Anybody ever hear of a retractable cord for a Kirby?

[caligula]

This looks, and works like a coiled telephone cord. It was held inside the hollow handle with the machine end exactly like that of a standard Kirby. The user simply stretched out the desired length, letting it fully retract when through.

The idea was that of Charles H. MacFarland. He was one of the top designers and made a number of parts for Kirby in the 40's and 5o's, in fact he was the man who designed the Belt Lifter, brush for the crevice tool, deodorizor on the Sani-Em-Tor, Handi-Butler, hose coupling, Roller waxer and Rug Renovator. While I doubt if it was ever used, the patent was filed on April 26, 1947, and granted on August 19, 1952.

This is but a few patents I now have on file.

 

[normvac]

Cord rewind for Kirby

Alex
That is very interesting to hearing about the cord rewind for a Kirby. Especially
way back in 47 - 51. Always wondered when I was a kid, if or why they had not
thought of such a thing. Not I know that at least a Patton had be granted.
Maybe for the new one for the 100th anniversary ! ?
Norm Brown

 

[caligula]

Thanks Norm.

I posted the info on the patent before scanning it. Here it is.

 

[paul]

Alex,

<span style="font-family: helvetica;">The feature must have been too cost prohibitive to implement.  </span>


<span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span>


<span style="font-family: helvetica;">Very interesting!</span>


<span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span>


<span style="font-family: helvetica;">Paul</span>

 

[IL-Kirby-Fan]

Kirby cord winder

Over the years Kirby (or their designers I should say) have come up with several concepts for a cord winder. The one in this thread wasn't used because it would have prevented the removal of the long handle and use of the portable handle. Kirby's standpoint on cord winders has been that cord winders break and jam and they've felt it would go against their mission of building a machine to last a life time. I have heard though that it's been considered again for the model in development, but I don't know where they stand on it right now and if it's something we will see on the next model or not.

 

[briankirbyclass]

A friend who was a child in the mid to late 1950s told me that her mother bought a Kirby in about that time frame that came with a slot in the handle to put quarters in, to pay for the Kirby! (after a small down payment)
Once full, you emtied out the quarters and took the money to your local Kirby Dist. She said that is how her mother paid for, and bought her Kirby, as they could not afford to pay otherwise, or all at once.
I asked her what color the bag and handle were, she said the bag was gray, and the handle and trim were red.
So, evidently a 516, 517, 560 maybe? Not sure, but she swears this is how they bought it.