Can someone identify this Kirby?

[champamp]

I have several newer models....never delved this far back....is it a 515 with new wheels? Looks like it needs a sani-emptor......

Pics are from the seller...I got it for 16$ + 25 shipping.....

I appreciate any info you awesome folks can provide....thanks.

 

[kirby519]

It is one of the early 500 series models with out seeing the tag on the motor housing it could be 510 to maybe 514 model. Earlier models had a toggle type power switch that later was changed to the step on switch on the machine you have. The trim package is that of the 560 to Dual Sanitronic. (Saroco tan) Not original to that machine. That machine new most would have been a grey or red trim package.

The bag is an after market conversion to accept a disposable bag. The bag doesn't have the registered trade mark logo as you see on the factory installed original bag or an original replacement bag from Kirby. The front wheels would have been narrow. Unlike the wider front wheels found on the Kirby Classic and newer.

 

[kirby519]

Yes it would have originally had a sani-emtor with open top shake out bag.

 

[electrolux137]

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Look at the "push-push" switch, introduced with the 514. This is either a 514 or 515 that was given the bojack treatment by a vac shop. (A factory-rebuilt machine wouldn't have removed the Sani-emptor, and wouldn't have a bojack bag on it.)

I hate the way older Kirbys look that have had a "Sani-Emptor-ectomy." It completely ruins the proportions and rhythm of the power plant's design.

See link for a factory-rebuilt 508 that I found a few years ago and gave a "spa treatment" to.

http://www.1377731.com/kirby508

 

[kirbymodel2c]

Ooh

<span style="font-family: book antiqua,palatino;">Mr Lester. You did make me smile when you used the term <a name="start_30081.334277"></a>"Sani-Emptor-ectomy."</span>


 


<span style="font-family: book antiqua,palatino;">Hope your keeping well.</span>


 


<span style="font-family: book antiqua,palatino;">James

</span>

 

[champamp]

Thanks!

Really enjoy your site Mr. Lester......perhaps it'll be a rebuild that someone later converted to disposable bags....I like the sani-emptor look as well.....I'll have to look around for one.....a roll of the dice as to what kind of shape it's really in...but Ill assume the worst (motor rebuild, etc...).

Appreciate all the replies.

 

[kirby519]

@electrolux137

Charles.

Beautiful restoration job on that Kirby. I see it was a factory rebuild. do you know the date of rebuild. How unfortunate that the original trim package, bag and metal fan are not available to complete the restoration to it's original beauty. Handsome even so.

 

[kirbybag]

kirby 514 or 515

yes its a kirby 514 or kirby 515 nice vacuum.

 

[champamp]

No Sani-Emptor

Wonder how it was converted to disposable?

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

It was actually the 513 that introduced the push/push switch.

~Ben

 

[bikerray]

The push push switch came out on the 513 along with the brushroll having the screw adjustment on the brushroll instead of in the nozzle. The 513 manual says to "Plug the extension cord end into the Push-Push Switch."

 

[electrolux137]

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Right. Brain fart. I did know the push-push switch was rolled out on the 513, it's on my Kirby 500-series history. My typing fingers are slower than my brain today...

 

[champamp]

?

1. How was it converted to use disposable bags?
2. Possible to source original parts, original bag etc.?

 

[kirby519]

@champamp

The conversion bag is set up like the bag on a metal Royal vacuum similar in design to the kirby. Instead of the sani-emptor it is a simple collar that attaches the bag assembly to the machine. Also if you look back at some of vacuums of the 20's,30's and 40's use the same type of collar set up to attach the bag to the machine.

The disposable bag that is inside the outer permanent bag uses a short tube and spring retainer to secure the bag to the sort tube coming off the exhaust of the machine. Like a Hoover convertible or Eureka disposable bag system.

Either a Type C bag for a Hoover convertible vacuum could be used or the Eureka F&G bag with the paper tube to make the bag a "top Fill" bag can be used. The F&G style bag is most commonly used so that the accumulated dirt in the bag is contained in the disposable bag rather than be able to fall back out of the dust bag. Using a Type C bag this would happen as the bottom of the bag is open to attach the bag to the fill tube. And the fill tube doesn't extend far enough into the disposable bag to trap large amounts of accumulated dirt.

 

[kirby519]

The only way you will find replacement parts is to salvage them from another machine of that model. There may be a few new parts out there. But not to likely. You can locate a sani emptor for that machine but it will be used not new. and getting scarce as collectors buy them when they get the chance.

As for an original bag that would have been on it new. Is no longer available. A similar style bag that fits the 517, 518, models etc.Is also becoming scarce. That bag has different style of printing than the bag that was original.

The replacement bags have the Kirby oval logo all over the bag. Like the bags for the dual 50 and dual 80. There is some one that makes replica bags from similar fabric used to make the original bag and has replicated the screen printed Kirby logo and stripping that was the original design on the bag for that model.

 

[kirby519]

@champamp

Here is a link to a video that most accurately illustrates what the machine would have looked like new. The cord may not be the original style and the Trim package may or may not be entirely accurate. It could have been red or may have been a grey trim package. I haven't looked at all the pictures of all models. The Red trim package spanned several years. Same machine only the model # changed. The model number signifies the year the machine was manufactured. 517 = 1957, 518 = 1958, 519 = 1959

http://https//search.yahoo.com/sear...p=1&cop=mss&ei=UTF-8&p=kirby vacuum model 514

 

[kirby519]

Here is another link. about the 500 series. This machine falls in that category. And it did have red trim.

http://www.1377731.com/kirby/page2.html

 

[bikerray]

The original trim would have been gray with black wheels.

 

[electrolux137]

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That depends on whether it's a 513, 514 or 515. The 514 and 515 originally had red headlight and rug nozzle bumpers and, early on, black wheels. The new gray Alathon® wheels were introduced during the late run of the 515 and were used then on until the Sanitronic D-80.
[this post was last edited: 9/20/2015-12:09]