Is it worth it?

[vacmadman]

There is a very nice all original Kirby 505 up for sale on eBay. It looks to have everything but the bag clip rubber cover. At 1,200.00 is it worth it? I have seen them go for more. What say you?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1671566625...ucVuASUHDcwjs25RWdYJRb+fRFf5HtpSueVnTgbmLOJD8

 

[bnsd60m9200]

With a very faded bag and scratches on the machine, no its not worth that. if the bag like new and perfect metal finishing AND original attachments, maybe at that price.

 

[kwalsh97214]

Apparently this machine isn't worth it.

The ebay listing has been active for several days, 17 people are watching it, the listing has had several hundred views.

Still not even an offer (say $1,000) acceptable to the seller?

A nicer one, a cheaper one, a more complete one may be around the corner in a week, a month, or a year. Then again, maybe not -- and a buyer could have purchased this current one and enjoyed adding it to his/her collection.

When I saw the listing and read the Facebook group's comments, I paused and was tempted to buy it -- but my current focus is on a different Kirby model.

 

[vacmadman]

What someone is willing to pay

It's possible this was bad timing putting it up for sale before Christmas. It's not to often a 505 comes up for sale, and more times then not they are far from being original. Even with the faded bag with just a little elbow grease this would be a great addition to any collection.

I wonder today what would a complete Kirby 505 with a NOS bag go for? I guess it would go back to the old adage "it's worth whatever someone is willing to pay". This could also just be a sign of the times, with the cost of everything going up in the last few years, people aren't willing to spurge on something like this.

If this is something you have always wanted in your collection there is another old adage that comes to mind. "Get while the getting is good".

 

[lesinutah]

Umm

U have a $3000 kirby there. I seen that lasting and noticed it's far from pristine. He's never disassembled it and doesn't know how to disassemble it.

 

[odavid123]

I’m surprised it’s lasted on eBay for so long

Must be the wrong timing I agree . But then again it really is all about the demand and the right collector. I think that if it were lowered to $800 as a bid only listing it would sell faster and get the seller closer to his/hers asking price ,

 

[vacmadman]

Yep

I think your right David, If they put it up with a starting bid of $800.00 I think it would sell. I do think it's worth what they are asking, but people want a better deal. I got in touch with the seller and suggested it.

Jim

 

[huskyvacs]

I believe that no vacuum should cost as much as a used car. New or antique. Didn't someone on here say before that the old school collectors had a code not to sell vacuums for so much money, or to just gift them forward and not let them become a commodity? Something like that, am I remembering right?

Kirby is a widely respected and collected brand by people of modern arts and appliances not just vacuum collectors, so there is a bit of wiggle room for competition.

Keep in mind that any vacuums made before or around WW2 likely never survived the WW2 scrap drives and have been pretty much extinct after the last survivors in dusty old barns got pitched into the landfill with no regards to value or preservation. At the end of the day it's still just an old vacuum. I personally wouldn't do over $500. People will put down $300-$400 for a Bison so compare as you will.

 

[oldcrankman]

Not a chance

Despite my Kirby 510 not being all original except for it's metal parts on it, I only paid $40 for it.

 

[vacmadman]

Not quite the same

Comparing a non-original 510 to an all original 505 is not a fair comparison. The 505 is one of the most sought after Kirby models and worth much more then a 510. Unless the seller doesn't know what they have you might get lucky, and get one cheap. If your 510 had been original and the seller knew what they had you would have payed much more.

Jim

 

[vacmadman]

Comparison

Pictured on the right is the NOS 505 bag that I got for $150.00 next to one of Michael Balda's reproduction 505 bag's, At the time I saw this online, I'm guessing the seller saw one of Mikes bags which were still being sold at the time for $150.00. So I think the seller thought that was what his bag was worth not Knowing his was the real deal and worth much, much more. That was my lucky day because I knew what I was looking at.

Jim

 

[lesinutah]

Dang

One is corduroy and OEM is either duventyne or double quill cotton.
Very nice bag.
I remember likening the 505 to a 63 corvette stingray split window coupe. It's the best vacuum ever made.

 

[vacmadman]

Les

I agree with you, The 505 was one Kirby model I couldn't wait to find and add it to my collection. When I saw the 505 NOS bag and realized it was the real thing, I literally started shaking and couldn't push the buy it now button fast enough. Once the realization sunk in that I just got a very rare 505 NOS bag I jumped up and started dancing and yelling I got it!! I got it!! My wife thought I had lost my mind.

Side note: I just looked and the seller took my advice and reposted his 505 with a starting bid of $800.00, and a buy it now for $1,120.00. Also as you and I have talked about before, the fact that this Kirby was not pieced together and has all it's own original parts also set it apart from others.

Jim [this post was last edited: 12/21/2024-11:52]

 

[huskyvacs]

@ vacmadman

 

[vacmadman]

Kirby 510 and 505

Pictured is a Kirby 510 that I sold some time back. It sold for $449.44 Also a Kirby 505 that I sold for $350.00 what do you think?

Jim[this post was last edited: 12/22/2024-10:39]

 

[kwalsh97214]

I think they are beautiful.

Thanks for posting these photos.

Did the Kirby 505 that you previously sold for $350 have any shortcomings?

Earlier in this thread you mentioned your lucky ebay purchase in the past of an original 505 bag for $150. Do you think the original 505 bag that sold a month or so ago on ebay for $450 was a good price for these times?

 

[lesinutah]

I

Think the 510 price is a little high but not bad great shape.
The 505 could fetch well over $500. This is just my opinion.
I'm probably basing things off prices 3-5 years ago.
There both nice than the 505 for sale.
If you put a bag topper and bag on the 505 you could clear 2000-2500.

 

[kwalsh97214]

I do not want to dilute this thread. But...

When it comes to collector desirability, rarity, value and so on, is a Kirby 505 and a Kirby 4C comparable or do experienced Kirby collectors prefer one over the other and, if so, why?

 

[vacmadman]

505 and 510

They were both sold by auction. I was hoping the 505 would sell for more. It had no short coming's, but the handle grip, cord, and bag were not original. I was pleased with what I got for the 510. It did have a grey handle grip and Belden cord.

AS far as the 505 VS the Kirby 4C, the 4C was only made for one year, and the 505 was made for three years so it's not as rare as the 4C, not to mention the 4C did come first. The first year of the 505 was very close to the 4C, one notable difference is the 4C's aluminum emptor tray. pictured is my 4C with a Machel Balda bag.

Jim