Thread Number: 20167
Searching for Electrolux Attachment Color History |
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Post# 225872 , Reply# 1   3/31/2013 at 21:46 (4,040 days old) by caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut)   |   | |
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I'm sure there are Electrolux experts can do this, but let me make this real easy. Most of the attatchment trim matches the body of the machine. Why not post pictures of each tool, and we can match them for you.
Here's the color of the early models. 1924. Model V (5) tools were light colored wood with aluminum ends. Hose metal. 1927. Model X1 (11) tools are same as above but black trim, hose black. 1930. Model X11 (12) tools aluminum, trim Milk chocolate brown, hose dark gray. 1937. Prewar Model XXX (30) Dark Gray, Hose dark gray. 1945. Model XX (20) trim and hose Semi-dark Gray. 1947. Postwar Model XXX same as prewar XXX lighter gray, tool holder light gray. 1952. Model LX (60) trim, hose and tool holder all blue/gray. 1954. Model LXI (61) same as above. 1955. Model E trim, and hose dark blue. 1956. Model E auutomatic same as above. 1957. Model T (called the trift model) same as above. This is as far as I recall off hand. For the models F, S, R, G, L, and 1205 they matched the body of the machine. As for cords, they were all black till I think the model F then they were light gray. When the model LX was introduced the disposable bags were called wrappers, and were also dark blue/gray. In 1955 they were changed to yellow. As for the combination rug/floor tool, and the combination upholstry tool/dust brush, they were introduced with the model E. Other club members can pick it up from here. Alex Taber. |
Post# 226008 , Reply# 4   4/1/2013 at 18:08 (4,039 days old) by caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut)   |   | |
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As far as I know Electrolux did not have any catalogs, of if they did, I've never seen one. What they did have were posters of all their machines over the years. But for the true Electrolux historian, as I am. that was far from complete. There's also that which came first the chicken or the egg kind of a question. The first combination rug/floor tool Electrolux had in 1955/6 was a lot like that used by General Electric for the early Swivel-Top. We here at the club seem to agree that Electrolux followed G.E.'s lead. In most cases, the aluminum wands followed the steel ones. What you are talking about were the wands used for the power nozzle. Those were covered with a plastic sheath.
My knowledge of Electrolux ends with the model E automatic. However, as a salesman for Electrolux, I had access to some wonderful books. These were for employees only. They were. "This is Electrolux," and "Electrolux the first forty years, 1924 - 1964." I have both, and will however, they are in storage along with my patent information on Electrolux. I was the man who designed, edited, and published the V.C.C.C. newsletters for the first 12 years, and wrote several articles on the company, as well as the canisters of the 1940's - early 60's. But these prototypes were never marketed. I also have a lot of information on the ejection system that eventuly became the model LX. It was on the drawingboard from 1945 till finally introduced in 1952. (When I was 2 years old!) Electrolux used to be located in Old Greenwich, Connecticut, and I lived in Wallingford, Connecticut about an hour away. There was a museum only open to the top brass, but I was there. I also have pictures of that museum and will share them sometine next month after I get my stuff out of storage in Indiana. That is planned for the last week of this month. So look for a lot of Electrolux history over the next few weeks, because I'll share from memory till that trip. By the way, here's something to keep you guessing. See if you know what this thing is. Glad I could help. Alex Taber club founder. |
Post# 226039 , Reply# 6   4/1/2013 at 21:20 (4,039 days old) by Paul (USA)   |   | |
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Hello again, Alex, I neglected to mention the photo of your awesome Electrolux (et cetera) collection! Are you done collecting them, or are you still working on it? Paul |
Post# 226053 , Reply# 7   4/1/2013 at 23:50 (4,039 days old) by caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut)   |   | |
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The sketch is actually a patent for a product designed by Electrolux. The contraption will make sense once I tell you what it is.
Gustaf E, Lofgren came up with the idea of a vacuum cleaner placed on a maids cart for use in hotel rooms. Note the cart with laundry hamper, folded sheets, towels etc. and the Electrolux complete with power nozzle. The thing on the floor is a cord winder, outfitted with a holder for a bare floor tool, and as you can see, there are wands on the cart. This is just one of the patents that I'll be posting in a few weeks. The newsletters are in storage, but yes, I do plan to scan them once I get them back here. As for founding the club, thank's for the kind words. What actually happened was this. As a kid who started his interest in the Electrolux LX in 1952, I spent years learning tha various machines. In 1972 I acquired my first non electric two person pumper, and was hooked on the really old stuff. Then a friend and local vacuum cleaner shop owner asked if I'd ever been to the Hoover Historical Center in North Canton, Ohio. I had not, didn't even knew it existed. A month later in September of 1980 I not only saw the Historical center, but was treated like a full V.I.P.! Stacy Krammes, the director, arranged for a factory tour, I met with the head of engineering, and was treated to lunch! I left with dozens of original black and white glossie pictures of old Hoover's and non electric's made by several companies. A year later a fellow collector in Palo Alto, California named John Lucia, wrote to Hoover for information on models 150, and 700. Stacy Krammes forwarded his letter to me, and a friendship was born. In September John did a driving tour of the United States, and a trip to see me, and a tour of Hoover was on his list. We did Hoover together. Again it was full V.I.P. for both of us! Stacy gave us a list of five names of people interested in antique vacuum cleaners. As John and I were driving to New York together I asked, "think we should form a club?" His answer was "I doubt if it'll get off the ground, but it's worth a letter to all these people. The responce was "yes, form the club, we're in!" I deafted the first newsletter in December of 1982, and officially opened the club on January 2, 1983. In March I contacted Stacy Krammes at Hoover to inquire of an artist to design our logo. Her daughter Liz was a graphic artist and came up with the Baby Daisy, a Brittish non electric of 1890. Back then the newsletter was by monthly with John writing a Hoover article every other month, and I covered the rest, plus design and publishing. In the Fall of 1984, a member named Mike Pupek, suggested a meeting of the membership. I told him "nobody wants to travel cross counter to see some old vacuum cleaners!" "Put the question in the newsletter" he said. Result, the first meeting of the V.C.C.C. on the weekend of May 5, 1985. Then in August I bought a house in Naperville, Illinois, and that became club headquarters till May of 1995. One of our members was a Tom Gasko, and he had designes on running the club. Both John and I were adament that there be no officers in the club, but Tom worked behind our backs and got himself elected as the first president. As I was in the process of moving to San Diego, California, I let Tom run the club, and more or less walked away. I wasn't involved with it till 2005 Now I'm just another member, and prefer not to share in the running of the club. What both John and I wanted was for this to be a teaching club. A resource center, and place for people of all ages to learn about the machines they were interested in. Today, there are several people who help run the club. Neither John nor I could do it without them. |
Post# 226174 , Reply# 10   4/2/2013 at 21:59 (4,038 days old) by caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut)   |   | |
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Thank you for the kind words. I love to dig history, John Lucia once called me a research junkie, and I think that's true. I have three main interests in the vacuum cleaner world. Electrolux, Kirby and the non electric pumpers of the late 1800's. When I was at the Hoover Historical Center I saw the oldest known vacuum cleaner, The Whirlwind, invented in Chicago in 1869 by Ives W. Mc'Gaffy. It was invented in Chicago, but marketed in Boston by the American Carpet Cleaning company. The price of this machine was $25.00, a lot of money back then. there were only a three or four known to exist. In 1986, fate was very good to me, because I acquired one of the rare Whirlwind's.
As for the Electrolux books I mentioned, I own them, and will share a number of stories with the club, as well as patents like the one of the maids cart. My history of both Electrolux, and Kirby are available for anybody tho wants to read them, both are about 8 pages long. Again, I thank you for the kind words. Being able to teach others is a remarkable experience. Basically I did it to save younger people from having to search for facts. I'm glad you found your way to our club. Pictured below are a series of pictures of the club, and the Whirlwind. Alex Taber. |
Post# 226176 , Reply# 11   4/2/2013 at 22:02 (4,038 days old) by caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut)   |   | |
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Post# 226178 , Reply# 12   4/2/2013 at 22:05 (4,038 days old) by caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut)   |   | |
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Post# 226186 , Reply# 13   4/2/2013 at 22:30 (4,038 days old) by caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut)   |   | |
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Here's a picture of the third meeting of the Vacuum Cleaner Collector's Club, in what was then our museum, located in a spare bedroom of my home in Naperville, Illinois. This is May 1988. These people were the backbone of the club. Back row left to right are. Norbert Miller assistant editor, Don O'Connor collector, and John Lucia co-founder. Front row me, my mom Anne Taber who was our club secretary, and Mike Pupek.
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Post# 226356 , Reply# 15   4/3/2013 at 20:20 (4,037 days old) by caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut)   |   | |
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Wait till I get my Electrolux paperwork. Did you know that the company started in Stockholm, Sweeden? The model's V, XI, and the first XII's were imported. The factory was opened in 1933, and a number of original employees relocated to help run it. I went to work for Electrolux in January of 1968, I was then 17, and my family had to give concent for me to work there. I wa also the youngest employee, as the basic age was 18. The machine I sold was the 1205. My favorite of them all including the non electric's is the Electrolux model LX. For more on that go to the thread XXXtools here in vintage archives 2013 for a lot on Electrolux.
Heres the club museum in 94, after it outgrew the spare bedroom. Alex Taber |