Electrolux Wet / Dry Vacs

Hi Doug, Hi John:

The C-A. was the first and only wet/dry commercial Electrolux. I was lucky enough to use one. I believe it was introduced in 1962. Yes,
there was a spacial insert with a float baffle thingy that shut the machine off when it had taken in too much water. Exactly like with dirt
in the dust bag.

Why was it the only one? the answer is simple, somebody in the Electrolux engineering department messed up. It was a wet/dry vacuum
cleaner, right? so why wasn't there a grounded plug? Somebody got a bad shock, contacted the Electrolux Corp. and threatened a lawsuit.
I don't know if that was the only reason but Electrolux never took the chance again. They redesigned the next model the C-B. Also Electrolux etched a note on the future machines for both household and commercial use reading."WARNING Electrical shock may occur if used outdoors
or on wet surfaces."

Actually the C-A was a really nice machine. There was a storage area for the cord, standard hose, (which also came in ten and twelve
foot style), two aluminum wands, combination rug and floor tool, crevice tool, combination dusting brush/upholstry tool, extra filter bags and
instruction book. There were two clips for holding the power nozzle, which, by the was was designed without the long plastic wand, instead
there were two steel wands, and the detachable cord with hose and wand clip . That's right the nozzle could go right on the hose handle. As for optional equipment. There was a special rubber hose that was ten feet long (the twelve footer was also available.) There was a special wet pick-up floor tool outfitted with a squeege thingy and an extra wide foor brush.

I just acquired one of these and if you go to "Electrolux Dude's pictures, the last is the C-A which is now mine. Note however, that his power nozzle has the long plastic handle, therefore not orrininal!

As for the CBW and CW I have no info on them but would love to see pictures. As for the C-A, it had great suction.

That is all the information I have for now guys.

Alex Taber


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Post# 84742 11/26/2009 at 12:39 (5,257 days old) by collector2 (Moose Jaw, Sk)
Checkrate/Likes Hi Everyone: I've noticed a few times comments that Electrolux didnt make or only made 1 wet/dry vac. To my knowledge (according to the service book which I still have) they made 2. The models CBW and CW. Anyone have pictures of these machines? I'd like to see what they looked like. Doug

Post# 84748 , Reply# 1 11/26/2009 at 15:16 (5,257 days old) by eluxca ()
Checkrate/Likes Electrolux USA made the CA commercial machine in the early 60's that had an optional wet pick-up kit, but it was only dry pick-up out of the box. There was an tub that you put into the bag chamber and a white rubber hose to allow suctioning of liquids. It was a great machine that had an unfortunately short life, ending with the purchase by Electrolux of the White Bucket Company. Soon after the CB was born. I had a CB many years ago that had a wire cage attached to the underside of the motor housing that contained a white floating ball. Whether it came from the factory like this or if the cage was added later I do not know. If they made a dedicated wet vacuum I would like to see it, too! John

Post# 84761 , Reply# 2 11/26/2009 at 23:45 (5,257 days old) by caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut)
Checkrate/Likes *Electrolux C-A* Hi Doug, Hi John: The C-A. was the first and only wet/dry commercial Electrolux. I was lucky enough to use one. I believe it was introduced in 1962. Yes, there was a spacial insert with a float baffle thingy that shut the machine off when it had taken in too much water. Exactly like with dirt in the dust bag. Why was it the only one? the answer is simple, somebody in the Electrolux engineering department messed up. It was a wet/dry vacuum cleaner, right? so why wasn't there a grounded plug? Somebody got a bad shock, contacted the Electrolux Corp. and threatened a lawsuit. I don't know if that was the only reason but Electrolux never took the chance again. They redesigned the next model the C-B. Also Electrolux etched a note on the future machines for both household and commercial use reading."WARNING Electrical shock may occur if used outdoors or on wet surfaces." Actually the C-A was a really nice machine. There was a storage area for the cord, standard hose, (which also came in ten and twelve foot style), two aluminum wands, combination rug and floor tool, crevice tool, combination dusting brush/upholstry tool, extra filter bags and instruction book. There were two clips for holding the power nozzle, which, by the was was designed without the long plastic wand, instead there were two steel wands, and the detachable cord with hose and wand clip . That's right the nozzle could go right on the hose handle. As for optional equipment. There was a special rubber hose that was ten feet long (the twelve footer was also available.) There was a special wet pick-up floor tool outfitted with a squeege thingy and an extra wide foor brush. I just acquired one of these and if you go to "Electrolux Dude's pictures, the last is the C-A which is now mine. Note however, that his power nozzle has the long plastic handle, therefore not orrininal! As for the CBW and CW I have no info on them but would love to see pictures. As for the C-A, it had great suction. That is all the information I have for now guys. Alex Taber

Post# 85320 , Reply# 3 12/4/2009 at 20:13 (5,249 days old) by collector2 (Moose Jaw, Sk)
Checkrate/Likes Here's the exploded view for the model CW

Post# 85323 , Reply# 4 12/4/2009 at 20:15 (5,249 days old) by collector2 (Moose Jaw, Sk)
Checkrate/Likes And the CBW - now if we could only find the actual machines