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Thread Number: 35749
/ Tag: 50s/60s/70s Vacuum Cleaners
A Dirty Old Kirby For The New Year |
[Down to Last] |  |
| Post# 383713 1/6/2018 at 23:19 (2,293 days old) by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana) | ||
Hello! I've been a member here since the fall of 2017 but I figured I should start posting my finds now before too much time passes and I forget the details.
The following photos are of a beautiful vintage Kirby that I won back in mid-December (I was the only bidder). Due to the seller's mother being in the hospital and his furnace going out, he was delayed in shipping the vacuum. I made a "what do I do" post about it here: www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-... before I knew what was going on. He shipped it priority mail at the end of December, but because of the new years holiday, it didn't get here until the beginning week of 2018 otherwise it would have been here in 1 day. I bought the Kirby primarily for the carpet fluffer tool (I hope that is what it is), because at the time I bought this vacuum it was just $15 more than just the fluffer tool itself for any Kirby model. With my Kirby Ultimate G in a state of disrepair and considering how cheap this entire lot was, I figured I might as well go for it. I didn't expect to win the auction, but I did with a $19.99 bid and shelled out $21.76 for shipping. A total cost of $41.75 brought it home. I was lucky because I lived within a state away from the seller, so it was super cheap shipping considering the weight. As per the seller's description, the vacuum has been derelict in his grandma's basement for decades, but he plugged it in and the motor ran, so that was the extent of his testing. The Kirby is completely stripped of any model tags, so I have no idea what model it is, but I guess it is something super common considering there was no interest for it on eBay. Either that or it's very desirable and I just have dumb luck! It came with the carpet fluffer which was the entire reason I bought it, and a bunch of other random attachments. I have no idea what they go to, but they do not fit the Kirby's hose. The one tool with the jar says Electrolux on it, and it kind of looks like a paint sprayer? No idea about the other things. I have compiled all the photos of the unboxing and what I experienced opening it and posted a description of the photos as follows: Photo #1: The box as it was left on my porch. Photo #2: The damage to the box, almost lost it in transit! Photo #3: The total weight of it all. Photo #4: You can have any vacuum you want, as long as it's a Corona. Photo #5: The box of attachments Photo #6: A dirty explosion. Photo #7: More dirt. Photo #8: Revenge Of The Dirt III Photo #9: It's a dirty job but someone's gotta do it. Photo #10: All the bits and bobs out of the box. Photo #11: My sidekick has to check out my purchase and make sure it is mouse-free. Photo #12: Opening the box of accessories. Photo #13: All the accessories spread out. Photo #14: Electrolux sprayer tool Photo #15: Weird shower head/turbine thing (Front) Photo #16: Weird shower head/turbine thing (Back) Photo #17: perspective view of the Kirby Photo #18: The last repair shop tag. In business from 1972-1996. Original owners died in 2007 and 2008. Photo #19: The Kirby plug end Photo #20: A weird screw hole on the back of the dust bin tray, no idea what is missing here. | ||
| Post# 383714 , Reply# 1 1/6/2018 at 23:21 (2,293 days old) by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana) | ||
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Continued from above
Here's two more photos that didn't fit in the image cache in the above post.
Photo #21: The Kirby bag tag Photo #22: The only type of ID number I could find on the vacuum - the part number for the handle. | ||
| Post# 383715 , Reply# 2 1/6/2018 at 23:26 (2,293 days old) by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana) | ||
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Obituary
As an aside little tidbit of info if anyone was curious to know, by researching that repair shop tag, I found online the old obituary for the owner of the vacuum shop listed on the tag. I figured this would be a place to post it being a forum for vacuum collectors. He seemed to be well known as a Kirby salesman.
----------------------------------------------------- JOSEPH M. PIAZZA "Popeye" Valparaiso, Indiana Age 77 passed away Monday,May 19, 2008. He was a salesman and self employed by Kirby Vacuum Sweepers. He served in the Air Force during the Korean Conflict. His wife,Dorothy preceded him in death in 2007. He is survived by 4 sons, Joseph Jr. and Douglas both of Portgage, Christopher (Cathy) of Valparaiso and Timothy Angela) of Niles, Michigan; 10 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren; 1 sister, Jerry (Don) Gaddis of Portage; 1 step sister, Janet (Frank) Bunchek of Minnesota; 1 step brother Russell Long of Illinois; half sister, Diane Piazza Shay of Portage; half brother, Peter (Katherine) Piazza of Lake of Four Seasons. Viewing Thursday from 4 p.m. til 8 p.m. at Rendina Funeral Home, 5100 Cleveland St., Merrillville, IN, Friday viewing at the funeral home at 9 a.m. and burial at Calumet Park Cemetery at 10 a.m. for an outside service at the graveside with Bishop Alfred and Pastor Paul Deeds officiating. Published in the Post Tribune from May 21 to May 22, 2008 -------------------------------------------------------------- | ||
| Post# 383716 , Reply# 3 1/6/2018 at 23:31 (2,293 days old) by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana) | ||
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| Post# 383717 , Reply# 4 1/6/2018 at 23:35 (2,293 days old) by crazykirbydude (Lexington, KY) | ||
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| Post# 383718 , Reply# 5 1/7/2018 at 00:04 (2,293 days old) by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana) | ||
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@ crazykirbydude | ||
Post# 383730 , Reply# 6 1/7/2018 at 08:10 (2,293 days old) by vacuumlad1650  (Wauponsee, IL) |
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| Post# 383740 , Reply# 7 1/7/2018 at 10:24 (2,293 days old) by Phaeton (Los Angeles ) | ||
The famous red knob, a kids toy?
Hello All and huskyvacs,
I have these pictures I took off eBay of what is missing. I am missing that knob also and have search out everyone I know trying to find it. I think it had to do with adding one of the Kirby scents. It is not detailed in the booklet that came with my Kirby. It also was easily lost by the adult owner who forgot to put it back in the hole. I believe only a few years in the 50's had it but a real Kirby expert would know more about it. I have to say that was a great price for your Kirby and with an interesting history. Thank you for looking, Pete | ||
| Post# 383756 , Reply# 8 1/7/2018 at 15:23 (2,293 days old) by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana) | ||
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@ vacuumlad1650
It actually isn;t all that bad, but the seller wrapped the bag around the vacuum to ship it, and within transit it shook the dust out backwards through the brushroll area and then it got all over the vacuum. It's in pretty good shape, no cuts or abrasions in the metal.
I just want to service the motor before using because like an old car, parts will go bad and it's not a good idea to use it, as it will cause more damage. | ||
| Post# 383782 , Reply# 11 1/7/2018 at 19:58 (2,293 days old) by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana) | ||
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Here's some more photos, taken tonight 1/7/2018.
Photo #23: The underside of the vacuum. Photo #24: The model tag has been removed, reasons unknown. Photo #25: Front of the vacuum, brushroll removed. Photo #26: Original metal fan. That's not corrosion, just lunar dust from the Apollo shuttle expedition. Photo #27: The back of the fluffer. I am sure I can wedge a popsicle stick to the switch to make it work. It does fit on the Kirby well enough to use. (Or if someone has a crappy beat-up one for this series Kirby they are tossing out, I'd be glad to take it.) Photo #28: The top of the handle, if that offers any help in ID. Photo #29: Original Kirby light bulb, filament looks intact. Photo #30: Brushes look new still, I think. They extend past the bottom of the brushroll plate. Photo #31: Far view of the vacuum in its entirety. Mind the leaking space dust. | ||
| Post# 383783 , Reply# 12 1/7/2018 at 19:59 (2,293 days old) by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana) | ||
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| Post# 383805 , Reply# 14 1/8/2018 at 01:28 (2,292 days old) by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana) | ||
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@ luxflairguy | ||
| Post# 383806 , Reply# 15 1/8/2018 at 01:31 (2,292 days old) by Gj3476 (Prosper,TX) | ||
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| Post# 383808 , Reply# 16 1/8/2018 at 01:33 (2,292 days old) by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana) | ||
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@ Gj3476 | ||
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Post# 383839 , Reply# 17 1/8/2018 at 11:06 (2,292 days old) by gottahaveahoove (Pittston, Pennsylvania, 18640) |
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my late friend's sister 
was going to 'give' me this Kirby. It belonged to my friend, Anna. The ONLY reason I considered taking it was because it belonged to her. Then, one day, Louisa said, "You can take it home today, if you have the cash".
God knows where it ended up. And, now, I don't care. It would never have been used, just kept as a memento. A rare exception to allow another species into the home. Not to worry now. | ||
| Post# 383858 , Reply# 18 1/8/2018 at 15:02 (2,292 days old) by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana) | ||
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@ gottahaveahoove
I'm fortunate enough to still have my great-gradmother's Electrolux Olympia One still. It's in disrepair from sitting around for....16 years unused, but I do still have it. She lived to see her 100th birthday and her only two sweepers she had that I know of were Electrolux tank cleaners, that was her go-to brand. She knew how to be smart with her money and spend it on products that were good quality and lasted, and easy to live with. She had a rare talent of knowing how to read between the lines of sales marketing pamphlets and know what stuff is truth and what is just BS.
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Post# 383864 , Reply# 19 1/8/2018 at 16:27 (2,292 days old) by gottahaveahoove (Pittston, Pennsylvania, 18640) |
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Smart woman | ||
| Post# 383890 , Reply# 21 1/8/2018 at 20:10 (2,292 days old) by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana) | ||
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@ texaskirbyguy
Thank you for understanding. I hope I can too. The most experience I've had with the inside of a vacuum is a Eureka Optima and a Electrolux PN2 power nozzle. I think I have the polishing technique learned in my head so far, but not practiced it yet.
I do have a crappy Kirby 1CR with a bad motor and the housing looks like someone tried to polish it with a belt sander. I planned to use as a practice dummy vacuum since it isn't terribly valuable. Hopefully this summer, my workbench is all cluttered. I have a Electrolux Model G so the parts won't go to waste. | ||
| Post# 383896 , Reply# 23 1/8/2018 at 20:32 (2,292 days old) by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana) | ||
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@ Louvac
I do have a air compressor, I don't know the size offhand but it's big enough to need wheels. I bought it for blowing out computers and other small appliances, so he should do the job.
Steel wool? Wouldn't that scratch the metal permanently? Also what about Mother's mag wheels polish? Any time I see someone polishing a Kirby on youtube or on here in my searching, they always have a tin of that. I bought a cheap tattered Royal hand vacuum to use as a practice dummy for polishing technique too. I do not have a polishing machine, so I'd have to do it by hand (maybe it will cure my carpal tunnel). haha | ||
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Post# 383903 , Reply# 25 1/8/2018 at 21:00 (2,292 days old) by vacuumlad1650 (Wauponsee, IL) |
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If you polish with a buffing machine, I recommend doing it outside. Either way, wear a mask! The Polish flecks are really hard on your lungs. Enough exposure will cause what is known as "Black Lung" or "Coal Miners Lung." Ive seen it before, lots of folks in my dads family get it. Its nasty.
I use a Grizzley buffing machine, a gift from our own Owen Perkins. I am awful with using it, but the art f polishing will come with time. Its tucked away in the main shop at the Farm for the winter, among my other power tools that normally sit in my Garage. Their place is held by a snowblower at the moment. | ||
| Post# 383913 , Reply# 27 1/9/2018 at 00:30 (2,291 days old) by Phaeton (Los Angeles ) | ||
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YouTube 7 part video by ChicagoMike
Hello All and huskyvacs,
This is a really good YouTube Video by a Vacuumland member. Type this or paste it in the YouTube search just as it is: Part 1 of 7 How to Completely Take Apart Disassemble Kirby 509 1949 Vacuum Cleaner It is really good and informative. Your Kirby is newer but much of taking it apart is the same. Thank you for looking, Pete | ||
| Post# 385659 , Reply# 28 2/8/2018 at 22:02 (2,260 days old) by Lesinutah (Utah) | ||
Husky Vac
You have 516 I think belt lifter. The Grey wheels started in 516. The nozzle is 516-sanitronic 7. Your handle 516-560 but it looks like 516. Bag is replacement sanatronic 50 bag. The emptor is 510-561. The speed switch is 516 to s7. If I were to guess wheels handle belt lifter nozzle everything points to 516. They put a sanitronic bag on it. But the majority of the identifiable pieces say 516 maybe 517(i think 516-519 are the same trim. I'd say 516 thats educated since most pieces look original to 516.
Les | ||
| Post# 386168 , Reply# 29 2/15/2018 at 21:03 (2,254 days old) by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana) | ||
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| Post# 386169 , Reply# 30 2/15/2018 at 21:05 (2,254 days old) by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana) | ||
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| Post# 386186 , Reply# 31 2/16/2018 at 00:43 (2,253 days old) by Lesinutah (Utah) | ||
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Husky Vac
Cleaning drywall is tricky. Blow out with shop vac first. If you have any left after that soak in warm water for a day and most will come off in water. I would then after pulling from water use shop vac again. This should work. Drywall is paper and has mud which is a mild gluing type compound.
Why in the heck would u clean up drywall with kirby. That's what shop vacs are for. | ||
| Post# 386189 , Reply# 32 2/16/2018 at 01:37 (2,253 days old) by MadMan (Chicago, IL, USA) | ||
Doesn't look like drywall dust to me. Too gray. Drywall is white. Odds are slim that anyone vacuumed up asbestos dust anytime within the past 40 years (despite me doing so last year). If it has a sandy texture to it, it's probably some kind of masonry product - mortar or the like. Just suck it up with another vac. Alternatively, take it outside and blow it off with compressed air.
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| Post# 386191 , Reply# 33 2/16/2018 at 02:27 (2,253 days old) by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana) | ||
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