A Blaze of Christmas Cheer and a Great Childhood Memory

The ZB86, or Z86, or 86 2nd version has a special place in my 'vacuum heart', as its the first ever Electrolux I ever laid eyes on. I was a wee lad of 4 or 5, and every time I went to my grandparents' house, I would see the 86. Actually, they had two of them: one was the primary (upstairs) vacuum, and the other was used mainly downstairs, or in the shed by my grandfather as a shop-vac. I don't recall the year of manufacture of these models, but as my grandparents moved house in the year I was born (1972), and had owned both of these machines before that, they could have been made anywhere between 1963-7.

I only recall seeing one set of matching attachments for the 86s anywhere in my grandparents' house, in the cardboard handikit. I also recall two hoses, one with the metal end, and the other with the plastic handgrip. In 1972, my grandparents purchased a green electric hose, green telescopic wand, green PN IV, and green B-21 shampooer/polisher, all of which obviously matched the 89. The red hoses and attachments, after this, went by the wayside, I suppose, as I mainly remember the green add-ons. I have no idea if the two 86s already had power nozzle connections in the carrying handles, or if they were upgraded along with the add-ons.

I'm happy to have two 86s in my collection, although both are in pieces. The rubber ring around the motor housing has deteriorated in both, and both have no suction. I suppose I might find some replacement parts myself and get them put back together one of these days.

A picture of one of my 86s, the very day I got it from a fellow collector:

And now, particularly appropriate for the holidays, is the configuration I remember best from my early years:

A weird color combination, but very user-friendly.

Here is the 86 with his top-of-the-line older brother, the 88. The 86 looks a little bigger, because of its placement on the shelf and the angle, but its actually slightly smaller, because of the lack of the automatic bag shut-off machinery inside the front cover.

The Holiday Vacuum and A Couple of American Gems

What better Electrolux to end the old year and ring in the new with than the Renaissance?

Actually, he's the sole upstairs vacuum at the moment, and has been for the holidays. I just didn't have the energy to carry up an upright, I suppose.

Now, to present a couple of longstanding machines in my collection, the American Model E and Model G.

Model E:

I bought this (motor unit only) on eBay. Its not what you'd call all-original, as it does have a Lamb replacement motor, which makes it louder and more powerful than the original, and a replacement cord (but I do believe the original cord would have been black). Nevertheless, I'm quite satisfied to have it, although it is, beyond a doubt, the least used vacuum in my collection.

This was the first North American Electrolux to have a fully painted metal body. Prior models had metal bodies too, but were adorned with leatherette coverings and (usually) had plastic or Bakelite end caps, so the E is a step forward in terms of styling. As far as I know, it was the first Electrolux to ditch the metal skids or runners in favor of wheels.

What really distinguishes the Model E is the attachments (which I don't have, at least the original ones). It was the first Electrolux to feature the combination dusting/upholstery tool (which could be stored on the top clip, as seen above), and the combination 'flip-over' rug and floor tool. These advances, combined with the incredibly light weight of this machine (even with arthritic fingers, I can literally carry this machine with one finger), make the Model E an incredibly easy to use machine.

In action. Note that the hose, wands, and attachments are not original.

Next up is the blue (or whatever derivative of blue you choose to call it) Model G. This model, along with its younger brother brown version (which has already been featured in this blog) is my favorite American Electrolux. It's stylish, quiet, and powerful, and I'm quite pleased to have examples of both models in my collection*

A picture of the G on the day I got it. The motor unit, hose, power nozzle, and combination rug/floor tool are all original. The switch isn't; it should be in the same teal color as the bumper, and I'm not sure if the hose cord should have been light blue. I don't have the combination dusting/upholstery tool or crevice tool for this model.

As noted above, the G is a very quiet and powerful model. Its also a much more streamlined design than previous (American) models, having the cord winder inside the main body of the machine. I daresay the impetus for this came from the Canadian 80 series, which also integrated the cord winder into the body (at least when closed).

Connected up and ready to go. For the time**, of course, this model was deluxe, but today, the lack of an electric hose and separate wands for the power nozzle and other attachments would render the G user-unfriendly. Still, its not fair to judge vintage vacuums on what came after them.

*The Model G also came in another version known as the 'Hospital G'. This version featured a large filter on the blower end, and was mainly colored white (with blue and brown accents, respectively), but was otherwise the same as the regular Model G. I wouldn't object to having these versions in my collection.

**As far as I know, the blue Model G was produced from 1961 - 1967.

Yellow Was In in the 70's

Presenting the made in Canada by Electrolux Canada AP 200. This followed the AP 100, around 1976/7, and really was the same machine in a different color. The only major difference from previous models was the lack of a trigger switch for the power nozzle on the hose handle, and, in fact, the later AP 100 also eliminated this switch, so the two machines are the same.

There was a strike during production of this machine, and thus it wasn't made in large quantities. I didn't see a ton of them around back in the day. In fact, I can only recall two instances. The first was when driving past an Electrolux showroom somewhere around 1979 (when my unit was made) and seeing it, along with the matching shampooer/polisher, in the window display. The other was in 1984, during the visit of Pope John Paul II to my city. He held an outdoor mass, and before it started, a group of robed priests were vacuuming the carpeted altar (?!), and one of them was using an AP 200. A bit strange, but true. 

This AP 200 is mostly complete...as far I know, it's only missing the crevice tool. I also don't have the optional sprayer and carpet nozzle, and, as can be seen from the picture, the plug has been replaced. Other than these deficiencies, it looks good, and works perfectly. The matching color Trivac, by the way, is included in the picture. I dare say Electrolux tried to get people to buy the full cleaning set of vacuum, electric broom, and shampooer/polisher. I'm sure they still do this.

This hose, with American style machine connector, was used during the run of the Super J. This model was sold in Canada during the aforementioned strike, and I saw far more of these than the AP 200. I like the AP 200 (and the entire AP series) far better than the Super J, but the latter is a good vacuum too.

A 'Jamaica Bronze*' Jubilee

This fellow is 50 this year. As a birthday present, I busted out the Turtle Wax car wash, Mother's Mag and Aluminum Polish, and Armor-All, to give him a nice cleaning.

I got this particular 88 in 2007, from a local seller who in turn got it from an older lady. Other than its beautiful and powerful self, all it came with was a green standard hose (to match the 89). I guess the older lady was rather set in her ways, as she apparently never upgraded the hose. Of course, I've since acquired most or all of the standard attachments to match this and the other 88s, and hope someday to find all the optional ones. If anyone out there has them, I wouldn't mind hearing from you.

Soon enough, I'll have had this 88 myself for 10 years, and I expect it'll still be working away, as quiet and powerful as ever.

*Apparently, the official color of this machine is 'Jamaica Bronze'. I could have sworn it was 'dark red', but what do I know? At any rate, happy 50th birthday to my all-time favorite vintage Electrolux.

P.S. I find it a little strange that the 88 is my favourite vintage machine. As a matter of fact, I didn't see that many of them when I was young. The only one that sticks out is one owned by my old friend (who incidentally owns the Lux Classic as featured in this blog). Maybe it's the very elusiveness of the 88 that charms me?

Some Family Electrolux History Elucidated

My aunt (my father's sister) was visiting today, and I finally seized the opportunity to ask her to confirm what the household vacuum was when she was a child. In my post on the ZB55, I mentioned that my paternal grandparents had one in their basement when I was a kid, and, after I began collecting vacuums, I recalled my memories of it, and hazarded a guess that it was the old household vacuum.

Well, it turns out I was slightly off. I showed the 55 to my aunt today, and she said their old vacuum was like it, but brown. Could it have been the Z57? Indeed it was. When I showed her the 57, she recognized it right away.

Could I have been mistaken in my memories? I don't think I am. I definitely recall that distinctive black and silver 55 with the black 'Cord-o-matic' cord winder. My aunt opined that the 55 could have been a 'shop vac' used by my grandfather, who had a workshop in the basement (he had been a shoemaker).

So, the household vacuum was the 57. My father would have been 10 or so at the time (he was the oldest), and my aunt would have just been born, so I'm glad that this great childhood memory has been confirmed. Incidentally, the same grandparents had a Super J with the gold hose and power nozzle (quite possibly the gaudiest vacuum Electrolux ever made!) which I always busted out when I was visiting.

After all this, of course I busted out the 57 for a little cleaning!

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.

My Electrolux Chamber

I had to dig out some tote boxes from my vacuum room closet yesterday, so I thought I'd take the opportunity to re-organize the entire room, at least somewhat.

Picture 1, to the right of the door. There used to be a single bed here, but I gave it to my sister. I actually prefer the machines on the floor, but, since this is a basement room, I laid down a couple of quilts in case of moisture. I stuffed plastic bags in the hose connectors because I had mice in the past, and they got inside the bags and made quite a mess. The Guardian 75th, by the way, is my present downstairs cylinder, and the two Discovery uprights are atop a 1970's Electrolux seat/storage chest.

Picture 2, under the window. These are by far my favorite Electrolux/Aerus models, but not necessarily my most frequently used ones. The wooden cabinet, as far as I know, is an old family 'heirloom'.

Picture 3, bureau. The Genesis LX is my present downstairs upright. The upright storage caddies hold Style R wands and Sidekicks, and behind the Epic 3500 are two 89s.

Picture 4, closet Part 1. All of my machines awaiting repair are in here, in pieces, namely the B21 shampooer, 2 86s, 2 89s, Diplomat, Ambassador, System 90, and Lux 9000. I MAY get around to them someday. The vintage hoses NEVER see use, although some are airtight.

Picture 5, closet Part 2. There is a BX-10 shampooer in the corner, and the gold Electrolux is a 50th Jubilee, not a Super J. The Epic 3500 works, but has no handle. I just borrow the handle from another model when using it.

Picture 6, Style R hoses.

Picture 7, Other usable and used hoses, in another part of the basement.

Note 1: There are 4 machines 'missing in action'. The Ambassador and brown LE are loaned out to two of my sisters, and the Epic 8000 and white Epic 3500 are the upstairs vacuums for the week.

Note 2: All of the models in these pictures work and get semi-regular use.

Note 3: Most of the totes and boxes are full of attachments and parts.

Note 4: Although some of me wants more vacuums, some of me thinks "Enough is enough!". Actually, at the present time I don't have a single cent to spare on getting more vacuums, so its a moot point.

Gee, it's a Model G

I'm definitely on a bit of a vintage kick these days. The brown* Model G makes his debut here, after being put into service for some light cleaning.

This is my favourite American Electrolux model. It was made between 1967-8, I believe, and sold in the U.S. I got this on eBay (cylinder only), and later got some of the original attachments and the original hose from a fellow collector. It works just fine, and is very quiet and powerful. To make it complete, I'd like to have the original power nozzle with plastic wand, brown and white combo tool, and brown crevice tool. 

Motor unit shot. This is in unbelievably good condition, with little to no paint loss, scratching, or denting. 

The distinguishing feature of the G is the vertical orientation of the bag chamber. I'm not sure why they did this, but it definitely makes the G a 'tall' machine compared to other models. I doubt it makes any difference in performance.

Immaculate bag chamber:

Front end. Automatic!

Rear end, with blower diffuser:

Logos:

Bottom view, with four wheels and caster. Note the power nozzle connector.

Ratings plate:

Plugged in and good to go. This is a super quiet and powerful vacuum, somewhat less so than its Canadian contemporaries, but it still holds its head up high today. In fact, considering the 80 and G series, I really don't see why Electrolux and Aerus had to continue to make their motors louder and more powerful than this. It's unbelievable how soft and pleasant these vacuums sound when running (minus the power nozzle, of course!), and this makes them a pleasure to use. 

*I've seen a variety of different color names for this G...tan, bronze, etc., but I'm calling it brown, as it's definitely a derivative of brown. 

How Now, Brown Cow

When I was going to vacuum the downstairs the other day, I thought I'd break out a vintage machine and put it through its paces, not least because motors need to be run regularly to avoid seizing up and drying out. I decided to use the AP280, and now, after a couple of days of cleaning duty, he gets a feature in Eluxurious.

The Electrolux AP280 was made in Canada by Electrolux Canada, from 1980-ish - 1982. It was the first ever Electrolux (in North America, at least...not sure about other countries) to have a variable speed motor; in this case, two-speed, and this definitely makes it a standout model. It's also arguably the nicest looking of the 1970's AP Series, in elegant chocolate brown with ivory trimmings. 

Here are some shots of the AP280. First, the entire* ensemble, including the original hose, power nozzle, dusting brush, upholstery tool, crevice tool, floor brush, and attachment caddy**. 

Top view. The AP280 was the last of this type before the more recognizable E2000 came out (the design and style of which is more or less identical today, except for mechanics). That said, the design of subsequent models didn't change ALL that much. 

Logos:

Closer view of top deck with filter cover latch, motor speed selector switch, automatic bag-full shutoff dial, power available light, and no-bag/full-bag light. Note the little "Elux" logo: on the previous AP100 and AP200, this is where the no-bag/full-bag red light was.

Power available light. This comes on when the machine is plugged in, but goes off when it is switched on. Later lights simply stayed on at all times when the machine was plugged in and/or running.

No-bag/full bag light. Works exactly the same as all the other models...if you try to start the motor without a bag present, the light will come on, and when the bag is full, the motor will shut off and the red light will come on.

Inside of bag door. Note the older style connectors for the electric hose/wand/power nozzle. The serial number indicates it was made in 1982.

Another full-on shot. I used this to do the carpet, minus the dreadful original hose (although this does have the trigger switch and sliding suction vent). The power nozzle is identical to the American power nozzle of the time, which I think was the PN2, except for the logo strip. In fact, the color combo of the AP280 is identical to its American contemporary, the Olympia. 

I believe I got the AP280 with all of its accoutrements from a fellow collector, but my memory doesn't always serve me well :) It's a great vacuum, and holds its head up high even against today's models, with the additional benefits of being quieter and using less power. When I was younger, I saw quite a few of these. In fact, of the five houses on my side of the street, there were 2 AP280's (and, incidentally, an AP100!). In another case, which sufficiently illustrates how deficient my childhood memories are in terms of anything other than vacuum cleaners, I recall watching a cleaner vacuuming a hospital waiting room with an AP280, somewhere around 1983-4. I was there to visit my grandmother, but remember nothing except the AP280. 

*I believe the carpet nozzle and sprayer, along with other possible accessories, were optional by this time. 

**As can be seen on Doug Smith's site, some of these caddies were in brown as well.

Some Time Traveling With My Favorite Vintage Electrolux

I needed to clean the lint trap of my dryer today, and the first vacuum I laid eyes on happened to be the 88 1st version. I figured I'd bust out the original hose and attachments, purely for fun, and this naturally led to a little photo shoot.

Assuming this was 1961, and you owned the top-of-the-line Electrolux model for that year, this is what you would have had:

The ensemble shown would have included everything you needed for daily cleaning. The vaporizer and sprayer, while original to the machine, would not (presumably) have been used for everyday cleaning, so I didn't picture them here. One 'false' note...the original dusting brush for this model would have had a bare metal top, with a red bumper, but I don't happen to have one of those.

Fast forward a couple of years to 1963, and this would have been your top-of-the-line Electrolux cleaning ensemble:

The major difference here is the telescopic wand, vastly more user-friendly than the two-piece set. The floor and rug tools also had a spring clip added, and the handikit became smaller. The motor unit also got a rubber bumper. Everything else was the same.

Note: I do have another 88, made in 1965, and it has the plug in the handle for the power nozzle. It was more or less around this time that the power nozzles, power hose handles, and power wands started to come out. I wouldn't mind having the above to make my 88 collection more complete.

Incidentally, both of these 88s run perfectly. The hose, attachments, and wand are in perfect condition, except for the dusting brush. It would have been amazing enough to have had one or the other of these when they were released, but here I am, 53 and 51 years later, with these beautiful ensembles in my collection, still looking as handsome as ever, and still offering their cleaning services.

A Special Vacuum Indeed

Here is my Electrolux Special Edition (Model 2100) vacuum cleaner, which I believe was made and sold between 1987-9. It's probably the nicest looking out of all the machines in the endless parade of E2000 style models...wine and grey makes for a nice combination. I got this, by the way, from a local seller whose father had owned it, and rarely used it. It was and still is in great mechanical and cosmetic condition.

The full ensemble, featuring the original hose*, power nozzle**, plastic accessory wands, combination tool, baby crevice tool, floor brush, and Sidekick. If memory serves, everything except the Sidekick came with this purchase, and I'm assuming, as this is a top-of-the-line model, that the Sidekick would have been (optionally) available with the brand new ensemble.

Other than its good looks, what makes the SE special? If I recall correctly, Electrolux sold the SE outside of the normal door-to-door or showroom network. In fact, I can remember seeing display kiosks in shopping malls featuring the SE, LE, SE upright, and SE shampooer-polisher, somewhere in the late '80's. Why Electrolux did this, I don't know...perhaps they wanted to increase their exposure, and thus sales, by changing their sales methods***. Did it work? Who knows?

Close ups of the information panel and power nozzle, with logos:

Don't quote me on this, but I believe the baby crevice tool, bumper-less floor brush, and plastic wands were standard with this model. I'm not sure if this was standard across the board on all of the special and/or economy models. As a comparison, when my folks got their brand new in-the-box Diplomat in 1990, it came with a full-sized crevice tool, floor brush with bumper, and a set of old school steel accessory wands, so perhaps there was a bit of mixing and matching going on over the years. I also note that my friend's 2009(?) or 2010(?) Aerus Lux Classic has these same 'cheaper' attachments.

All that surmised about, the 2100 Special Edition is a fine vacuum, and I do put it to work on occasion. In fact, after this post, I made it the upstairs vacuum for the week.

*Of course, I NEVER use any of the piece of shit Electrolux braided hoses. The ONLY good thing about any of them is the attractive weave patterns on them. I may be vehement about it, but those braided hoses are the only things I absolutely detest about Electrolux. 

**The PN5, PN6, and PN6a (which this one is) are unique among Electrolux power nozzles for having the "Omni-flo Automatic" (whatever that means...automatic height adjustment, I guess) logo as well as the notation "for carpets and floors". To my knowledge, Electrolux had never before included the functions of the vacuum or accessory on the vacuum or accessory itself, except for something like 'Automatic' or 'Elux-o-Matic', and I don't think they have done so since. Perhaps, since the L-shaped nozzle was a new design, the company wanted to emphasize its dual function. Who knows?

***I believe the Regency Series was also sold outside of the normal channels. Is this true of the Advantage Series as well? I'm confuzzled now.

The End of an Era

Here is the Electrolux Z57, made in Canada as the top of the line offering by Electrolux Canada, between 1953-7, as far as I know. My particular 57 was made in 1956, and it still does the job just fine.

Speaking aesthetically, this is arguably the ugliest of the Canadian Electroluxes, but there may be other candidates as well, and it would be as well to remember that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Even something that at first glance is unattractive and homely can have a certain style and charm, and I can't forget that this is a 58 year old machine. As can be seen, the handle is in sorry shape, but still basically intact. The main body portion exactly resembles its predecessors and companion models (30, 55 in three versions, and 54), but the add-ons set the 57 apart.

The first difference is the cord winder, which was standard on the 57. This one is brown to match the machine, but I've seen them in silver as well. A plug leads from the cord winder to the machine, and the unit is permanently attached to the rear blower cover, which then screws in like all the others. This certainly enhances the usability of the 57 as compared with other models, but it definitely destroys the streamlining of the body. Also, it tends to make the machine a little heavy when picking it up. Electrolux Canada would perfect this situation when they came out with the 86 and 88 in 1957, which were completely redesigned with the cord winder integrated into the vacuum body*.

Cord winder, detached:

Cord winder, hinged open to connect the hose for blowing:

The second change is in the wheel and castor system, although the 57 still kept the metal runners. A castor was added near the front, and this became standard on all models thereafter. Actually, the U.S. models had already ditched the runners in favor of wheels/castors by this time, I believe. The rear wheels simply screw on to the runners, making the 57 considerably more maneuverable than its predecessors and lower-line companions.

Rear view, showing rear wheels screwed on to the runners:

Bottom view, with front caster, rear wheels, and ratings plate:

Close up of logo strip:

I recall a fellow collector saying that the 57 in its later years offered disposable bags, which would make it the first Canadian Electrolux to do so. I don't think they were Style C, however, as the bag chamber is a completely different shape than the Style C bag.

Plugged in and ready to clean, with updated hose. As far as I know, the 57 shared the same motor as the 30, 54, and 55. Its certainly just as quiet and powerful as those. Its also the last machine of this type before the completely redesigned 80 series came out...sort of the last of the 'old school' vacuums.

*Technically, the 80 series cord winder is only integrated into the body when it's closed and latched, for it can be opened to install an after filter, and can be detached from the machine by removing it from the rear wheel axles, but it is more part of the body than previous cord winders.