Thread Number: 1206
The Homely Lux Model T 		[Down to Last]

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Post# 12269   4/8/2007 at 21:35 (6,221 days old) by compactelectra (Palm Springs)        

compactelectra's profile picture
Well, I just got another piece of the collection and a rather rare one. This one won't be used to vacuum, since she is so homely and sparse. I have the R,S and now the T!! Charles Richard can fill in the blanks, but it is fun to fill in a hole in the collection. I plugged it in and ran it. Pretty good suction. Sounds like the bearings are going. Cloth bag and little switch. Check out the pictures.

Post# 12270 , Reply# 1   4/8/2007 at 21:37 (6,221 days old) by compactelectra (Palm Springs)        
Front Shot

 compactelectra's profile picture
I know we had this conversation about which is the front and which is the back. I subscribe to the theory that where the dirt goes in is the front. Not cleaned up yet.

Post# 12271 , Reply# 2   4/8/2007 at 21:40 (6,221 days old) by compactelectra (Palm Springs)        
Back Shot

 compactelectra's profile picture
Check out the switch on the lower left hand side. I had to hunt for it. Rather substantial cord though. And a replacement plug. Looks like it was used, but fairly well taken care of.

Post# 12281 , Reply# 3   4/8/2007 at 22:12 (6,221 days old) by vacjwt ()        
grate find

 do you have the hose?

Post# 12284 , Reply# 4   4/8/2007 at 22:31 (6,221 days old) by compactelectra (Palm Springs)        
The Hose

 compactelectra's profile picture
The hose that came with it is from a Model AF. I am not sure if that is correct. Charles Richard states that this machine came with all sorts of different parts. It may be original, I am not sure.

Post# 12286 , Reply# 5   4/8/2007 at 23:18 (6,221 days old) by vacjwt ()        
it is rare

 whare did you find it

Post# 12287 , Reply# 6   4/8/2007 at 23:20 (6,221 days old) by charles~richard ()        
the LOVELY Thrift Model!

 Well, as I told Fred when he told me he had found one of these, "It's a vacuum cleaner that only a mother could love."

Okay clean it up kids. I said MOTHER, not MUTHA...! hahaha

It really is a Plain Jane isn't it. The first time I saw one, I thought it had been cobbled together by someone in the Electrolux shop as a joke or something. Surely something this devoid of style or aesthetics could not have come from Electrolux who from their very first model had invested great attention into the aesthetics of their machines.

But real it was, as I eventually found out.

You can see photos of my Model T and read more about its rise and very premature fall at the link below.

I must say, homely that it is, I think it's always VERY exciting when someone finds one of these rare birds. They're what make a person's collection really special and unique. Congratulations, Fred!

p.s. Fred, your switch should have a little rubber tip on it. It's the same rubber tip as on the E, S, R and first L. So finding one shouldn't be impossibly difficult.

p.p.s. Fred, I think someone turned your rear cover upside down for some reason. On mine, and on the other one I found a few years ago in pretty crummy condition, the switch is at the top instead of the bottom which would make more sense. It would be very easy to change it back - the rear cover is just held in place by three screws. Unscrew them, remove the cover, being mindful of the thin rubber gasket, turn it around, and put it back into place. The screws will line up no matter which way you position it.

CLICK HERE TO GO TO charles~richard's LINK
Post# 12293 , Reply# 7   4/9/2007 at 08:23 (6,220 days old) by laspirateur ()        
Switches

 I have SEVERAL of those old switch tips, not in mint condition, but if you want me to send you one, send me your address and I'll only charge you for postage.

Post# 12296 , Reply# 8   4/9/2007 at 10:52 (6,220 days old) by petek (Ontario)        

Well that certainly makes sense. If you look through old department store catalogues they pretty much always carried a "thrift" or "economy" version of major appliances as well. Again devoid of any features other than an on/off switch. Washers and dryers, stoves, fridges, even later on with tv's and air conditioners and dishwashers. Of course no one wanted their folks to actually buy them LOL

Post# 12298 , Reply# 9   4/9/2007 at 12:53 (6,220 days old) by charles~richard ()        
"thrift" or "economy" version

 Yes, it's highly possible that the sole intended function for the Model T was as BAIT - to entice wary customers with a "duget priced" GENUINE ELECTROLUX. The fact that so few of them appear to have survived would seem to indicate that not many people fell for the bait!

Post# 12301 , Reply# 10   4/9/2007 at 13:44 (6,220 days old) by danemodsandy ()        
Well, There's Bait and There's Bait...

 "The fact that so few of them appear to have survived would seem to indicate that not many people fell for the bait!"

Charlie:

My memories of the Electrolux agency that used to be on Piedmont Avenue here in Atlanta make me think that a lot of people probably DID fall for the bait. I think the T was intended more to get people in front of a Lux salesperson than it was anything else. My suspicion is that anyone who went in looking for the T they saw in a newspaper ad left with something a lot nicer, for "just a few dollars more".

I remember very well that anyone going into the Lux store on Piedmont left with a vacuum cleaner; those salesmen were absolute experts at converting tire-kickers into Lux owners. If you resisted the 1205, they had L's. If you couldn't afford a new machine, they had reconditioned ones. If you were flat busted broke, they'd give you a bank, get your contact info, and begin sending you postcards and calling you to see how the bank was filling, reminding you that a full bank was enough for a down payment.

And it worked the other way- if you went in for an L, you'd leave with a 1205 (even if they had to sell you the PN later- "we can just add it to your account once it's paid down a bit").

There are not salespeople like that any more. They knew every detail of every product they sold, they were indefatigable in their pursuit of prospects, creative when it came to finding ways to help people acquire the product, and they took responsibility if anything went wrong, making sure the service department took care of you.

Post# 12302 , Reply# 11   4/9/2007 at 14:20 (6,220 days old) by charles~richard ()        
Well, that's what I meant!

 That the T was "bait" TO get them in front of an Electrolux Salesman, who then tactfully poo-pooed the T in favor of the more deluxe AE!

There aren't many Model Ts running around because not many people bought them -- they got the fancier Model AE instead! And some of them surely stocked up with "the works" -- polisher, cord winder, sprayer, vaporizer, garment-aire bag, white dusting and wall brushes, floor wax, furniture wax, moth crystals, nuvo shampoo, a year's supply of bags and filters .......! "O Happy Day" sang the happy salesman as he skipped merrily out to his car!

You ARE right about the tireless tenacity of the old-school Electrolux salesmen - and other brands as well; but my only experience as a kid was seeing the Electrolux Man at work, "Digging More Dirt."

Post# 12304 , Reply# 12   4/9/2007 at 14:39 (6,220 days old) by danemodsandy ()        
"Digging More Dirt"

 That was another talent of those old-time salesmen- they knew the competition as well as they knew their own machines, and they used that knowledge.

They ALWAYS asked what you owned or what you'd been looking at, and they went over the myriad reasons why Lux beat it all hollow, WHATEVER it was. Compact? Well, you know they don't have nearly as many service stations as we do. Kenmore? Why would you pay that much for a plastic machine if we can sell you a metal one at that price? Rainbow? Do you really want to fool with that nasty water, when you can just pop our self-sealing bags out and throw them away? Kirby? Very well-built machine, Ma'am, I can't deny that- but Lord! them things is heavy! And ain't your house two floors?

I chuckle when I think about it- they had an answer for everything.

Post# 12308 , Reply# 13   4/9/2007 at 17:06 (6,220 days old) by buffalo-joe ()        
I'm in the "T" Club

 I've got a Model T, although its not in as good of shape as the one above. It came with the cloth LX hose which was kinda rough and frayed. I still have the hose, but its not displayed with the vacuum. It could have been the original. I found this T at a flea market and the guy selling it used it in his garage until he got a shop vac. Its safe with me now. Sorry for the fuzzy pic, I've been busy and have not had time to take pictures. This T was at the North Canton Vac-In last March.

Great catch, Fred. Always nice to see another T turn up.
Joe

Post# 12326 , Reply# 14   4/9/2007 at 18:49 (6,220 days old) by myhooverco ()        

Joe,

Your model "T" was a very nice machine. I thought it was still a quality item. It did have a lot of suction too. Really the machine is in much better condition than the photo shows. I can see how these might be abused. What I thought was odd was that little switch on the rear to turn it on and off...very basic indeed!

--Tom

Post# 12364 , Reply# 15   4/10/2007 at 12:09 (6,219 days old) by danemodsandy ()        
Are We Maybe a Little Spoiled?

 You know, the more I look at the T, the more I think I've been unfair in my judgment of it as a "Plain Jane".

Those here who own them have vouched for their suction. The other features of the machine are not nearly as "styled" as other Luxes, but the features are definitely there:

- The machine has wheels, as did the senior Luxes, not runners- this would have been a great place for Lux to cheap out.
- The hammertone finish is the same as senior Luxes, not an ugly finish designed to turn customers off and make them look at the more expensive machines.
- The handle is colour-matched to the paint.
- There is a brush clip for the dusting brush.
- A handsome hose that coordinated with the paint was included.
- The tools that were included were the same as those found on other Luxes.

Think about it- there was a lot that could have been done to make this machine CHEAP instead of basic. As it was, you did get Lux quality and features, even if the T wasn't exactly beautiful.

Post# 12367 , Reply# 16   4/10/2007 at 13:15 (6,219 days old) by petek (Ontario)        

Utilitarian might be more apt than cheap.

Post# 12384 , Reply# 17   4/10/2007 at 17:19 (6,219 days old) by williamr1248 (USA)        
homely model t

 Charlie,
When I was selling Electrolux in summer of 1969 we were trained to ALWAYS carry the new 1205 to the door. Never,Never take out the L unless the customer refused the cost of the 1205. They much preferred us to sell a 1205 without the power nozzle than sell a modle L with power nozzel which would bring the total sale to about the same amount. Don't you imagine that the model T was the same idea. The more I looked at the picture of the machine,the more I like it! The same idea as the Hoover Special.

Post# 12385 , Reply# 18   4/10/2007 at 17:42 (6,219 days old) by danemodsandy ()        
I Imagine So!

 "They much preferred us to sell a 1205 without the power nozzle than sell a model L with power nozzle which would bring the total sale to about the same amount."

Yeah, I can see that. The difference in manufacturing cost of the two models wouldn't have been nearly as great as the difference in retail price. Every time they sold an L with a PN instead of a 1205 without one, they were basically giving a PN away, the way they would have seen it. Lux salesmen were always very swift to tell customers that they could add the PN to the 1205 later: "Once you've proved good faith on your account for a few months, we'll be glad to add it on to what you owe."

The 1205 was certainly a great money-maker for Lux there; they hadn't had such a modern-looking machine for a while. Back in the early 1970s, I used to work a few doors down from a Lux agency, and the 1205 was ALWAYS in the window, centre stage and spotlighted. I also remember that the salesmen were frequently to be seen with rags and polish, making sure that not one speck of dust was anywhere in that showroom. That would have been bad for the old image, eh? Anyway, the 1205 and the B-8 Carpet Beautifier damn near glowed in the dark after all that polishing!

Since my boss and some of the Lux people were friends, I was often in there, and saw them sell to many, many people. You're absolutely right- it was start with the 1205, then work your way down if you had to (with me, they had to, LOL).

Post# 12386 , Reply# 19   4/10/2007 at 18:40 (6,219 days old) by charles~richard ()        
Right. Good point, Rob.

 But if you look at the advertisement for the Automatic E, it says something along the line of "OWN AN ELECTROLUX FOR THE LOW PRICE OF $49.75 ... then in tiny print ... "thrift model"

(I have a large-format (12" x 18") high-quality litho print of the AE ad. It's a flyer to be left at people's homes when the Electrolux man came by and no one was there. It also refers to the Thrift Model.)

So, customers coming into the Electrolux branch office -- or having a salesman stop by -- and wanting to see the "$49.75 Electrolux" would have to be shown the Model T first unless they were guilty of bait-and-switch.

What the salesman could have said was something along the line of, "Yes, Mrs. Prospect, this budget model is a fine vacuum cleaner that will give you many years of service. But if you want the most remarkable machine available, may I recommend the deluxe, new Automatic Model."

I am not at home and don't have access to the AE ad. When I get home I'll post it.

Post# 12411 , Reply# 20   4/10/2007 at 23:20 (6,219 days old) by danemodsandy ()        
What About Today?

 All this talk of Lux salespeople gone by makes me wonder: Has anyone been to an Aerus dealership and observed today's ambience and sales tactics?

Post# 12413 , Reply# 21   4/11/2007 at 00:05 (6,219 days old) by vacjwt ()        
yes

 thay are very very swift at selling you a $500 pice of crap very sly I ask for trade ins and I have a frend that works as a dealer any thing over 12 years old they toss out so the pepole that come in can only buy the new crap and my frend takes the old stuff home and gives it to me the stuff they sell is not as good as the stuff that was sold 20 years ago

Post# 12417 , Reply# 22   4/11/2007 at 01:39 (6,219 days old) by danemodsandy ()        
$500?

 I understand that the BOL Lux Classic is around $800, with the Lux Guardian (the TOL machine) going for around two grand.

That's a bunch of money for plastic machines! I really think Aerus would do well to come up with some new, metal machines, if it wants its product to be well-differentiated from Eurekaluxes (or is it Electrorekas?) in the minds of consumers.

The only metal canister I can think of right now is the TriStar, though I don't know new machines very well, being completely disinterested in owning one. You literally could not give me a new plastic vacuum, no matter how fancy or expensive.

Post# 12418 , Reply# 23   4/11/2007 at 01:51 (6,219 days old) by vacjwt ()        
it is the crap model

 Im talking about not the high end model Im talking about it is very sad the way things are made today Im 17 and I hate things that are made today our water heater is 78 years old we have never had 1 probem with it my frend had one put in 7 years ago it was the high end model a month ago it came apart water water evry whare but not a drop to drink they had to put a new floor in to the room it burst very sad

Post# 12419 , Reply# 24   4/11/2007 at 02:23 (6,219 days old) by danemodsandy ()        
vacjwt:

 I'm not talking about the high-end model either- the Lux Classic is the BOTTOM of the line. That's the one that lists for $800!

The mid-line canister is the Lux Legacy, which lists for around $1300. Then comes the Big Kahuna, the Lux Guardian, at about $2000.

Isn't it crazy? The Classic is basically the old Canadian Electrolux E, from the early 1980s.

Post# 12420 , Reply# 25   4/11/2007 at 02:46 (6,219 days old) by vacjwt ()        
thay are all crap

 BTW they are cheeper by me I think the probem is that they cant sell much they may be going out of business soon most pepole can not more like will not spend 800 bucks on a vacuum they go to good will and get a oldie but a goodie

Post# 12421 , Reply# 26   4/11/2007 at 03:05 (6,219 days old) by danemodsandy ()        
Easy Enough To Save the Company...

 I've heard before that they're in trouble, and I can see why.

Their list prices are very high- not even Miele gets that kind of money for their product. The Guardian was not well-rated by Consumer Reports, and even though I don't trust that magazine the way I used to, a lot of well-off consumers saw that report.

If I had it to do, I'd come off those list prices by at least 25%. I'd also do something about the sheer ugliness of the Legacy and the Guardian- that two-tone blue is ugly and cheap-looking.

I'd also work on something to replace the Guardian, preferably a metal machine, to have something different to sell, and justify a price of around $1,500 or so. I'd also make sure it outperformed other machines in the price class.

As a short-term fix, I'd turn Aerus stores into Aerus-TriStar stores (the same company owns both brands), and can the "home demonstration" sales model for TriStar, which has generated more consumer complaints online than you can shake a stick at. TriStar is a very nice machine, worth the money charged for it (except for those awful plastic wands!), and it doesn't need its reputation damaged by "Mr. Haney" sales tactics.





Post# 12431 , Reply# 27   4/11/2007 at 09:49 (6,218 days old) by williamr1248 (USA)        
homely model t Electrolux

 Charlie,
I remember when we went into a house that had a beater bar or stiff brush machine we demonstrated by putting dirt we pulled up from a test cloth on the rug and then used the wands to tap the rug and let the customer watch the dirt just "vanish" into the rug. After membership in the vac club we all know no vacuum gets "all" the dirt. The Electrolux was very easy to sell back in 1968. We also would always turn up a corner of the rug to show the customer the dirt and grit that had shifted to the bottom and their upright had missed. We all know in the club that how often the customer cleaned,how fast they vacuumed and the condition of the cleaner had a lot more to do with what we found in the home (not the brand of cleaner they were using). It was fun to see their faces when they had just told me that they had a certain make and there was NO WAY the Electrolux would pull sand out of their rug!It was a fun summer for me.

Post# 12439 , Reply# 28   4/11/2007 at 13:14 (6,218 days old) by rexairman ()        

I had a Thrift Model T, which I got in a bunch of trade-ins, for several years. Then I learned how much Electroluxes meant to club member, and fellow board member, Rick Benedikt, and how he wanted a Thrift Model T. So I put it in a box, and sent it to him. People do nice things for me like this also. This is one of the wonderful things about our club. R. J. and Ms. Pletcher, please note. You both have Model 3 Rexairs, my Holy Grail, which you won't part with.

Post# 12492 , Reply# 29   4/12/2007 at 19:41 (6,217 days old) by timborow (Georgia)        
golden j/super j

 Charles,
You mentioned once that the super j and golden j lux had different attachments. Do you have a picture of these machines with their attachments? If not, can you describe them for me? Tim

Post# 12548 , Reply# 30   4/13/2007 at 20:25 (6,216 days old) by electrolux-dude (Canyon, TX)        
Older Model Electrolux Vacuums

 I totally agree, the older metal model of Electrolux's are built a lot better. At Cain's Carpet Care, my place of employment, I use my old tan Lux model G, to vacuum the front offices 3 days a week. I must say that old dude is still going strong! I clean a lot of the expensive oriental wool rugs, as well as upholstery, and just this last week we got in some denim couches (I call them Blue-Jeans Couches), that had white cat hair all over them! I hooked up my old model Tan Lux G with the power head and it removed all the cat hair! Needless to say I was pretty impressed, as was my boss. Quite often we get rugs that have dog or cat hair all over them, and that old Electrolux does an excellent job of removing the cat or dog hair!

Post# 242465 , Reply# 31   7/27/2013 at 19:23 (3,919 days old) by floor-a-matic (somewhere)        

The models G, L & 1205 are great Electrolux vacs. Even the 1956 Thrift model T is nice lookin too.

Why did the 1205s have problems with the cordwinder "terminal block" contacts? Were the Golden Jubilee cordwinders improved?

Post# 242473 , Reply# 32   7/27/2013 at 19:54 (3,919 days old) by kenkart ()        
SuperJ and Golden J

 The power nozzle was the only difference I know of, the Golden J as well as the late 1205 had the PN2 which is my all time favorite, the SuperJ had the pn3 which is the one with 2 wheels at the rear, I dont care for it,the 1205 cordwinder issue was fixed sometime in the middle of the 1205 production, Charles or Alex would know the dates, the problem was the contacts were supposed to "plug in" the problem was they would vibrate and arc, creating heat, then the plastic block they are mounted on would melt, the later ones had leads that plugged into proper connectors.


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