Early Kirby Flea Market find

[tyson]

I was out and about yesterday and seen this sitting in the back of a flea market table offered the guy ten bucks and brought it home.It's in good running condition.I wanted to know how rare is it to find a Kirby 509? Is it hard to lubricate them or is it sealed.I did notice it has places for the brushes on the motor.I wanted to know if the two screw on top are lubrication ports.Is there ports for lubrication.It's missing it's bumper guard on the light cover.Can I order it if I was to restore it.All in all it looks intact and decent.I actually was surprised to see it is a 1949 Model and all original except I think the bag isn't it.Is this model worth restoring?

 

[IL-Kirby-Fan]

Awesome find!

Great find Tyson! You will love it! The missing bumper should be easy enough to find. Kirby's are the best.

 

[james]

A very nice find, well done
You can re-grease the bearings if you take them out.
Clean the old grease out first, then re-pack them with high temperature grease.

Hard to tell how original it is from that picture, the wheels and cord look to have been changed?
Can you post up more pictures of it for us to see please?

 

[tyson]

Kirby 509 better pics.

Thank's I didn't think I went wrong and I kind of like the 509s style. Here are some better pics hopefully of the 509.I think you're right the bag doesn't match and I'm not sure about the wheels.Thanks for the instructions on repacking the bearings too Jim.I'll definitely start there.Even though it does run I'm thinking this old girl needs some cleaning and TLC.I was just comparing my Dual Sanitronic to the 509 and although the Sanitronic I have turned out pretty decent but still needs a bit more done.I like the replacement bag on the Sanitronic that I put on it.I think it highlights the trim.Maybe the 509s replacement bag having the red in it might set it off a bit.I seen pictures of the early Kirby bags with the log on it.How cool is that.I highly doubt they are that easy to find.

 

[tyson]

other pics

http://pic 2

 

[tyson]

Before Sanitronic pic

Sanitronic before

 

[tyson]

Sanitronic after

Sanitronic after

 

[tyson]

Kirby 509 better pics.

Her is another shot of the 509s bag it has

 

[tyson]

509 and the Dual Sanitronic

1949 509 and 1965 Dual Sanitronic.Sorry about the dots on the camera.

 

[kirbybag]

nice find for ten dollars

great find bags not org.but yes restore it.bag a replacement but thats a nice bag kirby are great.

 

[james]

Thanks for the extra pics Tyson.
Looks in pretty good shape, it should clean up very well
The rug nozzle is from a 514/515, should have a grey bumper, and it looks to have the full length rug plate?
The cord looks like its from a later Kirby, grey with red ends, as are the wheels.

$10 though! bargain!
Good luck with it and keep us up to date of your progress
I like the replacement bag on your DS50, it really suits it.

 

[tyson]

Thanks James,I really like that bag on the DS 50 but I'm a little disappointed that the 509 isn't all completely original but I can try to get it back the way it should be.Thanks for the info.I'll see what I can come up with.