A number of changes were also made
to the attachments. I will be adding attachment photos later.
First, the new light-weight aluminum
wands made their appearance on the late AF, replacing the heavy, steel, chrome-plated
wands that had been in use since the early 1930s. (The type of metal wands provided for so many years -- before the completely redesigned Renaissance came out) -- were originally introduced on the Model XII. Earlier models [XI, V, etc.] did have metal wands but of different designs than what you would think of as the standard-issue metal Electrolux wands.)
Slight changes were also made to
the combination floor/rug brush: The air opening on the rug side was made narrower
to concentrate the air flow, and long, narrow channels were incorporated into the rug-side design to deflect the suction
along the entire length of the nozzle. (The jury, in my opinion, is out as to whether this newer nozze was actually an improvement over the earlier one (introduced with the model E in 1954) but I am inclined to say that it was not.)
The rug washer accessory kit
for the turbo tool (first introduced with the late Automatic E) was added in mid
1958.
The Power Nozzle
The most dramatic attachment
change was the introduction in 1959 of the revolutionary, all-new electric power nozzle
for vacuuming and deep-cleaning carpets. Electrolux cannot claim the fame
of coming up with the first power nozzle, but it was certainly –among– the first, and was several years ahead
of its time. Electric current for the power nozzle
was provided by a small outlet at the top-front area of the cleaner, cleverly incorporated into the existing chrome trim. In the
photo below, the machine on the left has that outlet.
A long, single cord connected
to this socket, was then attached along the length of the hose with plastic clips,
and was permanently connected into the top (hose handle) end of the plastic wand of the power nozzle.
This, of course, proved to be an inconvenient
arrangement but was not corrected until 1961 with the next model, the Model G: The earliest Model Gs still had the same long, single cord. Into the first year of production of the Model G,
a separate cord connector was added at the handle-end of the hose, where it connected to the cord leading down into the power nozzle wand, making it easier to
switch back and forth from the power nozzle to other attachments. Also, the power
nozzle cord was more securely attached to the hose with rubber straps instead of plastic clips.
(Eventually, after some
false starts, the electric hose was introduced which is now standard on all tank and canister vacuum cleaners. The woven vinyl hose, while more stylish
and attractive, was not practical for use as an electric hose. The complicated,
multi-layered construction was expensive, too rigid (especially with the addition
of electrical wiring), and not very durable. Now, the simpler, and easier-to-manufacture --
[but no cheaper for the consumer, alas ... funny how that works, huh...] -- more durable, molded ribbed-plastic hose is also standard
on most machines.
The electric hose innovation -was-
an Electrolux first, as far as I know: They were field-testing electric hose prototypes
as early as 1962 or 1963.)
Continue on to Page Five for photos of the Power Nozzle.
(Page Four)
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