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. 

Holiday 2017 Cleaning Team

Electrolux purists would naturally disagree, but here are the two Electrolux/Aerus vacuums I like to use and depend on more than any other. Note that the Lux 4000 is more or less interchangeable with the Lux 6000, for both practical and aesthetic purposes.

Despite being warned, as a little boy, that "...little boys who play with Electroluxes don't get to...etc, etc", I still like them, 40 years on, and don't care what people think of me for doing so. I might also add that, in all my years of using (and playing with) Electroluxes and Aeruses (?), they've never let me down.

2018-03-30: I decided about a week ago (mid-March) to break out the white, grey, and red Epic 3500 to use for a while. I was astounded, after months of using the Lux 4000 + 6000, just how lightweight the Discovery variant uprights are! It literally felt like lifting a feather compared to the 4000 and 6000.

Tools Down...For a Moment

I always enjoyed scenes like this. A vacuum, during a pause in vacuuming, waiting, all connected up and good to go, to return to service. Why two sets of wands? Its much easier than disconnecting attachments, especially if I'm only doing a certain kind of vacuuming. Incidentally, that's the only place I need to plug the Style R machines in to do my entire top floor (yet another reason I like them).

An Updated Shot of the Grandfather and Grandson

In my post on the 30, I included a picture of it next to what was then the newest model I owned, the Guardian C154B. Since acquiring the C154E, it seems appropriate to feature the oldest and the newest together. Actually, I happen to be using the C154E as my upstairs machine right now, and I thought I'd also take out the 30 for a little light work (I do like using my older vacuums, but I'd never over-use them).

Its fascinating to note that there is approximately 70 years in the difference between these two models, and yet the basic design is the same. The only real noticeable change over the years is the location of the power cord and the direction of the exhaust (from the rear end to the top). When something works, it doesn't need much fixing.

Reflections

Eluxurious is getting near to its second anniversary, and I have to say I've quite enjoyed every moment of administering it. I can't remember exactly when or why I wanted to create my own personal vacuum collection showcase, but it had been building up for some time, and I'm satisfied with having shared one of my favourite hobbies with the world, as it were.

I still have more than a few models in my collection that are waiting to be featured, and some of the content on this blog will no doubt be revised and/or expanded upon. I'm also sure that I'll find some new and interesting content to add. As for adding more models to my collection, I'm not sure. Right now, my financial situation doesn't permit me to do it, but I can't rule it out completely for the future. As I mentioned in my Discovery Advantage post, however, I do want to concentrate on the machines I have. I still have my Diplomat restoration waiting, for example, and I definitely want to completely disassemble one of my uprights this year (I've never worked on an upright before).

One of the biggest changes in my vacuum collecting and usage habits over the past several years has definitely been my interest in newer Electrolux and Aerus models. At one time, I was only interested in collecting and using vintage machines, but that's not so anymore. Mind you, I still do like the vintage models, and still put them to use on occasion, but I'm much more drawn to newer models these days. If I do add any more vacuums to the collection, they'll definitely be newer models. 

Speaking of newer (i.e. released in the past 20 or so years, give or take) models, my cleaning team for this holiday season was (and still is) the Lux 6000 and Lux Guardian. These are my favourites out of all my models for everyday use; the 6000 somewhat more so than the Guardian, because it's the only upright of this type that I have. 

At any rate, I look forward to another year of chronicling my hobby. Happy Electroluxing and/or Aerusing to all, and Happy New Year.

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.

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.