Kirby D-50 Serendipity

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I rarely look through Craigslist for old vacuums because they rarely show up, and when they do they're usually overpriced junk. However, in idle moment a few months ago I went on the site and browsed around, when "what to wondering eyes should appear" but...

"Older Kirby vacuum, complete, good cond. $25.00."

Curious, of course, I clicked on the listing and just about fell out of my chair when I saw it was a Dual Sanitronic 50 in gorgeous and all-original condition!

Well, I need another Kirby like I need a hole in the head, but this one was so lovely and priced so reasonably I just couldn't pass it up. (This was before our current dire economic situation from Arlee losing his job.)

I drove out to the seller's address in Mount Washington -- a very lovely neighborhood in the San Rafael Hills of Northeast Los Angeles -- and saw that it was a large, beautiful Mid-Century home.

The early-1950s split-level house sat up on a slight hill. A set of right-angle stairs up the hill (5 steps up and 3 to the left) led to the front door. A parking area and large two-car garage was to the right.

The guy came to the door, led me inside to the nearly empty living room,, and showed me the Kirby. I commented that it was in such great condition.

He sighed a bit sadly and said, "It was my mom's but she hardly ever used it because it was so big and heavy. When she passed away, I had to clear out the house to put it on the market. I came across the Kirby in the back of a closet. I'd forgotten she even had it because she so rarely used it. I thought about keeping it but then realized I really needed to get rid of most of this stuff."

I paid him, thanked him, he thanked me, and off I went.

When I got it home, I took some photos but didn't get around to doing anything with them today, and here they are. What you see is exactly the condition it was in when I first laid eyes on it.

An odd note: The only part that showed any wear at all was the long rug nozzle attachment. As you can it, it has quite a few battle scars, while, again, the rest of the machine is nearly perfect.

The D50 model has a real soft spot in my heart. You may have read about my early encounter with one. If not, check it out -- it's a fun story! See link.

CLICK HERE TO GO TO electrolux137's LINK

Photos... < > Photo 1 of 11 View Full Size


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Post# 334599 9/25/2015 at 16:38 (3,132 days old) by electrolux137 (Los Angeles)
Checkrate/Likes 1 ~ ~ I rarely look through Craigslist for old vacuums because they rarely show up, and when they do they're usually overpriced junk. However, in idle moment a few months ago I went on the site and browsed around, when "what to wondering eyes should appear" but... "Older Kirby vacuum, complete, good cond. $25.00." Curious, of course, I clicked on the listing and just about fell out of my chair when I saw it was a Dual Sanitronic 50 in gorgeous and all-original condition! Well, I need another Kirby like I need a hole in the head, but this one was so lovely and priced so reasonably I just couldn't pass it up. (This was before our current dire economic situation from Arlee losing his job.) I drove out to the seller's address in Mount Washington -- a very lovely neighborhood in the San Rafael Hills of Northeast Los Angeles -- and saw that it was a large, beautiful Mid-Century home. The early-1950s split-level house sat up on a slight hill. A set of right-angle stairs up the hill (5 steps up and 3 to the left) led to the front door. A parking area and large two-car garage was to the right. The guy came to the door, led me inside to the nearly empty living room,, and showed me the Kirby. I commented that it was in such great condition. He sighed a bit sadly and said, "It was my mom's but she hardly ever used it because it was so big and heavy. When she passed away, I had to clear out the house to put it on the market. I came across the Kirby in the back of a closet. I'd forgotten she even had it because she so rarely used it. I thought about keeping it but then realized I really needed to get rid of most of this stuff." I paid him, thanked him, he thanked me, and off I went. When I got it home, I took some photos but didn't get around to doing anything with them today, and here they are. What you see is exactly the condition it was in when I first laid eyes on it. An odd note: The only part that showed any wear at all was the long rug nozzle attachment. As you can it, it has quite a few battle scars, while, again, the rest of the machine is nearly perfect. The D50 model has a real soft spot in my heart. You may have read about my early encounter with one. If not, check it out -- it's a fun story! See link. CLICK HERE TO GO TO electrolux137's LINK Photos... < > Photo 1 of 11 View Full Size This post was last edited 09/25/2015 at 17:01

Post# 334600 , Reply# 1 9/25/2015 at 16:49 (3,132 days old) by KirbyClassicIII (Milwaukie, Oregon)
Checkrate/Likes Serial no. A779959, delivered 9-24-66. What a terrific find, Charles! ~Ben

Post# 334602 , Reply# 2 9/25/2015 at 17:23 (3,132 days old) by CharlesKirby66 (Manteca, CA)
Checkrate/Likes *Awesomeness!* Charles, this is my favorite model of vintage Kirby! What an amazing find! The one I have, I got from an interstate fraud artist on eBay. Totally reported her and her racketeering ring of hoodlems. This terrible experience mars my enjoyment of my DS 50. Treasure this Kirby and its lovely backstory with all your soul! LOL By chance, do have an extra DS50 curved wand? That's the only (standard) attachment I am missing, which greatly hampers my ability to use it in the hose mode. Let me know, gladly buy it from ya!

Post# 334603 , Reply# 3 9/25/2015 at 17:24 (3,132 days old) by electrolux137 (Los Angeles)
Checkrate/Likes ~ ~ "9-24-66" 49 years ago, almost to the day.

Post# 334607 , Reply# 4 9/25/2015 at 19:26 (3,132 days old) by suckolux (Yuba City, CA)
Checkrate/Likes My favorite model also

Post# 334609 , Reply# 5 9/25/2015 at 19:53 (3,132 days old) by kirby519 (Wisconsin)
Checkrate/Likes I have a couple of them too. I really like do like it as well. Mine came from the Good Will store. I managed to get a full set of above floor attachments for it as well at the Good Will store. It took some careful watching but landed it all. One of them came with the optional 50' power cord. That was great when I was cleaning the halls of the building I live in.

Post# 334623 , Reply# 6 9/25/2015 at 21:13 (3,132 days old) by 3rdGenVacGuy (Columbus, Ohio )
Checkrate/Likes 1 *DS50* I took one in for repair this week. Still used as a daily driver since the day it was born.

Post# 334625 , Reply# 7 9/25/2015 at 22:09 (3,132 days old) by kirby519 (Wisconsin)
Checkrate/Likes 1 *@3rdGenVacGuy* A Kirby is like a Time X watch. It will take a licking and keep on ticking. In have some 516 to 519's still going strong.

Post# 334634 , Reply# 8 9/26/2015 at 02:47 (3,132 days old) by tolivac (Greenville,NC)
Checkrate/Likes I like these Kirbys,too-got mine from trade in piles.Sadly for one of mine-the boxes got damaged from a roof leak at the vac shop.Instead of selling the boxes of parts and boxes the shop gave them to me.The machine was missing.I have a nice one that goes with the toolkit.Like the unique lighted "Kirby" logo on the hood when the machine is started.the one shown in the pictures is really nice-got LITTLE use!The best for collectors!!ENJOY THE MACHINE-meantime have to go back and read the story!

Post# 334710 , Reply# 10 9/28/2015 at 00:59 (3,130 days old) by hygiene903 (Galion, OH)
Checkrate/Likes *Nice Find Charles!* The D50 has always been one of my favorite Kirbys too! Mine was a gift from my good friend and fellow collector Norm Brown several years ago when he was downsizing his collection. Thanks again Norm! Jeff

Post# 334635 , Reply# 9 9/26/2015 at 02:52 (3,132 days old) by tolivac (Greenville,NC)
Checkrate/Likes Neat story-we always like to find treasures-and sometimes wished we had them!