Vacuum Cleaner Bags & Age

I like very old vacuum cleaners, especially the Electrolux LX of 1952. For that model, Electrolux called them 'Wrappers,' meaning that the dust and dirt was wrapped like a package to be tossed away into the trash basket, or burned in the fireplace. With the introduction of the model E, the term was changed to 'bags' which most companies have used ever since, though Hoover had one upright with a paper bag called the Hygin-isac. (John Lucia, please correct the spelling if I don't have it right!) Last September, my friend, Charles Richard Lester, sent me about a dozen yellow Electrolux bags for the E, automatic E, and used up to the 1205. While I don't use the wrappers for the model LX, I do have one filled with household dirt, and another filled with packing popcorn, and both are used for testing the ejection process.

As far as I can tell, vacuum cleaner bags do not loose their filtration, or breakdown with age. However, the early wrappers for the first model LX's of 1952 are thinner than those of 1953 as Electrolux added more layers of filtration.

It might interest you to know that it was Air-Way that introduced the disposable bag in 1920 with the introduction of the Air-way Home Sanitation System which was an upright machine, and pictured here.

So I think you can get bags and use them.

Alex Taber.


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Post# 263045 1/12/2014 at 18:11 (3,748 days old) by Kevin (Livonia)
Checkrate/Likes Do vacuum cleaner bags lose their effectiveness as they age? I've seen some older packages of bags on Ebay, so I'm wondering if purchasing them would really be a good buy. Of course, shelf life at home is also a consideration.

Post# 263055 , Reply# 1 1/12/2014 at 18:53 (3,748 days old) by super-sweeper (KSSRC Refurbishment Center)
Checkrate/Likes *Floomy Floomy!* I've used 90s Kenmore bags no problem, 80s, maybe even 70s Eureka bags no problem. As long as they're not ancient and falling apart, you should be fine!

Post# 263078 , Reply# 2 1/12/2014 at 19:52 (3,748 days old) by caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut)
Checkrate/Likes *Hi Kevin* I like very old vacuum cleaners, especially the Electrolux LX of 1952. For that model, Electrolux called them 'Wrappers,' meaning that the dust and dirt was wrapped like a package to be tossed away into the trash basket, or burned in the fireplace. With the introduction of the model E, the term was changed to 'bags' which most companies have used ever since, though Hoover had one upright with a paper bag called the Hygin-isac. (John Lucia, please correct the spelling if I don't have it right!) Last September, my friend, Charles Richard Lester, sent me about a dozen yellow Electrolux bags for the E, automatic E, and used up to the 1205. While I don't use the wrappers for the model LX, I do have one filled with household dirt, and another filled with packing popcorn, and both are used for testing the ejection process. As far as I can tell, vacuum cleaner bags do not loose their filtration, or breakdown with age. However, the early wrappers for the first model LX's of 1952 are thinner than those of 1953 as Electrolux added more layers of filtration. It might interest you to know that it was Air-Way that introduced the disposable bag in 1920 with the introduction of the Air-way Home Sanitation System which was an upright machine, and pictured here. So I think you can get bags and use them. Alex Taber.

Post# 263109 , Reply# 3 1/12/2014 at 22:32 (3,748 days old) by Kevin (Livonia)
Checkrate/Likes Thanks super-sweeper and caligula. Good to know and very interesting information!