip on either side. I find this style of power nozzle digs into the carpet a little better than its successors.
This is from the Epic 3500. I haven't measured it exactly, but it seems to me that the opening is narrower than the predecessor models.
Notice the suction channels all along the front of the nozzle, although the side channels seem a little narrower than before.
These are from the Aerus Lux 6000. I'm not sure, but I think this is the only model, (or model lineup, since my Aerus Lux 9000 has them too) that had green bristles.
Not radically different from the preceding models, but the suction channels along the front look a little deeper.
13. Bag lockout switch - in many ways, the no-bag-no-start and full bag automatic shutoff system is one of the cleverest inventions of the Electrolux and Aerus company. Its a great way to keep track of and reset performance. I'm not sure when they changed from the metal lever to the plastic button, but the Epic 3000 I have has the metal lever.
14. Bag full indicator - the only models I've seen without this indicator are the Discovery II and Special Edition...there may be a few others. Some of the newer models such as the Lux 4000, Lux 6000s, Lux Commercial, the Guardian, and the Lux Heavy Duty have the electronic panel on the power nozzle head. This stays red when the machine is off, or when the hose is inserted, but moves when in normal (carpet) operation. When it goes completely red, the bag needs changing.
Lux 4000/6000 electronic panel:
15. Bag door intake - Never mind the upside down picture...it still illustrates my point. The Discovery III intake (top) has no rubber gasket strip around it, and it looks like it never did, but of course it might have deteriorated and fallen off. The Epic 3000 (bottom) has it, as do all the other models I have. Of course, the Lux 4000/6000 intake system has the stretch hose/telescopic wand incorporated into the design.
Note 1: I am not an expert on this subject. These are, at best, educated conjectures, based on models I own, models I have used, and pictures and literature about models found on the internet. As always, my list poses more questions than it answers, but that's part of the fun of vacuum "scholarship". There are plenty of sources out there for information on vintage Electroluxes, but not so many for the newer ones and/or the uprights.
Note 2: All of my uprights have their own posts in this blog; see those for more general comments.
1. Cord "origin" - in addition to these, there was of course the infamous one that came out of the top of the hand grip, which caused burns and shocks (I believe this started with the Genesis, or at least some of them, because an aunt had one with the cord coming out of the bottom of the handle, like the Discovery III below). The Electrolux Lux 4000 and Aerus Lux 6000s had the same arrangement as the Discovery III below, because of the altered handle. If memory serves, the Discovery II cord came out of the bulkhead as well, but on the left side.
I'm guessing this style started after the top-of-the-handle debacle, and this has remained the standard to this day.
Lux 6000. There is a little tab on the plug that sits under the handle, when the handle is inserted, to keep the plug firmly in place:
2. Top cord hook location - the third example, which is the one still used today, is infinitely the best one.
3. Plug - the first of these is from the Discovery III, and the same is used on the Discovery Advantage and Genesis, and no doubt others. Incidentally, this is the same as the plug on the Trivac I have, from the late 70's. The second is from the Epic 3500, and this same plug, minus the cord clip, is used on the Style R models. This "flared" plug is easy to grip.
4. Slider switch vs. rocker - was the blue and beige Epic 3500 the first with the rocker switch? The first rocker switch was slightly different from the one shown (I believe it was black with white letters, or perhaps the other way round). The Lux 4000 and Lux 6000s also had a rocker, but on the underside of the hand grip, as below.
5. Hand grip shape - It seems as if the addition of the rocker switch made the hand grip a little pointier...perhaps so one's thumb wouldn't slide off when switching the machine on and off? The models with the on board hose and tools, namely the Lux 4000 and Lux 6000s, have a different hand grip altogether, as does the Ultralux.
6. Carrying handle - Was the blue and beige Epic 3500 the first to feature this? I recall an aunt owning a Genesis which didn't have one, and pictures I've seen of the different Genesis models don't show a carrying handle, nor does my Epic 3000 have one, although I have seen an Epic 3000 with one before (naturally, you can add the handle to any of the machines if you desire). In my searches through the owner's manuals, the carrying handle first makes its appearance on the blue and beige Epic 3500, but the Electrolux/Aerus manuals often reuse pictures and details, so who knows?
7. Sidekick port - I believe this was the only location used for the Sidekick. I recall seeing pictures of some models with a dual port* on the back for both the cord and the Sidekick. The Lux 4000 and 6000s had the direct connect electric hose, so there was no separate Sidekick port.
Lux 6000. Very deluxe arrangement, if you ask me.
*I happened upon two Ebay auctions today for an "Electrolux Discovery III Sidekick adapter kit", which was basically a port that connected to the bottom of the steering handle with an outlet for the power cord and an outlet for the Sidekick cord. I had no idea this was a genuine Electrolux product, and I'd love to get one of them for my Discovery III, but these sellers only ship to the U.S. See here for pictures of this port on the Discovery Advantage. As a matter of fact, as can be seen from these pictures, the on/off switch on the port is brown, so it obviously matches the Discovery III.
8. Power nozzle reset button location - I'm guessing that somewhere around the time of the Epic series, the power nozzle reset button was moved to the top of the power nozzle, rather than on the rear of the machine underneath the bottom cord wrap. Some of the manuals show both locations, and my Genesis LX and Epic 3000, which have the reset under the cord wrap, have a cutout for the button on the top of the power nozzle. Perhaps one of the early machines (Discovery II?) had the button on the power nozzle, and then it was moved to underneath the cord wrap?
- plastic with plastic ends
- plastic with metal suction end and hose cord (to accommodate Sidekick)
- electric vinyl with pigtail cord and hand grip (same as the Style C cylinder hose, except for the modified machine end connection. The first ones introduced had a metal ring at the machine end, which reminds me a lot of the second electric hose for the ZB/Z89/89E)
- on-board one piece stretch/flexible hose + telescopic wand (Lux 4000 and Lux 6000s)
- electric direct-connect (to accommodate Sidekick for the Lux 4000 and Lux 6000s; same suction end as the Style R hoses, except with two electrical contacts)
- stretch hose with plastic ends (on certain of the Proluxes {?} and Aerus Lux Commercial)
Cardboard and plastic caddies:
Rear view of plastic caddy. I've seen a slightly different version of this...I believe the Sidekick and dusting/upholstery brush traded places. This particular example is from the white, grey and red Epic 3500.
Hose compartment:
Rear view, with attachments from the white, grey, and red Epic 3500 inserted:
Hose (from the white, grey and red Epic 3500). This is exactly the same hose that comes with the bottom of the line cylinders, except for the modified machine end with pigtail cord. I'm guessing this hose was introduced on the Genesis LXe, hence the addition of the "e" for "electric" to "LX"? Mind you, this is mere guesswork.
Incidentally, an aunt had a Genesis which had the attachments pictured above (save the floor brush), and they were in a cardboard box. I don't think it said "Discovery" on the box, but I can't remember what it DID say.
Both types of upright attachments have their good and bad sides. Since the standard, Discovery II style has separately-stored attachments, it is somewhat lighter and easier to use when doing carpets and floors. On the downside, one has to find and attach the attachments when doing non-floor cleaning. The Lux 4000/6000 style is great for dusting (just whip the wand out of the receptacle and go) in addition to carpets and floors, but the on-board storage does make the whole ensemble a little bulkier.
10. Side-mounted vs. front-loading after filter - I believe the models with a front-loading after filter are the Aerus Lux Classic, Aerus Lux Legacy, one of the Aerus Lux 6000s, and one of the Aerus Lux 3000s. All the others I've seen use the side-mounted filter, and the Guardian of course came out with the side mounted HEPA filter. This latter, by the way, can be attached to any of the machines that use the side-mounted filter, merely by clipping it on to the exhaust grille. I believe the current Lux heavy Duty uses a similar filter to the ProTeam.
11. Power nozzle headlight - The Genesis LX was the first upright with a headlight. The headlight is a useful and classy feature, to be sure, and I do prefer the models with a headlight, but those without one can get underneath certain types of furniture easier.
12. Power nozzle bottom plates + brush rolls - These were, as far as I can see, a match for the corresponding power nozzles on the cylinders.
The first is from the Discovery III. Instead of plastic tabs, this one has metal, and there is a brush strip running along the length of the nozzle, presumably to help pick up dirt when cleaning bare floors. The small wheels, too, have a groove in the middle that disappeared on later models. Never mind the fact that the picture is "upside down".
This brush roll is from the Genesis LX, and is missing the two plastic "retaining" tabs across the bottom. The Epic 3000 has the same configuration, which leads me to believe it was used for a little while on several models.
Notice the side channels, which are a little wider than on successor models, and the small brush strip on either side. I find this style of power nozzle digs into the carpet a little better than its successors.
This is from the Epic 3500. I haven't measured it exactly, but it seems to me that the opening is narrower than the predecessor models.
Notice the suction channels all along the front of the nozzle, although the side channels seem a little narrower than before.
These are from the Aerus Lux 6000. I'm not sure, but I think this is the only model, (or model lineup, since my Aerus Lux 9000 has them too) that had green bristles.
Not radically different from the preceding models, but the suction channels along the front look a little deeper.
13. Bag lockout switch - in many ways, the no-bag-no-start and full bag automatic shutoff system is one of the cleverest inventions of the Electrolux and Aerus company. Its a great way to keep track of and reset performance. I'm not sure when they changed from the metal lever to the plastic button, but the Epic 3000 I have has the metal lever.
14. Bag full indicator - the only models I've seen without this indicator are the Discovery II and Special Edition...there may be a few others. Some of the newer models such as the Lux 4000, Lux 6000s, Lux Commercial, the Guardian, and the Lux Heavy Duty have the electronic panel on the power nozzle head. This stays red when the machine is off, or when the hose is inserted, but moves when in normal (carpet) operation. When it goes completely red, the bag needs changing.
Lux 4000/6000 electronic panel:
15. Bag door intake - Never mind the upside down picture...it still illustrates my point. The Discovery III intake (top) has no rubber gasket strip around it, and it looks like it never did, but of course it might have deteriorated and fallen off. The Epic 3000 (bottom) has it, as do all the other models I have. Of course, the Lux 4000/6000 intake system has the stretch hose/telescopic wand incorporated into the design.
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