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Thread Number: 9670
My New Kirby Model C4 |
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| Post# 105755 8/12/2010 at 11:13 (4,999 days old) by eurekastar (Amarillo, Texas) | ||
Right now I'm on vacation with my family and we're visiting my Mom in another part of Texas. This morning, I went into a local vacuum store to get some things for my Mom's Kirby Diamond G. I asked the store owner if he ever got older Kirby vacuums in for service or trade. He showed me the usual suspects -- a Heritage, a Classic III. Then he said, "I have this really old one in back that I used to keep on display. I wonder if you can identify it?" I followed him to the back and low and behold it is a Kirby C4!!!!!!!!! I said, "I'd like to buy it if you're willing to part with it." He said, "I'll take $25 for it." So while I was there, I called a friend about my find. The guy at the vacuum store was so glad that I was excited about getting the vacuum that he ended up just giving it to me! I forgot to bring my camera with me and my Mom doesn't have one, but I'll post a photo when I get back home. It has the original bag that only has one small fray on the back at the top. That's easily fixed. It appears to have the original cord that's in good shape too. And when we fired it up in the store, it had just a hint of bearing noise but that went away very quickly! I'm very excited because I never thought I would come across a find like this. The only major issue is the handle grip. The rubber is is worn and tearing on it. But I am THRILLED!
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| Post# 105756 , Reply# 1 8/12/2010 at 11:26 (4,999 days old) by eurekastar (Amarillo, Texas) | ||
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Correction | ||
| Post# 105758 , Reply# 2 8/12/2010 at 11:41 (4,999 days old) by electrolux~137 () | ||
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WOWWW, what a find!!!!! Can't wait to see photos of it. | ||
Post# 105760 , Reply# 4 8/12/2010 at 12:51 (4,999 days old) by a007kirbyman  (--->> Originally My Mom <<--- (now Wisconsin)) |
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Kirby 4C...
Hi Bill. As I said when we talked earlier, nice acquisition. Congratulations on the 'improved' deal you got. If you want to improve your cash outlay on the deal, I will still do the same deal as I said when we spoke, (even though you now got it for free ~~LOL~~). Seriously though, wtg on the deal. L@@K forward to seeing it both b4 & after you've 'restored' it to it's grandeur!!! Cheers & hagd all, Bill | ||
| Post# 105761 , Reply# 5 8/12/2010 at 12:55 (4,999 days old) by joe22 () | ||
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CONGRATZ on the awesome find | ||
| Post# 105771 , Reply# 6 8/12/2010 at 17:03 (4,999 days old) by eurekastar (Amarillo, Texas) | ||
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Well, I went and borrowed my brother's camera, so here are a few photos. The store owner was a super nice guy. I couldn't believe he just GAVE it to me. But he was listening to my conversation on the phone with Bill (a007Kirbyman) and heard my enthusiasm for the vacuum. He said he was just glad it's going to someone who appreciates it. He used to keep it on display but rearranged his floor and didn't have room for it. So it's sat in the back for a few years just collecting dust.
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| Post# 105772 , Reply# 7 8/12/2010 at 17:04 (4,999 days old) by eurekastar (Amarillo, Texas) | ||
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Plugs | ||
| Post# 105775 , Reply# 8 8/12/2010 at 17:09 (4,999 days old) by eurekastar (Amarillo, Texas) | ||
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The rubber on the headlight is in fairly good shape too. The trim attaches in a very different way than later models, so I don't quite know how I'm going to work approach that part of the cleanup. It's hard to tell from this photo, but the insulation on the headlight wires is starting to deteriorate. I wonder what the insulation on the wires themselves looks like.
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| Post# 105777 , Reply# 9 8/12/2010 at 17:11 (4,999 days old) by eurekastar (Amarillo, Texas) | ||
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Switch Side View | ||
| Post# 105778 , Reply# 10 8/12/2010 at 17:13 (4,999 days old) by eurekastar (Amarillo, Texas) | ||
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Em-tor Side View | ||
| Post# 105780 , Reply# 11 8/12/2010 at 17:15 (4,999 days old) by eurekastar (Amarillo, Texas) | ||
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Rear View | ||
| Post# 105782 , Reply# 12 8/12/2010 at 17:18 (4,999 days old) by eurekastar (Amarillo, Texas) | ||
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Model Plate | ||
| Post# 105784 , Reply# 13 8/12/2010 at 17:21 (4,999 days old) by sanimatic () | ||
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Nice and from a Kirby history expert, what year / time frame was this from? No belt lifter, but I see the latch to remove the brush nozzle. Did these have attachments? | ||
| Post# 105787 , Reply# 14 8/12/2010 at 17:35 (4,999 days old) by eurekastar (Amarillo, Texas) | ||
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The handle
I don't know what I'll do with the handle grip -- keep this one or paint out a new to match the original color scheme. I can't date these exactly. I remember reading somewhere the "Model C" was manufactured from 1935 to 1937. So following the models in sequence (and this is a total guess on my part): Model 2C 1938, Model 3C 1939, Model 4C 1940? Bill (a007Kirbyman) is going to check with his contact at Kirby to date it through the serial number.
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Post# 105788 , Reply# 15 8/12/2010 at 17:48 (4,999 days old) by a007kirbyman (--->> Originally My Mom <<--- (now Wisconsin)) |
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Year(s) & attachments...
Hey Chris. Bill is definitely in the ballpark with his guess. They were produced &/or sold between 11/1940 & 03/1945. Production vs. sales is a little more sketchy as this time overlapped into & with WWII. I hope this is of help Chris. Bill... ...on your acquisition: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ WOW !!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ And, on how... I am impressed with the story of how you got this Kirby 4C. And, I am impressed & proud when others are able to see that their ARE other GOOD Kirby guys out there. Unfortunately when there are instances of problems, it gets 'glamorized' by the media. Talk soon. Cheers & hagn all, Bill | ||
| Post# 105789 , Reply# 16 8/12/2010 at 17:52 (4,999 days old) by joe22 () | ||
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awesome | ||
| Post# 105797 , Reply# 17 8/12/2010 at 19:24 (4,999 days old) by eluxca () | ||
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It looks to be 100% original. Holy cow, nice machine! John | ||
| Post# 105815 , Reply# 19 8/12/2010 at 20:33 (4,999 days old) by electrolux~137 () | ||
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tragegy = tragedy heheh | ||
| Post# 105828 , Reply# 20 8/12/2010 at 21:26 (4,999 days old) by portable (Corvallis, OR) | ||
Bill
That is just beautiful. Just a little clean-up will probably reap big rewards. I agree about not washing the bag - the paint on the bag is likely very brittle and may not survive even a gentle washing. Just lightly vacuum or wipe the bag clean. This vacuum is so classically Kirby. What a great find. Congratulations. And how nice that the store manager was so nice about it. | ||
| Post# 105832 , Reply# 22 8/12/2010 at 21:40 (4,998 days old) by electrolux~137 () | ||
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I will say, the creeps that I was talking about earlier have never been Kirby dealers. To the contrary, I have known some very kind and generous Kirby dealers over the years. | ||
| Post# 105835 , Reply# 23 8/12/2010 at 21:48 (4,998 days old) by eurekastar (Amarillo, Texas) | ||
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I threw caution to the wind . . .
and washed the bag before reading the posts. I am happy to report that the screen printing came through with flying colors! I think the vacuum has remained in very good shape because it has sat in the vacuum store for many years (and before that a house). All the other ones that I've come across look like they'd been in someone's barn! I thought about repainting the logo on another bag I have. I even have the paint, but I just haven't felt comfortable. Circles are not my thing! I would feel much more comfortable touching up this logo if I had to. Either that or I would pass it off to someone. No one in my family is remotely artistic. | ||
| Post# 105839 , Reply# 24 8/12/2010 at 22:25 (4,998 days old) by eurekastar (Amarillo, Texas) | ||
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Manufacturing Dates
I have no idea where this comes from or how accurate the information is, but it does provide a more complete list of manufacture dates.
CLICK HERE TO GO TO eurekastar's LINK | ||
| Post# 105863 , Reply# 25 8/13/2010 at 08:34 (4,998 days old) by eurekastar (Amarillo, Texas) | ||
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Freshly Laundered Bag | ||
| Post# 105865 , Reply# 26 8/13/2010 at 09:35 (4,998 days old) by kirbymodel2c (Nottingham, England) | ||
Great! | ||
| Post# 105866 , Reply# 27 8/13/2010 at 10:56 (4,998 days old) by kirbyluxhoover (Pinole, CA) | ||
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Wow!! I would love to be lucky to find one of those. | ||
| Post# 105875 , Reply# 28 8/13/2010 at 12:29 (4,998 days old) by electrolux~137 () | ||
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Yep. Incredible. You just have no idea how rare that bag is, with the gold 'stitching' across the top! I've never even seen one "in real life," only in old Kirby literature. | ||
| Post# 105898 , Reply# 29 8/13/2010 at 19:04 (4,998 days old) by kirbyklassic80 () | ||
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That's my favorite model. You are so lucky! | ||
| Post# 105907 , Reply# 31 8/13/2010 at 20:30 (4,998 days old) by tom519 (Long Island, New York ) | ||
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Pic 2 Cord 
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| Post# 106035 , Reply# 33 8/15/2010 at 13:57 (4,996 days old) by eurekastar (Amarillo, Texas) | ||
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Well, this morning I was fiddling around with the headlight trim, trying to see if it could be removed. And I removed it alright! It was more fragile than I had realized and it broke apart in three pieces. I wasn't even doing any major tugging and pulling! I was just gently moving it down because it pivots on two rivets and it just broke.
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Post# 106043 , Reply# 34 8/15/2010 at 15:35 (4,996 days old) by kloveland (Tulsa) |
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Nice 2C | ||
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