Thread Number: 42850  /  Tag: 50s/60s/70s Vacuum Cleaners
Death of our Electrolux model S
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Post# 448946   12/31/2021 at 00:30 (819 days old) by Jo (Dallas,TX)        

Well the time has come…Mom’s Electrolux model S has finally bit the dust this past summer. The motor sounds really bad and runs slow and also smells bad. I didn’t chuck it right away but considered it. Well tonight I was using the early White Electrolux model L in the basement and I heard a crash while pulling it along and looked back to find both back wheels of the L in pieces on the floor!! The L works fine and I use it with a nice PN6a and an external wire wrap vinyl hose so preserving this machine is preferred. So with the S having a bad motor, another model L in the summer house needing a new handle, and this L needing wheels…I decided to take the (much more durable by the way) black wheels off the model S and also the sturdy handle from it off for the L at the other house. And also kept the power switch from the S since it is the same as the one on the white L so I have a backup switch. I’ve kept the original cloth bag from the S for use in the L as well along with the replacement non electric vinyl hose and all the other attachments. I took the cord off the S as well as it was a Silverado era cord I put on in the late 80s since the original black cord was stiff and getting old and was nervous it would go bad. It’s a genuine Electrolux replacement cord so decided it would make a nice Genuine Electrolux extension cord or a replacement plug in cord for my model AF which uses the plug in cord into the back end of the switch. I added a female end to the cord and it’s ready to go.

It is sad to see the S go…but it has served my Grandmother and Mom, Sister, Me and Dad well since 1957. It ended up taking a beating by my Dad in its later years as it was recruited to the basement vac in the early 70s when my Mom upgraded to an L so she could have the power nozzle feature. Dad and I used the S from there on out to clean the basement woodworking shop and the rest of the basement and the cars. My Mom’s mom bought it new for her home and gave it to my Mom when she got married in 1960. I have memories as a tiny toddler watching Mom clean the house with it. It also was given to my Sister for a year but taken back when I swapped it with a model G that had the port for the power nozzle as she really needed that and we wanted the S back because it took the cloth bag and was more efficient t for cleaning up large amounts of sawdust in the basement.

The S is now dismantled of everything except the motor. So it’s just the motor and main body. I may keep the front bag door but can’t imagine using that for anything,

It must have fallen down the stairs on Dad a few times as it has some pretty decent dents in it and I was sad to see those. I think the vacuum was purchased likely for under $100 as it was the “special” model. It is unique…one of my favorites because it is less common and very lightweight…not even a cord halo built onto it! But it’s just done and not worth any type of restoration. It will likely live on in a landfill but honestly I’d rather the metal be recycled and turned into something else.

The white model L which will replaces it runs good and has the cordwinder and the power nozzle port which we need…so it’s a suitable replacement and now I’ll have an extra hose and attachment set for it as well as more durable back wheels and a spare switch.

I am pleased to see that there is a nice model S on eBay should I feel so sad that I wish to replace it for collecting and memory’s sake. But likely won’t do so as it’s kinda pricey and I have plenty of other Electrolux’s.

Jon


Post# 448967 , Reply# 1   12/31/2021 at 12:35 (818 days old) by human (Pines of Carolina)        
All good things must come to an end...

human's profile picture
It's always sad to realize a favorite machine can't reasonably be repaired anymore. But your family definitely got their money's worth out of it and parts of it are still of benefit, extending the useful lives of other machines.

I did something similar a few months ago when I got hold of a nice looking polished PN4 with an absolutely dead motor. I scavenged the motor out of a scarred-up gray PN4-A that I couldn't even stand looking at to bring that one to life. Of course, vac-addict that I am, I then had to get another motor and a polished cover to resurrect the remains of that PN4-A as well. They're fun little projects but I can sure throw away a lot of money on them.


Post# 448997 , Reply# 2   1/1/2022 at 20:06 (817 days old) by Jo (Dallas,TX)        
Yes

The model S while desirable for the convenience of its light weight but also was not power nozzle compatible and that made it less desirable.

I know what you mean with the power nozzles. It’s always nice to have one that looks good instead of beat up. That gray metallic paint though is a common color so it could be repainted. Changing the covers back to plastic was so,etching good Electrolux did. While the unpainted silver ones are nice they just don’t stay shiny. At least the plastic ones can be cleaned and since they are made of Lexan they don’t crack easily.

I have had many PN-1s and while it’s not my favorite due to the lack of edge cleaning…they do stay looking good with a cleanup of any paint scuffs and cleaning the bumper.

Jon


Post# 449007 , Reply# 3   1/2/2022 at 12:53 (816 days old) by human (Pines of Carolina)        

human's profile picture
I agree with you about the painted power nozzles. I have two PN4A's that were originally Silverado gray. I repainted one with Rustoleum hammertone paint and primer in one, giving it a slightly custom touch by masking off the nameplate area to leave it shiny. It's slightly darker than the original and looks really nice but it was a lot of work. The second one got a polished PN4 cover. Keeping one of those shined up takes a lot less work than repainting one.


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