Electrolux XXXLX goes to the Spa

Yes Brian that is a brown glass Mrs. Butterworth bottle. Among other found bottles I have an Orange Crush with the spherical orange shape molded below the neck. :-)

I made a revelatory discovery this morning. I have a junker XXX with torn & peeling leatherette, badly rusted & dinged chrome bits and a pooched motor. BUT, the otherwise unrusted or dented body shell has the blue lower 'sandpaper' paint used on the LX.

I'm led to conclude that there was NOT only one official Electrolux 1950-52 XXX.
The multitude of mix & match variations encountered - as well as documented on Charles Richard's comprehensive site - in the early 1950s XXX's demonstrates that not only was the factory refurbishing older XXXs from parts off the shelf and churning out new ones but so were Electrolux Service Shops snazzing up old trade-ins for re-sale. The combinations can range from hammertone painted fronts & backs & cord-o-matics and even hammertone side trim - I have one with all that as well as hammertone floor tools - to examples with only select parts painted. Or all chrome with only the updated LX leatherette.

The XXX featured here must have been a Service Shop quick job as it has the LX pattern leatherette glued on top of original covering and as you can see, it has the familiar grey lower paint. The glue has dried and crystalized and can be easily peeled off in one undamaged piece. This would likely be impossible if it had been glued to the metal shell. :-)

Well, imho, a final version 1952 XXX to match an LX looks best in chrome with blue upper leatherette and darker blue lower body paint.

So...if Electrolux could do it however they saw fit so can I. We have the skills and the technology to do a complete head, foot and internal organ transplant into this blue shell to make this XXXLX all he can be.

This is the proposed donor vac, which also has a later style XXX replacement handle with a thicker middle bulge to fit the hand better. I hope to peel the original leatherette off down to the bare shell and will try this first with the junker before proceeding further. This will make the LX pattern fit even better.

Wish me luck.

Dave


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Post# 58242 1/14/2009 at 22:03 (5,574 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)
Checkrate/Likes The other day a chrome XXX cordwinder arrived in the mail - I took a chance at the poor picture and I was right - it's all original with Belden plug, cord, socket & all - the motor pigtail plug still has flash around the seams. The perfect reason to strip down the 535 watt XXX with the LX patterned leatherette gifted to me by John Long. LX blue looks so perfect on the XXX. taken apart it is obvious that the leatherette was die cut to the XXX pattern and meant as a Factory or Factory Outlet upgrade for older XXX's to sell alongside the new LX. This one is neatly glued down over the original leatherette, but I imagine it was meant to have the original stripped off first. There is no way you could use the LX pattern to re-cover an XXX. I used the Kirby Classic Handi Butler buffing wheels and compounds to shine things up. Next I will go at it with the finer compound on the dremmel. Well, I just love it so much I paired it up with a saddle and tools and aluminum wands. I have 3 LX pattern hoses, two cloth weave that need the latex treatment and one gorgeous saran weave that still has no leaks. I'll use the cloth weave for display but the saran for actual use. And no, I will not keep the leatherette covered with a saddle...it can borrow from an LX neighbor at Luxious Towers.

Post# 58243 , Reply# 1 1/14/2009 at 22:05 (5,574 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)
Checkrate/Likes with blue & grey cloth hose

Post# 58244 , Reply# 2 1/14/2009 at 22:06 (5,574 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)
Checkrate/Likes with spectacular LX saran hose.

Post# 58245 , Reply# 3 1/14/2009 at 22:09 (5,574 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)
Checkrate/Likes *Rocket Bomb-O-Licious !!!* Genius late 1930 streamline design from Lurelle Guild.

Post# 58246 , Reply# 4 1/14/2009 at 22:14 (5,574 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)
Checkrate/Likes *That is One Sweet Ride right there...All Aboard !* Too obvious a photo opportunity. Says it all. Thank you, John for making real a dream vac. Happy as a Streamlined Basket of polished aluminum Kittens Dave.

Post# 58250 , Reply# 5 1/14/2009 at 22:58 (5,574 days old) by electroluxkirby ()
Checkrate/Likes Very nice! You do excellent work.

Post# 58258 , Reply# 6 1/14/2009 at 23:52 (5,574 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)
Checkrate/Likes Thanks Jim. The bag cover is still a bit hazy and will need a going over with the fine polish & flannel wheel to get that mirror finish. There is rust pitting around the motor cap but steel wool removes most of it. Still have to detail it. I was in a bit of a hurry to get it together before bedtime so the cats don't run off with something crucial in the night. 0000 steel wool and aluminum polish do a good job of removing years of tarnish and grime but nothing beats a session at the buffing wheel to bring back the like new gleam. Following a firm bristle potato brush scrubbing with soap & water and magic Eraser (do not use abrasive scouring pads) I wipe down the leatherette with Simonize Semi-Gloss vinyl dashboard wipes. It removes the last of the grime and embedded dirt, leaves no residue and imparts a flawless shine. I used to use liquid wax but that can be a bastard to get out of crevices... Dave

Post# 58274 , Reply# 7 1/15/2009 at 08:40 (5,574 days old) by luxg ()
Checkrate/Likes Very nice job Dave, that Lux XXX looks like new!!

Post# 58276 , Reply# 8 1/15/2009 at 09:15 (5,574 days old) by ohio_tuec ()
Checkrate/Likes That Lux XXX is a beautiful machine indeed. My first Lux XXX (which I still have) has the same LX leatherette covering on top but without the cord winder. To me, it looks better on this machine than on the LX. Don't ask me why, but these are my favorite Lux XXX's. I'd like to find one with the LX covering and the hammertone blue ends. It really looks sharp with the LX saran hose!

Post# 58277 , Reply# 9 1/15/2009 at 11:30 (5,573 days old) by shag (Ontario, Canada)
Checkrate/Likes Dave,would that be a Mrs Butterworth bottle on your shelf behind the vacuum?

Post# 58292 , Reply# 11 1/15/2009 at 16:48 (5,573 days old) by akabent (LEFT Coast)
Checkrate/Likes *That came out....* ....really nicely, Dave. Glad you found a great cord-winder for it, too. You had mentioned (to me)it was difficult to find one with the orginal Belden end up thar in El Norde (very understandable, especially given the strength of the spring in these thangs, but they do show up)so am happy you find one and just in time for this XXX. There is just something about a beautimus XXX! Nice Job! Rick

Post# 58401 , Reply# 12 1/17/2009 at 05:22 (5,572 days old) by hygiene903 (Galion, OH)
Checkrate/Likes *Excellent Work Dave!!* Almost looks like a different machine! Congratulations on a job well done! Jeff

Post# 58282 , Reply# 10 1/15/2009 at 12:49 (5,573 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)
Checkrate/Likes Yes Brian that is a brown glass Mrs. Butterworth bottle. Among other found bottles I have an Orange Crush with the spherical orange shape molded below the neck. :-) I made a revelatory discovery this morning. I have a junker XXX with torn & peeling leatherette, badly rusted & dinged chrome bits and a pooched motor. BUT, the otherwise unrusted or dented body shell has the blue lower 'sandpaper' paint used on the LX. I'm led to conclude that there was NOT only one official Electrolux 1950-52 XXX. The multitude of mix & match variations encountered - as well as documented on Charles Richard's comprehensive site - in the early 1950s XXX's demonstrates that not only was the factory refurbishing older XXXs from parts off the shelf and churning out new ones but so were Electrolux Service Shops snazzing up old trade-ins for re-sale. The combinations can range from hammertone painted fronts & backs & cord-o-matics and even hammertone side trim - I have one with all that as well as hammertone floor tools - to examples with only select parts painted. Or all chrome with only the updated LX leatherette. The XXX featured here must have been a Service Shop quick job as it has the LX pattern leatherette glued on top of original covering and as you can see, it has the familiar grey lower paint. The glue has dried and crystalized and can be easily peeled off in one undamaged piece. This would likely be impossible if it had been glued to the metal shell. :-) Well, imho, a final version 1952 XXX to match an LX looks best in chrome with blue upper leatherette and darker blue lower body paint. So...if Electrolux could do it however they saw fit so can I. We have the skills and the technology to do a complete head, foot and internal organ transplant into this blue shell to make this XXXLX all he can be. This is the proposed donor vac, which also has a later style XXX replacement handle with a thicker middle bulge to fit the hand better. I hope to peel the original leatherette off down to the bare shell and will try this first with the junker before proceeding further. This will make the LX pattern fit even better. Wish me luck. Dave