Kirby Hose History, Models 505-Legend II

I need to re-write this:

MODEL 505
Black corduroy, with gold and red accents.

MODELS 508-515
Gray corduroy, with silver and red accents. Starting with model 509, a chrome-plated swivel connector was added to the wand end.

MODELS 516-561
Red rubber, ribbed; changed to red vinyl when the model 517 replaced the 516. Starting from model 519, the blower connection was changed from red-painted metal to color-toned plastic.

MODEL 562 SANITRONIC
Metallic coppertone vinyl (sirocco in replacement), with color-toned plastic collar.

SANITRONIC VII
Coppertone vinyl (sirocco in replacement). No locking nut assembly on coupler end of hose, due to all-new plastic universal suction/blower coupler (which can be attached to either the motor or the Emtor).

DUAL SANITRONIC 50 TO CLASSIC 1CR
Suction blower coupler end is slightly modified, being given a protruding tab to accommodate the new high speed mode of said model. The original D50 hose was still coppertone, like the VII hose.

CLASSIC OMEGA 1CB AND CLASSIC III 2CB
Suction blower coupler end is given a longer right attaching lug to jibe with the second position of the newly-designed arm-type safety switch. Tool end, or swivel end, of the hose is given air bleeder holes (the extension wands and the surface nozzle swivel tube also had these holes) to reduce chances of pulling out fabric in sensitive areas.

TRADITION 3CB
Very early hoses had a pin to jibe with the headlight-mounted safety switch; but as the new switch design was a flop, they did not alter the attaching lugs.

HERITAGE, HERITAGE II AND LEGEND II
Suction blower coupler end nodules in different alignment to accommodate the new style safety switch. During the Heritage 1HD production, the diameter of the hose was enlarged from 1-1/4" to 1-3/8" to improve air flow.

Then, during Heritage II 2HD production, the air bleeder holes were removed from the tool end of the hose (1985), and then in late 1987 the hose was again redesigned, using polycarbonate for the swivel end and coupler collar instead of aluminum.

The Legend II hose was just the burgundy colored version of the late '87 Heritage II hose.

~Ben


Forum Topics & Rules Manuals & Literature	New users Click-here to sign-up

Post# 191173 7/24/2012 at 07:29 (4,286 days old) by KirbyClassicIII (Milwaukie, Oregon)
Checkrate/Likes 1 HISTORY LESSONS ON KIRBY HOSES (MODELS 505 TO LEGEND II) MODEL 505 Black corduroy, with gold and red accents. MODELS 508-515 Gray corduroy, with silver and red accents. Starting with model 509, a chrome-plated swivel connector was added to the wand end. MODELS 516-561 Red rubber, ribbed; changed to red vinyl when the model 517 replaced the 516. Starting from model 519, the blower connection was changed from metal to color-toned plastic. MODEL 562 SANITRONIC Metallic coppertone vinyl, with color-toned plastic collar. SANITRONIC VII Tan vinyl. No locking nut assembly on coupler end of hose, due to all-new plastic suction blower connection and new-style suction blower connection sleeve. DUAL SANITRONIC 50 TO TRADITION 3CB Suction blower coupler end is slightly modified to accommodate the new high speed mode of said model. HERITAGE, HERITAGE II AND LEGEND II Suction blower coupler end nodules in different alignment to accommodate the new style safety switch. ~Ben

Post# 191186 , Reply# 1 7/24/2012 at 09:54 (4,286 days old) by rugsucker (Elizabethton TN)
Checkrate/Likes *hoses* Many vac companies ran ads with Dayco rubber company in mid 50s on their 'new' colored hoses.--Heritage hose started with metal attachment end that was changed to plastic on later Her2 and all Legend.

Post# 191188 , Reply# 2 7/24/2012 at 10:01 (4,286 days old) by adambomb (Undisclosed )
Checkrate/Likes *Hey* Did you know there were three different hoses for the Heritage II?

Post# 191212 , Reply# 3 7/24/2012 at 14:11 (4,285 days old) by KirbyClassicIII (Milwaukie, Oregon)
Checkrate/Likes *AdamBomb* Adam, Sorry about that. Re: HERITAGE, HERITAGE II AND LEGEND II Starting in late 1987, the hose changed and the tube connector was now made of carbon plastic instead of metal, to better withstand abuse. ~Ben

Post# 191217 , Reply# 4 7/24/2012 at 15:01 (4,285 days old) by vacu-finder ()
Checkrate/Likes I'm always besides myself when i see your posts Benjamin.. You are a bundle of information on Kirbys. When I pick up another kirby i know whom I'll ask technical questions. cheers,

Post# 191303 , Reply# 5 7/25/2012 at 03:40 (4,285 days old) by adambomb (Undisclosed )
Checkrate/Likes *Yes Ben,* The first hose from 1984 was just like the Heritage style hose except black instead of gray. The second hose from 1985 - 1987 was just like the first one except the bleeder holes were filled in and it was a solid piece of metal. The third hose from 1987 - 1988 was just as you described above the newer style black plastic hose. This lasted throughout the rest of the Heritage II and the Heritage II Legend. The Legend II hose was a maroon version of the third hose.

Post# 231511 , Reply# 6 5/6/2013 at 17:59 (3,999 days old) by KirbyClassicIII (Milwaukie, Oregon)
Checkrate/Likes Adam, The mid-1985 hose was basically a revert back to the pre-1973 design (no holes in swivel tube) - the holes were originally there (on the Classic Omega hose, extension wands and surface nozzle swivel tube) to prevent children's eyes and ears from being injured by the tremendous suction. Forgot: The Classic Omega hose coupler end was also changed because of the new safety switch with the two-position arm instead of two buttons. ~Ben

Post# 231545 , Reply# 7 5/6/2013 at 21:33 (3,999 days old) by vacman1961 (North Babylon, New York)
Checkrate/Likes Also, starting with the Heritage the diameter of the actual hose went from 1 1/4" to 1 3/8" to allow more airflow.

Post# 232588 , Reply# 8 5/13/2013 at 17:02 (3,992 days old) by KirbyClassicIII (Milwaukie, Oregon)
Checkrate/Likes I need to re-write this: MODEL 505 Black corduroy, with gold and red accents. MODELS 508-515 Gray corduroy, with silver and red accents. Starting with model 509, a chrome-plated swivel connector was added to the wand end. MODELS 516-561 Red rubber, ribbed; changed to red vinyl when the model 517 replaced the 516. Starting from model 519, the blower connection was changed from red-painted metal to color-toned plastic. MODEL 562 SANITRONIC Metallic coppertone vinyl (sirocco in replacement), with color-toned plastic collar. SANITRONIC VII Coppertone vinyl (sirocco in replacement). No locking nut assembly on coupler end of hose, due to all-new plastic universal suction/blower coupler (which can be attached to either the motor or the Emtor). DUAL SANITRONIC 50 TO CLASSIC 1CR Suction blower coupler end is slightly modified, being given a protruding tab to accommodate the new high speed mode of said model. The original D50 hose was still coppertone, like the VII hose. CLASSIC OMEGA 1CB AND CLASSIC III 2CB Suction blower coupler end is given a longer right attaching lug to jibe with the second position of the newly-designed arm-type safety switch. Tool end, or swivel end, of the hose is given air bleeder holes (the extension wands and the surface nozzle swivel tube also had these holes) to reduce chances of pulling out fabric in sensitive areas. TRADITION 3CB Very early hoses had a pin to jibe with the headlight-mounted safety switch; but as the new switch design was a flop, they did not alter the attaching lugs. HERITAGE, HERITAGE II AND LEGEND II Suction blower coupler end nodules in different alignment to accommodate the new style safety switch. During the Heritage 1HD production, the diameter of the hose was enlarged from 1-1/4" to 1-3/8" to improve air flow. Then, during Heritage II 2HD production, the air bleeder holes were removed from the tool end of the hose (1985), and then in late 1987 the hose was again redesigned, using polycarbonate for the swivel end and coupler collar instead of aluminum. The Legend II hose was just the burgundy colored version of the late '87 Heritage II hose. ~Ben

Post# 421892 , Reply# 9 3/19/2020 at 15:42 (1,490 days old) by Paul (USA)
Checkrate/Likes *Tool Colors* Is this Kirby tool color 1948-1990 timeline accurate? 1948-1955: Medium Gray�508-515 (circle logo with narrow 'Kirby' cursive '53-'55) 1956-1961: Red�516-561 (circle logo with narrow 'Kirby' cursive) 1962-1967: Sirocco�562, SVII, DS50 (circle logo with narrow 'Kirby' cursive) 1967-1969: Avocado�DS80 (circle logo with narrow 'Kirby' cursive) 1970-1976: Rosewood�Classic 1CR, Classic Ω 1CB (wide 'Kirby' cursive wordmark) 1976-1979: Red�Classic III 2CB (wide 'Kirby' cursive wordmark) 1979-1981: Blue�Tradition 3CB (wide 'Kirby' cursive wordmark) 1981-1989: Black�Heritage 1HD, Heritage II, Heritage 84 2HD (wide 'Kirby' cursive wordmark) 1989-1990: Maroon�Heritage II Legend & Legend 2HD (wide 'Kirby' cursive wordmark) Also, on what model was the 516-561 crevice tool first made without the ribs, or was a Classic III swap that I saw?

Post# 421894 , Reply# 11 3/19/2020 at 15:59 (1,490 days old) by Hoover300 (Kentucky)
Checkrate/Likes A while ago I got a 508 attachment set with a tan cloth hose with red accents. I do not have a pic but the rubber part on the machine end was smooth.

Post# 421900 , Reply# 13 3/19/2020 at 16:37 (1,490 days old) by Paul (USA)
Checkrate/Likes 1 Thanks, Ben.

Post# 421903 , Reply# 14 3/19/2020 at 18:02 (1,490 days old) by crazykirbydude (Lexington, KY)
Checkrate/Likes Weren't the later Legend II tools the same as the G3 tools, but in a burgundy color?

Post# 421893 , Reply# 10 3/19/2020 at 15:52 (1,490 days old) by KirbyClassicIII (Milwaukie, Oregon)
Checkrate/Likes *Paul* Paul, Some late 515s also had the 516's red tools. The modernized crevice tool you mention first appeared in the model 517's attachment set - also the first time it even had a brush tip. Actually, the Heritage (84) 1HD (1981-84) had dark gray trim, therefore the attachments were dark gray, too. Also, the Classic 1CR (1970-73) had chocolate brown trim, and thus the attachments did as well. Some of these still had the 1950s Kirby logo (including on the round dusting brush, the surface nozzle and the spray gun). The rosewood trim debuted with the Classic Omega 1CB (1973-76), but for the first year the round dusting brush, surface nozzle and the spray gun still had the 1950s Kirby logo. ~Ben

Post# 421895 , Reply# 12 3/19/2020 at 16:00 (1,490 days old) by KirbyClassicIII (Milwaukie, Oregon)
Checkrate/Likes *Hoover300* Kieran, The 508 was more or less a continuation of the 505, but in gray. ~Ben

Post# 421904 , Reply# 15 3/19/2020 at 18:15 (1,490 days old) by KirbyClassicIII (Milwaukie, Oregon)
Checkrate/Likes *crazykirbydude* Yes, in the 1990-91 season they were. ~Ben

Post# 421906 , Reply# 16 3/19/2020 at 19:19 (1,490 days old) by Lesinutah (Utah)
Checkrate/Likes *Ben* 508 or 509 hose was tan same color as the bag. It has red, white accents. Les

Post# 421953 , Reply# 17 3/20/2020 at 18:02 (1,489 days old) by Lesinutah (Utah)
Checkrate/Likes *Edit* The tan hose could be 508 509 or 510. I have a 505 hose and the tan hose I have looks exact design and accents albeit different colors. Les