By my calculations, Electrolux is much older.

While the model V (pictured here) was introduced to American housewives in 1924, Electro-Lux goes back to 1919, and according to Charles Richard Lester, who took my basic research and embellished on it (with my approval) the company goes back to 1910 or thereabout.

The original company was a gas/ lighting firm in Stockholm, Sweden, and industrialist, Axle L. Wenner-Gren, saw an American made vacuum cleaner (probably the Hoover O) in a store window in Vienna while on vacation there. He designed a tank/canister machine and went to the Lux company to build it. The machine he designed was sold world wide with factories all over Europe, and eventually exported to America. The first all American made Electrolux was the model XXX, but Wenner-Gren's vacuum cleaner is at least 95 years old.

For the complete story go to Charles Richard's site, it's awesome!

Alex Taber.

When I did my research I found it to be 1919, but Charles Richard Lester corrected me, saying it was many years earlier, now you say 1918. I'm confused. However, it was Wenner-Gren, that much I do know.

This is the first page of the Electrolux history I wrote in 1979 and revised slightly in 82, then in 2005, I planed to publish this in the V.C.C.C. newsletter, but that never happened. I've decided to run it by you to see how accurate it is. I welcome corrections, but it will provide you and all Electrolux collectors out there with the data I put together. Please understand that there might be a few minor typos.

Alex Taber

Page 2.

Page 3.

Page 4.

Before I print page 5 let me say that I have the patent information of the designs mentioned in this text and will post them at a later time.  

Page 6.

Page 7.

Page 8.

Thanks, that clears up a lot of questions for me.

My book 'Electrolux the first 40 years' starts with the model V, so I had basically no background on the parent company and only knew that Wenner-Gren invented a machine circa 1919. As I said, I first wrote this in 1979 as background notes to go with the collection of patents I'd copied from the research department of the Chicago public library. To check my facts I contacted Charles McKee the President of Electrolux asking for information. He sent me a letter telling me that Electrolux didn't know their history. He went on to say that he held a board meeting to address my questions, but the top brass didn't have a clue. I have that letter and will post it today or tomorrow. Then in the summer of 82, I acquired the bulk of my data, and revised my notes. Again, this was for my own use as notes for my patent book. Then weeks later John Lucia and I went to the Hoover historical Center, and I got involved with launching the V.C.C.C., so Electrolux history was tabled for a while. The next phase of this was the Electrolux issue of the newsletter, which I think was 83 or 84. I'll post that later as well.  Over the years we did several newsletters featuring the history of Electrolux, but the granddaddy of them all was the one in the winter of 94/95 where I collaborated with Charles Richard Lester, who I'd just appointed editor/Publisher. I also gave him my patent books to copy, and the book 'Electrolux the first 40 years,' plus permission to use my material.

In May of 95, I retired from the club, passing the baton over to Tom Gasko, and relocated from Naperville, Illinois to San Diego, California. I was away from the club till June of 04, so I had no idea that my friend Charles Richard had started his Cyber Vcauum Cleaner museum, which helped put the V.C.C.C. on the map. And while I was missing in action, Charles worked wonders with the tidbits of information I gave him. Not only did he research my facts and embellish them, but did far more, he discovered facts that I'd missed, and created a fantastic, and highly informative history. So there you have it, this is but the tip of the iceberg, and as I said, I welcome corrections.

Alex Taber.

Thanks, for that information, I assumed it was an upright and most likely the Hoover model O! Have you pictures? I used to have a book called the 'History of Housekeeping' circa 1994 that had a picture of the Santo/Duntley, is that what you mean?

Over the past year I've sent this Electrolux history to a few club members, but decided to run it by Collector2. I'm saving the history of Kirby till after the convention in June.

As always,

Bob Alex Taber.

Thanks for the kind words, and yes, the newsletters were a lot of fun.

But allow me to make one minor correction. What we had were 'meetings' the club was too small in membership to hold conventions. By the time you joined in 95, the club was just getting noticed, but for both the Hoover meeting in 94, and the one in Allentown in 95, we had about twenty members. And while you were not with us in the early 90's, up to that trip to Hoover, all festivities were in my home, which gave it a very personal feeling. I must say I miss those days, and having houseguests like our dear Craig Long, who left this earth far too soon.Thanks again for sharing.

I'm glad you were and still are a part of my life, as always,

Alex Taber.

Thanks for jogging the memory. And I still say those were the best of times!

If my memory serves me correctly, all of the above articles were published in the early V.C.C.C. newsletters. I know reply 31 - 33 were, as was the article "From an old timer!" Good to see them again.