Another 508

[bee-vac]

I couldn't pass this one up, I'm amazed that it's all original! The only thing I could see was the plug was changed. It's got a metal roll brush too.

 

[huskyvacs]

Aww, letting your Kirby ride in the front seat, how cute!

You might need to change that belt soon, it looks like its got some dry rot.

 

[hoover300]

Nice

I'm pretty sure that bag was used on the 515-561 maybe with some changes in speckles.

 

[lesinutah]

Bag

The bag is 513-515. 516-518 has Kirby where k and y connect making a v. 519 560 561 have the Speckled grey bag with Kirby insignia.
The cord part that plugs into wall isn't original but the cord looks like the belden bell shape connects to the vacuum.
Les

 

[bee-vac]

Photo number 5

Can anyone tell me what these markings are? I see an "m" on the left, and a "g" above an "e" on the right. I think I've even seen a star stamped on the back of these heads too.

 

[vac-o-matic]

Molding IDs? Just a guess.

 

[lesinutah]

Guess

I'm not positive but the letters are probably one of 2 things. It's either a mold number or city it was cast. Its probably the mold number.
The star is a company isigna or logo. I've noticed it on mostly nozzles.
Les

 

[huskyvacs]

It was probably used so the company knew what part came off what assembly plant and where - either within the company's various casting plants, or within the same building. Like if something got messed up on a certain shift or line, they knew what ones to pull out and discard and what to send ahead. Kind of how they do with food that gets recalled - the batch and plant codes printed on the boxes are used to know which ones could be contaminated. I never noticed these myself - I will have to look closer.

Here's a photo I found online of a Kirby assembly line in the 1950s