Another rare vacuum

[kc_kirby]

Well, I don't believe I'm actually able to say this, but I now own a Kirby Utility Hand Vacuum. I bought it on Ebay so you know I didn't get it cheap. Even though its the most I've paid for a vacuum ever, I still thought it would sell for more than it did. The seller used to work at Kirby and told me he found it ready to be thrown away at Kirby. I just can't believe anyone working there would throw away something like this. Obviously they don't know the value of this vacuum. It is such an odd little vacuum with a provision for de-mothing built into the casting. At least that's what the patent says. This one is going to need some work as the motor is arcing and it smells pretty bad when its running. I hope its nothing too difficult to fix. So here are the obligatory pics, enjoy!

 

[kc_kirby]

Another pic

Front view

 

[kc_kirby]

Another pic

Rear view

 

[kc_kirby]

Another pic

Other Side

 

[joe22]

congrats its a true gem

 

[caligula]

So it DID exist!

Hi Buddy!

Part of my collection is on paper. Ads, newspaper clippings, and of course newsletters. I also have a vast collection of patents, though my four major ones are Air-Way, Electrolux, Hoover and Kirby. This seems to be, patent # 2,053,563. Inventor, J.B. Kirby and the name of the device 'Pnumatic Cleaner' it was filed Jan. 19, 1931, and the patent was granted on Sept. 8, 1936. With the exception of the handle being of a different shape and location, it is the same machine. This one has a Sani-Em-Tor, and it looks like yours does too!

You have a rare find mister, in fact, until I saw the pictures, I doubted that it was ever marketed. Please share the patent numbers on the name plate thingy, see if the one I posted here is on it? should be.

Enjoy this rare gem and if you attend next years convention in Texas, bring it with you, I want to see it in person.

Thank you for letting me see this.

Alex Taber.

 

[normvac]

WOW !

A great and a lucky find.
Was the previous owner living in Cleveland area ??
Enjoy !
Norm

 

[luxg]

Congratulations Chad!!

Wow wonderful find Chad. I am really glad that you got this. I might be wrong here but I think when we visited Kirby they had one of these on display. I might be mistaken there but I know I have seen this machine before or at least a picture of it. Please keep us posted as to how the restoration goes. Terry

 

[kc_kirby]

Alex: The serial number plate does not have a patent number, it just says "Pats Pend". Below that is says LIC JAS B. KIRBY. I have seen that same patent you mention and I'm sure it was made from that patent but like you said, the handle is different.

Norm: Yes, the previous owner lived in Ohio but not Cleveland. I don't remember exactly where but it might be a suburb or something.

Terry: Yes, there was one on display at the Kirby Factory in the lobby. I took a pic of it when I was there.

There is a nice pic of a Utility all shined up in James Brown's collection pictures on this site. Mine will look that good one of these days. I kind of wondered myself if they actually produced these in any quantity since they seem to be so rare. I only know of three in existence at this point, James Brown's, the one at Kirby and the one I have. I did see one other one on Ebay about 4 or 5 years ago but I wonder if that isn't the one that James has. At the time I was just getting into collecting old Kirby's and I had no idea what this even was. I mean, no website had any pictures of it or mentioned it. The Kirby Factory put a date of 1935 on it so it would have been out when the C's were being built. Any info or history on this would be greatly appreciated. I don't understand why there isn't more out there about the older Kirby's. Thanks for all the great comments.

Chad Cunningham

Chad Cunningham

 

[caligula]

A very rare find indeed!

My dear Chad:

You own a very special Kirby! Patent pending means that it was manufactured sometime between 1931 and 36, as you said most likely 35. Jim Kirby also worked with the guys who made the Apex. Could be that what you have is an experimental model. Is there a place for a hose? and am I right, is there a Sani-Em-Tor?

Maybe what you read was a post I did on this same patent a few weeks ago when the subject of the Sani-Em Tor came up.

In answer to your question of info on older Kirby machines. That was the main reason I formed this club. Hoover was the ONLY vacuum cleaner company to take any interest in my collecting (and I worked for Kirby at the time!) Electrolux, Kirby, Rexair/Rainbow, Royal, Eureka and others don't care about the past, they care only about getting the sale. When I contacted Electrolux back in 1979, about info on the wet/dry comercial model, they said it didn't exist. I gave them the patent number and a few weeks later got a very nice letter from Charles McKee (president of Electrolux at that time). He told me that quite frankly I know more about their history than he or the other top brass did, and to prove it, sent the instruction book for the wet/dry that they said didn't exist!

We here at the Vacuum Cleaner Collecror's Club take pride in a company's history. I love to dig up facts, and hearing a success story like yours really warms my heart.

If I can help with other questions, feel free to ask.

Alex Taber

 

[a007kirbyman]

Chad & Utility Hand Vac...

Nice addition to your collection. wtg, woohoo!!!

Enjoy.

hagd all

Bill

 

[kirbyvertibles]

I got to see it in person first, hahaha lol
Chad came over last Saturday and spent the day with me and my family. We went into town to a chili cook off. Anyohw he brought the Utility and it was the coolest thing I have seen!!! Thank you Chad for bringing it.

 

[hygiene903]

Nice Find, Chad!

And a very rare one indeed! I know you'll do an excellent restoration on it and will be looking forward to seeing the "after" pics. Congratulations!
Jeff