Hey, Kirby fans,

I am trying to determine by memory which Kirby my parents owned when I was at home--the Sanitronic VII or the D50?  Please inform me of the similarities/differences of the two machines.  Also, were there two different handle styles for the D50?  I am thinking that the 1964's handle was identical to the Sanitronic VII, and the 1965 model was equipped with the thicker version with the brown wood-grained "plate". 

Paul

Thanks for the 411. 

Don't mean to disappoint you, Jordan, but I don't remember the lighted oval Kirby logo on the headlight cap.  However, I'm pretty sure that the triangular belt lifter did not have a starburst--like the Sanitronic VIIs I've seen--but looked like the one that was seemingly designed for the D50.  So if anyone knows if the 1964 Sanitronic VII contained that feature, that would most likely solve the mystery.  I may be mistaken about the lighted oval, too.  I have to confess that back in the day I didn't have an interest in vacuum cleaners--it has only developed in the last year in part thanks to this site.

I appreciate the info.  I'm pretty sure that my parents purchased the Kirby brand new, so it sounds like I'll have to ask my family members if they remember the oval light; my memory might be full of dust .   I'm 99% certain, though, that the belt lifter looked like ones I've seen on the D50s--not the starburst design that I've seen on some Sanitronic VIIs--which is why I wonder if the 1964 Sanitronic VII models had the same belt lifter design as the D50s (I don't know what that design is called).  Of course it's also possible that my parents purchased their Sanitronic VII in 1965 and someone had exchanged the floor nozzle with one from a D50.

Paul

My thanks once again for your time and assistance.  Actually, I had already read your story of the "vacuum lady" in Virginia (a fun one to peruse) and am glad that you were finally able to obtain your D50 after all those years.  One wonders if the woman's family still has her vac?

Anyway, I the oval Kirby light on the headlight cap keeps me from confirming my parents' model as a D50.  I usually remember such details, but this one just doesn't register.  Along with that, yours is the first D50 that I have seen with the cylindrical ribbed metal handle like the Sanitronic VII.  That would lead me to believe that the other type of handle I've seen on D50s (and models afterward) was a design change in '66 or '67. 

It was fun to see the sweeper's boxes and attachements again, too (which I am presuming were similar--if not identical--to the Sanitronic VIIs).  I remember my parents keeping ours in the foyer closet. 

Paul

Almost forgot to respond to your #8 reply--thanks for the extended info.  One of the problems in my memory is that my parents at one point purchased a new bag for our vacuum cleaner, so it's harder for me to remember if the original bag had "Dual 50" on its rubber cap. 

As for the belt lifter, I make a distinction between the Sanitronic VII's "sunburst" (probably borrowed from someone else) and the D50s pattern which I didn't think was a sunburst, so maybe I'm confusing the issue.

Very interesting--'preciate it.  I used to be just into Electrolux but the more I learn about Kirby the more I'm getting "sucked" into its fascinating history and minutiae (excuse the pun).  Your knowledge base is incredible!

Paul