Kirby Attachment Box Arrangements Over the Years

I'm writing this post as a primer to help all those junior Kirby fanatics understand how Kirby arranged the attachment box setup.

Item numbers on attachment illustrations, where applicable, are from the respective instruction books for each Kirby model.

I know from the Sanitronic VII to the Tradition, the Kirby cardboard attachment box had usually consisted of the following, in this arrangement:

LEFT VERTICAL SPACE
Duster Buffer floor pad
Surface Nozzle with Elbow
Shoulder Strap (for Portable Handle)
Straight Extension Tube

HORIZONTAL COLUMN #1 (TOP)
Crystalator with cap (item 25)
Portable handle (store on top of item 25)

HORIZONTAL COLUMN #2 (MIDDLE)
Item 22 - Utility Brush Nozzle (item 23)

HORIZONTAL COLUMN #3 (BOTTOM)
Massage Cup (item 22)
Utility Air Nozzle (item 24)
Duster Brush (item 21) (with spare Rug Nozzle belt)

RIGHT VERTICAL SPACE
Curved Extension Tube
Crevice Tool with Brush Tip

However, for the 500 series (except 562, listed further down) it will be arranged in this fashion:

LEFT VERTICAL SPACE
Duster Buffer
Crevice Tool with Brush Tip (Brush Tip first introduced with model 517)
Straight Extension Tube

HORIZONTAL ROWS (FROM TOP)

COLUMN #1
Utility Brush Nozzle (item 23)

COLUMN #2
Blower Coupler (item 27)
Duster Brush (item 21)

COLUMN #3
Utility Air Nozzle (item 24)
Massage Cup (item 22)

COLUMN #4
Shoulder Strap
Portable Handle (item 11)
Crystalator with Cap (item 25)
Suction Coupler (item 26)

RIGHT VERTICAL SPACE
Curved Extension Tube

The complete Surface Nozzle (with elbow) and Shoulder Strap were standard attachments starting with the 562. The Surface Nozzle was placed in the notch by the center row (as later units).

562 ATTACHMENT CASE ARRANGEMENT

LEFT VERTICAL SPACE
Duster Buffer
Surface Nozzle
Shoulder Strap
Straight Extension Tube

HORIZONTAL ROWS (FROM TOP)

COLUMN #1
Utility Brush Nozzle (item 23)

COLUMN #2
Massage Cup (item 22)
Duster Brush (item 21)

COLUMN #3
Utility Air Nozzle (item 24)
Blower Coupler (item 27)

COLUMN #4
Portable Handle (item 11)
Crystalator (item 25)
Suction Coupler (item 26)

RIGHT VERTICAL SPACE
Curved Extension Tube
Crevice Tool with Brush Tip

NOTE: The Suds-O-Gun is also part of the standard attachments group, as well as the Inflator/Deflator tool (from Classic III) but there is no designated space for it (or the Inflator) in the cardboard attachment case.

TRADITION PLASTIC ACCESSORY CASE
(introduced mid-1980)

Left half of case stores:
Suds-O-Gun with Cap
Crystalator
Surface Nozzle
Surface Nozzle Elbow
Portable Handle
Shoulder Strap

Right half of case stores:
Inflator/Deflator
Straight Extension Tube
Curved Extension Tube
Crevice Tool with Brush Tip
Utility Brush Nozzle
Utility Air Nozzle
Duster Brush (with spare Rug Nozzle belt)
Massage Cup

~Ben


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Post# 233559 5/22/2013 at 11:53 (3,985 days old) by KirbyClassicIII (Milwaukie, Oregon)
Checkrate/Likes I'm writing this post as a primer to help all those junior Kirby fanatics understand how Kirby arranged the attachment box setup. Item numbers on attachment illustrations, where applicable, are from the respective instruction books for each Kirby model. I know from the Sanitronic VII to the Tradition, the Kirby cardboard attachment box had usually consisted of the following, in this arrangement: LEFT VERTICAL SPACE Duster Buffer floor pad Surface Nozzle with Elbow Shoulder Strap (for Portable Handle) Straight Extension Tube HORIZONTAL COLUMN #1 (TOP) Crystalator with cap (item 25) Portable handle (store on top of item 25) HORIZONTAL COLUMN #2 (MIDDLE) Item 22 - Utility Brush Nozzle (item 23) HORIZONTAL COLUMN #3 (BOTTOM) Massage Cup (item 22) Utility Air Nozzle (item 24) Duster Brush (item 21) (with spare Rug Nozzle belt) RIGHT VERTICAL SPACE Curved Extension Tube Crevice Tool with Brush Tip However, for the 500 series (except 562, listed further down) it will be arranged in this fashion: LEFT VERTICAL SPACE Duster Buffer Crevice Tool with Brush Tip (Brush Tip first introduced with model 517) Straight Extension Tube HORIZONTAL ROWS (FROM TOP) COLUMN #1 Utility Brush Nozzle (item 23) COLUMN #2 Blower Coupler (item 27) Duster Brush (item 21) COLUMN #3 Utility Air Nozzle (item 24) Massage Cup (item 22) COLUMN #4 Shoulder Strap Portable Handle (item 11) Crystalator with Cap (item 25) Suction Coupler (item 26) RIGHT VERTICAL SPACE Curved Extension Tube The complete Surface Nozzle (with elbow) and Shoulder Strap were standard attachments starting with the 562. The Surface Nozzle was placed in the notch by the center row (as later units). 562 ATTACHMENT CASE ARRANGEMENT LEFT VERTICAL SPACE Duster Buffer Surface Nozzle Shoulder Strap Straight Extension Tube HORIZONTAL ROWS (FROM TOP) COLUMN #1 Utility Brush Nozzle (item 23) COLUMN #2 Massage Cup (item 22) Duster Brush (item 21) COLUMN #3 Utility Air Nozzle (item 24) Blower Coupler (item 27) COLUMN #4 Portable Handle (item 11) Crystalator (item 25) Suction Coupler (item 26) RIGHT VERTICAL SPACE Curved Extension Tube Crevice Tool with Brush Tip NOTE: The Suds-O-Gun is also part of the standard attachments group, as well as the Inflator/Deflator tool (from Classic III) but there is no designated space for it (or the Inflator) in the cardboard attachment case. TRADITION PLASTIC ACCESSORY CASE (introduced mid-1980) Left half of case stores: Suds-O-Gun with Cap Crystalator Surface Nozzle Surface Nozzle Elbow Portable Handle Shoulder Strap Right half of case stores: Inflator/Deflator Straight Extension Tube Curved Extension Tube Crevice Tool with Brush Tip Utility Brush Nozzle Utility Air Nozzle Duster Brush (with spare Rug Nozzle belt) Massage Cup ~Ben

Post# 233563 , Reply# 1 5/22/2013 at 11:58 (3,985 days old) by KirbyClassicIII (Milwaukie, Oregon)
Checkrate/Likes *500 Series Attachment Case Arrangement* Used for models 505 to 561. The Shoulder Strap is marked 14 and is placed in the fourth column from the top. ~Ben

Post# 233564 , Reply# 2 5/22/2013 at 11:59 (3,985 days old) by KirbyClassicIII (Milwaukie, Oregon)
Checkrate/Likes *562 Sanitronic Attachment Case* The Surface Nozzle becomes a standard attachment starting with this model.

Post# 233565 , Reply# 3 5/22/2013 at 12:01 (3,985 days old) by KirbyClassicIII (Milwaukie, Oregon)
Checkrate/Likes *Common Attachment Case Arrangement* The Sanitronic VII attachment case arrangement was the most common, and it lasted through early Tradition sales. This is a shot of the Classic III's attachment box inside.

Post# 233566 , Reply# 4 5/22/2013 at 12:44 (3,985 days old) by caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut)
Checkrate/Likes *Nice attachment kits.* However, you have not included the Floor Duster in the displays. As for the portable handle, it was called a "Lifter Grip." And if you can, show some of the early tool kits where the hose coupling, and that for the blower were not part of the hose. Please keep this thread going, I like it! Alex Taber.

Post# 233567 , Reply# 5 5/22/2013 at 13:12 (3,985 days old) by KirbyClassicIII (Milwaukie, Oregon)
Checkrate/Likes Alex, Now here's a picture of the attachment case with the Duster Buffer inside of it. ~Ben

Post# 233568 , Reply# 6 5/22/2013 at 13:19 (3,985 days old) by KirbyClassicIII (Milwaukie, Oregon)
Checkrate/Likes Alex, Actually the hose and blower couplings are included with the early attachment cases. On models 516-562 they are illustrated, and carry index numbers of 26 (suction coupler) and 27 (blower coupler). I thought I already posted them... but just in case, here's a picture of what the attachment case contents and arrangement would've looked like originally (from the model 508 instruction book). ~Ben

Post# 233571 , Reply# 7 5/22/2013 at 13:27 (3,985 days old) by KirbyClassicIII (Milwaukie, Oregon)
Checkrate/Likes *Kirby 516-561 Attachment Case* Here's what the original attachment case contents would've looked like for models 516 to 561. The crevice tool brush tip first showed up on model 517. The plastic blower coupler first showed up on model 519. ~Ben

Post# 233620 , Reply# 8 5/22/2013 at 18:12 (3,985 days old) by KirbyClassicIII (Milwaukie, Oregon)
Checkrate/Likes *Kirby Heritage II Original Tool Cabinet (1984-85)* All pictures by vacfanatic ~Ben

Post# 233624 , Reply# 10 5/22/2013 at 18:31 (3,985 days old) by caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut)
Checkrate/Likes *Hi Ben.* Thanks, those are some great pictures. I have a few of them and at one time had all of them! Here is my attachment wall from my last house when I lived in San Dego. If all goes well, I'll display them again. Right now they are in boxes in my storage unit. Alex Taber.

Post# 233627 , Reply# 13 5/22/2013 at 18:44 (3,985 days old) by caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut)
Checkrate/Likes *Hi Ben.* Here is my wall of wands. This picture is actually the V.C.C.C. museum in Naperville, Illinois. It was a former 3 car garage, the time period was the early 1990's.

Post# 326396 , Reply# 14 6/3/2015 at 22:24 (3,242 days old) by Jeschbac (Texas)
Checkrate/Likes *Actually....* There is a dedicated position for the inflator/deflator, at least in some Classic III attachment cabinets: top horizontal row, left. In that position, there is a small circular cut-out that holds the narrow point of this tool. Perhaps only later runs had this feature.

Post# 356739 , Reply# 16 7/27/2016 at 16:12 (2,823 days old) by Kirbyrama (Pennsylvania)
Checkrate/Likes *Another observation of older Kirby attachment boxes---* From browsing on this website and Ebay as well; There were some inconsistencys. I have noticed that the early red surface nozzle with the swivel connector had its own separate box (models 516?, 517, and 518). I have never seen this box for 519 ,560, and 561; it seems as though it was discontinued for a few years until the tan 562 featured it in the hanging attachment cabinet. Also, I have never seen a separate box for the floor polisher nozzle for 562 and a few models after.

Post# 233621 , Reply# 9 5/22/2013 at 18:13 (3,985 days old) by KirbyClassicIII (Milwaukie, Oregon)
Checkrate/Likes *Same Case, with the Tools* Again, picture by vacfanatic.

Post# 233625 , Reply# 11 5/22/2013 at 18:33 (3,985 days old) by caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut)
Checkrate/Likes *Hi Ben.* More attachments.

Post# 233626 , Reply# 12 5/22/2013 at 18:37 (3,985 days old) by caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut)
Checkrate/Likes *Hi Ben.* More.

Post# 356695 , Reply# 15 7/27/2016 at 06:03 (2,823 days old) by KirbyClassicIII (Milwaukie, Oregon)
Checkrate/Likes *Jeschbac* J., I recently checked out my Classic III tool box and it does have the hole for the inflator tool tip in the space where the portable handle also goes. ~Ben

Post# 358911 , Reply# 17 9/7/2016 at 10:04 (2,781 days old) by KirbyClassicIII (Milwaukie, Oregon)
Checkrate/Likes *Kirbyrama* The 518 was the first Kirby to feature the Surface Nozzle which, as you guessed, had to be purchased separately. I do wish I could see its box in the same background color as the other boxes: 518 - Tan with red Kirby logo 519, 560 - White with red Kirby logo and gold Kirby circle pattern 561 - Aqua with red Kirby logo and gold Kirby circle pattern The Surface Nozzle is marked as items 28 (nozzle unit) and 29 (swivel attachment) in the instruction books covering these models. The 562 Sanitronic instruction book lists the entire group as item 28. ~Ben