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Gee, it's a Model G

June 12, 2014, 7:44 am
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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. 
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My Electrolux Chamber

November 16, 2014, 8:58 am
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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.
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An Updated Shot of the Grandfather and Grandson

April 13, 2015, 5:51 am
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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.
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Some Family Electrolux History Elucidated

June 19, 2015, 4:35 pm
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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!


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A 'Jamaica Bronze*' Jubilee

June 30, 2015, 3:19 pm
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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?
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Yellow Was In in the 70's

August 22, 2015, 12:23 pm
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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.
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The Holiday Vacuum and A Couple of American Gems

January 2, 2016, 10:58 am
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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.


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A Blaze of Christmas Cheer and a Great Childhood Memory

January 2, 2016, 11:29 am
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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.


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Two Ambassadors

May 10, 2016, 5:31 am
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Here are two of the few remaining vacuums I have left in my collection to present in this blog: the Ambassador and Ambassador II. Strictly speaking, the only thing that distinguishes these two machines is graphics; otherwise, they're exactly the same.

Ambassdor. This is, as far as I know, the very first Ambassador model, part of the lineup that includes the first Diplomat (which I have, dismantled), and the Genesis upright (which I'd like to have). This machine came in great shape, even that piece-of-shit original hose, but it didn't include the (baby?) crevice tool or accessory wands. It's now being used by my sister.



Ambassador II. This is the counterpart of the Diplomat LX and the Genesis LX (which I have). As can be seen, this one came with a bunch of 'optional extras'.


The plug is a replacement, and the Sidekick must have been added on as an option by the seller, as the basic models didn't include it. Also, the hose is clearly a later replacement. I'm pretty sure they hadn't switched to the vinyl hoses at the time of this model. The floor brush belongs to the top-of-the-line model, and, naturally, the attachment caddies and seat chest are clearly from some earlier Canadian model.

In action. Not surprisingly, the attachment clip on the top is cracked off. This machine is presently dismantled.


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Vintage Vacuuming Week

June 18, 2016, 8:18 am
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Recently, I had an urge to bust out a couple of older models to use, and settled on two of my all-time favourites: the 88 and 89. I also thought it'd be cool to break out the original attachments and hoses as well.

Incidentally, when I get out an older machine, I put it through its paces for real, honest-to-God cleaning. I've heard that some other collectors won't do this...i.e. they'll only run older machines to keep the bearings from drying out. To each their own, however. I like to use vintage machines as if they were the only vacuum I have, and the 80 series is definitely up to the challenge, decades after its introduction.



Everything seen here is all-original, down to the plugs. In fact, the only thing new is the bag (at present in the 88; I'm sharing the bag between the two, and that's why the 89's front cover is open). The hoses are actually in good shape, cosmetically and 'suctionally'. The 88 was made in 1963, the first year for the 2nd version of this model, and as such doesn't have a power nozzle connection. 



Close up. Note the difference in the plugs: there always seems to be a variety in the length of cord between the plug and the bulb stopper. The 89 plug is flush with the stopper, and the 88 has a short length of cord between the two. This seems to vary on models I've seen and used, so it seems that Electrolux Canada didn't have a standard for plugs. 

I've said it before in this blog, but the 80 series is amazingly quiet. My little niece grew afraid of the sound of vacuums after hearing a modern one switched on. I've often thought that my own lack of fear of vacuums is precisely because my first experience was with the whisper quiet 80 series, and indeed older vacuums in general. If the 88 and 89 were both running together, they wouldn't even come close to equaling the loudness of more modern machines. 
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Tools Down...For a Moment

September 6, 2016, 7:49 am
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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. 
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The Last of the Collection (For the Time Being)

March 25, 2017, 10:46 am
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Here are the two machines remaining in my possession that have yet to be featured in this blog.

First up, the Electrolux Golden Jubilee, or 50th Jubilee, however you choose to put it. This was released in 1974 to celebrate the first 50 years of (American) Electrolux*, in gold with beige trim. My model is in all-original condition, albeit with a dent in the side that occurred during shipping. In my (humble) opinion, this is the gaudiest machine Electrolux ever made, but hey, it was a 50th/Golden anniversary model, so what can you do? I do happen to have an original power nozzle for this machine, but I couldn't be arsed to dig it out...its in solid (silver) aluminum, not in gold as you might expect. I don't have the original hose or attachments for this one.

Full view, with dent:



50th Jubilee logo:


Front panel, with check bag light, automatic shutoff selector, and switch:


I'm not an aficionado of the American Electroluxes, but I do know that this basic body style (with a few modifications over the years) was used, more or less, from 1968 - 1984 (or thereabouts).

Next, this gigantic, heavy old beast of a Canadian Electrolux shampooer/polisher, the BX-10. I got this along with the GE polisher (featured elsewhere in this blog), and, I daresay I've used this thing for actual polishing once. That being said, its in decent condition, except for the end where the cord plugs into the machine and part of the 'T' handle, and I do have an original set of brushes for it. This machine, by the way, would have been the accompanying shampooer/polisher for the ZB/Z 88 vacuum cleaner, and I believe it was released over the run of both the first and second versions of the latter. As far as I know, the shampoo tank was a slightly later addition in the run of this machine; when it first came out, it was intended solely as a bare floor cleaner.



Closeup of logo. I believe this is the original Electrolux logo, used when the company started up, sometime in the 1910's or 1920's.



A pic of the BX-10 and GE on the day I got them:



*I'm reasonably sure that Electrolux Canada started up in 1932.
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Semi-Vintage Vacuuming Week

April 7, 2017, 4:50 pm
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A couple of spontaneous pics of the 88 1st version, currently in service as the upstairs (non-carpet) vacuum:


Its hard to believe this old boy is now 56 years old, and still going strong and looking great. Electrolux really didn't need to get much better than this (although the modern machines do have their strengths too).


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The One That Got Away

April 28, 2017, 7:58 am
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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:


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Time Traveling Adventures in Filtration

May 21, 2017, 11:22 am
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Here are three curiosities I had hidden away in a drawer of my vacuum collection room.

First off is an unused air filter for the Models 30, 55 1, 55 2, 55 3, 54, and 57. I really can't remember where this came from. It might have been thrown in when I got one of my 50 series machines, or it might have come from somewhere else. Either way, this is never going to be used, but saved for posterity.



Here is an unopened 80 series air filter, although, as can be seen, it looks black (!). I can only say that the package is unopened, and its going to stay that way. My guess is this was issued during the run of the ZB/Z 89 and 87, although technically, it could have been any time after 1964*. Note that the ZB/Z 87 is missing from the model list, and that the American models E and LX use the same filter (and, presumably, the Automatic E/AE?)



Yet another 80 series replacement filter. This one, going by the graphics and the Consolidated Foods logo, was issued sometime during the AP series run (1973-82). It COULD be during the run of the AP 200/Super J, going by the gold graphics on the package, but who knows?



I'm not really sure about the efficiency of these filters versus modern ones, but I'm pretty sure they're not quite up to par. That being said, they do capture quite a bit of fine dirt and carbon brush dust. They also make the already near-silent 50 and 80 series vacuums even quieter!

As an addendum to 80 series filtration, I wonder if any Electrolux aficionados out there remember a filter that attached to the (outside) blower end of the machines? I definitely remember my grandparents having one for their 86s. It was white in color, and vaguely rectangular in shape. I have never seen one of these before or since, so I'm totally stumped as to its function. Was it the 'hospital filter', not shown, but mentioned, in the ZB/Z 89/87 manual, or was this supposed to be the same as the one on the American Hospital G? 

Another possibility is that this was some kind of scent filter, perhaps a precursor of the Clean Sweep Chips. I do remember a lot of 80 series Electroluxes having a distinct scent...I don't know if they sold some sort of product to suck up in the bag and emit a scent, as with the Clean Sweep Chips, or was it a scented oil on the interior filter, or this mystery filter I'm remembering, or what. I'd love to figure this one out.

Speaking of the 80 series, if I have no other vacuum-collecting ambition (and I really do, but never mind), its to have a complete set of all of the 80 series machines, in all their possible variations, with all possible changes/differences in hoses, hose handles, hose cords, wands, power nozzles, standard attachments, optional attachments, manuals, etc. I want the whole bloody kit and caboodle.

*Either in or after 1964, the Electrolux factory moved from downtown Montreal to suburban Pointe Claire, Quebec (which I believe is more or less part of the Greater Montreal area). I have a ZB/Z 88 made in 1963 in Montreal; subsequently, everything bears the notation 'Made in Pointe Claire, Que.'
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Some Forgotten About Pictures

May 21, 2017, 6:11 pm
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I was tooling through my 'Vacuums' picture folder on my external hard drive, and came across a few pictures that I thought looked nice, and a few oddities as well.

First, a blurry picture of the (later) 88. I like the perspective on this one.



The 89, with the PN III, cleaning the carpet. A very common sight during my younger days.



The Epic 8000 sits on the table. It isn't as elegant as the Renaissance C104A, but much more so than the C104H.



Yet another table picture, for the Guardian C154B.



This is the second of the vacuums I had when I was living in China, the Electrolux Ingenio. It was fairly powerful, had a variable speed motor, reusable cloth bag, and a telescopic wand. I regret not snagging this and bringing it back home.



The bronze Model G. Very elegant...in fact, the most elegant American Electrolux.



Another view of the bronze G:



The blue Model G, decked out with hose cord and power nozzle. I'm not sure if the original hose cord would have been in matching blue or not.



Black vacuums look better in the shade?



The first of the two vacuums I had when in China, the Electrolux 'Tabby'. This is the first, and to date only (thank heaven) machine that ever conked out on me. I was vacuuming with it one day, and it gave a dismal groan and blew up in a puff of smoke. Oh well. It did serve me well enough for a couple of years.


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It Needs Cream

June 9, 2017, 5:41 am
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I was looking at my early 88 yesterday, and realized that none or hardly any of the pictures I have of it have captured the cream-coloured trim. For whatever reason (ambient lighting, I suppose), it usually comes out white. To try to rectify this 'error', and also just for fun, I took a couple of snaps of the 88.






You can definitely see hints of the cream here, I think, although, as before, pictures simply don't do this wonderful vacuum justice. As a matter of fact, out of all the 80 series machines I own, and perhaps even out of all the other machines in my collection, this particular 88 is arguably in the best cosmetic shape. As can be seen in the pictures, there are a few blemishes, but the overall condition is amazing. This, by the way, includes the running condition. This 88 sounds softer and sweeter than any of my other 80 series machines, and runs exactly the way I can remember the various 80 series machines running when I was a kid, with the identical sound. Yes, I forget most other things about my childhood, but I can remember the way an Electrolux 80 series machine is supposed to sound.
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Uprighting the Collection

June 27, 2017, 6:14 pm
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Here is the latest addition to the collection, and the first in quite some time: an Electrolux Lux 4000 upright. I saw it on eBay for a reasonable price and decided to snag it, as these models are not very plentiful.

The Lux 4000 is a fairly significant machine in the company's history, being the first to incorporate a built-in hose and telescopic wand, and on board attachments*. Its also the first model to offer an electric, fully-direct connect accessory hose, and the first to have the electronic information panel, as featured on some of the cylinders...in the case of the Lux 4000, its on the power nozzle.

This purchase only included the combo tool and the machine, but no matter...the Lux 4000's younger brother, the Lux 6000, is happy to share his electric hose and baby crevice tool, and I have tons of Sidekicks**

I believe the matching machines for the Lux 4000 are the Lux 3000 (Discovery style) upright, the Guardian Encore, the white and blue Epic 6500 (possibly the last Epic before it changed to the Lux 7000?), and the Lux 5000 (non-automatic). At least, all of these have similar graphics.

Right out of the box, and festooned with dust and packing material:



Bits and bobs: stretch hose and telescopic wand, carry handle and bolt, combo dusting/upholstery tool, cord and handle assembly, and package of bags the seller included:


Logo, down both sides of the bag chamber. Looks kind of big and a bit garish, but hey, it had to go somewhere.



Power nozzle. I like this 'Electrolux' script. I believe its the same as that on the American Model G, as well as a few others.


Hose hook. A little ratty looking, but still functional.



You knew this was coming. The Electrolux Lux 4000 and the Aerus Lux 6000 together at last.


Note that these machines sound identical and look identical; the only differences are the graphics, the model and company name change, the Lux 4000 'seal of approval' from Good Housekeeping***, and the green-bristled brush roll on the Lux 6000 (which, as I mentioned, I've since changed).

Of course, I have a lot more cleaning and detailing to do on the Lux 4000, but he did get a scrub down with detergent for these pictures. He works and sounds fine; I did a brief test run. When I get around to it, I'll add a HEPA filter.

Magic-erasered, washed, and Armor-Alled, with a brand new bag, carbon pre-filter, and after filter...I'd say Mr. Lux 4000 is ready for service, and that's what's going to happen tomorrow.



UPDATE June 29th, 2016: I put the Lux 4000 into service today, doing the carpets, floors, dusting, and baseboards of the upstairs and downstairs. He works perfectly. As I said above, all I need now is to add a HEPA filter, and the properly matching attachments mentioned in Note 2 below, to have everything perfect.

Lights ablaze, and motors running:



*Some earlier uprights, as I mentioned in another post, had clips on the back to store the two plastic wands, as well as the combo tool and baby crevice tool, but this was, I'm reasonably sure, essentially an add-on. The Lux 4000/6000 incorporated the tool holders into the vacuum body.

**Actually, the dusting/upholstery brush and electric hose I'm using with the Lux 6000 have ‘Electrolux’ stamped on them, so they obviously match the Lux 4000. To complete both vacuums, I need 2 white and blue Sidekicks, blue and white electric Aerus hose (no logo?), blue and white Aerus dusting/upholstery brush (no logo?), white Aerus baby crevice tool with inner ridge (no logo?), and white Electrolux baby crevice tool with inner ridge.

***I'm not sure of the arrangement and rationale behind the Good Housekeeping guarantee sticker on the machine, but I believe this did feature on some of the company's other models as well (I have seen it on the Guardian Encore, for example...maybe it was only this particular lineup that featured it?).


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A Couple of Useful Attachment Additions

July 11, 2017, 4:36 pm
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I happened to spot these attachments in the Shop Vac section of Canadian Tire, and decided to pick them up, for use with the Shop Vac and the Aeruses (?) and Electroluxes: a flexible crevice tool and soft bristled dusting brush.



Out of the package. Naturally, these can fit onto the Style R hose with an adaptor. I can see tons of uses for these tools, especially with electronics.



I also decided to pick up a new hose for the Shop Vac, as the one that came with it didn't have a proper handle. This one is 8 feet long, with a handgrip and suction bleed valve.


Handle, with the suction bleed valve open:


And finally, the trusty old Shop Vac with new hose and tools:


The soft bristled dusting brush goes into service, on the Epic 8000, to clean off my computer desktop and all its assorted paraphernalia. It gets right into the grooves of everything, which is just why I wanted it.


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Stepping Up on Stage for an Encore

July 31, 2017, 3:48 pm
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The Style R family is steadily growing. Here is the latest member, the Electrolux Guardian Encore, Model C134C.


Logo closeup. Yes, its still dirty, as the machine is fresh out of the box, but it will of course be getting the full-on 'Eluxurious' spa treatment before it gets put into regular service.


Note that this logo matches the later Guardian Model C134E...on the latter, the black stripe bears the notation "By Electrolux", and the stylized "E" becomes a "G".

Logo and Good Housekeeping guarantee sticker, which leads me to believe the Guardian Encore and the Lux 4000 came out at the same time.



Left side view:



Kitted out with hose, wands, Sidekick, and combo floor/carpet nozzle. This, by the way, only came with the small attachments, which aren't shown. I just borrowed everything else from my other blue and white Style R models. I don't happen to have the original power nozzle for the Encore, which features the "Electrolux" in dark blue script, exactly like the Lux 4000 power nozzle.


I do happen to have a hose, the handle of which features the "Electrolux" in the same script as the side bumper, as this picture shows:


The hose itself is rather yellow; I'll just get a new or newer one one of these days and stick this handle on it.

Side bumper logo:


Ratings sticker. Same power ratings as the Guardian 75th Anniversary C134A, and right up to the Aerus Lux 9000, I believe. The Encore certainly sounds exactly like those models.


Speaking of sound, I naturally turned the Encore on, to see if things were good to go, and, to some extent, they were, but, when I put my hand over the hose end to check out the suction, the motor shut off. Uh huh. Something, of course, was askew in the auto-shutoff system, so I dismantled the front cover, and found that the little hose connected to the suction inlet had fallen off completely. Back on it went, back on the front cover went, back on the motor went, and all was good.

I'll be adding more comments after the Encore has completed its first tour of service, and after he's been cleaned and shined. In the meantime, I'm happy to have another addition to the Style R lineup. I still need to get the Electrolux Guardian C134B 75th Anniversary, the Electrolux Lux 9000 C134D, and the Electrolux Guardian C134E.

Since the Encore is its sister/brother/whatever you please to call it vacuum, and since its the current upstairs upright, here is the Lux 4000. Vacuums when not in use make good doorstops.


The Guardian Encore all cleaned and polished up:


Into service as the bare floor/dusting/upholstery vacuum, along with its model line-mate, the Lux 4000:


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