Thread Number: 39485
/ Tag: Pre-1950 Vacuum Cleaners
Electrolux Corp. Model XXX & LX Cord Reel Trivia |
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Post# 418974 , Reply# 1   1/22/2020 at 23:14 (1,548 days old) by Lesinutah (Utah)   |   | |
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Here's potential answer.
Electrolux owned the Patten. They had Philadelphia company make cord. They then terminated contract holding Patten had Cleveland company make it. The other potential could be both made them just distribution center for certain area. Think of it like stark vacuum royal vacuum. Electrolux owning the Patten explains parts number being the same. Trying to get the ball rolling. I don't know Hoover or the names of colors you were mentioning. I thought I'd help a little on this. Les |
Post# 418975 , Reply# 2   1/22/2020 at 23:26 (1,548 days old) by Caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut)   |   | |
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Post# 418989 , Reply# 3   1/23/2020 at 11:37 (1,547 days old) by electrolux137 (Los Angeles)   |   | |
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Post# 418996 , Reply# 4   1/23/2020 at 14:05 (1,547 days old) by Caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut)   |   | |
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But they didn't.
The Electrolux factory in Old Greenwich, Connecticut opened in the summer of 1933, I believe June. As this was located near the town, zoning officials made it clear to top Electrolux brass that nothing rubber would be tolerated. All parts like trim for attachments, gaskets, hoses and of course cords were produced off site. As to the cordwinder, the Electrolux version was indeed made in Philadelphia, by the 'Vacuum Cleaner Corp.' and what they produced was the 'Type T, Cordamatic. It was first used in 1948 on the post-war model XXX, and later on the early model LX's. As to the cords they were produced by the Belden wire and cord company, and there was a special design to the plugs. Any vacuum cleaner enthusiast knows a Belden plug at first site. I will have to dig into my Electrolux patent book for the exact date the patent was filed. But what is interesting is that this was not the first cord reel for vacuum cleaners. I have in another book on patents that it was the Air-Way electric appliance Corp. that used a reel in the late 1920's.
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Post# 418999 , Reply# 6   1/23/2020 at 14:55 (1,547 days old) by Caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut)   |   | |
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Filed on December 12, 1940 by Gustave E. Lofgren of the Electrolux Corp.. Patent issued June 15, 1943.
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Post# 419028 , Reply# 8   1/23/2020 at 22:19 (1,547 days old) by Caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut)   |   | |
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You are right Paul, the cordwinder may have been filed as a patent but this did not mean Electrolux went into production. At this point the model XXX was going through design changes. So Electrolux did not rush into it. Then disaster hit. On December 7, 1941, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and manufacture of ALL vacuum cleaner parts was halted. So the cordwinder, was put on hold.
Sometime around 1948 Electrolux resumed production of the model XXX, what we now know as the 'post-war XXX. And it was then that the cordwinder, Garmentaire bag, Companion and Power polisher were all added to the line around 1949. But the original question was who manufactured the cordwinder. While it was indeed the Vacuum Cleaner Co of Philadelphia, and the Type T, Cordamatic, I cannot give an accurate year. My best guess in 1948 or 49. |
Post# 419034 , Reply# 9   1/24/2020 at 08:06 (1,546 days old) by Collector2 (Moose Jaw, Sk)   |   | |
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Post# 419039 , Reply# 11   1/24/2020 at 09:53 (1,546 days old) by Caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut)   |   | |
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Collector2.
I don't have a lot of history on Belden, but I did know one of its engineers quite well, problem was he would never give me any info on the various vacuum cleaner cords. The company began in 1905 and they introduced the 'soft rubber plug' in 1927. Belden has a timeline but does not go into much detail. I have no idea when they opened a facility in Canada, but I'm sure they were as common there as here in the states. The soft plug would have been used on Electrolux models XXX, XX, LX, LXI, and both E and E automatic. I can't say for sure of models XI, and XII as mine have replacement plugs. Clearly, after Electrolux opened the Connecticut factory they turned to Belden for not only the cords, but wire for other parts like switches and motors. Rugsucker: Thanks for the correction, I wish I had the exact date the post-war model XXX was introduced. Clearly Electrolux went all out with this one. Looks like most of the optional tools like white brushes, Polisher, Garmentaire, waxes, and so on were added to make a well rounded package few could resist. And to add to this, engineers were already busy perfecting the paper bags and the model LX. I would love to see a pic of that convention, most likely the Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York, that was where Electrolux held most of their banquets.
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Post# 419040 , Reply# 12   1/24/2020 at 10:40 (1,546 days old) by Caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut)   |   | |
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Hi Paul:
Thank you for starting a great topic, its fun wandering down memory lane. Its no secret that Electrolux is my favorite topic. As for Benjamin Iron and metal, I'm trying to research this but all I find is data related to the early 1960's. This tells me that they made the later cordwinders after the model E and E automatic. Probably up to the model G, when the winder became part of the main machine. Actually my interest in Electrolux ends with the model E. My fascination is model V-model LXI, and all my research ends at this period as well. It would be interesting to see who made the hoses. I'm not sure if Belden had a rubber division or not. its more than likely, as they made the outer jackets for the cords. So perhaps they made the rubber encased coil hoses as well. Just a guess. |
Post# 419214 , Reply# 14   1/27/2020 at 23:45 (1,543 days old) by Caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut)   |   | |
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I'm taking this information directly from Electrolux. The book "ELECTROLUX CORPORATION the first forty years." "September 11, 1944, was another significant date in Electrolux history. It was on this day that the War Production Board granted the company permission to resume on a limited basis, the output of cleaners for civilian use for the first time since March, of 1942." The article goes on to state that on November 18, of that year (1944) that Electrolux began to fill the back orders. Also stated "Another First For Electrolux." In September of that year (1946) the company introduced the first new product of its line of home cleaning products-Electrolux furniture polish.
"On June 11, 1947, another triumphant milestone was reached. On that day the one millionth Electrolux was made since the reconversion to civilian output came off the production lines at the Old Greenwich plant." That means that sometime after September, 1946, engineers started to work on the Cordwinder, Companion, Power Polisher, Garmentaire bag, white bristled brushes and assorted waxes. Also redesigned were the sprayer, and vaporizer, that were introduced with the first model sold in America, the model V (5) of 1924. Yes, paul, Electrolux was back in business and there was no stopping them now. |
Post# 419296 , Reply# 15   1/29/2020 at 20:20 (1,541 days old) by Paul (USA)   |   | |
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Wow, Alex, thanks! You educated me on each item! Do you know of/have any Model XXX manuals with different copyright years than I listed previously? |
Post# 419313 , Reply# 16   1/30/2020 at 11:40 (1,540 days old) by Caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut)   |   | |
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Post# 419506 , Reply# 17   2/4/2020 at 15:59 (1,535 days old) by electrolux137 (Los Angeles)   |   | |
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~ Here's an unusual cordwinder that came on a Model XXX that I found a few years ago. You'll note that instead of the Electrolux logo on its outward side is the name "Cordomatic."
The inward side is the same as all the other ones I've ever seen -- you can see the vestiges of the gold sticker on it.
Replacement plug, obviously.
It's not in great condition but I've held onto it all these years because of its rarity.
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