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Thread Number: 28644
/ Tag: Recent Vacuum Cleaners from past 20 years
Not sure if this is a Kirby~no serial number? |
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| Post# 319579 3/28/2015 at 17:29 (3,309 days old) by ROSIELEE () | ||
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I have what I thought was a Kirby, however I cannot find any serial numbers? Does anyone know what I have? 
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Post# 319583 , Reply# 1 3/28/2015 at 17:54 (3,309 days old) by KirbyClassicIII  (Milwaukie, Oregon) |
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Yasmin,
Yes, this is a Kirby. The serial number plate on yours had since fallen off -- that's why you couldn't find anything about this machine. What I do know is that this Kirby is a rebuilt unit with bojack parts, so therefore it is a mystery as to what this cleaner model/age may be. One clue lies in the safety switch, mounted below the air intake opening on the fan case (revealed when nozzle is removed): if it has one button, it will be anything between a model 516 and Sanitronic VII (1956 to 1965). But if it has two buttons it will be either a Dual Sanitronic 50 or 80 (1965 to 1970). Attached is a picture of my 1969 D80 for a comparison. ~Ben
View Full Size
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| Post# 319584 , Reply# 2 3/28/2015 at 18:08 (3,309 days old) by ROSIELEE () | ||
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Thank you so much for your reply. I will take a look at the safety switch for more clues....here is another photo of the full machine. 
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| Post# 319626 , Reply# 3 3/29/2015 at 10:44 (3,309 days old) by sptyks (Skowhegan, Maine) | ||
 Yasmin, you have what we call a "Frankenkirby". A Kirby vacuum that is made up of parts from several different Kirby models. As Ben pointed out the motor unit is anywhere from a 516 to a DS80 depending on what type of safety switch is on the front of the motor unit but behind the floor nozzle. The handle is from a Kirby Tradition and the bag is totally Bojack since it is missing the Emptor and is connected directly to the motor exhaust. | ||
| Post# 319630 , Reply# 5 3/29/2015 at 11:31 (3,308 days old) by ROSIELEE () | ||
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| Post# 319640 , Reply# 6 3/29/2015 at 13:02 (3,308 days old) by oldkirbyman (The Dalles, Or) | ||
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Not Sure Start over. Much cheeper and easyer. | ||
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Post# 319644 , Reply# 7 3/29/2015 at 13:55 (3,308 days old) by KirbyClassicIII (Milwaukie, Oregon) |
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Yasmin,
It looks like you have either a Dual Sanitronic 50 or 80 because the safety switch I see has two buttons. I'd probably think it is the latter (like my '69) because of the handle assembly - whenever a Kirby is "bojacked" or "retrimmed" to match the model then on sale (i.e. Classic III, Tradition) most of the pre-D80 models retain their original handle assemblies. ~Ben | ||
| Post# 319648 , Reply# 8 3/29/2015 at 14:03 (3,308 days old) by sptyks (Skowhegan, Maine) | ||
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Yasmin, what you have there is the Dual Sanitronic 50 motor unit sometimes also referred to as the power plant as it can accommodate several different attachments. I can tell this is a DS50 because of the color of the wheels. Here is a few pictures of my fully restored DS50. | ||
| Post# 319652 , Reply# 9 3/29/2015 at 14:31 (3,308 days old) by sptyks (Skowhegan, Maine) | ||
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On second thought I noticed your headlight lid does not have the lighted Kirby logo like mine in the 3rd picture. The DS50 has the tan Sirocco trim and is the only Kirby ever made with the lighted Kirby logo on the headlight cap and was made 1965 - 1967. So This means that Ben is most likely correct and you have a DS80 from 1968 or 1969 which has the Avocado green trim.
You can shine up your Kirby with Mother's Aluminum polish available at most automotive stores and Walmart. If you want to make it all original, most of the parts are available on ebay at the Kirby Needs Store:
http://stores.ebay.com/Kirby-Needs/_i.ht... | ||
| Post# 319678 , Reply# 11 3/29/2015 at 20:25 (3,308 days old) by sptyks (Skowhegan, Maine) | ||
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| Post# 319687 , Reply# 12 3/29/2015 at 22:01 (3,308 days old) by human (Pines of Carolina) | ||
Custom Kirby?
That metal will definitely polish up nicely. You can start with some Bar Keeper's Friend on a damp (but not sopping wet) sponge to remove the oxidation, then polish it with Mother's. When you're done, give it a coat of car wax to retard further oxidation. You'll be surprised at what a difference it will make. I just did this to my G5 and it looks like a whole different machine.
It's a shame the vacuum isn't more original; It kind of reminds me of that old joke about the family axe that's been in the family for 150 years and it's only had four new handles and two new heads. But it does give you an interesting opportunity, if you want to take it, to create a customized Kirby that's uniquely yours. Of course, the flip side of the coin is you could find another Dual Sanitronic that needs some work and use this one as a parts donor. Whatever you decide, keep us updated. We'll be interested to see what you come up with. | ||
| Post# 319690 , Reply# 13 3/29/2015 at 22:29 (3,308 days old) by Bikerray (Middle Earth) | ||
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