Thread Number: 2329
The Dual Sanitronic 50 or The Dual Sanitronic 80? 		[Down to Last]

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Post# 25448   11/28/2007 at 02:01 (5,673 days old) by dualsanitronic (Omaha)        

Alright everyone,which is your favorite,the D50 or the D80?I love 'em both,but the D50 has the edge,I'd say.It is the only Kirby ever with that lighted logo,the oval Kirby symbols completely cover the bag vs. the spaced apart logos on the D80,and was the last Kirby with the all metal more durable handle.The "Delta handle" was chunkier in handling yet less robust.What would you all say?

Post# 25455 , Reply# 1   11/28/2007 at 07:50 (5,672 days old) by thunderhexed (Edmond, OK)        
DS 50

 thunderhexed's profile picture
The all metal, thinner handle gives it more of a retro-antiqued look to me. I have both models, but the 50 looks cooler to me.

Post# 25463 , Reply# 2   11/28/2007 at 14:10 (5,672 days old) by charles~richard ()        

I vote the D50 too. Never cared for the green color of the D80, and didn't like the handle.

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Post# 25487 , Reply# 3   11/28/2007 at 21:27 (5,672 days old) by hygiene903 (Galion, OH)        
Another Vote For The D-50!!

 hygiene903's profile picture
For both it's looks and historical significance--first 2-speed Kirby, and the ONLY one with the lighted logo. I have one that is my current restoration project and is almost finished. It was gifted to me from Norm Brown--Thanks again, Norm!!
Jeff

Post# 25489 , Reply# 4   11/28/2007 at 22:32 (5,672 days old) by normvac (COLUMBUS, OHIO)        
Your Welcome, Jeff !

 I really love my Dual 80. It was the different handle and the green color that called to me back in the day. I really liked the green attachments. It was like a chrome Hoover from the 20s or 30s. At least in my mind !
I knew the dual 50 would come to new life in your collection. Just don't have the drive to start shinning all the metal.
Enjoy! I'm looking forward to seeing that Dual 50 in all it's
new glory, soon I hope!
Norm

Post# 25510 , Reply# 5   11/29/2007 at 14:02 (5,671 days old) by swiveltop (Galveston, TX)        

I really like both,but don't own either,Just a Sanitronic in rough condition, Charles, your Dual 50 is beautifull,I lucked out like that too on e-bay with my small head Heritage 11, I have the manual for a Dual 80, I like the Discuss-o-Vac pic on the front and the furniture looks just like ours in 1969 when I was about four,and one of the ladies looks like my Mom back then, I've had the Sanitronic in the garage for years,so I decided to try and clean it up. I'll post it, Sanitronic makeover. Mark

Post# 25533 , Reply# 6   11/30/2007 at 05:09 (5,670 days old) by tolivac (Greenville,NC)        

Currently I have two DS50's-one with all of the tools and the lighted logo and orig bag.the second one I bought from a person that called me and and says-I was told by Bill that you collect vacuums-I have this old Kirby to sell if you are interested so the message on the CP answering service went.I looked at the machine and did buy it.It doesn't have the attachments-and it was sent to Kirby to be refurbished-when it was the lighted logo hood wasn't put on the machine.just the plain hood.

Post# 25613 , Reply# 7   12/1/2007 at 08:45 (5,669 days old) by vintagevacs4me ()        
The Dual Sanitronic 50 for me!

I own both the 50 and 80 and i must say the 50 is my choice. If i could have only one. I'd have no problem is selling the 80 in a heartbeat. Why do i prefer the 50? First, i love the color of this vacuum. There is something so restful and about that beige brown color just relaxes me and makes me feel good inside. Second, i love the light logo in the hood. It gives the vacuum that little extra zip without being gaudy. I don't know why they never continued with that in later models. And i like the Dual Sanitronic 50 logo on the plastic bag grip. Again, classic without over doing it. Now the main reason i don't care for the 80 is the handle. Every time i go to turn the vacuum it squeaks and moans. That half plastic half metal combo doesn't work. You want the vacuum to go one way and the upper half of the handle is going the opposite direction! It isn't sturdy enough to handle the weight of a Kirby. Green is my favorite color. But the Kirby green on the 80 is a bit too avocado for me.

Post# 25631 , Reply# 8   12/1/2007 at 15:27 (5,669 days old) by ohio_tuec ()        

If I had to choose, it would definitely be the Dual Sanitronic 50 hands down. I love the gold trim around the belt lifter, and this is the only Kirby with the Kirby name devoid from the belt lifter. While we're talking about Sanitronics, what are peoples thoughts on the Sanitronic VII vs. the DS 50 and DS 80? It's very similar to the DS 50, and its motor draws an amp less.

Post# 25636 , Reply# 9   12/1/2007 at 17:01 (5,669 days old) by dualsanitronic (Omaha)        
"Power of watts.and ohms,and amps..."

 The Sanitronic VII draws the same amps (4) as the D50,but the D50 uses 5 amps. on high speed,that's why the D50 says 5 amps. on its plate.I also loved the gold trim belt lifter and everything else mentioned here.

Post# 25710 , Reply# 10   12/2/2007 at 02:27 (5,669 days old) by tolivac (Greenville,NC)        

At present I have two each of the DS50 and DS80-Its strange-I have one of each with attachments and one of each without.The second DS80 I bought from a vacuum store that went out of business.Was on their closing sale.I don't like the putrid green of the DS80-they should have made it a diffrent green color.And like others don't like the DS80 handlebar.The plastic part is kinda flimsy.And I have seen many of these handlebars in the vac shop with broken upper plastic parts--Kirby: Please bring back that nice ALL METAL lightweight tubeler handle bar.I feel the older handle bar could be adapted to the G vacs too.Would be nicer.Maybe they could color anodize the handlebar-stength and cool look!The color could match the series number of the machine.

Post# 25755 , Reply# 11   12/2/2007 at 16:27 (5,668 days old) by vac-o-matic (Saint Louis, Mo.)        
D80 handle

 A friend of mine has the D50 style handle/fork with a D80 color green grip, and I'm going to try and talk him out of it for mine. That would be the best of both. Wish me luck!

Post# 462676 , Reply# 12   4/28/2023 at 11:03 by Nova_Candy (New Jersey)        
Motor

 nova_candy's profile picture
Are both the D50 and D80 dual speed motors?

Post# 462677 , Reply# 13   4/28/2023 at 11:11 by KirbyClassicIII (Milwaukie, Oregon)        
Nova_Candy

 kirbyclassiciii's profile picture
Chris,

Yes, they are... the Dual Sanitronic 50 (1965-1967) was the first.

~Ben

Post# 462697 , Reply# 14   4/28/2023 at 17:39 by Lesinutah (Utah)        
Kirby

 lesinutah's profile picture
Switched motor manufacturers in mid ds80 run. You see a very similar motor but slightly different because the manufacturer change.
Every Kirby since ds 50 is a two speed motor.

Post# 462776 , Reply# 15   5/1/2023 at 06:39 by Nova_Candy (New Jersey)        

nova_candy's profile picture
I guess my DS80 only has a one speed

Post# 462777 , Reply# 16   5/1/2023 at 08:27 by VacMadMan (Pueblo Co.)        
DS50

 vacmadman's profile picture
The last Kirby in my collection is the DS50 for a reason. I never liked the new V style handle, half metal half plastic. The DS50 was the last with the tube style handle. I also didn't care for the green color.

Jim

Post# 462779 , Reply# 17   5/1/2023 at 11:33 by Lesinutah (Utah)        
Im

 lesinutah's profile picture
Pretty sure your ds80 is 2 speed. If there's only one speed it's because the high and low are combined or one speed is disconnected.

Post# 462780 , Reply# 18   5/1/2023 at 13:24 by texaskirbyguy (Plano, TX)        

It was common long ago for vac shops to rewire these machines to disable high speed to increase motor life.
If the machine works at the same speed with either nozzle or hose, the the above may have been done.


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