Thread Number: 31201  /  Tag: Vintage Floor Polishers/Floor Care Products
Overseas & North American Electrolux Brush Cleaners - B3, B4, B6 & Others 		[Down to Last]
Post# 345169   2/23/2016 at 22:24 (3,370 days old) by Paul (USA)        

So I was surfing worldwide eBay after seeing Gugue's albums on flickr and found pics of B3s, B4s, B6s, and other floor machines--both single and triple brush and even an air-powered Turbo Polisher (UK). I read that the B3 was introduced with the Model V air purifier/cleaner--don't know if there was a B1 or B2. I also discovered that some models (maybe all manufactured overseas) had different versions identified by an extra letter.

I believe the US company imported the B3s, B4s, and B6s until manufacturing its own beginning circa 1959--the B-7.

One of Gugue's captions I found especially interesting was regarding the B6: "After the steel shortage because the II War, Electrolux resorted to the cheapper moulded steel in place of the injection moulds of the previous B4. The saddest part is that it looks even older than the previous model... It used to be available specially in grayish green, as well in this metallic green from Sweden and silver, gloden beyond another colors for the local production. Its internal design is almost the same from the B4 and was the base for several floor polishers produced at that time. In Brazil Electrolux had a big headache with patent infringments by dozens of already former companies about this floor polisher, which was just utterly copied without any royalty payment for Electrolux. Some of them gone even far and named its polishers as 'Encerolux' [or] "Citylux' ... "

Here is a list of B-prefix Electrolux brush cleaners I compiled from the data I found--unsure of the accuracy or completeness, and don't know all the ones that were equipped with shampooing attachments:

*Commercial (“top-level”)--overseas designation
**Scrubber, Polisher, & Shampooer
***Single 10" Brush

B3: 1924-c.1933; (aluminum/black)
BA4: c.1934-c.1950; (black--dappled in dark green or graphite dappled in green; France—dappled in coffee brown or red); nickel-plated adornments on the triangle which are the fittings for the brush pulley bearings and another design for the bottom bumper.
BB4: c.1934-c.1950; (black--dappled in dark green or graphite dappled in green)
France—dappled in coffee brown or red); nickel-plated adornments on the triangle which are the fittings for the brush pulley bearings and another design for the bottom bumper.
BC4: c.1934-c.1950; (black--dappled in dark green or graphite dappled in green)
BA5: 1948-1953 (brushed aluminum/chrome/grey motor shroud/black bumpers); Canada
BX5: 1953-1957 brushed aluminum/chrome/tan tweed motor shroud/hickory bumpers); Canada
B6: c.1950-c.1960; (grayish green or metallic green)
B-7: c.1959-1963; (pale gray & ivory or aquamarine green); USA
**B-8: 1963-1983: (aquamarine green, tan, teal, metallic gold, brown, or dark gray); first version polisher/scrubber only; USA
B9: c.1960-c.1965; (red top/nickel base); restyled--2 brushes in front, 1 in back
**B-9: 1983-1987; (2-tone gray or sand/jade); w/cord winder; USA
**BX10: 1957-1966 (Jamaica bronze/cream); Canada
**B-10: 1987; (sand/taupe); w/cord winder; USA
B12: c.1965-c.1970; (green, silver, or metallic golden)
*B17: c.1965-c.1970; (orange/royal blue base, light gray top/chrome base, black top/white base)
B107/”Lux”: c.1965-1980s; economy; (B4-style; gray, orange, or beige Bakelite)
B18: c.1970-c.1982; plastic handle
*B19 c.1970-c.1982; (sage green top/white base); plastic handle
**B20:1966-1968; (Jamaica bronze/cream); w/cord winder; Canada
**B21: 1968-1973; (moss green/mint)'; w/cord winder; Canada
**B22: 1973-1975; (wheat/cream) w/cord winder; Canada
**B22J: 1975-1979; (harvest gold/cream or banana/cream); w/cord winder; Canada
B23: 1982-1992; (coffee brown top/orange or beige tan base, dark gray top/light gray base, or dark green top/white base); plastic handle
*B25: 1980s & 1990s
*B26: 1980s & 1990s
*B27/"Lavencera": 1980s & 1990s; (brown & chrome or polished aluminum)
**B28: 1979-1982; (chocolate/cream); w/cord winder; Canada
***B30: 1974-1980s; (orange, beige, light gray, chrome); round casing
***B31: 1980s; (orange, beige, light gray, chrome); new column and an automatic turn on/off system by raising or getting down the column
***B40: 1974-1980s; (beige, orange, white, gray and royal blue, in a glossy ABS plastic); rectangular casing
B50: 1982-1985; (almond/griege); w/cord winder; Canada
*B53:
**B63S/”Ono”/”Mundial”/”Lady Lux”: circa AB Electrolux's 90th anniversary & after; (light gray, cobalt blue, or black)
**B95S: c.1992-c.2000 (gray, dark gray, black/red, dark green, or black)



Enjoy the pics--from Gugue and eBay! 1-3: B3; 4-5: BA4; 6-7: BC4; 8-9: B6; 10-11: B9; 12: B12; 13: B107; 14: B17; 15:B19; 16: B23;
17: B27; 18: B30; 19: B31; 20: B40

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Post# 345186 , Reply# 1   2/24/2016 at 00:03 (3,370 days old) by electrolux137 (Los Angeles)        

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Wow, very cool! That's a LOT of research! My hat's off to you!!
Post# 345262 , Reply# 2   2/24/2016 at 21:13 (3,369 days old) by Paul (USA)        

Thanks--it kept growing as I clicked and found more info. It was originally only going to be about the B3, B4, and B6.

Post# 345523 , Reply# 3   2/26/2016 at 16:08 (3,368 days old) by Paul (USA)        

Were the B-7s the only model with two speed motors, or were the early B-8s, too--those without the shampoo function? I'm taking for granted that the higher speed was for the polishing function--is that correct?

Post# 345532 , Reply# 4   2/26/2016 at 17:14 (3,368 days old) by bikerray (Middle Earth)        

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I have an early B8 (looks like a B7) they were single speed. As far as I know B7s were the only 2 speed. The early B8 had the cord coming out the hole that the two speed switch was in on the B7.

Post# 352952 , Reply# 5   5/29/2016 at 16:11 (3,275 days old) by Paul (USA)        
List Revision

 Here is a photo of a Canadian Model B-22 from a current eBay listing in what appears to be the banana color, so the list in the first post should be amended to indicate that the B-22 had the two different colors instead of the B-22J (wheat & banana). The B-22J is listed on Aerus's product history brochure, but cleaners are not listed individually by color or year; they're just grouped together. Anyway, I'm not sure what the difference between it and the B-22 was.


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Post# 352956 , Reply# 6   5/29/2016 at 18:06 (3,275 days old) by Collector2 (Moose Jaw, Sk)        

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Canadian B22 (1973-1976)- made to match the AP and AP100 vacuums

Post# 352957 , Reply# 7   5/29/2016 at 18:08 (3,275 days old) by Collector2 (Moose Jaw, Sk)        

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Canadian B22J (1976-1977)- made to match the US Super J which was being sold in Canada because the Canadian vacuum factory was on strike.

Post# 352958 , Reply# 8   5/29/2016 at 18:11 (3,275 days old) by Collector2 (Moose Jaw, Sk)        

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Canadian B25 (1977-1978). Made to match the Canadian AP and Ap200 then in production. (The B22J in Reply 5 is more than likely a B25 top that has been put on a B22J base as a repair by some shop)

Post# 352959 , Reply# 9   5/29/2016 at 18:12 (3,275 days old) by Collector2 (Moose Jaw, Sk)        

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For some reason the picture didn't go on the previous post so here is the B25

Post# 352960 , Reply# 10   5/29/2016 at 18:17 (3,275 days old) by Paul (USA)        

Thanks for sharing your research, Doug.

Based on your comment about the machine in Reply 5 possibly having a different motor housing I wouldn't want to bid on a Canadian Electrolux product without having someone like you verify its originality. My knowledge of them is minimal.

Post# 352961 , Reply# 11   5/29/2016 at 18:18 (3,275 days old) by Paul (USA)        

I can't tell the color difference between the B-22J and the B-25, or were there just style or mechanical differences?

Post# 352962 , Reply# 12   5/29/2016 at 18:20 (3,275 days old) by Paul (USA)        

On second thought, maybe the model IDs just signified where each was manufactured?

Post# 352996 , Reply# 13   5/30/2016 at 05:43 (3,274 days old) by Collector2 (Moose Jaw, Sk)        

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Hi Paul - if you look at the motor cover on the machines the B22J was gold to match the Super J while the B25 is yellow like the rest of the machine. That's pretty much the only difference.

Post# 353049 , Reply# 14   5/31/2016 at 15:53 (3,273 days old) by Paul (USA)        

Hey Doug -

I always enjoy when someone points out some detail I missed. I now see the subtle difference between the 22J and 25. Thanks.

Electrolux must have known that some customers wanted color-matched machines, so they knew they were getting the current stock. What they probably didn't count on was that collectors would one day keep track of each model's traits!

Post# 353052 , Reply# 15   5/31/2016 at 16:06 (3,273 days old) by gsheen (Cape Town South Africa)        

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Here are some of mine

My B 6 which is a 32 volt

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Post# 353053 , Reply# 16   5/31/2016 at 16:10 (3,273 days old) by gsheen (Cape Town South Africa)        

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The two on the right are Columbus Polishers, both the same under neath but the hoods are different. They were also sold under the Electrolux name with some slight changes, The two on the left are the vacuum cleaner versions

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Post# 353184 , Reply# 17   6/3/2016 at 10:54 (3,270 days old) by Paul (USA)        

Cool-lookoing polishers. What are the models and years of manufacture?

_________


Here are photos of a 1969 Australian Electrolux Automatic Polisher manual (no model given):

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Post# 353200 , Reply# 18   6/3/2016 at 14:16 (3,270 days old) by Paul (USA)        
List Revision #2

 (on the original post) The B25 should also include the Canadian household version (see Doug Smith's replies #8 and #9).

All - If you see other omissions or errors let us know.

Post# 473940 , Reply# 19   10/31/2024 at 13:04 (198 days old) by Paul (USA)        
Swedish Model B2

 Source: www.electroluxgroup.com/e...

Excerpt from the page's written history:

"The Golden Age

"One of Electrolux’s missions was to make life easier for the housewife and taking proper care of the floors was one of the most exhausting and time- consuming tasks in the home. Therefore, in 1925 Wenner-Gren looked at the polishers on sale and immediately saw they left a lot to be desired.

"His engineers rose to the task of making improvements with vigour. Their solution was a revolutionary, triangular, triple brush system which gave a fine, glossy result and production began in 1927. Making a tough job a lot easier, the polisher was a product that greatly enhanced Electrolux’s reputation.

"This quote from a 1945 brochure makes it clear how important the polisher was in the company’s early history.

“'The product which after the vacuum cleaner has saved most time and energy is the floor polisher. It has made an enormous contribution to the company’s good reputation.'”

______________

The account may either be inaccurate or unclear. Did Mr. Wennergren or another invent the B2 in 1918; or did he invent the B3 in 1925?


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Post# 473960 , Reply# 20   11/1/2024 at 03:45 (197 days old) by Caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut)        
What I was talking about earlier..

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Paul, the model B2 was the one that went with the mode 5 (V). Thanks for posting.

Post# 473966 , Reply# 21   11/1/2024 at 10:29 (197 days old) by Paul (USA)        

You're welcome for the post, Alex. Thank you for yours!

I wasn't sure if the US had ever had anything but the triple brush polishers. Now I know. I appreciate you!


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