Electrolux Model LX

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Here's one of my two Electrolux Model LXs, sold from 1952 until 1955. (Well, the other one is the last version which was called the LXI as it had quite a few changes and modifications.)

Electrolux went all out in designing and promoting the Model LX. Full-color two-page spreads ran in the major homemaking magazines. The 32-page instruction book was illustrated with watercolor images in full color, and the packing box was bright red with bold lettering.

This specimen is the earliest of the earliest LXs, which can be easily detected by several things. However, most notably is the absence of an ejection control dial at the front-bottom of the machine. That control didn't come for a while.

Customers found that under certain conditions, the bag would eject too soon. (I guess you could say the early LXs suffered from premature ejaculation!) This would happen when cleaning up very fine, dense, powdery dirt. Bags would eject with only a very small amount of dirt, and customers began complaining about the expense of replacing the bags so often.

So Electrolux engineers came up with the idea of providing the “Basement and Attic Key,” a little metal tool that customers could wedge against the automatic bag release lever in the front cover to prevent it from tripping too soon. Customers were advised to store the key inside the cover where the cord connects to the cleaner; and you will occasionally find a machine with the little key still tucked in there.

This problem would be more satisfactorily addressed in subsequent versions of the LX with the addition of the new automatic suction control dial.

Customers with early machines could have a new front cover with the adjuster dial installed at no cost. I kinda like that this one is still 100% original and intact. You don't come across them very often.

As with my Model XXX that I posted about yesterday, I have pretty much every accessory and optional equipment for the LX. However, it's all stored in boxes and I can't readily get to the stuff.

Photos... < > Photo 1 of 10 View Full Size


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Post# 424303 4/26/2020 at 20:47 (1,453 days old) by electrolux137 (Los Angeles)
Checkrate/Likes 1 ~ ~ Here's one of my two Electrolux Model LXs, sold from 1952 until 1955. (Well, the other one is the last version which was called the LXI as it had quite a few changes and modifications.) Electrolux went all out in designing and promoting the Model LX. Full-color two-page spreads ran in the major homemaking magazines. The 32-page instruction book was illustrated with watercolor images in full color, and the packing box was bright red with bold lettering. This specimen is the earliest of the earliest LXs, which can be easily detected by several things. However, most notably is the absence of an ejection control dial at the front-bottom of the machine. That control didn't come for a while. Customers found that under certain conditions, the bag would eject too soon. (I guess you could say the early LXs suffered from premature ejaculation!) This would happen when cleaning up very fine, dense, powdery dirt. Bags would eject with only a very small amount of dirt, and customers began complaining about the expense of replacing the bags so often. So Electrolux engineers came up with the idea of providing the “Basement and Attic Key,” a little metal tool that customers could wedge against the automatic bag release lever in the front cover to prevent it from tripping too soon. Customers were advised to store the key inside the cover where the cord connects to the cleaner; and you will occasionally find a machine with the little key still tucked in there. This problem would be more satisfactorily addressed in subsequent versions of the LX with the addition of the new automatic suction control dial. Customers with early machines could have a new front cover with the adjuster dial installed at no cost. I kinda like that this one is still 100% original and intact. You don't come across them very often. As with my Model XXX that I posted about yesterday, I have pretty much every accessory and optional equipment for the LX. However, it's all stored in boxes and I can't readily get to the stuff. Photos... < > Photo 1 of 10 View Full Size

Post# 424306 , Reply# 1 4/26/2020 at 20:59 (1,453 days old) by Paul (USA)
Checkrate/Likes That's a sharp-looking cleaner with its full set of attachments! Wouldn't it be awesome if we knew the exact year our Electroluxes came off the assembly line using the lettered series of the serial numbers? I also own an early LX without the dial sans the carton and original hose. Does the 2nd photo above show the Basement and Attic Key? If not, please post a photo of it.

Post# 424354 , Reply# 2 4/27/2020 at 20:19 (1,452 days old) by Jo (Dallas,TX)
Checkrate/Likes *Do you have one with the dial on the bottom?* I had one just like this one without the dial on the bottom but always wished it was one wit the dial on the bottom. What I like about this model is it has funky little buttons in weird places like the bag eject button in that weird spot. I�ll second a request for a photoif you have a basement and attic key! Jon

Post# 424364 , Reply# 3 4/28/2020 at 00:54 (1,452 days old) by electrolux137 (Los Angeles)
Checkrate/Likes 2 ~ ~ I do have one with the knob but it's a very unusual one. Rather than the clear plastic ridged knob, it's a smaller-diameter metal knob inset into a metal flange with settings marked around it. You have to pull slightly on the knob to turn it, Here's a small photo of it but I think you can clearly see the knob. When I get to my LXI (stay tuned!), I'll post more and larger photos. I do not have a basement & attic key. I've never found one. View Full Size