Thread Number: 31335  /  Tag: Recent Vacuum Cleaners from past 20 years
Electrolux Contour ESP z1420
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Post# 346584   3/7/2016 at 07:06 (2,943 days old) by Turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK)        

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Hey folks, A few months back I picked up this Electrolux. Originally, this was intended as a donor machine for a much rarer AEG Vampyr upright that needed a full strip down and a new motor, but when this arrived, it was in such nice condition, I couldn't bring myself to pull it apart. So for now, the AEG will have to wait.

This is a slightly rarer Contour - I seem to recall it being a Comet exclusive. These ones don't seem to crop up very often. It's dated May 1996 (so it only just fits in the contemporary forum) and was the entry level for the ESP (extra suction power) Contour range, with the more powerful Contour 2 running above it and the TOL Airclean 1200 running above that. At 750w, it's the least powerful Contour on sale at the time, with the entry level model from the main run being 800w.

I've just started using this as my daily run around vac and it's actually very good. The brushroll is much stiffer and more dense than on the earlier Contours and the suction is very strong. It also has the later style pedal handle release (thank god!) and not the earlier friction fit/pull handle release that was prone to breaking. The pictures don't do the colour justice, it's come out much more turqoise than it actually is - it's much more of a tropical green colour, similar to the green Hoover Turbopower 2 of the same era. It also has a stretch hose fitted, although not as long as the full stair stretch hose fitted on the TOL models, it's still longer than the earlier models and the 600 hose.

There are only 2 things that let it down. The first being, despite it being considerably more stylish at the time than the 600 series, due to the curved handle design, it can be quite difficult to push. The other is the 2 in 1 tool that is fine as a dusting brush, but hopeless as an upholstery tool - the butterfly tool from the earlier 500 and 600 cleaners would've been better. Even the 2 in 1 upholstery tool from the z1070 with the clip on brushes (similar to a Numatic tool) would've been better than this.

But on the whole, I'm really happy with this and it fits nicely alongside my other Electrolux's.


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Post# 346586 , Reply# 1   3/7/2016 at 07:17 (2,943 days old) by vacerator (Macomb Michigan)        
Nice!

Teal was a big 90's color.

Post# 346590 , Reply# 2   3/7/2016 at 07:26 (2,943 days old) by Turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK)        

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It's a very 90's looking cleaner, isn't it? I feel I should be vacuuming in a Nike tracksuit with streaks in my hair and blaring out a Spice Girls cassette on a Sony Walkman!


Post# 346594 , Reply# 3   3/7/2016 at 08:44 (2,943 days old) by kirbymodel2c (Nottingham, England)        
I have one of those

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I still have it. Don't use it any more.

I bought mine new and got mine from a independent vacuum cleaner shop at the time.

I think it cost £109.95.

 

Jamescool

 

P.S are you sure it's a z1420 and not a z1430?

I could be wrong I haven't seen it in ages lol

 




This post was last edited 03/07/2016 at 09:17
Post# 346596 , Reply# 4   3/7/2016 at 09:30 (2,943 days old) by Turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK)        

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Hi James,

You would ask me that once I've already put it back in the garage lol. I'm sure it's a 1420 but I'll double check later on and let you know :).

Interesting that you mention it came from an Independent retailer, I had assumed it was a Comet model as I seem to remember seeing them alongside the Powerline & Widetrack in Comet back in t'day. It's not mentioned in any of the brochures or catalogues of the era, so I presumed it was an exclusive for there, but that could be rubbish lol. If it's part of the core range, that's even more confusing as to it's position in the line up. Electrolux got really weird in the mid-late 90's with line ups lol.


Post# 346598 , Reply# 5   3/7/2016 at 09:46 (2,943 days old) by Turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK)        

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This is the core upright line up from May 1994. I know this is a few years earlier, but looking at the 94 and 96 brochures, this is the line up it seems to fit best with. It has the same style on/off switch and graphics as these cleaners, but oddly has the later style clear elbow on the hose connection. Having said all that, Electrolux did have a habit of using up old parts and selling as an exclusive - just look at some of the exclusive twin turbo's that were 500 series/twin turbo hybrid cleaners.


Post# 346599 , Reply# 6   3/7/2016 at 09:49 (2,943 days old) by kirbymodel2c (Nottingham, England)        
I...

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Think I have a sales booklet with it in. I believe it was 2nd from the bottom. The BOL one was white-ish colour,rigid hose and was either 600 or 700 watts...off the top of my head.

I'll try and dig the booklet out later.

 

Jamessmile


Post# 346601 , Reply# 7   3/7/2016 at 09:54 (2,943 days old) by Turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK)        

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That would be very helpful, James, thanks :)


Post# 346633 , Reply# 8   3/7/2016 at 13:40 (2,943 days old) by kirbymodel2c (Nottingham, England)        
Here you go...

kirbymodel2c's profile picture

I found the brochure. My scanners not set up at the mo. So I took a picture. Sorry it's not clear.

When I get chance I'll scan them.

Your correct the Electrolux is a z1420 not z1430 lol

 

Jamescool


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Post# 346638 , Reply# 9   3/7/2016 at 14:19 (2,943 days old) by citroenbx (england)        

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good find I miss my contour I sold mine about 3 year ago for £10

look after it they seem to be getting thin on the ground


Post# 346662 , Reply# 10   3/7/2016 at 17:14 (2,943 days old) by vacerator (Macomb Michigan)        
I've always wanted

an Excellio. It was the first Eureka Europa. Hunter green. No remote control, only for the world vac style power nozzle.
I passed one up back in 2002. It was a floor model on display in a vac shop.
I've not seen another since.


Post# 346715 , Reply# 11   3/8/2016 at 07:32 (2,942 days old) by Turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK)        

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Thanks for that, James! It's interesting to see where it fit in the line up. Lux really were crazy in the 90's with various cross over models and 2 different branding of the same cleaner running at the same time etc etc.


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