Let me start off by saying that I really like your username, it is perfect for this site. Secondly, I'm a serious Electrolux collector and have written many posts on the repair of the Electrolux model LX. To read some of these go to our archives for January, 2013 in Vintage and locate the thread Lux XXX tools, and scroll down till you find the breakdown of the model LX. I'll try to locate it and post the thread #. 

The part you are looking for is called the 'ejector,' and as there are many of us who collect Electrolux parts, that one should not be hard to locate, in fact I might have one in one of the boxes of parts that I have in my holding room.

Which model do you have? the LX, or the LXI?  The LX is outfitted with nameplates in egg yolk yellow and the name Electrolux in red, it also had no dial on the bottom of the front cover, (see picture) the LXI has chrome nameplates and the dial. Either way however, the inner workings of the machine are the same.  Once you acquire the ejector assembly, you simply hook it into the back of the bag chamber, and screw the long bar to the hole where the cover meets the assembly. As for the mechanism under the machine, all you need is a tube used for aquariums. As I said, I might have one of these too, but it will take a few days till I can go to the holding room as it's not on my property.

In the meantime, please post a few pictures of you Electrolux so we can see what it looks like, and also pose a few pictures once you get the ejector.

Good luck.

Alex Taber.  

Found it! Thread is #19227. Title, Lux model 30/xxx tools. Username is Powermate1970, date is 1-18-2013, and the reply's are #s 86 and 87. However, if you are interested in the early history of Electrolux attachments and other trivia, you might want to read the entire thread. I had a lot of fun contributing to that one.

Good luck, and I'll see if I still have those parts in one of my boxes, and if I don't, I'm sure somebody will.

Alex Taber.  

Well it looks like that model LX or LXI has been through the mill! my feeling is that it's a LXI that has been altered. Here is a way to know for sure. One every Electrolux LX/LXI there is a model name/number etched into the top chrome trim. In this case it's under the vinyl handle, and will give you the needed information.

As for the rust, a little steel wool will work wonders. There are also other products out there like 'Rust-Away.' The Electrolux models of that vintage were strong, hearty beasts that bounce back with little effort, and show their luster. If you want to go with a yellow nameplate, I have one, but don't know if it's the right or left side, I'll check on Friday when I go to the holding room and look for the ejector. And speaking of both the ejector and front cover assembly, here's a look at both of them as well as a cut-away showing how the ejector worked.

Since you are new to Vacuumland I'll explain this picture. That display room was a former 3 car garage that I converted into the V.C.C.C. museum, and meeting room back in 1993, and was located in Naperville, Illinois.

If you want to know the history of the Electrolux model LX, have a look at the site "Electrolux Extravaganza," it was compiled by my friend Charles Richard Lester, and well worth looking at.

Alex Taber.

Dear Mary, what a great mom you are!

Your son and I have a lot in common, I was only 2 years old when I first saw the Electrolux model LX, and it was brand new, it was introduced around October of 1952. When I first saw it eject, the bag which was called a 'wrapper' back then was thrown across the room. Like your son, I also said I'd become a vacuum cleaner salesman. And did! However, my strongest interest was and still is the history of the vacuum cleaner. Years later I went to work for Electrolux, and then in the early 1970's acquired the first of several non electric vacuum cleaners, which are pictured here and date back to 1890. The oldest vacuum cleaner goes back to June 1869, that's 144 years ago! It was called the Whirlwind, invented in Chicago, and mass produced in Boston by the American Carpet Cleaning Co.

For many years I was a private collector, then in 1981, was put in touch with John Lucia, a fellow collector who lived in California. Together he and I went to the Hoover Historical Center, and learned that there were several other people who collected vacuum cleaners. Result was that John and I formed the Vacuum Cleaner Collector's Club, and I designed, wrote and published the newsletters beginning on January 2, 1983 until I retired from the club into private life in May of 1995.

While members need to be 18 to join the club, you and I can work together and I can pass 63 years of vacuum cleaner history on to you and your son. For that I'd rather do this privately via email. However, as I've walked that road, I welcome the chance to teach both you and your son the history of the vacuum cleaner.

Robert Alexander Taber.

I noticed that the LX is missing the plastic tube under the bag chamber. There should be two metal tabs and the tube. What is it used for? This was a special compartment to hold three wrappers. In later years this tube was removed and a swivel caster was used, but that was optional equipment, as were the two wheels that went onto the runners under the cord winder.

The picture of the hose, that looks like the original, and through faded somewhat, it's an important part. And speaking of original parts, do you or your son know what attachments went with this machine? There was a special tool holder called a 'companion' keeping the tools at the users fingertips. There was a sprayer, vaporizer, air powered floor polisher, and a garment bag to protect clothing from moths. I have most of these parts, so if your son wants to have the complete system, I can provide them. I can also send you a copy of the instruction book.

Alex Taber.

What I'm talking about is on the same side as the lever used to open the front cover. Model LX (or LXI) DC to 60 cycles 115 volts 535 watts, UL should be engraved in the upper chrome trim. This was required to be there.  Now it might be that the chrome needs to be cleaned before it's visible.  I also suggest that you contact the Vacuum cleaner museum, the curator is Tom Gasko, who is also a friend of mine, and was the first president of the V.C.C.C., he took over after I retired in 1995.

Thank you for the kind words, but the reason John and I started the club was for people like your two boys. I grew up hearing "you like what?" In the early years, vacuum cleaners were very fascinating to me. I looked for ads in magazines, modeled them in clay at art class in school, spent hours in the vacuum cleaner department of stores while my mother or grandmother went shopping. (Things were safer in the 1950's!) I learned the different brands by name and model. All this was being processed in my mind, and served as the early information for the V.C.C.C.. I also knew there were other kids out there but it wasn't till we formed the club that the group interest began. I applaud you for understanding, and encouraging your sons, most mothers do not!

Not only me, but the entire club is behind you and these boys, I also suggest that you contact the webmaster as he also started out as a child. In fact, Fred was the boy who at 10 was on the Johnny Carson show as a vacuum cleaner collector. Back then, he could not be a member, but his parents were, (Fred was a guest of the club) today, he's an adult, and knows the process. There is also a section for youngsters to be part of the club. Fred knows the way to do this.

I see great potential here, and two boys who can have a lot of fun learning about the wide world of vacuum cleaners that were once flooding the country.

Vacuumland is here to help.

Alex Taber.