1948 Kirby 508 (shopgoodwill.com)

[huskyvacs]

Here's a shot of the fan casing and fan blade. I think the fan is original, and it looks in good shape. It has a couple of nicks but nothing major. Also I just now noticed when typing this that there is alligator-skinning of the fan casting between the blades and the metal of the fan housing along the exterior around the opening is so rough-cut and sloppy with tooling marks all over it. Is that normal?

Was this a Friday Kirby? lol

Photo taken on: 12/2/2020 1:13 AM

 

[huskyvacs]

Here's a shot of the belt. The belt was completely off the pulley when I inspected it, and I pulled the belt lifter around twice before it caught the belt and pulled it up. Whoever owned this vacuum must have worshiped the manual and properly cared for this vacuum, as they remembered to store it with the belt off. I cannot tell if the belt is knurled or if that is just dirt caked on there?

Photo taken on: 12/2/2020 1:14 AM

 

[huskyvacs]

Here's a shot of the Sani-Emptor. From what I looked up, this is normal for it to be black, because they used leftover parts from the 505.

Photo taken on: 12/2/2020 1:15 AM

 

[huskyvacs]

Also here is a right side view of the vacuum. It looks worse in photos than it does in real life as the camera flash accentuates the dirt coating it and the scratches in the finish.

Photo taken on: 12/2/2020 1:15 AM

 

[huskyvacs]

Here's a shot of the model tag, it looks like a second generation model tag. I have seen other 508's from members here that have a early 1940's style tag. Anyone know how to date the serial number? Or what the "WS" means? I love that model number, it's a nice clean number of mostly 0's lol

Photo taken on: 12/2/2020 1:16 AM

 

[huskyvacs]

Here's a shot of the cord where it's wrapped around the cord hook and has cracked apart, exposing its modern new-ish nylon insulation.

Photo taken on: 12/2/2020 1:17 AM

 

[huskyvacs]

...and that's all! Hope you enjoyed the photos and I hope to get this Kirby polished up and fixed up eventually! Please let me know what is original and what is not, as I hope to eventually get this Kirby back to its original appearance. The final total on the purchase cost was $90.13 so with the 50/50 split we each paid $45.07.

 

[human]

Lots of potential there...

That's a nice find and it's great that you and Les were able work a deal that was to your mutual advantage, giving you each what you needed. I know you'll enjoy restoring it. Keep us apprised of your progress. It should be beautiful when you finish it.

I think it's just as well that the folks at Goodwill didn't know how to take the handle apart. They probably would have lost the pin. I had that happen earlier this year when I bought a Kirby Heritage off of eBay and the seller managed to misplace the pin that holds the handle onto the body. Fortunately, he found it and sent it separately after I asked about it. He said he'd been wondering what it was. In the meantime, had bought a carriage bolt at Lowe's that was a workable substitute but I'm very glad to have the original part.

 

[hoover300]

Nice!Do you still want to trade the belt lifters?

 

[huskyvacs]

@hoover300

I'll keep this belt lifter for now, thank you though.

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

huskyvacs

The "WS" you found in the serial number refers to it having come from the factory with the 10530 field coil and 10531 armature.

~Ben

 

[lesinutah]

Original

The bag is probably original. The 6 blade fan is original and pretty rare. The cord isn't original. The handle grip is off a 562 sanitronic. The emptor looks original. I have a black and a grey on 2 508s. You could re solder me wire on the headlight. Just warm up the solder there put a little flux and it probably would stay. The belt lifter is original. It's the rarest belt lifter kirby ever made.
The wheels do occasionally chunk off
It happens on alot of machines with those wheels.
It is in really good condition for being 72 years old.
The nozzle is original you can tell by the metal casting marks.
It was a pleasant surprise when you emailed me you won the auction. I was more than willing to pay half.
The brush roll is rare to find original.
Nice pics.

 

[huskyvacs]

Thanks for the info, Les! Also thanks for the info on the motor, Ben!

What solder should I get for the wire? Is there a special kind or something?

Whenever you're ready, Les, just eMail me and I can send you the bag and if you still want the cord I can send that too. I won't wash the bag as I don't want to risk damaging it, not sure how sensitive it is.

 

[lesinutah]

Sensitive

If the screen print gets wet the screen print comes off. I'll get trim ready and I'll email you the when.

 

[vacmadman]

Nice 508

The 508 is my favorite Kirby, Good luck to you restoring it. The original bags are among the hardest to find. That is a great addition to your collection...congrats! Would love to see it when your done.

 

[KirbyCollector01]

Very cool!

I did win it originally, but needed to save money. So I backed out. You got a great find there! It’ll look beautiful once restored. That grip is for a 562. I have a more correct one if you want to trade grips. Email me if interested.

 

[huskyvacs]

@ KirbyCollector

Oh hey, well it was good you did anyway. It is living in a good home! A messy home, but a good one. lol I've got all the tools I need just not the area.

Yeah we can trade grips. As far as I know I don't have a 562 so when I restore it the grip would just wind up in a storage bin. It's a little grubby but it doesn't look rotten or cracked.

 

[KirbyCollector01]

Sweet

I already have a completely factory original 508 anyways. So it worked out for both of us.
As for the grips, Sounds good to me! We can discuss details by email.

 

[kirbyklekter]

Tooling marks and wheels

Hi Huskyvacs, I'm playing forensic investigator here. It looks to me like those 'tooling marks' line up with the top of the left screw by the inlet.Maybe scrape marks when someone had it apart or ? A lot could happen in 72 years for sure. Those early 500 series models often did have little casting imperfections mostly on the fan casing front and rear.

Is it my eyes or am I seeing four front wheels on your 508? I've seen doubles in plastic on later models like Sanitronics and was told that that was done later by a shop or by the owner. In any case I've never seen rubber doubles up front and was just curious. Billy

 

[huskyvacs]

@kirbyklekter

No it's just got single fronts, thick wheels. I think the scratch marks down the middle of the wheel surface give an appearance of having two thinner wheels.

And yeah these wartime Kirbys, or post-war filler models, they had some rough assembly to them. My 510 has the handle sawed at a hack-job angle where it slots into the yoke. I thought that the seller did it to fit it into the box.