The One That Got Away

A couple of posts ago, I said that the machines presented were the last remaining in my collection to be featured in this blog. Well, I was in the vacuum room this morning, spied the ZB 55 3rd version sitting there, and realized it had never been featured (at least in its own, standalone post). So, to rectify this error, here is the ZB 55:

This particular model was made in 1957, the last year of production for the 50 series machines, and is thus 60 years old as of this year. Its virtually identical to the 55 2nd version (except for colour, of course, and I think there may have been some differences in attachments), and was sold along with the 54 (bottom of the line model) and 57 (top of the line model). As with all the other 50 series machines, this is a quiet, capable performer, and still works fine. In fact, I decided to put it into service for the week as the downstairs vacuum!

I don't think I have many of the original attachments for the 55 3rd version, though I vaguely recall a blue-bumpered floor brush and dusting brush hidden away somewhere.

Bottom view:

Metal ratings plate. Made in 1957, as noted above, and rated at 3.8 amps.

The bottom of the line model, the 54, shares the same body covering as the 3rd 55, I believe, but has a bright red nameplate (gaudy!) and brown Bakelite ends. I still don't have this one in my collection.

Just for the hell of it, here is the view from the closet (i.e. the current upstairs vacuum). Not a bad thing to see when you open your closet door:

112 Combined Years of Vintage Vacuum-ness!

Today, mostly for fun (and why do something that makes you sad, I say), and partly because I needed to clean, I broke out my two favorite vintage Electrolux models, the 88 2nd version and the 55 1st version, respectively.

As I've said before, for hard surface dusting and bare floors, a massive amount of suction isn't needed, and, even though these machines are not as powerful as modern Electrolux/Aerus models, they do the job just fine, with less power consumed, and with considerably less noise. These machines are really astoundingly quiet, the 88 being somewhat more so than the 55. I can only imagine how someone who is used to more modern vacuums would react after hearing one of these running. Of course, if you add on the power nozzle, it becomes moot, as Electrolux power nozzles have never really been quiet. In addition to this, I used the 55 to vacuum the 88 after filter, and the 88 to vacuum the 55 cloth bag and after filter.

Note: This particular 88 (I have three) has the "Electrolux" logo stamped on both sides of the plug, as opposed to all the other 80 series machines I have or have seen, which have the logo only on one side. Completely random? Who knows?

Incidentally, I think the 88 2nd version and the 55 1st version are positively gorgeous machines, quite close to the first Renaissance in the looks department. It's a great pity they aren't as useful as the latter, for, on the rare occasions I use a vintage Electrolux, I can't get past the short cord, lack of fingertip power controls, lack of variable speed suction, and lack of on board/lock fit attachments. Sad, but true. However, as I pointed out before, different eras mean different levels of technology and performance, so it's not completely fair to compare vacuums like this. All of my models have their pros and cons (yes, even the newer ones, which I love using!), and the 55 and 88 are fine vacuums which do exactly what they're supposed to, quietly and efficiently.

For the carpet, I used my go-to boy, the Lux 6000. What else is new?

A Little Vintage Vacuuming

It had been some time since I had used these particular machines, and all were somewhat hungry for a little dust and dirt.

The average age of these lovely old fellows is 63 years, or, if you like, a combined total of 251 years! Not content to rest in dignified retirement, all still perform exactly the job they were intended for, perfectly quietly and efficiently. Amazing, and, for an Electrolux enthusiast, heartwarming.

Naturally, these are strictly for dusting and bare floors. None are equipped for a power nozzle (in fact, the power nozzle, I think, hadn't even been invented by the end of the run of these machines), so carpet duty is out of the question. And yet, before power nozzles, that's exactly what these machines were used for. In these days of homes with non-carpeted surfaces, you wouldn't do TOO badly with one of these as your regular vacuum, provided, of course, that you emptied and kept the cloth bag clean, and that you weren't noticeably allergic.

Clockwise from top: 57, 55 3rd version, 30, 55 1st version.

The Silver and Black Attack

As noted in my "Eluxography", my main interest at present is in the Style R models and uprights, but I do like using models from every period of Electrolux and Aerus history. Today, I decided to use this lovely old boy, the ZB55, made in 1949 by Electrolux Canada*.

When I was very young, my paternal grandparents had one of these sitting in their basement, and I remember being quite fascinated with it. Oddly enough, I don't remember ever turning it on, but I do remember playing with it. Theirs had the (optional) cord winder; I believe this was the first one ever offered. I find myself wondering if this was the household vacuum when my father was a child, but I doubt he'd remember, and my grandparents have passed on. At any rate, the 55 does have a special place in my memories, and now, in my collection.

I got this machine from a fellow collector, with a few of the original attachments, and even after 63 years, it still works fine. Its not what you'd call "powerful" in the modern sense of the vacuum world, but set against that is the fact that its very quiet, and only runs on 3.8 amps. Not only that, but for bare floor cleaning and dusting, it has more than enough power to get the job done. You don't need a massive amount of suction for bare surfaces.

One disadvantage of the 30, 54, 55, and 57 is that the hose port sits too low on the front cover, making these machines at times a little hard to haul around, especially with the metal runners. The dirt capture (cloth bag) and after filtration (gauze-like filter) too, are certainly not up to modern standards, but for the amount of time I use this series of machines, I'm not overly worried.

Close up of logo plate:

Ratings plate (a little blurry):

If you ask me, this is one of the most beautiful Electroluxes ever made (Note: Wilkie Collins is another one of my passions):

*There were 3 different versions of the 55. Mine is an example of the 1st version; the 2nd is identical except the runners attached differently to the body, and the 3rd had a blue "weave" pattern on the body.