Thread Number: 2683
Canadian Electrolux ZB55 Owner's Manual
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Post# 29506   1/18/2008 at 23:00 (5,913 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        

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A beautifully printed manual, the cover is printed in silver, black and pale blue on white. Also called the Super Model, the phrase 'Mechanical Maid' is trademarked to Electrolux Canada Limited.

Lots of information, Lady Models of all ages and superb pictures of early 1950s home interiors & furnishings and of all the available optional accessories, ending with the introduction of the Triple Action Floor Polisher. The manual is dated 1953.

So without further delay - 39 single pages...


Post# 29507 , Reply# 1   1/18/2008 at 23:01 (5,913 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        

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Inside cover

Post# 29508 , Reply# 2   1/18/2008 at 23:02 (5,913 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        

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page 1 Foreword

Post# 29509 , Reply# 3   1/18/2008 at 23:03 (5,913 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        

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page 2 - Index

Post# 29510 , Reply# 4   1/18/2008 at 23:03 (5,913 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        

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page 3

Post# 29511 , Reply# 5   1/18/2008 at 23:04 (5,913 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        

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page 4 - List of standard parts

Post# 29512 , Reply# 6   1/18/2008 at 23:05 (5,913 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        

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page 5 - standard parts illustrated

Post# 29513 , Reply# 7   1/18/2008 at 23:06 (5,913 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        

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page 6 - Assembling your Equipment

Post# 29514 , Reply# 8   1/18/2008 at 23:06 (5,913 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        

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page 7

Post# 29515 , Reply# 9   1/18/2008 at 23:07 (5,913 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        

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page 8

Post# 29516 , Reply# 10   1/18/2008 at 23:08 (5,913 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        

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page 9

Post# 29517 , Reply# 11   1/18/2008 at 23:08 (5,913 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        

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page 10

Post# 29518 , Reply# 12   1/18/2008 at 23:12 (5,913 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        

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page 11

Note how the Ladies always hold the hose with both hands. More than a modeling technique, I think this was to prevent the hose from rubbing agaist their clothing and...hose. :-) They are wearing nice hose dresses and no apron. Hey, even Dad uses both hands.


Post# 29519 , Reply# 13   1/18/2008 at 23:12 (5,913 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        

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page 12

Post# 29520 , Reply# 14   1/18/2008 at 23:13 (5,913 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        

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page 13

Post# 29521 , Reply# 15   1/18/2008 at 23:14 (5,913 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        

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page 14

Post# 29522 , Reply# 16   1/18/2008 at 23:14 (5,913 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        

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page 15

Oh look, a piano.


Post# 29523 , Reply# 17   1/18/2008 at 23:16 (5,913 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        

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page 16 - Air Purification. Well, they are quiet running. :-)

Post# 29524 , Reply# 18   1/18/2008 at 23:16 (5,913 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        

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page 17

Post# 29525 , Reply# 19   1/18/2008 at 23:17 (5,913 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        

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page 18

Post# 29526 , Reply# 20   1/18/2008 at 23:17 (5,913 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        

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page 19

Post# 29527 , Reply# 21   1/18/2008 at 23:18 (5,913 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        

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page 20

Post# 29528 , Reply# 22   1/18/2008 at 23:19 (5,913 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        

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page 21

Post# 29529 , Reply# 23   1/18/2008 at 23:20 (5,913 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        

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page 22

Post# 29530 , Reply# 24   1/18/2008 at 23:20 (5,913 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        

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page 23

Post# 29531 , Reply# 25   1/18/2008 at 23:21 (5,913 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        

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page 24 - the ever popular Moth Control

Post# 29533 , Reply# 26   1/18/2008 at 23:22 (5,913 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        

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page 25

Post# 29534 , Reply# 27   1/18/2008 at 23:23 (5,913 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        

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page 26 - Hair Drying

Post# 29535 , Reply# 28   1/18/2008 at 23:25 (5,913 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        

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page 27 - storing in a closet. I now have this accessory carry bag courtesy of Doug Smith.

Post# 29537 , Reply# 29   1/18/2008 at 23:27 (5,913 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        

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page 28 - Optional accessories...and there's the Air Powered Junior floor polisher for Canada. Yippee!

Post# 29538 , Reply# 30   1/18/2008 at 23:28 (5,913 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        

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page 29

Post# 29539 , Reply# 31   1/18/2008 at 23:29 (5,913 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        

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The Canadian Plant at 201 Laurier Avenue East, Montreal Canada.

Post# 29540 , Reply# 32   1/18/2008 at 23:30 (5,913 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        

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page 31

Post# 29541 , Reply# 33   1/18/2008 at 23:30 (5,913 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        

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page 32 with printing date.

Post# 29542 , Reply# 34   1/18/2008 at 23:35 (5,913 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        

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page 33 - The Electrolux Triple-Action Floor Polisher in Chrome. & SPRINKEL WAX - registered trade mark.

Pete has this in red ( to match the next vacuum model ZB86 & 88 ) and he gave me the red on that has the additional wax/water tank. Now we know when the machine was introduced in Canada.


Post# 29543 , Reply# 35   1/18/2008 at 23:42 (5,913 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        

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Back Cover.

1957 seems to be the final year for this style of Electrolux cylinder, which was introduced in 1938.

The previous model XIII, series C ran from 1932 though 1939 and resembles a Goblin Clean Sweep Model 23 cylinder, imported from England from 1931 through 1939.


Post# 29544 , Reply# 36   1/19/2008 at 00:03 (5,913 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        

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That's a ZB30 in the centre. ZB54 above and a ZB57 on top with tool caddy saddle and downward folding cord winder.

Below is ZB55 version 1 - 1949-51 - and on the bottom a ZB55 version 2 - 1951 - 53 with runners attached to the logo strip casting. All I need now is the Version 3 ZB55 - 1953-57 - in blue.


Post# 29549 , Reply# 37   1/19/2008 at 06:41 (5,913 days old) by arh1953 ( River Park, in Port St. Lucie, Florida)        

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Thanks for posting this great book and the pictures of your Electroluxes.

Post# 29550 , Reply# 38   1/19/2008 at 07:09 (5,913 days old) by z30soulbrother (West Midlands, UK)        

absolutely fantastic!!! We had avery similar manual with our 1951 z55 but we didnt have all those tools. We didnt have the vapourisor, but that outer rim was there in the filter cover to take it, i didnt know what it was for until recent years. the z65 didnt take it and i dont know about the 62 because i have a steel filter cover in the shed exactly like z 30 55 etc but that rim isnt there i dont know what machine it came off. I do have the turbo polisher attachment but it was bought separately. Great stuff!!

Post# 29554 , Reply# 39   1/19/2008 at 08:29 (5,913 days old) by watsonw (Newport, Shropshire, UK)        

Now that's my idea of a luxurious 50's Lux. I once had the Swedish built ZA55 which had certain features of a higher quality compared to its Luton made version, but nothing like that Canadian machine....if only we could buy something like that now ?

Post# 29560 , Reply# 40   1/19/2008 at 09:59 (5,913 days old) by collector2 (Moose Jaw, Sk)        

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Just a few notes to add. That same manual was used for all three versions of the ZB55 as well as the Z54 and Z57 (But these two also came with a 4 page flyleaf describing the differences in the machines)

It should also be noted that the neat dusting brush shown in the pictures never actually made it into production here.

Re: engish versions for z30soulbrother - from the pics I have the ungroved plate is from the ZC62. The vaporizer was available for the ZC55 over there (same one). The really neat one came with the ZC25 - it was octagonal in a marbled green/black. There was probably still a vaporizer available for the 62 but that would have been when they changed to the style that went on the other end of the hose. I've included a poor pic of a ZA55 that I got off the net some years back that shows the vaporizer with the machine.


Post# 29570 , Reply# 41   1/19/2008 at 13:16 (5,913 days old) by charles~richard ()        

I have posted some of these before, but in the interest of furthering the thread, here they are again!

First is my oldest Canadian machine, a Z30. I also have one with the "alligator skin" leatherette but it's out in the garage.



Post# 29571 , Reply# 42   1/19/2008 at 13:17 (5,913 days old) by charles~richard ()        

Here's an ad for the UK version of the Z30.


Post# 29572 , Reply# 43   1/19/2008 at 13:19 (5,913 days old) by charles~richard ()        

The Z-54. I love the color scheme of this machine - maroon bakelite ends with blue leatherette. Lovely!

Interesting, from an American standpoint, that this was the economy model so it came with the "inferior" attachments -- combination rug/floor tool and combination dusting/upholstery brush, as opposed to the four-attachment set in metal. I never have figured out why the Canadian Electroluxes held onto the old XXX-style attachments for so long -- right up into the 1970s -- and considered them more "deluxe" than the more-efficient and handy combo tools.



Post# 29574 , Reply# 44   1/19/2008 at 13:20 (5,913 days old) by charles~richard ()        

The later version of the Canadian air-powered turbo tool.



Post# 29575 , Reply# 45   1/19/2008 at 13:21 (5,913 days old) by charles~richard ()        

And my favorite of all the Canadian machines, the Z-89.

(Eh, Doug, I still can never keep straight what the differences were between Z, ZA and ZB!)



Post# 29576 , Reply# 46   1/19/2008 at 13:25 (5,913 days old) by arh1953 ( River Park, in Port St. Lucie, Florida)        

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You gotta love that Canadian design Electrolux!

Post# 29588 , Reply# 47   1/19/2008 at 14:05 (5,913 days old) by charles~richard ()        
Another UK Ad...




Post# 29612 , Reply# 48   1/19/2008 at 19:29 (5,912 days old) by normvac (COLUMBUS, OHIO)        

Love every frame of this thread! thank you Dave and again
Charles-Richard for sharing !
Norm


Post# 29618 , Reply# 49   1/19/2008 at 20:07 (5,912 days old) by vintagevacs4me ()        
Thanks Dave for the great pictures!

I love all those different tools that were available for this model. I wish we had those here in the States. The only thing missing for this model was a saddle type tool caddy. I'd love to find one. But i have feeling here getting pretty rare now-a-days.

Post# 29627 , Reply# 50   1/19/2008 at 22:46 (5,912 days old) by luxg ()        

That was really fun, thanks for posting it. Wouldn't it be wonderful if they made instruction books like that today?

Post# 29656 , Reply# 51   1/20/2008 at 01:15 (5,912 days old) by charles~richard ()        
Saddle-type tool caddy




Post# 29657 , Reply# 52   1/20/2008 at 01:15 (5,912 days old) by charles~richard ()        





Post# 29663 , Reply# 53   1/20/2008 at 06:41 (5,912 days old) by collector2 (Moose Jaw, Sk)        

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Yes they did make the tool saddle for the last of the model 55's as well as a cord reel. Both are extremely hard to find in my area (I hanvn't got either one) even though there are all sorts of 55's around. I have to assume that the dealers here just didnt use them much - opting instead for the handi kits.

Re: Z designations - from what I have seen Z is the series letter - A designates a Sweedish machine, B a Canadian machine, and C an English machine. I dont know if there were any other designations. I have noticed that some of our models, like the 54 and 57 were actually labeled just Z54 and Z57 so I assume they were unique to Canada and not made in other countries.


Post# 29702 , Reply# 54   1/20/2008 at 13:27 (5,912 days old) by z30soulbrother (West Midlands, UK)        
thanks doug

Thanks doug form that bit of info. We absolutely loved our z55. So quiet so powerful and versatile. As my mom and dad said time and time again, the best £28.00 they ever spent. 1951 to 84 is a long time to have a working vac as your house vac. They had 2 replacement filters and 1 replacement cord connecter in that time. When it went in the skip SCREAM (not my doing i can assure you!), it had the origional bag in it!!! amazing what can you say? The hotel i work at bought 2 cheap lux cylinders 6 months ago 1 has already been skipped the other has a split taped up hose that leaks, and the cords are 9 foot long max. Absolute rubbish. What the hell went wrong? This is a company that made the Z30 and its siblings, you tell me!!!cheers doug you take care,

Si


Post# 29704 , Reply# 55   1/20/2008 at 13:38 (5,912 days old) by z30soulbrother (West Midlands, UK)        
TOOL CADDIES

I must admit i never saw them here in uk. By the way just remembered something my parents used to do when i was a child with our z55, they used it as a hairdryer and took the bag out and put a hot water bottle in instead!!! That is the truth!! I just remembered!!

si


Post# 29775 , Reply# 56   1/21/2008 at 06:45 (5,911 days old) by sireluxomatic ()        

Absolutely beautiful manual, not to mention an even more beautiful machine. I remember my grandparents had that model sitting in their basement...pity its long gone now.

Dave, that "Lux Tower" looks great!



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