Thread Number: 27413  /  Tag: 50s/60s/70s Vacuum Cleaners
So I'm addicted: just found a pretty cool Electrolux 		[Down to Last]

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Post# 307251   11/24/2014 at 15:52 (3,433 days old) by Applecore5 ()        

Found it on Craigslist. I know it's a model 30 and in okay shape. I have no idea if it works because no one could pay me to actually plug in the cord it came with!!!! I have another cord and new bag on the way. I have tried to firgure out if there is a way to tell an exact year but it doesn't look like there is. The gentleman I got it from swore it was bought in the 60's but I don't think they sold the ones with the skids in the 60's.......

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Post# 307254 , Reply# 1   11/24/2014 at 16:35 (3,433 days old) by bebring (Québec)        

Nice find

Post# 307255 , Reply# 2   11/24/2014 at 16:40 (3,433 days old) by Caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut)        
Hi Applecore5.

 caligula's profile picture
You have the granddaddy of the Electrolux line. It ran from the end of 1937-1956.

There's a great thread (#19227) on this model and the one that followed in in 1952, that being the Model LX, the first automatic Electrolux. Go to the Vintage, forum archives 2013 scroll down to 01/03 thread title 'Lux model 30/XXX,' post # 212375. There's a wealth of information including repair data.

Have fun.
Alex Taber.





This post was last edited 11/24/2014 at 17:06
Post# 307260 , Reply# 3   11/24/2014 at 17:31 (3,433 days old) by Bikerray (Middle Earth)        

bikerray's profile picture
since it has the saloon doors in the exhaust port it would be 1949 or later, I'm guessing 1949 through 1952. In 1952 the model XXX matched the model LX in color scheme.

Alex, they only made the XXX until 1954 when they came out with the Model E.


Post# 307262 , Reply# 4   11/24/2014 at 18:00 (3,433 days old) by Caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut)        
Hi Bikerray.

 caligula's profile picture
Thanks for the input, I sat here debating the exact year that it was manufactured, so that year was simply a guess.

The XXX, however, was the lower priced model, with the LX being the main machine. As for the XXX, it did sell till around 1956 when the automatic E was introduced.

The above mentioned archived thread 'Lux model 30/XXX,' will give all the correct data that I don't have near my desk right now.

As mentioned in that thread, I was born and raised in Wallingford, Connecticut, (1950) which was about 45 minutes from the Electrolux factory in Old Greenwich. Here's a picture of me about 3 years old. I'm still into Electrolux and Kirby.



This post was last edited 11/24/2014 at 18:16
Post# 307266 , Reply# 5   11/24/2014 at 18:19 (3,433 days old) by Caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut)        
Me sitting on the Electrolux XXX,

 caligula's profile picture
yes it is the same one as in the color picture in reply #2!

Post# 307286 , Reply# 6   11/24/2014 at 23:25 (3,433 days old) by gottahaveahoove (Pittston, Pennsylvania, 18640)        
I gave one of those to Rick in California

 gottahaveahoove's profile picture
I got it from VacWay in Scranton. It was in MINT condition. John Lucia was with me when I got it.Rick was thrilled. I was too, to see it go to a far more deserving home, lolol

Post# 307293 , Reply# 7   11/25/2014 at 03:58 (3,433 days old) by ronni (USA)        

The Model XXXs were manufactured in similar colors and materials from 1937-1941 and 1947-1954 (production interrupted due to WWII).* Cleaners were sold during the war by prepay, and customers were put on waiting lists until production was resumed. Replacement and overstocked parts/materials were used to assemble new cleaners from 1945-1946; so for all intents and purposes regular production resumed in 1947. Production of the Model XXX ceased in October 1954 with the introduction of the new "economy" model, the Model E; although sales continued into 1955. Refurbished cleaners were still available into at least the 1960s--if not the 1970s.


*Side Note: The Model XX, which was first produced in November 1941--prior to the U. S. A.'s involvement in WWII in December--was sold until the spring of 1942.


Besides the "saloon door" style exhaust louvers introduced in 1949 another change that occurred was the specs of the motors: prior to 1949 motors had 475 watts, 4.1 amps, and 115 volts. The later motors had 535 watts, 4.7 amps, and 115 volts. However, consideration should be given to the fact that motors could have been replaced over the years.

Moreover, production years of most Model XXXs with original power switches can be identified by their month/year stamp on the power switch wire cover which may be seen by removing the end cap. Once again, a caveat is that a switch may have been swapped out with one from another cleaner or replaced with a brand new one at some point.

From what I have been able to piece together by observing different versions of the late Model XXXs, the timeline below indicates the main colors and materials according to production year (with the understanding that there were also some rare variations as old stock of various supplies was depleted and new or different stock was introduced).


________________


Timeline of Major Characteristics of 1950s Electrolux Corporation's Model XXXs

1950-
1951: gray-colored bottom, chrome cover and end cap; classic gray leatherette top /
floor brush and carpet tool - unpainted metal w/black bumpers; dusting brush - unpainted metal
with black bumper; upholstery tool - unpainted metal; narrow space cleaner - black composite;
fiberglass Companion

1952: teal-colored bottom, chrome cover and end cap; classic gray leatherette top /
floor brush - unpainted metal w/teal bakelite and blue-gray bumper; carpet tool - unpainted
metal with blue-gray bumper; dusting brush - blue-gray bakelite and bumper; upholstery tool -
blue-gray bakelite; narrow space cleaner - blue-gray composite; hammertone gray Companion

1953: teal-colored bottom, hammertone teal cover and end cap; classic gray leatherette top /
floor brush - hammertone teal metal w/teal bakelite and blue-gray bumper; carpet tool -
hammertone teal metal with blue-gray bumper; dusting brush - hammertone teal-painted w/blue
gray bumper; upholstery tool - hammertone teal-painted; narrow space cleaner - blue-gray
composite; hammertone teal Companion

1954: metallic blue bottom, chrome cover and end cap; LX leatherette top /
floor brush - unpainted metal w/teal bakelite and blue-gray bumper; carpet tool - unpainted
metal with blue-gray bumper; dusting brush - unpainted metal w/blue-gray bumper; upholstery
tool - unpainted metal; narrow space cleaner - blue-gray composite; hammertone teal Companion
*At the end of the production some cleaners were sold with the new combination tools that were
introduced with the Model E.

(Option) Disposable bag adapter (hammertone teal)


To my knowledge the hoses of all the Model XXXs after 1939 were the same "snakeskin" tracer pattern in black and yellow with a tan background (those prior had a gray background with the "snakeskin" tracer pattern). Additionally, power cords were all black with flat, rectangular plugs with the Electrolux name embossed on each side; however, the diameter was larger on those used for pre-war models than on those of post-war production which had become an industry standard that we still have today.


See Charlie Lester's website for more detailed information: 1377731.com/lux


Another side note: For those like me who appreciate having the attachments with the characteristics of the original ones of cleaners a long-time service tech pointed out to me that there are some slight variations of the logo stamp of the upholstery tools over the years, and I would speculate that the logo stamps on the other attachments also were revised periodically. The pre-war upholstery tools (including those of the models XXII, XXIIA, XXX, and XX), for example, bore the original cursive Electrolux word mark on the insides of their suction ends along with the 1930s block letters w/a circle and rays on the outer part; the cursive word mark was not included in the post-war updates.


Post# 307299 , Reply# 8   11/25/2014 at 08:19 (3,433 days old) by Applecore5 ()        
Wow. Thank you

 That was very helpful! I have sooo much to learn. Mine has a stamp on the underside stating 475w 115v. So because it has the saloon door style exhaust that would make it a 1949?? It does have a grey almost charcoal hose.

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Post# 307313 , Reply# 9   11/25/2014 at 16:31 (3,432 days old) by Caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut)        
Hi ronni.

 caligula's profile picture
There's been much debate over the Model XX (20) due to the fact that it was the machine set to replace the XXX. While I have three books written by top Electrolux staff, they only elude to the XX. My research tells one thing, others here at VacuumLand see it another way, and as I say, don't have the documentation. You however, have stated November of 1941 to Spring of 42, which fits with what I have. If you have any further data on the model XX, let me know. By the way I have a XX, and love it.

Alex Taber

Post# 307930 , Reply# 10   12/4/2014 at 00:35 (3,424 days old) by ronni (USA)        

Hi Alex,

Thanks for your feedback. I apologize for the delay of my reply--lately I've been visiting Vacuumland sporadically and sometimes forget to check posts on which I've replied previously.

Interestingly, I found much of my information from older Vacuumland posts and likely used Model XX information that you supplied in one of them (which is why our information matches)! If I recall correctly, you and another Vacuumlander went back and forth trying to determine the months of production; so I am confident that that conversation helped you arrive at or confirm your information. I do wish I could locate more information on the Model XX; if I do I will be sure to let you know.

I'm glad you enjoy your Model XX. I saw one within the past 6 months on eBay that interested me, but chose not to bid on it. Although I appreciate the earlier Electrolux models I am partial to collecting those of the mid-century ('50s-'70s) in order to keep it manageable for me. Nonetheless, I enjoy collecting and reading data on all Electrolux (and Aerus) floor machines and their attachments.

Post# 307931 , Reply# 11   12/4/2014 at 00:55 (3,424 days old) by ronni (USA)        

Applecore5,

You're welcome for the information I supplied. I enjoy collecting and disseminating Electrolux data. Even though I sometimes wish that Aerus/Electrolux (and other companies) would have complete and accurate records for public perusal, searching for information is kind of like putting together a large jigsaw puzzle; and can thus be very rewarding when finding missing pieces. Vacuumland provides the "board" and Vacuumlanders supply the pieces.

Anyway, I'm glad you found the specs stamped on your cleaner. The top side of that same trim will show its serial id (2 letters with 5 numerals in between). Unfortunately, unlike some companies, Electrolux Corporation's serial ids were not coded with the month and year of manufacture; I just thought you might like to know what the alphanumeric information was.

I would still encourage you to look at the inside part of the on/off switch to see if it has a numeric month/date stamp on it. My guess is that your cleaner is a '48 due to the "saloon door" exhaust louvers and the 475-watt, 115-volt motor. According to Charlie Lester's data, the 1947s had the single circular louver, and the 1949s had the 535-watt, 115-volt motor. However, changes were sometimes made in increments instead of all at once, so it is possible that some 1948s still had the 475-watt, 115-volt motor with the "saloon door" louvers. Correspondingly, the changes did not likely occur on January 1 of any given year; so the years mentioned are approximations.

Keep us posted and happy vacuuming with your Model XXX!



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