Thread Number: 34158
/ Tag: Pre-1950 Vacuum Cleaners
Rob's basketcase Kirby 505 restoration! |
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Post# 370189 , Reply# 3   4/6/2017 at 23:32 (2,548 days old) by KirbyClassicIII (Milwaukie, Oregon)   |   | |
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Rob,
Wow... that ten-blade metal fan does still look great indeed! Kirby originally used that on the 515, the last model to have the original 1930s motor design. Getting back to restoring your 505, this model originally had black trim all over, including the cloth bag and the belt lifter. The very first batch of 505s delivered continued to assume the decorative belt plate as all of the pre-500 models (1942 and back). It was with the second batch in 1946 that the "Magic Finger" belt lifter was declared a new feature. The 508 was the first Kirby to have gray trim (except for the wheels and the Emtor bottom), as well as the new "Kirby Kabinet" standard attachment box. Model 509 heralded a slightly updated Kirby script logo, and also now had a gray Emtor bottom, and later on the Handi-Butler. Model 510 was the first machine to have the "Sweet-Aire" cap on the back of the Emtor casting, which would remain a feature up to the model 561. The first Kirby with the 4-amp motor was the 513, although that was with the second batch of machines, which also assumed the swiveling top cord hook and red handle grip. While all 513s had red trim for the headlight and nozzle bumpers as well as the step-on foot switch and a newly-updated Kirby script logo (except on the belt lifter, which would change to that version starting with the newly-designed 516), the very first machines still had the 3-amp motor as well as the gray handle grip and non-swiveling top cord hook. But until the model 515, the six-blade impeller fan was used. The latest armature and field to use on machines this old would be, respectively, part numbers 114960 and 103960, both last used on the Sanitronic VII and possibly also the American-Lincoln Super-Sweep/Super-Vac 180 and the COMVAC 1300. ~Ben |
Post# 370255 , Reply# 7   4/7/2017 at 20:29 (2,547 days old) by KirbyClassicIII (Milwaukie, Oregon)   |   | |
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Post# 370338 , Reply# 10   4/9/2017 at 07:21 (2,545 days old) by myvacsrock (USA)   |   | |
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I was given a box of those brush rolls NOS (New Old Stock). I have probably 15-20 of them. If you would like one, send me an email and you can have one for just the shipping. Kyle kylekrichbaum2907@gmail.com |
Post# 370404 , Reply# 12   4/9/2017 at 23:08 (2,545 days old) by KirbyClassicIII (Milwaukie, Oregon)   |   | |
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Rob,
I am sorry to hear about your broken belt lifter. If still available, ask for part number 144356S. Lots of people seem to have trouble installing belts correctly on machines of this vintage. It is especially disastrous if you were to use the new-style 301291 belt on your machine. Kirby did make a belt 1590S for models 505-515, but they hadn't produced this old style belt for over 10 years. ~Ben |
Post# 370599 , Reply# 17   4/12/2017 at 21:14 (2,542 days old) by KirbyKleanKarpet (Florida )   |   | |
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That has got to be the cleanest metal fan I've ever seen. ~Tim |
Post# 370673 , Reply# 23   4/14/2017 at 06:17 (2,540 days old) by KirbyKleanKarpet (Florida )   |   | |
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I figured out that my nozzle lock screw hole is stripped, so that's why mine is loose. It still holds in the case though, just doesn't tighten, so I might do something similar to get things to clamp down. Thank you! ~Tim |
Post# 370690 , Reply# 24   4/14/2017 at 11:05 (2,540 days old) by KirbyClassicIII (Milwaukie, Oregon)   |   | |
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Rob,
Yes... I am still trying to find a picture of what the very first 505 (this one also with just a cover plate - the "Magic Finger" lifter wasn't introduced until 1946) looked like, to verify whether or not the black plastic Emtor bottom was original (or if it retained the polished metal Emtor from the 3C/4C), but I remain convinced ALL 505s in fact used the plastic black Emtor bottom. ~Ben This post was last edited 04/14/2017 at 11:25 |
Post# 370723 , Reply# 25   4/14/2017 at 18:07 (2,540 days old) by KirbyKleanKarpet (Florida )   |   | |
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Ben, That's what I thought. I can find nothing on it with it having the polished bottom. Even the ones I've seen with the cover plate instead of a belt lifter didn't have a polished emtor bottom. ~Tim |
Post# 370755 , Reply# 27   4/14/2017 at 22:21 (2,540 days old) by KirbyClassicIII (Milwaukie, Oregon)   |   | |
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