Thread Number: 19240
picked up 4 vintage vacuums for $10 including a cleveland suction cleaner
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Post# 212694   1/5/2013 at 11:38 (4,100 days old) by nubz3760 ()        

Today I got these 4 old vacuums off craigslist for a total of $10. I have a Kirby Classic, a kirby model R? serial 68053, a eureka model G from 1933, and a Cleveland suction cleaner from the 20's I believe. The classic and the model G work fine. The eureka needed a belt because the old one was frozen into shape; I used a kirby belt. The cord is in sad shape, but it otherwise works very well with no odd noises. The cleveland most likely works as the motor spins freely but the cord is shot. The older kirby which I believe is a 513 or something does not work, the guy said some lady ran over a hotwheels car. The fan case is all cracked and the fan is stuck, so the motor just buzzes. I also noticed the height pedal was broken off. The bumpers and wheels have been replaced. All have original bags which are in very good shape, no rips or degradation. They are all very dirty but otherwise in good shape except the mystery kirby. I will be cleaning them up soon.

But now heres some pics


Post# 212696 , Reply# 1   1/5/2013 at 11:41 (4,100 days old) by nubz3760 ()        

another group shot at my house

Post# 212697 , Reply# 2   1/5/2013 at 11:44 (4,100 days old) by nubz3760 ()        

The Cleveland and mystery kirby

Post# 212698 , Reply# 3   1/5/2013 at 11:45 (4,100 days old) by nubz3760 ()        

Cleveland closeup

Post# 212701 , Reply# 4   1/5/2013 at 11:46 (4,100 days old) by nubz3760 ()        

another

Post# 212702 , Reply# 5   1/5/2013 at 11:47 (4,100 days old) by nubz3760 ()        

the fan looks to be in good shape

Post# 212703 , Reply# 6   1/5/2013 at 11:48 (4,100 days old) by nubz3760 ()        

The handle switch and cord on the Cleveland

Post# 212704 , Reply# 7   1/5/2013 at 11:49 (4,100 days old) by nubz3760 ()        

the Cleveland bag

Post# 212705 , Reply# 8   1/5/2013 at 11:50 (4,100 days old) by nubz3760 ()        

another shot. The bag is in very good shape for its age

Post# 212706 , Reply# 9   1/5/2013 at 11:51 (4,100 days old) by nubz3760 ()        

The tag on the bag looks almost new. The latest patent on it is 1921

Post# 212707 , Reply# 10   1/5/2013 at 11:54 (4,100 days old) by nubz3760 ()        

The Serial plate. I have never heard of Cleveland vacuums, but my grandma said her neighbor had one when she was a kid. If anybody knows more about this vacuum please let me know!

Post# 212709 , Reply# 11   1/5/2013 at 11:55 (4,100 days old) by nubz3760 ()        

The Kirby Classic

Post# 212710 , Reply# 12   1/5/2013 at 11:57 (4,100 days old) by nubz3760 ()        
forgot one

side view of the Cleveland

Post# 212711 , Reply# 13   1/5/2013 at 11:58 (4,100 days old) by nubz3760 ()        

mystery kirby bag

Post# 212712 , Reply# 14   1/5/2013 at 12:00 (4,100 days old) by nubz3760 ()        

The fan case has cracks and holes along the side and bottom. He said the lady sucked up a hotwheels car. So sad..

Post# 212713 , Reply# 15   1/5/2013 at 12:01 (4,100 days old) by nubz3760 ()        

Heres the Eureka model G. This one is my favorite

Post# 212714 , Reply# 16   1/5/2013 at 12:02 (4,100 days old) by nubz3760 ()        

Before a piece of the bumper broke off :-(

Post# 212715 , Reply# 17   1/5/2013 at 12:13 (4,100 days old) by nubz3760 ()        

Eureka bag and cord. The cord is not very flexible anymore, but works

Post# 212717 , Reply# 18   1/5/2013 at 12:17 (4,100 days old) by nubz3760 ()        

Model plate on the eureka. If anybody knows where to get a belt for this please let me know

Post# 212718 , Reply# 19   1/5/2013 at 12:22 (4,100 days old) by nubz3760 ()        
Almost forgot

Heres the model plate for the mystery kirby. It says Model R Serial 68053
If anybody knows what model this is and where I can get a fan and fancase for it let me know.


Post# 212720 , Reply# 20   1/5/2013 at 12:28 (4,100 days old) by nubz3760 ()        
Oiling

Also, Would anybody know how to oil the kirbys and the eureka? I see two oil ports on the cleveland. I want to make sure these pieces of history keep working

Post# 212724 , Reply# 21   1/5/2013 at 12:46 (4,100 days old) by nubz3760 ()        
Another question

How do you clean the kirby bags without damaging them? The classics bag has a black spot on the back where it fell in dirt

Post# 212727 , Reply# 22   1/5/2013 at 12:51 (4,100 days old) by KirbyClassicIII (Milwaukie, Oregon)        

kirbyclassiciii's profile picture
Nick,

Any ideas as to the age of your Classic 1CR? The serial # is on the nameplate with the model # (see bottom of motor unit). Example: R200264, B982752.

~Ben


Post# 212730 , Reply# 23   1/5/2013 at 13:05 (4,100 days old) by Brandon_W_T ()        

Thats a rare kirby you have there!

It is a model R, which stands for Retail. Those were sold in select stores. The C series was the door to door sales model sold along side this.


Post# 212731 , Reply# 24   1/5/2013 at 13:08 (4,100 days old) by dysondestijl (east midlands, UK)        

That Kirby classic is going to take some polishing... Good vacs though. Have you tried taking the fan case off the mystery Kirby? There may be something jamming the fan inside?

Post# 212732 , Reply# 25   1/5/2013 at 13:08 (4,100 days old) by kirbymodel2c (Nottingham, England)        
Hi

kirbymodel2c's profile picture
Hi Nick, Great finds!!
I esp LOVE your Kirby model R. It looks to be a the 3C or 4C equivalent eg a 3R/4R.
Good news you have a rare Kirby there! Bad news getting the correct fancase with the correct badge attached will be very hard! Mind you you could use a Kirby 505 fancase and change them over. Just Keep the original badge!!
Such a shame the fancase is damaged:o(

If you take the Kirby and it's motor to pieces you should be able to re-grease the bearings easy enough.And clean the motor out well:o)

The classic bag should wash easy enough once you have vacuumed out the bag.
Just be carful washing the bag on your Kirby model R. It's a Kirby 513/514 bag.
Vacuum the bag out. Hand wash it or leave it alone altogether or you will wash the logo off.

I've done that before!!!

Hope this helps answer some questions.
I'd give the Kirby R a home if ever you get tired of it lol;o)

James:o)


Post# 212733 , Reply# 26   1/5/2013 at 13:12 (4,100 days old) by dysondestijl (east midlands, UK)        

Have you got a R model James?

Post# 212736 , Reply# 27   1/5/2013 at 13:19 (4,100 days old) by nubz3760 ()        

Ben, The serial number is 68053

Post# 212737 , Reply# 28   1/5/2013 at 13:20 (4,100 days old) by caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut)        
Great machines!

caligula's profile picture
I think the Cleveland is a Kirby machine.

No, I'm not talking about the Kirby division of the Scott & Fetzer Co. but rather the inventor, James B. Kirby.

Jim was born and raised in Cleveland and designed a number of upright vacuum cleaners. Before he introduced the Vacuette, he sold a prototype known as the Vital Rand.

And here is a bit of trivia. When Jim Kirby decided to market his first upright called 'The Broomstick' in 1910, he joined forces with three men named Black, Decker and Lamb. Black and Decker went on to produce power tools, and Lamb went on to form the Lamb motor company. In later years, Jim worked with Bill Orr, who helped him design the vacuum cleaners that became Apex.

That Cleveland should look great once it's cleaned up a bit. How about a step by step restoration.

The others are great machines too.

Alex Taber.


Post# 212739 , Reply# 29   1/5/2013 at 13:21 (4,100 days old) by nubz3760 ()        

James,

Just to be clear, I CAN put the classic bag in the washing machine?


Post# 212746 , Reply# 30   1/5/2013 at 13:44 (4,100 days old) by kirbymodel2c (Nottingham, England)        

kirbymodel2c's profile picture
Hi Nick, Yes I've washed my Kirby Classic bag in the washing machine on a cool/warm wash not HOT lol.
I might wash it in the sink by hand first so the bulk of the dust/dirt is removed before you put it in the washer. Don't want all the dirt going in to your washing machine:o)

Mr George...Yep I have four R series Kirbys.

James:o)


Post# 212748 , Reply# 31   1/5/2013 at 13:58 (4,100 days old) by KirbyClassicIII (Milwaukie, Oregon)        
Kirby Classic 1CR

kirbyclassiciii's profile picture
Nick,

I was talking about the Classic 1CR's serial #, not the older (1930s) R. The Classic 1CR was produced from 1970-73.

~Ben


Post# 212787 , Reply# 32   1/5/2013 at 17:27 (4,100 days old) by nubz3760 ()        

Ben,
The serial # for the 1CR is A710027


Post# 212803 , Reply# 33   1/5/2013 at 20:04 (4,100 days old) by nubz3760 ()        
Update

I just took apart the mystery kirby. There was nothing stuck in the fan, the bearings were VERY dry. So dry in fact, It felt and sounded like something wedged in the fan case. I applied oil to the bearing behind the fan, and put some more in what appeared to be an oil port. After an hour of oiling and turning the motor, It began to free up. It now runs without any ill sounds :-) As for the cracked fan case and missing belt cover, I used a well known fix all..duct tape :-P Its very ghetto I know but I wanted to see it work. Boy does it work! Its so quiet that all you can hear is the sound of rushing air, you can barely hear the motor. So now I'm 3 for 4 on this find, now I just need to get the cleveland going. I'm sure it will work I just need to rig up a cord. Does anybody know where to find braided fabric cord?

Post# 212823 , Reply# 34   1/5/2013 at 22:30 (4,100 days old) by Brandon_W_T ()        

Sundial wire!

CLICK HERE TO GO TO Brandon_W_T's LINK


Post# 212832 , Reply# 35   1/6/2013 at 01:21 (4,100 days old) by hygiene903 (Galion, OH)        
Nice Finds, Nick!

hygiene903's profile picture
The Cleveland is definitely a rare machine, I've never seen one before! It will look nice when it's cleaned & polished, hope it turns out to be a good runner. I have a Eureka G2 that is similar to yours, but mine is polished instead of painted and has a different bag.
Hope you will be able to find the parts you need to restore the Kirby R, it is also a somewhat rare machine. And the Classic will look great when it's polished. Congratulations on some great finds, and here's a pic of my G2.
Jeff


Post# 212835 , Reply# 36   1/6/2013 at 01:45 (4,100 days old) by gsheen (Cape Town South Africa)        

gsheen's profile picture
What a great find. I wish it was possible to find vacuums like that with ease over here in SA

Post# 212875 , Reply# 37   1/6/2013 at 11:56 (4,099 days old) by nubz3760 ()        
It lives!!

After blowing a few breakers, taping wires, I bastardized that cleveland together.

I just grabbed a quick-plug and threw it on the old cord with an extension cord.
Heres a short video of the first successful startup

(its still uploading so it may be 10 mins before its up)

It runs great, though its hard to push across carpet because theres no height adjustment. I need to find a way to replace the wires coming out of the motor, I cant seem to get into it


CLICK HERE TO GO TO nubz3760's LINK


Post# 213089 , Reply# 38   1/8/2013 at 00:53 (4,098 days old) by nubz3760 ()        
Kirby R question

I noticed the motor on my kirby R spins the opposite direction, (Counter-Clockwise). My Eureka G does also but the fancase vents on the other side. Is there something seriously wrong with the motor? It just doesnt seem like the fan should spin that way with the way it vents to the bag. I first noticed when the belt wouldnt stay on.

Post# 213113 , Reply# 39   1/8/2013 at 10:17 (4,097 days old) by kirbykid (Horseheads,New York 14845)        

i havent ever seen a kirby r in person so i wouldent know. but im prety shure all of the kirby fans are suposed to spin clockwise. do you know if the fan on the vacuum is an original kirby fan???

Post# 213134 , Reply# 40   1/8/2013 at 11:35 (4,097 days old) by nubz3760 ()        

when I had it apart the fan looked original, although I'm not sure how to tell. I remember we used to have an electric wall clock that if you unplugged it in plugged it back in, it would run backwards. I sure hope its working as designed

Post# 213166 , Reply# 41   1/8/2013 at 16:45 (4,097 days old) by hooverbaby (Dalton in Furness, UK)        

hooverbaby's profile picture
Love that early Cleveland!

Post# 213178 , Reply# 42   1/8/2013 at 18:23 (4,097 days old) by kirbykid (Horseheads,New York 14845)        

could you post a picture of the fan? if the bag inflates, then it was probably made that way

Post# 213263 , Reply# 43   1/9/2013 at 12:42 (4,096 days old) by nubz3760 ()        

evan, I'll try to post a pic tonight. also for those who are interested I may be selling the cleveland in a month or so

Post# 213353 , Reply# 44   1/9/2013 at 18:16 (4,096 days old) by kirbykid (Horseheads,New York 14845)        

what about the model r??? will you sell that???

Post# 213384 , Reply# 45   1/9/2013 at 20:19 (4,096 days old) by nubz3760 ()        

I'll have to think about the Kirby R. the guy, whos my dads age, said it was his grandmothers. I want to restore it but the only thing thats original is the motor

Post# 213813 , Reply# 46   1/12/2013 at 21:36 (4,093 days old) by nubz3760 ()        

I finished shining the kirby classic 1-CR. It looks alot better but not as good as I hoped. My buffing wheelwas shot by the time I was done so I'm sure thats why.

Post# 213897 , Reply# 47   1/13/2013 at 12:46 (4,092 days old) by kirbymodel2c (Nottingham, England)        
Hi,

kirbymodel2c's profile picture
Hi, You have still done a good job:o)

James:o)


Post# 214686 , Reply# 48   1/18/2013 at 20:10 (4,087 days old) by fooseofhoove (Minnesota)        

fooseofhoove's profile picture
What beautiful vacuums!


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