Here's a find I made today, via classified seller: An Epic 6500 in rather striking charcoal gray. The lady I got it from is moving into an assisted living condo, and has no need of it anymore. Lucky me, I suppose. Its in perfect working condition, and, after a cleaning treatment with the usual suspects, will be in excellent cosmetic condition too, even though its pretty clean as is. I also have the younger brother 6500 in white with gray and red accents, so maybe a family reunion picture will be forthcoming.

As with all the classified finds I've made recently, the only information given in the ad was "Vacuum, Electrolux, $X", so each trip has been a journey of discovery, not knowing what would come of it.

I got the email from one of our local estate-sale companies last week -- for the sales they were having this past weekend.  In one of the pictures, there was that identical cleaner.  I kind-of wanted it... but we went to some other sales first; I found the Hoover 115 and the Panasonic... already spending more than I wanted to, when we finally went to the final sale that had that Lux in the picture, I was really hoping it wasn't there any longer... and thankfully it was gone.  I'd like to own one of those someday, just to play with for a while... as I've never really used one on a long-term basis.  Did you get a good deal on the one in the picture above?  How has the $X game been working for you? In your favor?

Thanks for sharing!

Fred

I'm glad you mentioned that, Fred, because I've been thinking, since Christmas, of the machines I've bought from classified sellers (9 of them), and wondering if things WERE in my favor. Funny thing is, none of the vacuums I've bought were on my "want list", and all were made post-1976, so I don't have a hugely excited "Wow I've added a dream machine!" feeling about them. Four of them (the oldest ones) will need a little work; maybe nothing more than a little cleaning inside.

Of course, everyone is different, and what I think is a deal might be looked at by others as robbery, but I think I paid pretty fair prices for these machines, five of which are in excellent running and cosmetic condition, came with all the attachments, and in some cases optional extras, like the leather storage chest. Even the cheapest one I bought came with a vinyl electric hose and later model power nozzle, which made it more than worth getting, even if the machine was no good (actually, this is one of the "problem" machines).

Anyway, sorry to be so long-winded in response to your question, but this has been on my mind of late. All things considered, the answer is "Yes, things are in my favor"

P.S. The lady I bought the Epic from actually gave me back $10! I told her I didn't mind paying her full asking price, but she gave me a little "refund"; why, I have no idea. It could have been my beautiful blue eyes, I suppose

P.S.S. When I bought the Discovery III upright (for $30), the seller had a box of bags for the wrong machine, and he said "Well, I'd better only charge $15" (!). I told him $30 was more than fair, bags or no bags.

Actually, Kevin, I'm not a "Newfie". I'm a Newfoundlander, or, to be completely correct, a Newfoundlander and Labradorian. I don't like the aforementioned word, and I never consider myself one. Also, not sure what you mean about Vienna sausages (?) I actually dislike them.

Anyway, to answer your question, all of the finds I've made recently, including this Epic, have been from either Kijiji St. John's, NL Buy and Sell, or NL Classifieds. I've managed to snap up almost all the "Electroli" listed (in other words, all my finds since Christmas), although a very nice, fully-loaded Diplomat did slip through my hands. I also regularly see listings for somewhat newer, big-box store vacuums. A lot of the ads for vacuums say something like "Getting rid of carpet; no longer need vacuum". I'd argue that point with them if I had the time and interest, but their loss is my gain

Another point, as far as Electrolux is concerned...its by far, at least since I've been alive, the most popular vacuum in this province. I was talking to the service manager at Aerus a while ago, and I asked him how he was competing against the big-box stores. He said "I always tell people that they're buying a 30 year vacuum, rather than a 1 or 2 year vacuum." (note: his words and opinions, not mine ) Point is, people are starting to sell their 20 + year old machines now, and here I am, waiting to suck them up . I'm not scared off by a 20 + year old Electrolux, provided it was used as intended. All of my finds have been from older people, who obviously treated their machines properly, and who are either making changes in their households (i.e. ditching the carpet) or in their lives (i.e. moving into assisted living arrangements).

It might be worth asking Andrew from Port aux Basques on the west coast of the island what pickings are like out his way. Also, I'm not sure whereabouts in NS you live, but one would think the pickings would be ripe around Halifax and area, wouldn't they?

Provided the machine was properly used over its lifetime, I find the plastic (or whatever its called) on these later Electroli holds up well, and they really gleam when well-cleaned. One of the best pleasures in life: putting a vacuum (hopefully) back in near shop display condition. I'm not saying this one is, but its nice to try.

Naturally, its been put into service already.

To tell the truth, the plastic ones are my favorites to clean, because there's a lot of flat surface area; no lumps, protrusions, frills, etc, like on the old metal ones. With those, I have a 6 step process: detergent, magic eraser on the rubber, plastic, and any scuffs elsewhere, mother's mag and aluminum on the chrome, turtle wax car wash on the paint, armor all on the plastic and rubber bits, and finally a "towel down". With the plastic machines, its detergent, magic eraser, detergent again, and armor-all. If absolutely necessary, I might do a bit of toothpick and q-tip detailing on the crevices and nooks. It's a blissful way to spend a couple of hours, and it makes a used machine really feel like my own.

As for Ebay, its a scary proposition on the wallet, when you consider most of the machines are in the States, prices are in US $, and customs duties might be a part of the final price. I paid over $100 Canadian for a brown Model G (canister only), and most of the price was shipping and customs duties (not that I'm sorry I bought it). As I said above, I think most of my finds lately were "happy coincidences", given the age of the machines and the age of their former owners. 

If the machine "seems" particularly dirty, I'll spray the entire surface with Lysol disinfectant and let it sit overnight before attempting any of the other steps. Also, and this is something I have to do with a couple of other machines and power nozzles (glad you reminded me about being thorough, Fred ), I'll touch up the logos and lettering with a paint pen or permanent marker if need be, and this one needs it. The "Electrolux" on the bumpers should be gold.

Does anyone out there know the exact chronology of the Epic 6500s? I'm sure the blue came first, then this gray one, and finally the white, but I'm not sure on the dates. My white one was bought by an aunt in 1999 (I have the original sales receipt), so I'm guessing that was its year of introduction, but I'm hazy on the rest. The plastic Lux serial numbers don't, I think, give you a clue to the year of manufacture like the old metal ones.

Thanks for that info, Steven. The '90's/'00's are hazy for me, for some reason

My white Epic was used by my aunt from 1999-2003, and when she passed away I inherited it, and "loaned" it to my folks as their regular vacuum. It's been in regular service since, with not a single problem. I believe they may have had it serviced by Aerus a few times over those years. I've never experienced the problem with the suction relief valve; perhaps some are tighter than others? Although they're loud (but then, so are many current vacuums) and could have thinner wands, they're excellent machines. I'll definitely have to take a picture of the two Epics together tomorrow.

These brothers have a love of dirt of EPIC proportions.

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Anyway, these machines are identical in every way, except for color, model #, and some differences in the power nozzles and floor tools:

• The white PN is more rounded on the top, and has two rows of brushes.
• The white floor brush has openings in the front row of bristles (a good idea, to be sure).

Not sure why, but the hoses on these models are a noticeably different color than any part of the machine, but they still more or less match. The charcoal gray model could have used a bit more of the black relief color, perhaps in the bumper or top deck.

Another thing I noticed when using these: the white one has a slightly longer/slower run-down when shut off. Its not problematic; just slightly different than the gray.