Thread Number: 8975
Kirby 515 Question 		[Down to Last]

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Post# 99207   5/27/2010 at 01:12 (5,082 days old) by kirbyclassiciii (Milwaukie, Oregon)        

kirbyclassiciii's profile picture
I am sure some of you may have brought this up in the past, as well as myself, but, just for clarification, is it true that although the 515 was the last Kirby to utilize the original 1930s motor design (as well as bearing the modded Kirby script logo for the belt lifter that goes back to the model 509), that it was the first to use the #1190 fan? You know, besides Charles Richard "Chuck" Lester, any other 515 owners note a big difference in tone of the motor between this model and the prior 514?

Kirby 515:




Kirby 514:




And a Kirby 517:



(copy and paste these)

Thank you,



Ben

Post# 99216 , Reply# 1   5/27/2010 at 12:53 (5,082 days old) by electrolux~137 ()        

I'll let you call me Chuck if you let me call you Bennie...

;P

Post# 99217 , Reply# 2   5/27/2010 at 13:06 (5,082 days old) by electrolux~137 ()        

By the way, the same motor was not used in all the 1930s models up through the 515. Kirby literature, which I currently do not have at hand, mentions at least two motor upgrades but I don't recall which models where changed but will assume it was 505 and 513.

If you listen to the following YouTube videos, you can clearly hear that Bennie's 515 runs at a faster speed than the 508 in "animebsd's" video (don't know who that is).

Compare





with

Post# 99218 , Reply# 3   5/27/2010 at 13:11 (5,082 days old) by electrolux~137 ()        

And here's a 514 in someone else's video that also runs slower than Bennie's 515, but I have a feeling it might be because the motor is being impeded by the clattering brush roll:

Post# 99219 , Reply# 4   5/27/2010 at 13:33 (5,082 days old) by kirbyclassiciii (Milwaukie, Oregon)        
The 515 ... Isn't Mine

 kirbyclassiciii's profile picture
Hi Chuck,

That 515 ain't mine, though. It actually is Garrett's (ChevyGuyV8).

~"Bennie"

Post# 99220 , Reply# 5   5/27/2010 at 13:34 (5,082 days old) by kirbyclassiciii (Milwaukie, Oregon)        
And AnimeBSD ...

 kirbyclassiciii's profile picture
His real name is Brandon.

~"Bennie"

Post# 99221 , Reply# 6   5/27/2010 at 13:37 (5,082 days old) by kirbyclassiciii (Milwaukie, Oregon)        
About Those Links, Charles

 kirbyclassiciii's profile picture
Charles (electrolux-137),

Some of those links you'd posted, I did so already.

~Ben

Post# 99223 , Reply# 7   5/27/2010 at 13:56 (5,082 days old) by electrolux~137 ()        

Yes, I saw that after I posted them already. Sorry.

But the point is that yes, there were different motors in the early 500-series machines. One of my top priorities after I finish getting unpacked and settled in will be to dig out my vacuum cleaner archives so I can update and correct my Kirby 500-series pages.

Post# 99224 , Reply# 8   5/27/2010 at 14:52 (5,082 days old) by kirbyclassiciii (Milwaukie, Oregon)        
Your Kirby Pages

 kirbyclassiciii's profile picture
Charles,

Yeah, I hope to visit your Kirby history pages again with the corrections I gave you and from other Kirby fanatics.

~Ben

Post# 99232 , Reply# 9   5/27/2010 at 18:18 (5,081 days old) by dualsanitronic (Omaha)        
The Kirby Derby

 The 513 jumped from 3 amp. to 4 and change the stainless steel rug guard. According to Classic Omega's proof book, the 515 was said to have several motor improvements plus a redesigned impeller fan further stepping up cleaning efficiency.

Post# 99255 , Reply# 10   5/27/2010 at 21:02 (5,081 days old) by electrolux~137 ()        

Ben, when I correct my Kirby pages you will be the first to know!

Post# 99261 , Reply# 11   5/27/2010 at 22:44 (5,081 days old) by kirbyclassiciii (Milwaukie, Oregon)        
Re: The Kirby Derby

 kirbyclassiciii's profile picture
Even the Heritage II sales proof book mentions that aspect. But one thing jumps out at me, though: I wonder if they really meant the 516, from 1956. That model was very much a departure motorwise from past Kirbys.

But we'll both let their views stand.

~Ben

Post# 99271 , Reply# 12   5/28/2010 at 01:22 (5,081 days old) by electrolux~137 ()        

It would be easy enough to find out -- look at the serial number plate of a 515 and see what it says: the amperage is stamped on the plate. I can't look, because the only Kirby I have here right now is my 513.

Post# 99309 , Reply# 13   5/28/2010 at 19:26 (5,080 days old) by dualsanitronic (Omaha)        

It says 4 amp.on the 515 and the 513 but there were supposed to be improvements in the efficiency of the 515 anyway,plus a new 10 blade fan was now added to replace the 6 blader.

Post# 99312 , Reply# 14   5/28/2010 at 20:07 (5,080 days old) by electrolux~137 ()        

My 513, serial number 232636, is 3 amps. It has a 6-blade fan (original metal fan).

If your 513 has a 4-amp motor, then maybe here's another example of design changes & improvements within a single model. Is your serial number higher than mine??

Post# 99313 , Reply# 15   5/28/2010 at 20:11 (5,080 days old) by electrolux~137 ()        

I'll have to check my 515 when I can get to it to see if it has a 10-blade fan, but I don't think it does. I do know that my 516 and later 500-series machines do. My 561 has a replacement lexan fan and I have to say, it sure does improve performance -- the lighter weight of the lexan fan puts less drag on the motor allowing it to run faster. It also has a new after-market agitator with four rows of bristles instead of two -- which also greatly enhances its cleaning ability.

Post# 99327 , Reply# 16   5/28/2010 at 21:14 (5,080 days old) by kirbyclassiciii (Milwaukie, Oregon)        
I Don't Have a 513...

 kirbyclassiciii's profile picture
But I do have a 510, serial #173094WS.

~Ben

Post# 99336 , Reply# 17   5/28/2010 at 23:36 (5,080 days old) by kirbyclassiciii (Milwaukie, Oregon)        
The First Kirby with a 10-Blade Fan...

 kirbyclassiciii's profile picture
For Charles (electrolux-137)
The first Kirby with the 10-blade fan was actually the model 3C, released in 1939.

The last six-bladed Kirby fan (#1187) was used on models C and 2C. The first Kirby with a 10-blade fan was the model 3C, part #1188. They re-engineered it for the model 4C, which was the last of the pre-war Kirbys. The re-engineered fan was part #1189, and it was this fan that had been used up until the 515 according to a mid-1960s Kirby service manual.

For the markedly-different 516 and its successors, it was once again re-engineered, becoming part #119056.

If anyone could please tell me how to embed images in my posts, thank you. In the meantime there is a link to a disassembled 508 that is yours, with a fan that appears to have 10 blades.

~Ben

CLICK HERE TO GO TO kirbyclassiciii's LINK
Post# 99340 , Reply# 18   5/29/2010 at 00:06 (5,080 days old) by electrolux~137 ()        

That 10-blade fan on the 508 is an after-market replacement. The easiest way to tell this -- other than the fact that it's a lexan fan -- is the fact that it's in two parts -- the belt drive shaft unscrews from the fan blade part, instead of both parts being one single piece. That 508 was a factory-rebuilt machine.

I won't make any further issue of 6-blade vs. 10-blade fans; it's not that big a part of the grand scheme of things....... But I am *Very* surprised to hear that according to Kirby product literature, the 10-blade fan first came out on the 3C, since I have seen *Many* older 500-series Kirbys with 6-blade fans.

Do note that there are many mistakes in Kirby literature. One that comes to mind that always makes me laugh is that claim in one of the Kirby "Proof Books" that the 514 was the first Kirby with a "push-push nozzle." What they MEANT was, "push-push SWITCH."

If you'd like to see a photo of the six-blade fan in my all-original, unaltered 513 (that came to me directly from the daughter of its single owner), let me know.

Post# 99341 , Reply# 19   5/29/2010 at 00:17 (5,080 days old) by kirbyclassiciii (Milwaukie, Oregon)        
513 Pic

 kirbyclassiciii's profile picture
Hi Charles,

Please put me on the list for that - I'd love to see it.

Contact Mark Berger (mark@meba.com - hope this is correct) and please tell him to send you a copy of the Kirby service manual he has, that way you'll know that the fan (see the Special and Obsolete Parts section) for the 3C is the first to have 10 blades on it.

Again - if the 515 really did have a 6-blade or the very early 10-blade, then why again does its motor sound closer to the 516 than the 514?

Thank you,



Ben

Post# 99346 , Reply# 20   5/29/2010 at 02:36 (5,080 days old) by electrolux~137 ()        

Well, I said above that I would have to check my 515 to see what type of fan it has. I don't remember for sure, and it's packed in my garage where I can't get to it. I will take some photos of my 513 tomorrow.

I don't think the 515 motor sounds at all like the 516. The high-pitched 'overtones' or 'harmonics' are completely different between the two; even the sound of the exhaust into the bag is different because of the different size and angle of the exhaust 'neck.'

Post# 99364 , Reply# 21   5/29/2010 at 10:55 (5,080 days old) by dualsanitronic (Omaha)        

I haven't seen a 513 in awhile, could be wrong about it being 4 amp., I know it has the new rug guard at that point however. The 515 definately is 4 amps., and had a new fan by then, I had a 515, and since all that I've ever seen have ALWAYS had a 10 blade fan , I'll assume that this is the redesigned impeller fan that the proofs book refers to.

Post# 99380 , Reply# 22   5/29/2010 at 16:20 (5,080 days old) by electrolux~137 ()        

Here's a photo of my 513 fan and serial number plate.

Post# 99428 , Reply# 23   5/29/2010 at 22:46 (5,079 days old) by kirbyclassiciii (Milwaukie, Oregon)        
Your 513, Charles

 kirbyclassiciii's profile picture
I can see it all now: 6-blade fan, 3-amp motor, but the serial is #262336LS. However, I can't wait to see what your 515 has in terms of its fan.

~Ben

Post# 99432 , Reply# 24   5/29/2010 at 23:20 (5,079 days old) by electrolux~137 ()        

Actually, the serial number is 262636 LS.

It will be a while before I can get to my 515. But as soon as I do, I'll post photos of it as well. And maybe my 514 just for fun.

I have the following Kirbys btw:

Franz-Premier - needs restoration; has blue GE bag

S&F Sanitronic System all original w/ all attachments

S&F Sanitronic System with handle switch (no bag)

1C . no-headlight version all original (belongs to Rick Wilson)

2C . all original w/ all attachments & cartons

2R . needs restoration, bag in very poor cond

4C . needs restoration, no bag

505 . belt lifter version, all original & some attachments

510 . complete and all original incl attachments & all cartons (came from original owner)

511 . complete attachment set & paperwork only -- no machine

513 . complete and all original incl attachments & all cartons (came from original owner)

514 . machine all original, no attachments (given to me by Stan Kann)

515 . machine all original, no attachments

516 . machine all original, some attachments

517 . complete and all original incl attachments & all cartons

519 . machine all original, no attachments

561 . machine all original, no attachments

562 . (Sanitronic VII), complete and all original incl attachments & all cartons

D50 . two complete & all original sets, incl attachments & all cartons

Legend II - all original; w/ small & regular rug nozzles & some attachments

Before I moved, I also had the factory rebuilt 508 (seen in my YouTube video), a 511, 512, 518, 560, Classic, ClassicΩ and Classic-III, all of them given away.

Post# 99444 , Reply# 25   5/30/2010 at 02:57 (5,079 days old) by kirbyclassiciii (Milwaukie, Oregon)        
When You Do Get to Your 515, Charles ...

 kirbyclassiciii's profile picture
I'd love to see you post a video or two of it, please.

~Ben

Post# 99468 , Reply# 26   5/30/2010 at 12:04 (5,079 days old) by electrolux~137 ()        

Good morning all,

When I wrote out the list above, I completely forgot about one more ... another 515, 100% original and complete, all attachments, cartons, literature etc. I received this machine just before I started packing and moving; in the blood sweat and tears of getting that accomplished it failed to come to mind. I had started working on a web page about it and came across the partially completed page last night. I will finish it up and upload it later today.

Curiously, this second 515 has the same bag that my 513 has, while my other 515 has a silver-speckled bag -- same logo, with the long point down the bag, but the fabric is darker and speckled. Not the same speckling as the later bags; it's more pronounced and vivid. I may have photos of it on my hard drive -- I'll look around when I get home.

Oh, one last thing ... in one of my Kirby books, one of the "Airing the News" issues I think, there's a photo feature of the "revolutionary new anniversary model 516." In the photos, it has the same bag as the 513,14,15 instead of the bag with just the Kirby logo in a circle. I have often wondered if the first 516s had that bag or were the photos taken before the model had been completely designed and produced.

I sure do wish I could get to my archives right now but all that stuff is packed and in storage.

Post# 99469 , Reply# 27   5/30/2010 at 12:18 (5,079 days old) by kirbyclassiciii (Milwaukie, Oregon)        
Prototype 516

 kirbyclassiciii's profile picture
Charles,

Didn't the prototype 516 also have the belt lifter bearing the older-style Kirby logo used on models 509-512?

~Ben

Post# 99479 , Reply# 28   5/30/2010 at 15:27 (5,079 days old) by electrolux~137 ()        

It may have; I don't remember off the top of my head.

Post# 99492 , Reply# 29   5/30/2010 at 16:50 (5,078 days old) by electrolux~137 ()        
Another Anomaly

 Here are photos of a 514 that was on eBay a few years ago. I did not win this one; it went sky-high for some reason.

Note that the serial number plate indicates a 4-amp motor, so that change must have occurred with the 514, or perhaps late in the run of the 513.

Also look at the belt lifter on the rug nozzle!! Now, granted, the belt lifter might have been replaced for some reason, but "who knows?"

You'll see that the bag is the later "speckled" bag that my first 515 has -- look closely at the third photo. Although the photo is kinda blurry, you can clearly make out the silver speckles.










(515 web page to come forthwith...)

Post# 99553 , Reply# 30   5/30/2010 at 23:13 (5,078 days old) by kirbyclassiciii (Milwaukie, Oregon)        
515 Bag / Wheels

 kirbyclassiciii's profile picture
More questions about the 515:
1. Is it true virtually all 515s had the bag that was used on the 513 and 514?
2. Is it true that all 515s had black wheels and not gray?

Would both of these above traits have only begun with the 516?

~Ben

Post# 99558 , Reply# 31   5/31/2010 at 00:46 (5,078 days old) by electrolux~137 ()        

To at least partially answer your questions...

1. All the ones I've seen that were still original did have this type bag. It may be that earlier 513s still had the older more scripted logo (e.g. as on the 510 etc.)

2. Funny you should mention this, Ben... Just for you, I went and dug my older 515 out of storage today. Here are some photos.













As you can see, it has smooth-sided alathon gray wheels instead of the black vulcanized rubber wheels; whereas my other 515 does have the black wheels.

Here's a closeup of the bag:


Serial number plate, indicating 4-amp motor


Showing the double-row agitator brush:


And here is the, yes, 10-blade fan:




And, last but not least, here's a short video of the 515 in action:

CLICK HERE TO GO TO electrolux~137's LINK
Post# 99559 , Reply# 32   5/31/2010 at 00:56 (5,078 days old) by electrolux~137 ()        

P.S. The 515 in this video runs at a higher rate than mine -- listen to the difference in the motor.

Wonder why that is.......

CLICK HERE TO GO TO electrolux~137's LINK
Post# 99560 , Reply# 33   5/31/2010 at 00:56 (5,078 days old) by kirbyclassiciii (Milwaukie, Oregon)        
Thank You, Charles ... Again!

 kirbyclassiciii's profile picture
Charles,

Very big thank you for the details on your 515 and everything else! Again, that 10-blade fan sure did make this model sound more close to the 516 than the 514.

~Ben

Post# 99561 , Reply# 34   5/31/2010 at 01:01 (5,078 days old) by electrolux~137 ()        

In fact, the motor in my 515 sounds identical to this 510. Wonder if the 510 has a newer motor in it...

CLICK HERE TO GO TO electrolux~137's LINK
Post# 99562 , Reply# 35   5/31/2010 at 01:02 (5,078 days old) by electrolux~137 ()        

Whereas this 510 is running considerably slower (noting the clattering brush roll):

CLICK HERE TO GO TO electrolux~137's LINK
Post# 99563 , Reply# 36   5/31/2010 at 01:08 (5,078 days old) by electrolux~137 ()        

And here's a 505 with its very distinctive, gentle sounding (slower-running) motor (this is fun!!):

CLICK HERE TO GO TO electrolux~137's LINK
Post# 99564 , Reply# 37   5/31/2010 at 01:08 (5,078 days old) by electrolux~137 ()        

And another 505 -- whose motor sounds just like the one above:

CLICK HERE TO GO TO electrolux~137's LINK
Post# 99565 , Reply# 38   5/31/2010 at 01:19 (5,078 days old) by electrolux~137 ()        

... and a 560, which sounds like a real powerhouse in comparision!

CLICK HERE TO GO TO electrolux~137's LINK
Post# 99566 , Reply# 39   5/31/2010 at 01:21 (5,078 days old) by kirbyclassiciii (Milwaukie, Oregon)        
Re: P.S.

 kirbyclassiciii's profile picture
Charles,

I could attribute Garrett's 515 motor sound to be either a bad field or a clogged air inlet, according to the troubleshooting chart on chapter 1, part 10 of the 1965 Kirby 505-Sanitronic VII Service Manual:

MOTOR RUNS IMPROPERLY
Trouble: Motor runs fast or overheats
Probable causes: Defective field; blocked ventilating air inlet
Remedies: Replace field; clean ventilating air inlet
Refer to: Paragraph 1-9

On the other hand, if a Kirby motor is running too slow, examine the following from the same page:
Trouble: Motor runs slow or with little suction power
Probable causes: Defective armature; dirty or defective brushes
Remedies: Replace armature; check brushes
Refer to: Paragraph 1-9

~Ben

Post# 99569 , Reply# 40   5/31/2010 at 01:31 (5,078 days old) by kirbyclassiciii (Milwaukie, Oregon)        
And those links, Charles...

 kirbyclassiciii's profile picture
The 560 MaxxArcade has had a Lexan fan since its 1980 rebuild, which of course is the same fan that your rebuilt 508 has.

The other 510 that has its original 6-blade fan: its bag and belt lifter were replaced. But even Reggie's (CompactC9) 510 that has what sounds like a replacement 10-blade metal fan, has had its belt lifter and cord replaced as well.

I am suspicious that when part #s 1187, 1188 and 1189 were discontinued by Kirby in the 1970s, that you had to use #119056 to replace all three of them? If a 10-blade Lexan/Kevlar fan is used on some of the early 500s as replacement, then so could the metal fan that is part #119056.

~Ben

Post# 99724 , Reply# 41   6/1/2010 at 23:12 (5,076 days old) by dualsanitronic (Omaha)        

That "high speed" 515 is likely such due to the converted bag assembly that takes F and G type bags.

Post# 99950 , Reply# 42   6/5/2010 at 02:42 (5,073 days old) by sukething ()        
Ok I am also a Kirby buff...and I am on my soap box...hehe

 Please do not take what I have to say to heart, but like most of the people on youtube that show what they think they know of Kirbys, they do not find out the correct information first before they start telling and then they say incorrect information. I was a school teacher for 13 years and I taught my students to find their information first before they started talking about it and find the correct informaion and learn about it all they can first before they start telling how much they know. I really admire anyone for their dedication and eagerness to show of their finds and jewels/Kirbys, but ask questions.


Yes there are many of us older collectors who specialize in Kirbys. I have learned many things from Charles Richard and Alex Taber and many, many Kirby vacuums store head salesmen and distributors. I have known Alex and Charles Richard for nearly 20 years and they are full of knowledge as well as Stan, he was a marvel even of Kirbys. Sadly, the gentlemen that were distributors who knew their product backward and forward and the history of their product are now becoming and thing of our past, so if you have one in your area some of these older gentlemen you need to go and them and sit and talk with him. Even go to your local Kirby store and ask if there are some older salesmen who have retired, if they are in the area. Find all the information you can and listen to him or to as many people as you can and then make your own assumption.

Yes, Charles is correct the manuals or store books were not always correct in their information, no matter if it came from the factory or not, most of them were horribly incorrect. As well as many of the owners manuals, did not have the correct vacuum displayed in many of the illustrations, the pictures that was showing how the vacuum work. There is only one of the books that I know will show the metal "push-push" switch, and there is only one of the Sanitronic VII that showed the white cord.

I feel that since I have a very musical ear as well as Charles we hear different tones and sounds that most people can not. Not everyone can tell the difference when a bearing is bad or not, or if the sound of blade missing or bent or if the brush roll is bad, even though they think they do. Every brand of vacuum has its own unique sound, even when the motor is not sounding correctly. Sadly the older bearings for the older Kirbys are being absolete, and the only thing we can do now is to repack them.

Try to listen to these older gentlemen who owned and managed Kirby stores, even men who did the repair work. The sad thing is that like I said many have gone now and the new young ones do not know one thing from another about the older Kirbys at all.

I believe in my opinion is that the 515 with the bag assembley replacement it is not neccessarily the air flow, and yes it can change some and that assembly can cause lose of suction, but he does not have the belt on. You can hear that, because the sound you hear is as if he was using the attachments. Sadly it is not original although he says, it is a great looking machine but the wheels are not correct as he said the cord is not, but again it looks great and would be easily fixed to original.

Reggie, who is a good friend here in Denver (CompactC9) although it sounds awesome I should know it was mine and I gave it to him because I had duplicates. The belt lifter is not correct of course but I did not have an original at the time and Reggie wanted it either way. The motor was refirbished by the Kirby dealer here in Denver who is almost in his 70's and I have known him since I lived here in Denver for 14 years. His name is Gary George,he has sold Kirbys since the 514 and his father had the Kirby buisness before him. He has wonderful knowlege and loves to tell about it and someday I might get a video of him telling us what he knows. He has almost every book/manual of every machine that Kirby made. If he gets an old machine in he will let me know and sell it to me. Yes he knows about the fans, motors, cords, colors, everything. I have learned so much from him as well as my other vacuum collectors, he has several older machines besided Kirbys on display in his office, although he has moved recently, and I do not think he has as much room as he once has. Not only Gary but several people I have met over the years as far back as when I started collecting when I was in the 6th grade. The vacuum store i would go to for repair and buffing, he would tell me so many things it was great.

Yes the big huge poster that shows the vintage Kirbys is absolutely incorrect, it does not have the entire line up of the machines, or correct bags etc. Kirby and most companys did not care about their older machines but of how to make a profit.

Althought the gentleman who has the 560 machine said that his , macnine had the original 562 bag was not correct. That was the only tan replacement bag for the Sanitronics and even went up as far as the Classic Omegas they would put that bag on them as well as a replacement. They basically could and did put that on many of the older Kirbys as a replacement along with that plain gold bag. I also have sevral of the styles of the grey replacment bags they had for the older machines over the years and yes these came from the Kirby company. I even have a couple of bags that look funky that were replacements for Kribys from none Kirby stores. I also have many parts and hoses and boxes for the older machines. Charles Richard even knows how much I like to have the vacuums correctly that I will even repaint the logo back on the bags if it has faded off. Many of my original bags are faded but do not care they are the original. I will sew, patch any of the bags to have the vacuum original, that goes for my none Kirbys as well. I will go as far as to replace the spring in the bottom of the bags so they will be correct. Always, my Kirbys or any of my vacuums that have headlights must be working and lit. One must becareful to get the correct bulb for certain machines. My oldest Kirby I ever owned was the Scott and Fetzer early non electric push vaccuum, then the sanitation system, electric with the first Sani-empter, with the rolling brush head, like a carpet sweeper.

As far as fans go in my opinion when a plastic fan is added there some slit difference in the sound but you sometimes can only tell when you pic up a small pebble through the machine a "ting" sound if it is metal and a "whack" sound if it is plastic. The newer blades will help the preformance of the suction on the machine but then it is not original. Sadly I believe there are no more metal fans available for the odler Kirbys. A Kirby dealer and I many years ago put a plastic fan on a 509, with the help of washers and the like and it ran just fine and had more suction than it originally did and I used to clean a small apartment complex I cleaned the floors in the hallways with it.

I am so glad that you love Kirbys as much as I do. I have in my home movies of me around 3-4 pushing our brand new Dual 80. I wll try to put it on youtube someday, it is very short but it will show the original vacuum. Good luck in your hunting for vacuums and if I have something you may need or want just ask. I do have some duplicates and would be willing to trade or share. Charles knows me well enough, that I would do this.

Post# 99988 , Reply# 43   6/5/2010 at 14:28 (5,073 days old) by electrolux~137 ()        

Yes indeed, David is one of the warmest and sweetest guys I've ever met. I'll never forget the first time we met in person at the first VCCC meeting in Naperville in 1993 and he brought one of the strangest upright vacuum cleaners I'd ever seen -- it was called the "Columbus." Words can't describe it; you'd have to see it!!

Post# 100102 , Reply# 44   6/6/2010 at 17:24 (5,071 days old) by sukething ()        
Thanks Charles Richard...

 The Columbus he is speaking of I still have, but I have decided to put in the only Vacuum Museum, in St. James. Because it is sort of rare and unusal. Many years ago at a VCCC convention it one best of straight suction pre-war. So if you would like to see it and many other unusal vacuums head to the museum sometime.

My latest addition to my collection is an Atlas. It really is cool looking. I got everything, tool caddy, book and all.











I did finally get my two little bits of my home movies on youtube. They are of me getting my brand new Royal handvac for Christmas and then the other video of me running out brand new Kirby Dual 80.

Realize these are silent 8mm movies so no sound. This was before sound on videos.

Post# 100112 , Reply# 45   6/6/2010 at 20:23 (5,071 days old) by kirbyclassiciii (Milwaukie, Oregon)        
Your Other 515

 kirbyclassiciii's profile picture
@electrolux~137
Does your other 515 - the one with the black vulcanized wheels - also have the 10-blade metal fan? And what is its serial #?

I would also like to see a video of this slightly older 515, please.

~Ben

Post# 100113 , Reply# 46   6/6/2010 at 20:29 (5,071 days old) by electrolux~137 ()        

My other 515 is way in the back of my storage unit, where I can't get to it without pulling a lot of other stuff out first. I was only able to get to the newer one because it was near the front. It will be a while (months probably) before I'll get a chance to get in there and get to it. Sorry.

Post# 100427 , Reply# 47   6/10/2010 at 16:47 (5,067 days old) by hooverbaby (Dalton in Furness, UK)        
Columbus?

 hooverbaby's profile picture
I have a Columbus..but is the one you're thinking of anything like mine?

Post# 100428 , Reply# 48   6/10/2010 at 16:50 (5,067 days old) by hooverbaby (Dalton in Furness, UK)        
view of whole machine working

 hooverbaby's profile picture
Just had it going tonight..

Post# 100429 , Reply# 49   6/10/2010 at 16:53 (5,067 days old) by hooverbaby (Dalton in Furness, UK)        
No time to vacuum!

 hooverbaby's profile picture
The carpet is a bit dusty, sorry!

Here it is with the hose fitted.

Post# 100442 , Reply# 50   6/10/2010 at 19:25 (5,067 days old) by kirbyclassiciii (Milwaukie, Oregon)        
Sorry, But This is About the Kirby 515

 kirbyclassiciii's profile picture
@hooverbaby
Not to be rude to you or anyone else here, but, please start a new forum about your Columbus rig. We only want to discuss the aesthetics of the Kirby 515.

Thank you,



Ben Edge

Post# 100445 , Reply# 51   6/10/2010 at 20:18 (5,067 days old) by electrolux~137 ()        

Hey Ben, sometimes threads do take twists and turns ... it's a natural byproduct of the way humans communicate.

On that note, Stephen, your Columbus is similar to David Watters' machine except that with the one he had, the entire top motor unit was detachable with the motor shaft sticking out. IIRC there was a floor polisher attachment of some sort that could be attached to it, similar to the Fairfax & Rainbow polishers.

It's been many years since I saw it, but that's what I seem to remember about it.

Post# 100529 , Reply# 52   6/11/2010 at 15:42 (5,067 days old) by hooverbaby (Dalton in Furness, UK)        
Ben

 hooverbaby's profile picture
I had been thinking of posting the Columbus on a new thread but posted here, not that I wanted to mess up this one or detract from the main subject of the Kirby's, mainly to tie in with what Charles had said about the one he'd seen.

BTW Charles, the motor unit on it does detach just by unlatching the spring loaded rods on either side.

Stephen

Post# 100531 , Reply# 53   6/11/2010 at 16:52 (5,066 days old) by electrolux~137 ()        

Oh cool, then it is the same model then. It's surely from that galaxy of otherworldly vacuum cleaners isn't it!

Post# 100575 , Reply# 54   6/12/2010 at 07:44 (5,066 days old) by hooverbaby (Dalton in Furness, UK)        
lol

 hooverbaby's profile picture
Perhaps the globe symbol on the front signifies it's from outer space, waiting to descend upon the human race..

Post# 100937 , Reply# 55   6/16/2010 at 15:08 (5,062 days old) by sukething ()        
I will also have to get pics of 515

 Charles Richard do you remember my 515 or seeing a pic of it. My bag was slightly different than yours. Mine was solid grey with V stipe with the same Kirby emblem. I will have to go up north to get a pic of it to show. Years ago you and I came the conclusion that is was an orginal bag but just one model different, to have the different color of bag. I also just got finishing putting back the emblem on Kirby bags buy repainting them like I have showed and told you Charles. These are between 518-561 bags. Now yes they are faded, but they are original so I felt they were worth fixing. I put some pics of this to see..

Post# 100938 , Reply# 56   6/16/2010 at 15:10 (5,062 days old) by sukething ()        
There were two bags..

 I will try to post all of the pics...

Post# 100939 , Reply# 57   6/16/2010 at 15:12 (5,062 days old) by sukething ()        
More

 and more

Post# 100940 , Reply# 58   6/16/2010 at 15:13 (5,062 days old) by sukething ()        
hey

 this is fun

Post# 100942 , Reply# 59   6/16/2010 at 15:15 (5,062 days old) by sukething ()        
Last one

 Thank goodness

Post# 101086 , Reply# 60   6/17/2010 at 19:22 (5,060 days old) by kirbyclassiciii (Milwaukie, Oregon)        
Any Production 516s with the Striped Bag?

 kirbyclassiciii's profile picture
Were there any original, unaltered production 516s that had the V-stripe bag used on the 513 to 515?

I'm also talking about the prototype 516 that Charles brought up previously, which had that bag design... and maybe even the belt lifter that goes back to the 509.

~Ben

Post# 101087 , Reply# 61   6/17/2010 at 19:58 (5,060 days old) by electrolux~137 ()        

I don't know for sure, but I doubt it. Because the 516 instruction booklet shows the machine with the new "logo in a circle" only design.

Post# 267577 , Reply# 62   2/13/2014 at 22:35 (3,723 days old) by KirbyClassicIII (Milwaukie, Oregon)        

kirbyclassiciii's profile picture
Charles (Electrolux137),

I actually wanted to point out the 510 video that was shot by Jeff Parker actually has a 10-blade metal fan, too (like Reggie Ridlen's 510). The motor RPM may itself be slower, but the higher pitch seems to come from the fact the fan has 10 blades.

~Ben


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