electrolux137
Charles,
I just found out the 514 was the first Kirby to have the angled headlight socket mounting, instead of horizontal (the angled socket mounting was used all the way up to the Classic 1-CR). However, it still retained the left-handed locking clip, which was eliminated...
hygiene903
Hi Jeff,
It was most likely in light gray for this one. I researched that the "NA" suffix that was part of such model numbers as mine and the 880NA meant "no attachments."
However, there used to be black tools for the very old Royals made in the 1930s and 1940s.
~Ben
odavid123
Hi David,
I wonder if the printing of the Kirby Classic III instructions with the words Limited Warranty underlined could perhaps be the very first version?
~Ben
Eureka1998
From 1932 until 1982, vacuums that were made at Hoover Limited in the U.K. were produced at that division's historic Perivale plant in England.
After the closure of the Perivale plant, U.K. production moved to Cambuslang, Scotland; part of the old Perivale facility was bought out by...
Paul
There is one more Lightweight Upright to be added: the 1354A "Dirtsearcher," which was mostly similar to the original U.K.-spec model, but with 120-volt plug.
This may have had final assembly in Burlington, Ontario, since the Hamilton, Ontario plant that was Hoover Canada's original...
Eureka1998
Since the 120-volt 1354A Dirtsearcher Junior vacuum was only sold in Canada, it most likely had some final assembly done at Hoover's Burlington, Ontario manufacturing plant.
~Ben
Here's a minor update on my lovely "Maureen" (my 1977 Kirby Classic III): I swapped the handle assembly off my '79 Classic III onto her to make her look even more like my mom's '78 Classic III.
Why do I call her "Maureen"? I chose the name because of Maureen O'Hara (1920-2015), an...
MIVintageVacs
Yes, it appears to be the original cord, but it has indeed aged because I can see it's frayed near the female plug end (where it goes to the motor unit).
~Ben
MIVintageVacs
This was the last Kirby to be made before World War II; production would not restart until the war's end on August 24, 1945, when Kirby brought out the 505.
~Ben
I think I understand why some Kirby motors sound the way they do: I believe the armatures used on models 505 to 518 have one fan with 6 blades and another with 14 blades, while the main impeller fan used on models 505 to 514 has 6 blades and the 515 and up has 10 blades.
It's the 14-blade...
fluffygryphon
Hi Daniel,
I received your e-mail, and I gave you the Kirby 1-CR, 1-CB and 2-CB service manual in response. Please let me know if you received my reply with the manual attached.
~Ben
fluffygryphon
Hi Daniel,
I happen to have a service manual for both that and the prior Classic 1-CR for your convenience.
Please drop me an e-mail about it at:
[email protected]
Thank you,
Ben (KirbyClassicIII)