Kirby made 2 models of this machine the 1-C, and the 2-C, I assume you have the 2-C which came out in the late 1930's. Kirby's are interesting machines, but only collectors like us are interested in them. If you're looking to selling it, let me know what you're asking price is. If you want to keep it as a collectors item and are looking to have it cleaned, polished and restored, I suggest Hooversrus, as they do restoration of all vacuum cleaners not only Hoover. If you want to do the restoration yourself, I suggest 'Never-Dull,' magic wadding compound to remove tarnish and them 'Mothers' polish to give it a mirror shine.

You wanted history. Well I'm not only a vacuum cleaner historian, but worked as a Kirby training manager for many years. So here's the basic background.

Kirby is a division of the Scott/Fetzer company located in Cleveland, Ohio. However, it was James B. Kirby who pioneered the vacuum cleaner. His first was a non electric hand pump canister called the Domestic Cyclone, it was marketed and sold in 1906. Instead of a cloth bag, he used a pan of water to collect the dust. Many years later Rexair/Rainbow would use the same concept. In 1907, Kirby added an electric motor to this machine and eliminated the water receptacle, and used the bag, or some other container. In 1910, he introduced his first upright called a Broomstick, and this was also electric. This was followed with a non electric called the Grasshopper (it was also marketed as the Ezee), but it was his non electric Vac-U-Ette circa 1917, that really made a mark in the vacuum cleaner world, and it was the first vacuum cleaner made by Scott and Fetzer. After several revisions, it was outfitted with an electric motor, and became the electric Vac-U-Ette, and later the Scott/Fetzer Home Sanitation System. But the biggest change came in 1935, the Kirby 1-C. All of Jim Kirby's ideas were used here, his Toe touch control device to raise and lower the carpet nozzle, Sani-Em -Tor for quick removal of dirt, and a myriad of cleaning tools. The 2-C followed a few years later with minor improvements. The Kirby stayed that way until the Classic of 1970 with the wider nozzle and other changes.

Here are a few of my Kirby machines starting with the non electric uprights. For more information contact the Kirby company. If you have any further questions, feel free to ask me.

Alex Taber.