Strange Electrolux Model E on eBay

I'm going to bet this was NOT a prototype. Looking at the photos in the listing, it looks too "finished" to be a prototype. The final clue that gives it away this isn't a prototype is the metal bracket designed to hold the front of the runners where the front wheel would normally be mounted. That piece doesn't look homemade or just roughly machined, as if it was a prototype they were trying out before deciding if it went to production. That bracket looks like it was precision made & well finished.

What I am thinking is, this must have been an optional add-on. It only makes sense. The XXX had just been discontinued, wheels were a novelty on Electrolux vacuums, & runners were pretty common on canister vacuums in the 30's & 40's. It could have been made available as a add-on for customers who tried the normal Model E with wheels & decided they didn't like them or how the vacuum moved. So, the dealer offered to the customer to fit the runners on the vacuum if they bought it, & the customer was happy & dealer got a sale.

Rob


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Post# 413151 8/27/2019 at 20:04 (1,703 days old) by vacman1961 (North Babylon, New York)
Checkrate/Likes Has anyone seen the Electrolux Model E on eBay right now? The machine has metal runners on it instead of the 3 wheels that it normally has? If you look at the runners they don't look home made, they look almost factory by the way they attach to the front of the machine where the swivel caster should be, the back however looks like it is attached to the machine with a threaded shaft where the rear wheels should be. Take a look and let me know what you think. CLICK HERE TO GO TO vacman1961's LINK on eBay

Post# 413166 , Reply# 1 8/28/2019 at 08:31 (1,702 days old) by rugsucker (Elizabethton TN)
Checkrate/Likes *???* A few thoughts on this- -Great vac that looks to be in very good condition. -I agree it is not home made and have never seen or heard of this. -Early Mo E had 2 screws on trim plate over switch.This has 1. -This hose has painted machine end as on E but suction control as on AE. -Charles L has found E with Power Nozzle outlet. -Hoover had a very rare wheel dolly for first Constellation that did not float. -Could Electrolux have had this for customers wanting runners as on their previous Mo XXX????

Post# 413168 , Reply# 2 8/28/2019 at 09:22 (1,702 days old) by dysonman1 (the county)
Checkrate/Likes Perhaps a prototype? Having worked for Tacony at the factory as long as I did (10 years), I got to see machines go from an idea in an engineer's head to prototype to production model. Many prototypes of the same model are made and tested. This model was being designed in the early 50's, at the time they were also designing canisters. The machine was obviously designed to have wheels, but we have to remember that wheels prevent a cleaner from being PULLED onto a fringed rug from the floor, where runners allow it to glide over the fringe and not catch. There MUST have been many versions of all their models before one was given the 'green light' and put into production.

Post# 413174 , Reply# 3 8/28/2019 at 11:31 (1,702 days old) by kenkart ()
Checkrate/Likes *Just proof!* No matter if we live to be a hundred We will never see it all Im STILL looking for the model 89 Air Way Kleen More swivel top canister.

Post# 413191 , Reply# 4 8/28/2019 at 18:08 (1,702 days old) by kirbylux77 (London, Ontario, Canada)
Checkrate/Likes *Tom* I'm going to bet this was NOT a prototype. Looking at the photos in the listing, it looks too "finished" to be a prototype. The final clue that gives it away this isn't a prototype is the metal bracket designed to hold the front of the runners where the front wheel would normally be mounted. That piece doesn't look homemade or just roughly machined, as if it was a prototype they were trying out before deciding if it went to production. That bracket looks like it was precision made & well finished. What I am thinking is, this must have been an optional add-on. It only makes sense. The XXX had just been discontinued, wheels were a novelty on Electrolux vacuums, & runners were pretty common on canister vacuums in the 30's & 40's. It could have been made available as a add-on for customers who tried the normal Model E with wheels & decided they didn't like them or how the vacuum moved. So, the dealer offered to the customer to fit the runners on the vacuum if they bought it, & the customer was happy & dealer got a sale. Rob

Post# 413206 , Reply# 5 8/29/2019 at 07:31 (1,701 days old) by electrolux137 (Los Angeles)
Checkrate/Likes ~ ~ I saw that, and also wondered about it. I guess we'll never know. The first time I saw an XXX paper bag converter and a Model T, they seemed very strange. On that note, have any of y'all ever seen a Model G with a halo instead of the cord winder?!