Thread Number: 986
Electolux G
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Post# 10169   2/19/2007 at 08:45 (6,246 days old) by constellation86 (Roy, UT)        

Is there a way to tell what color this used to be? Early or late? I saw this on ebay and was curious.
Nicholas


Post# 10170 , Reply# 1   2/19/2007 at 08:46 (6,246 days old) by constellation86 (Roy, UT)        
Another picture

Opposite side

Post# 10171 , Reply# 2   2/19/2007 at 08:49 (6,246 days old) by constellation86 (Roy, UT)        
Opps

Sorry to post this twice. I didn't think the other one worked.

Post# 10183 , Reply# 3   2/19/2007 at 13:08 (6,246 days old) by charles~richard ()        
It is an early turquoise G

You can tell by the way the front wheels sit so close to the cover -- on the earliest G, the PN port was actually inset into the front cover at the bottom. Electrolux soon found out that this was not a good location - it was too hard to insert the plug without lifting the machine off the floor, and it tended to pop out during use.

So they moved the port to the right side, low down on the body, enclosed in a little metal box. To make room for that box the front wheels were moved back about 2 inches. I frankly don't think that was a good arrangement either as it is also hard to reach.

Really, the best place was the very first one -- as used on the late Model F, the first Electrolux to have a power nozzle: The port was in the chrome trim strip on top of the machine. Why they didn't just leave it there with the new G is a mystery unless they just wanted it to look more integrated into the design of the machine. The fact that they went back to that location with the factory-reconditioned machines bears out, I think, that this is a better location.

Interestingly, with the first 1205s, before the electric hose was introduced, the PN port was back in the front cover again, under the hose. The first 1205 still had the wrap-around cord, then an electric hose came out that had a "pigtail" that connected to the PN port. Then the next electric hose had the wiring fully integrated and the electrical connection was made when you inserted the hose. There was a brief period of time, during the transition from the pigtail hose to the all-electric, that you would get a 1205 with BOTH the pigtail port AND the electric snap-in connector! Once they fully went to the all-electric hose, a PN port was redundant and done away with.

While I love the appearance and beauty of woven hoses, to me the later Electrolux woven hoses, even the non-electric versions, are too stiff. The older vinyl hoses for the AE, F, G, etc. were much more pliable and flexible. And the earlier cloth hoses even more so. Which, alas, is why they wore out faster. The newer ones had much thicker rubber inner layers, making them more durable but also stiffer.

I actually like the later vinyl Electrolux hoses the best, in terms of practical use. I have recently been the recipient of one of these beautiful factory-rebuilt Gs thanks to a 'conspiracy' between two dear members - pix to follow soon. It came with a factory-replacement (non electric) woven hose that, again, is beautiful, but I am going to find a newer vinyl electric hose for actual use.

I think these reconditioned Gs, while not as "period" looking, are quite beautiful. The big problem with them is that since the paint was just spray-painted and not baked, and, worse, was just glopped on over the original finish instead of stripping the old paint off, the new paint scratches and flakes off very easily. Most used reconditioned machines you find look like hell with significant paint loss. You really have to treat these machines very gently to preserve their appearance.

Another thing I don't like about Electrolux electric hoses in general is that they do not swivel at the machine end. This makes it a lot harder to move the hose about when you're cleaning. From the very first Electrolux, even the ancient Model V, the hose always swiveled on both ends. It was not until the Model G that this was ended.

Actually, the G (and Model L) hoses DID swivel freely when the power nozzle plug was disconnected. However, if the swiveling was allowed when the plug was inserted, the cord would tend to wrap around the hose and get tangled up, causing the plug to pop out.

So Electrolux came up with a little plastic collar that you would snap onto the machine-end coupler. The collar had two little feet that locked into place on the front of the machine, stopping the hose from swiveling. I never liked using that collar. If you are careful when vacuuming with a G or L, and watch what you are doing, you won't have that problem with the power nozzle cord. But I suppose too many people were NOT careful when they vacuumed, so the collar was introduced.

I don't understand why someone couldn't come up with an electric hose that DID swivel on both ends. It would take some engineering, but certainly wouldn't be an impossible task! DO any modern vacuum cleaners with electric hoses that swivel at both ends? I haven't seen any, but, then, I don't spend a lot of time playing with modern machines!




Post# 10194 , Reply# 4   2/20/2007 at 00:04 (6,246 days old) by charles~richard ()        
Okay, here come a bunch of photos

of my beautiful "New" Model G, given to me by Fred Nelson and Charlie Watrous. (Unlike certain gift-givers, I am confident that this gift does not come with strings attached...)

(Note - the wands, dusting brush and floor tool did not come with the set. I already had them, salvaged from a redundant Silverado. Wish I had better aluminum wands but none of mine are in really mint condition. Note that I changed out the 'stock' - for this model - plastic swivel connector with an older steel one. I don't like the cheepie plastic one.)


Post# 10195 , Reply# 5   2/20/2007 at 00:06 (6,246 days old) by charles~richard ()        
Photo 2

All-new matching gray trim -- bumpers, ejector knob, switch, cord, front-cover latch and handle -- was installed on these rebuilt machines. Good job Electrolux kept the old Model G molds, eh!


Post# 10196 , Reply# 6   2/20/2007 at 00:07 (6,246 days old) by charles~richard ()        
Photo 3

Even a new rear blow louvre! btw in the above photo you can see the cut-out in the front cover where the PN switch was originally located.

Post# 10197 , Reply# 7   2/20/2007 at 00:09 (6,246 days old) by charles~richard ()        
Photo 4

New handle and switch! (Actually, this unit came with a white switch for some reason - the other gray rebuilt Gs I have seen had a matching gray switch. This one, nearly but not quite matching, was salvaged from a redundant Model F.

Post# 10198 , Reply# 8   2/20/2007 at 00:10 (6,246 days old) by charles~richard ()        
Photo 5

The new location of the power nozzle port. One problem I have found with this location is that you are obliged to unplug the PN cable before opening the front cover. Whereas when the plug was at the bottom, either on the side or the front, the cover would open without the cord having to be disconnected.

Post# 10199 , Reply# 9   2/20/2007 at 00:11 (6,246 days old) by charles~richard ()        
Photo 6

Ready for action! Isn't that a purrrrrty hose! :)


Post# 10200 , Reply# 10   2/20/2007 at 00:12 (6,246 days old) by charles~richard ()        
Photo 7

New vinyl "pigtail" hose, also showing the locking plastic collar.

Post# 10201 , Reply# 11   2/20/2007 at 00:13 (6,246 days old) by charles~richard ()        
Photo 8

Woven hose, without plastic collar, attached to the suction end

Post# 10202 , Reply# 12   2/20/2007 at 00:13 (6,246 days old) by charles~richard ()        
Photo 9

Woven hose attached to suction end, with locking plastic collar in place.


Post# 10203 , Reply# 13   2/20/2007 at 00:14 (6,246 days old) by charles~richard ()        
Photo 10

Pigtail hose attached to suction end, with pigtail lead plugged in and with locking plastic collar in place.

Post# 10204 , Reply# 14   2/20/2007 at 00:16 (6,246 days old) by charles~richard ()        
Photo 11

Machine displayed with new vinyl hose. btw I got this hose at a thrift shop for $1.91....... "SUCH a deal!!"


Post# 10205 , Reply# 15   2/20/2007 at 00:18 (6,246 days old) by charles~richard ()        
Photo 12 (last)

With vinyl hose, ready to go! As I said, I love the look of the woven hose but prefer the flexibility of the coiled hose. You can see even in the photos how much stiffer the woven hose is.

Post# 10206 , Reply# 16   2/20/2007 at 00:42 (6,246 days old) by petek (Ontario)        

Thanks for all those pics Charles, the vacuum looks great. I'm more of an upright fan myself so I don't utilize my canisters all that often but I did haul out my Elux Z89 yesterday in order to dust off the tops of the partition walls between the livingroom and kitchen. I'd kind of forgotten how hushed the machine was and it didn't even elicit "the look" from that other one who lives with me whenever I start vacuuming LOL.

Post# 10207 , Reply# 17   2/20/2007 at 01:00 (6,246 days old) by charles~richard ()        
The Z89

is a FABULOUS Electrolux! It's even quieter - measurably - than the G, thanks to the rear filter, AND it's also more powerful - measurably - than the G! It's older sister, the Z88 in maroon, actually won a "most powerful canister" ribbon at one of the VCCC meetings a few years back - owned by the lamentedly absent John Young, one of the "re-founding" members of the club from the early 1990s.

Here are a few photos of my Z89. Obviously, these are fairly old photos of me -- I'm a good bit slimmer and prettier with my bald head now! hahaha :)


Post# 10208 , Reply# 18   2/20/2007 at 01:01 (6,246 days old) by charles~richard ()        
Z89

Photo 2

Post# 10209 , Reply# 19   2/20/2007 at 01:02 (6,246 days old) by charles~richard ()        
Z89

Photo 3

btw, you can see the telescoping wand that was referenced in another thread about the 1205-- Fr. Bruce take note!


Post# 10210 , Reply# 20   2/20/2007 at 01:04 (6,246 days old) by charles~richard ()        
Z89

Photo 4

Note the three different styles of power nozzles -- early, middle and late. I also now have the matching shag rug nozzle, but no shag rug to play with it on, alas!


Post# 10211 , Reply# 21   2/20/2007 at 01:05 (6,246 days old) by charles~richard ()        
Z89

Photo 5 (Last)



Post# 10222 , Reply# 22   2/20/2007 at 01:26 (6,246 days old) by petek (Ontario)        

Nice..I'm surprised you say it's even quieter, woudn't have guessed that.. I've got the maroon ZB88 as well with some of the attachments somewhere in this mess. I think I posted apic of it with the matching floor polisher awhile back. Then I happened upon a ZB55, just the machine, not too long ago at the thrift store so I drug that home. I always wonder why the attachments seldom seem to make it to the thrift store with the vacuum, a great mystery.

Post# 10226 , Reply# 23   2/20/2007 at 13:01 (6,245 days old) by charles~richard ()        
Yes, the 88 and 89

are considerably quieter than the G owing to the felt filter pad in the rear end that muffles the sound even more. And that's really saying something, since the G is probably the quietest of any other vacuum cleaner.

Interestingly about those filter pads, once the four-layer bags came out, Electrolux salesmen instructed their customers to do away with the filters, but not everyone did. And there is a distinct difference in the sound of an LX, E and AE with the filter and without. With the filter, the motor has a subdued gentle, muted sound; without it there is a strong sound of rushing exhaust air. As a kid I could always tell who had filters in their machines and who did not.

Of course the XXX was always used with a filter owing to the cloth bag. Even with the couple of XXXs I have found that had the after-market paper bag converter (see photo), those machines did still have the filter in place. The sound of a gently humming XXX, especially when there was no cord winder, is very pleasant! (The cord winder, when attached to an XXX, forces open the rear louvres that otherwise soften and diffuse the sound of the exhaust.)


Post# 10227 , Reply# 24   2/20/2007 at 13:22 (6,245 days old) by constellation86 (Roy, UT)        
Rebuilt machines

Does Electrolux still rebuild vacuums? If they do what models do they still use?
Thanks for the info Charles. It looks like you got a great gift there!
Nicholas


Post# 10228 , Reply# 25   2/20/2007 at 13:55 (6,245 days old) by timborow (Georgia)        
Nice picture Charles

Is that a XXX or a LX in the picture of post #10226.I never knew those had wheels. I would love to find a mint XXX, but would be afraid to use it everyday. Tim

Post# 10230 , Reply# 26   2/20/2007 at 15:53 (6,245 days old) by vacuumkid3 ()        

So that is what that funky looking thing on the XXX is! I never knew that was a bag converter! Does it require different bags, or the same Electrolux wrappers we know of most commonly?

~~K~~


Post# 10248 , Reply# 27   2/20/2007 at 17:38 (6,245 days old) by charles~richard ()        
Post 10226

is a Model XXX with an after-market bag converter to allow use of, yes, standard disposable bags with the XXX. You remove the front cover and cloth bag, then the bag converter slips into the round opening and is held in place with two little levers. You open the cover of the bag converter by the two large thumb screws and the cover comes off, then in goes the bag.

I'll post a series of photos showing the bag converter. This was btw a genuine Electrolux aftermarket product that came out some time in the mid 1950s, probably the same time that the Model E came out. They are pretty scarce -- for whatever reason, not very many XXXs were converted.


Post# 10249 , Reply# 28   2/20/2007 at 17:41 (6,245 days old) by charles~richard ()        
Oh, about the wheels

That carriage is not an Electrolux product; it was sold in vac shops and could be attached to several different tank machines. What you got from Electrolux was two little rubber wheels that would bolt onto the rear tips of the runners. I made this particular XXX a "hot rod" with all sorts of tricked-out details, including a Super J motor so believe me, this thing will suck dry paint off the walls! And it does not sound whisper quiet like the standard XXX, it makes quite a racket! But it's fun to use and looks really trippy. I dubbed this my "Souped Up Super Deluxe XXX."

Post# 10256 , Reply# 29   2/20/2007 at 21:35 (6,245 days old) by compactelectra (Palm Springs)        
While I Am In The Process

compactelectra's profile picture
Of scanning the brochure that came along with the rebuilt machines of this era (1983) I am going to put up a picture of one of my favorite machines of all time. The Electrolux Model G. This one came from the crop that was found and sent to Charles. This is the machine that if I was asked to pick just one (God forbid!) this would be it. And to find the original rebuilt machine in the box the way it came from the factory - be still my foolish heart. These machines are quiet, built like a Sherman tank and do exactly what they were built to do - vacuum very well. You can get high filtration bags and original parts for these machines almost forty years later. Wow!

Post# 10257 , Reply# 30   2/20/2007 at 21:43 (6,245 days old) by compactelectra (Palm Springs)        
The Power Nozzle

compactelectra's profile picture
Is a PN-4 which would have come around the time of the Super J. The G would have come with a PN-1. But since these machines are not original, I like to mix and match. But the PN-4, the new original Electrolux pigtail hose and the machine go well together.

Post# 10258 , Reply# 31   2/20/2007 at 22:05 (6,245 days old) by compactelectra (Palm Springs)        
The Brochure

compactelectra's profile picture
These are from the Owner's Manual for the rebuilt machines from Electrolux from 1983. Over the years they rebuilt most of their machines AE - 1205. There were multiple models available at the same time based on the number of trade-ins taken and sent back to the factory. This page shows the three available at the time which would have been in the colors of the new machines sold at the time. In this case-silver - for the Silverado. I believe this was about the time that Electrolux stopped rebuilding the machines for resale.

Post# 10259 , Reply# 32   2/20/2007 at 22:06 (6,245 days old) by compactelectra (Palm Springs)        
The Rebuilt L

compactelectra's profile picture
Description

Post# 10260 , Reply# 33   2/20/2007 at 22:08 (6,245 days old) by compactelectra (Palm Springs)        
The Rebuilt G

compactelectra's profile picture
My favorite - I have two silver ones. The rebuilts would have come in multiple colors. I also had a brown one that was sold at the time of the Olympia. The dial description shown is actually a Model AE I believe.

Post# 10261 , Reply# 34   2/20/2007 at 22:11 (6,245 days old) by compactelectra (Palm Springs)        
And Finally

compactelectra's profile picture
The 1205. What a beauty. I still think the G is better.

Post# 10262 , Reply# 35   2/20/2007 at 22:12 (6,245 days old) by compactelectra (Palm Springs)        
If You Want The Rest of This Brochure

compactelectra's profile picture
Let me know.

Fred


Post# 10263 , Reply# 36   2/20/2007 at 22:21 (6,245 days old) by compactelectra (Palm Springs)        
Here Are Some Originals

compactelectra's profile picture
L - B8 - 1205 in their original colors.

Post# 10272 , Reply# 37   2/21/2007 at 08:04 (6,244 days old) by luxg ()        

Yes Fred, please do post the rest of the brochure. I have to agree with you completely, the G is by far Electrolux at its best!!! I have the aqua, tan, and the rebuilt silver G thanks to you and I treasure them. They do what a vacuum is suppose to do and they do it well!! Thanks for sharing. Terry

Post# 10273 , Reply# 38   2/21/2007 at 13:46 (6,244 days old) by charles~richard ()        
Yes, if one had to pick ONE

Electrolux as the best of them all, the G would stand shoulders above the rest of them on just about every count. Except maybe for sheer beauty which of course would go to the XXX.

Thx for the brochure postings. I have a different version of this brochure that shows just the G, AE and L, printed in dark blue ink on white paper.


Post# 10286 , Reply# 39   2/21/2007 at 19:31 (6,244 days old) by compactelectra (Palm Springs)        
BTW

compactelectra's profile picture
Does anyone know why or how they went from letters indicating models (i.e. E, AE, AF, G) to the 1205? I could never figure that out.

Fred


Post# 10295 , Reply# 40   2/21/2007 at 23:37 (6,244 days old) by charles~richard ()        
I do not know about the letters

nor do I know why the roman-numeral designations of the early models don't really make sense either -- V, VII, IX, X, XI, XII, XXX(/30), XX(/20), LX, LXI and then to the E and so on.

That list gets even stranger when you look at the country-by-country distribution of the various models. E.g., the VII, IX and X were only sold in Germany and Sweden.

Nor why, after the G, they went to "1205" and from the 1205 to 1210 (the Golden Jubilee).

This is probably some arcane, mystical secret known only to the 33rd-degree Electrolux Brethren!


Post# 10298 , Reply# 41   2/22/2007 at 08:57 (6,243 days old) by constellation86 (Roy, UT)        
Souped Up Super Deluxe XXX

Is it hard to put a newer motor in an older machine? Will a Silverado motor fit a model G or L? I just got a model G it sure is a sweet machine, but I think the motor is on its way out.
BTW I learned tons from this thread! I love reading the old literature. Thanks guys!
Nicholas


Post# 10302 , Reply# 42   2/22/2007 at 14:33 (6,243 days old) by charles~richard ()        
New motor in XXX

It was VERY hard to do this!! The motor mounts and dimensions of the Super J motor are completely different from the earlier motors. It required unimaginably horrific vivesection to create this Monster, and after it was done I swore I would never commit such an atrocity again!!


Post# 11429 , Reply# 43   3/27/2007 at 02:54 (6,211 days old) by danemodsandy ()        
Hoses: Old vs. New

Charlie:

I do the same thing you're doing in regards to hoses- I prefer the new vinyl ones to the originals when it comes to actual use. My 1205 does not have an original woven hose, but my Diamond Jubilee does. I had to replace the hose when it developed a bad leak. The increase in flexibility was huge- I had not realised how stiff that woven hose was until I got the vinyl one. Now, I have vinyl hoses for both machines, and both are genuine Aerus (I HATE those cheapie bojack hoses from eBay; they don't last). While I suppose one could say these machines aren't completely original, I feel that they are in the sense that OEM parts are still available for these machines decades after they were built, even if the parts have been redesigned.

I have kept the Diamond Jubilee's hose for the sake of originality, and if I found a 1205 hose (pretty!), I would almost certainly pick it up, to have an original for that one, too. But I wouldn't use it, even if it were perfect. Too stiff, and it would almost certainly crack in short order, since it would be over 30 years old now.

Someone in this thread wondered why the attachments don't ever seem to make it to the thrift store along with the cleaner. Actually, they do- it's the sorting process in the back room that separates things. Burger-school dropouts do most of the work, and they often don't have any clue what goes with what. It doesn't help that things get dumped onto the collection trucks, dumped again into sorting bins in the sorting room, and generally banged around. Usually, a thrift store will have bags of odds and ends hanging on the wall somewhere; you'll often find vacuum tools in them. When I'm thrifting and find something with a part missing, I always search the entire store to find the missing part- it often gets put on another shelf or aisle. When I found my Diamond Jubilee in the vac section of my local thrift, the PN-5 was in the shoe department, left there by a tired shopper or a hyperactive kid who'd maybe been playing with it. $2.02 for the whole shebang.


Post# 11430 , Reply# 44   3/27/2007 at 02:56 (6,211 days old) by danemodsandy ()        
P.S.: compactelectra

I love your B-8 shampooer-polisher! That's the next mo-chine on my list. Gotta be a turquoise one to match the 1205, though.

Post# 11431 , Reply# 45   3/27/2007 at 03:44 (6,211 days old) by charles~richard ()        
"But the most fabulous B8 of them all"

was the second creamy turquoise model that came out with the second version of the turquoise G. THIS machine is an absolutely dreamy icon of early '60s retro art!

Look at the wonderful starbust detail on the shampoo tank!



Post# 11432 , Reply# 46   3/27/2007 at 03:50 (6,211 days old) by charles~richard ()        
Closer view of tank

isn't it just too wonderful!!

I had been looking for one of these for YEARS, and finally a COMPLETE - and I mean ==COMPLETE== set came up on eBay a year or so ago. Somehow, someway, I was the only bidder.

It is in pristine condition, clearly hardly used at all - and it's all there - the machine, wax squirter, shampooser setup (tank, hose, splash guard, shampoo brushes, sample bottle of shampoo), 3 different sets of polishing/scrubbing brushes, green and orange burnishing pads, lambs wool buffing pads, original accessory boxes (the only thing missing was the large shipping box), and all the original literature ... for $15!! Of course the shipping charge was a bit of a slam, but really!!

I just jumped for joy when this machine arrived at Casa Electrolux!!!



Post# 11433 , Reply# 47   3/27/2007 at 03:52 (6,211 days old) by danemodsandy ()        
Now See Here, Maggie Hamilton!

Charlie:

Why oh why oh WHY do you show me things that tempt me beyond my strength? ;-)


Post# 11434 , Reply# 48   3/27/2007 at 03:55 (6,211 days old) by charles~richard ()        
hee hee

Sandy, knowing your eye for 50s and 60s icons, I just knew this B8 would make your heart thump a little!! You just gotta come to L.A. and visit it...! :)


Post# 11452 , Reply# 49   3/27/2007 at 08:44 (6,210 days old) by air-waycharlie (USA)        

air-waycharlie's profile picture
Echoing on Charles Richard's comments about switching motors---trying to move them around especially with the Diamond Jubilee is hard and will cut up your hands!

I gave a DJ to Tania Voigt, but, since those motors were plagued with issues, I wanted to put in an Olympia motor. After a lot of cutting with a hack saw, (the motor mounts welded in by Lux at the factory), I was able to make it work. The Olympia motor is much heavier and far more reliable.

So, Tania got a one of kind, as far as I know, DJ with a near mint Olympia motor and boy does that baby perform! You can get bojack replacement DJ motors from most of the industry suppliers but if you have the interest, time and tenacity, you can put a Silverado, Olympia or Super J motor in. Just be patient!

Charlie W.


Post# 11469 , Reply# 50   3/27/2007 at 14:47 (6,210 days old) by danemodsandy ()        
Dear, dear compactelectra!

Yes, PLEASE post the rest of that manual! I am thrilled to death to have the four pages you've posted so far- this is as close as I've come to having a manual for my 1205. I'd love to be able to print out a complete copy of this for my files.

Thank you EVER so.



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