Thread Number: 22961
An Electrolux LX Story
[Down to Last]

Vacuumland's exclusive eBay Watch:
scroll >>> for more items --- [As an eBay Partner, eBay may compensate vacuumland.org if you make a purchase using any link to eBay on this page]
Post# 257021   11/20/2013 at 11:25 (3,781 days old) by electrolux137 (Los Angeles)        

electrolux137's profile picture


[This posting is especially for Alex Taber--]

There's an Electrolux Model LX on eBay (see listing link below) that appears to be in really nice condition. Seeing it with its replacement pistol-grip hose reminds me of a story.

Back around 1977 or so when I was living in Annapolis, I went over to a friend's house for dinner one day. Afterward, I was sitting in the kitchen chatting with his mother as she washed the dishes and, wow, gee, somehow the subject of vacuum cleaners came up!

She mentioned that her husband had bought her a new Electrolux in 1953 when they were married. She still had it but it didn't seem to work very well any longer and, besides, she had gotten two more since then. But she said she felt kinda disappointed about that because she had always preferred the older one. It was more "classic and elegant," she said.

Well of COURSE I asked to see her old Electrolux! She led me into the garage and opened a cupboard door, and inside was a Model LX, with the yellow and red logos and chrome plated cord winder and Companion! It was in good physical condition but needed a "spa treatment." I could see by examining the original hose that it was shot. I told her that was the main culprit right there, as to why the machine wasn't operating properly.

I mentioned that I know how to work on vacuum cleaners and offered to have a look at it for her. She lit up like a Christmas tree and said, "If you can get my old machine running properly again, I'll GIVE you my two newer ones!"

We went back inside and she went into the laundry room. She showed me a really beautiful later-version Model F (no power nozzle, alas!) and then went into the living room and opened the closet by the front door and there was an earlier Model F, also in perfect condition!

Wow!! Who could turn down an offer like that?!

So I took her LX home with me, including all the attachments (with the polisher, practically new in the box because she had hardly ever used it and was happy to give it to me!!).

I took the motor unit all apart and cleaned and waxed the leatherette. I polished all the aluminum trim on my polishing wheel. I used the blower from my Electrolux E-A to dislodge what little "schmutz" there was in the fans and that was all I had to do with the motor because it ran perfectly. She had always used genuine Electrolux bags so the inside of the machine was perfectly clean.

I lightly dusted the cord with talcum powder (which Electrolux used to recommend that owners do from time to time to keep the cord winder in good order).

I also buffed out all the attachments until they gleamed like chrome.

I went to the local Electrolux branch office and got her a new hose, the same pistol-grip hose as in the eBay listing. The turquoise hose actually looks pretty nice with the LX. (Oh and btw she did give me the original hose. I kept it for a long time even though it was very leaky.) I also got her a new combo dusting brush as the original dusting brush was practically worn down bald! And I got her a new 24-pack of bags.

When it was all done, I put it in a 1205 box and took it over to her. She, her son (my friend) and her husband all gathered around in the living room. I opened the box lid and took the attachments out first. When I pulled the machine out, she gasped and her hands flew up to her mouth. She exclaimed, "Oh MY, look at that! It's beeeeeeeeautiful! It looks like brand new!!" And indeed it did.

I told her, "Go ahead and try it out!" She attached the hose to the machine, connected the wands, added the rug tool, then pulled out the cord and plugged it in. She picked up the hose handle and stood there for a dramatic moment. She pressed the power switch with her dainty toe and it purred into action, the air rushing into the rug tool. She squealed with delight and went around the living room cleaning her rug, beaming with great delight.

She finally switched it off, and she told me, "Charles, you've made this old lady very happy! And as I told you, you can have my two newer Electroluxes. Thank you so very, very much!" My friend helped me carry them out to the car and he gave me a big hug saying, "Thanks for making my mom so happy."


CLICK HERE TO GO TO electrolux137's LINK on eBay


Post# 257024 , Reply# 1   11/20/2013 at 12:00 (3,781 days old) by caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut)        
Thank you Charles Richard.

caligula's profile picture

You have really made my day.

 

Alex Taber.


Post# 257117 , Reply# 2   11/21/2013 at 04:29 (3,780 days old) by tolivac (Greenville,NC)        

GREAT STORY!!!Nice how a vacuum collector can make someone happy!

Post# 257286 , Reply# 3   11/22/2013 at 13:52 (3,779 days old) by electrikbroomgu (Rome, NY)        
Grandma

electrikbroomgu's profile picture
Wow this reminds me of a similar scenario I had with my grandma's brown model G back in 1995. My cousin and I used to always volunteer to go over and vacuum her apartment using not one but 3 different cleaners. The model G was used for the deep heavy shag rug cleaning. Her 1978 Regina power plus electrikbroom was used on all the bare floors and the red DD hand vac made short work on the furniture. Well by 1995 her model G Lux was low on suction at the hose end and was quitting when rolled over the door stop indicating something was amiss and service was long over due. So off to my parents house the poor old G went for a complete service.

I pulled the cord winder and found that the contacts were very dirty and grimy so went through and cleaned it up as new also polishing the aluminum until it shined. The cord was soaked and cleaned until it looked new. Next the motor was gone through and checked fans cleaned, bearings greased. When she was put all back together I cleaned all the white trim and waxed the body until you could see your reflection in the paint. The hose was of course shot so it was replaced re-using her old ends. The combo brush was worn so I put in a new filler and soaked it until it also looked new cleaning the crevice tool along side it plus the wands and floor tool. I put everything in an egg box and took the machine back over to her one nice sunny afternoon.

The look on her face spoke volumes. She was flabbergasted! "That's my machine"? she asked. I put everything together and demonstrated how a new hose, serviced motor and fresh bag can seriously tune up a cleaner. Alas she was as happy as a clam. I later learned from my mother that grandma had her suspicions as to whether that was her actual cleaner. It looked so much better than what left her apartment that she had a hard time understanding that this was indeed her very same brown model G that she purchased in 1968. Mom re-assured her it was the very same. Just the look on her face after I brought it back to her was worth every minute I put into reconditioning that beautiful machine!



Forum Index:       Other Forums:                      



Comes to the Rescue!

Woops, Time to Check the Bag!!!
Either you need to change your vacuum bag or you forgot to LOG-IN?

Discuss-O-MAT Log-In



New Members
Click Here To Sign Up.



                     


automaticwasher.org home
Discuss-o-Mat Forums
Vintage Brochures, Service and Owners Manuals
Fun Vintage Washer Ephemera
See It Wash!
Video Downloads
Audio Downloads
Picture of the Day
Patent of the Day
Photos of our Collections
The Old Aberdeen Farm
Vintage Service Manuals
Vintage washer/dryer/dishwasher to sell?
Technical/service questions?
Looking for Parts?
Website related questions?
Digital Millennium Copyright Act Policy
Our Privacy Policy