Kirby 509 or 510 - A Question

[kirbyclassiciii]

Was it the 509 or the 510 that had the all-new lettering style for the Kirby logo on the bag and the belt lifter? According to Chuck Lester, he claims it was the 510 that had the revised (non-angular) cursive script.

In other words, did the 509 have either the older-style 505/508 style lettering on the bag and belt lifter or did it have the 510/512 style lettering?

It seems to me like a lot of the 509s have the 510-512-style script rather than the C-508-style script.

Thus, if anyone with an unaltered, mint condition, possibly barely-used 509 could help me, I'd appreciate.

Thank you,



Ben


http://www.137.com/kirby/

 

[kirbymodel2c]

Hi Ben

Hi Ben. The 509 had the same style logo as the 510,11,12.

Hope this helps)

James

 

[electrolux~137]

Well, I don't know who Chuck Lester is, but whoever he is, he's wrong about the lettering on the Kirby belt lifters!

There were three versions of Kirby logos used on the belt lifters.

The first style goes back to the very earliest belt-access cap before the belt lifter was devised and was then used with the first belt lifter on the late Model 505 (black with reddish-orange lettering), then the Model 508 and 509 (red with grey lettering).

Then the logo was streamlined and made more italic with the Models 510-515.

When the 513 came out, a new, more angular logo was introduced and used with the bag and packaging cartons, but not yet on the belt lifter.

Then when the completely new 516 came out, the new logo was used throughout the machine. It was given a dramatic and beautiful treatment on the belt lifter by placing it over a metallic silver background.

There were also other logo styles that were used on the bags, cartons and printed literature but not used on the belt caps and lifters.

A bit of trivia - the Kirby logo was based on Mr. Jim Kirby's signature.

 

[kirbymodel2c]

)

True but you also get cross overs to. The 510 style belt lifter signature started on the 509. Like I got the Grey style 508 handle grip with the same style grip as the 3C-505 handle grip but grey on my 509 But the rubber quality was not as good so they tended to crumble away... Hay Hoo

 

[electrolux~137]

Yes, that is very true and I do note that in my web site. A good example is the 505 -- the early models still had the belt cap; the belt lifter was not introduced until later on. And it may be that there were some 509s with the old-style belt lifter and some with the new. "Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera."

In fact, there is so much crossing over of details that it's really impossible to say, "All these details identify the model 5## and all these details identify the model 5##" because it just didn't happen that way!

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Chuck

@electrolux~137

"Chuck" is you.

 

[electrolux~137]

Hmmmm... well, you're the one person on the planet who calls me Chuck, but that's okay -- I've certainly been called worse!!

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Crossover Kirbys

If this story of "crossover" features/cosmetic details is true, I'd assume such older details were on lower serial #s of these certain models, and the newer details showed up on higher serial #s.

Example: Early 513s not only had the older-style Kirby logo on the belt lifter but also on the nameplate. Later 513s had the then-current logo on the nameplate, which was already on the bag, boxes and instructions.

~Ben

 

[electrolux~137]

Right. That makes perfect sense.

Coincidentally enough, I have my 513 right here. It's been my upright "daily driver" since moving to my new place; haven't gotten around to pulling out a different one yet. I thought it did have the older-style logo on the serial number plate, but I just now checked to be sure, and it does.

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

That 513

@electrolux-137
The 513 I see looks to be a rather early example as its handle grip is not red as on the later models.

~Ben

 

[electrolux~137]

The red handle grip did not come out until the 514. It was the first handle grip with the flip-down cord hook. Red handle grips in this style are replacements.

This is an error [one of quite a few!] in my site that I need to correct but just haven't gotten around to it.

 

[kirbymodel2c]

)

Very nice 513 Charlie) Nice bag)

 

[hooverbaby]

Yes, isn't it just James!

I wonder how he keeps it so clean if it's a daily driver? never really thought of using an upright with tools attached permanently. Are there no carpets in Charles' house?

and BTW James I'm back from the mower rally now so I'm not likely to be on the motorway if you phone..

 

[electrolux~137]

Our new apartment is mostly hardwood floors. There is wall-to-wall carpeting in Arlee's bedroom and in the hallway along the bedrooms, bathroom & utility room. My bedroom, the living room and kitchen all have bare hardwood floors. Which is fine with me. I never have been a fan of carpeting, especially wall-to-wall. I really prefer the look and acoustic response of hard floors.

Folks may think I'm crazy to use an older Kirby as as straight-suction cleaner (well, crazy for that and other reasons as well!), but you know, it really does a great job -- again, as Stan Kann always used to say, "You only need enough suction to move the schmutz from the floor to the hose!" And he's right. The Kirby 513, while hardly a powerhouse in terms of suction power, does a yoeman's job of dusting.

But I don't use it for the main bare-floor cleaning because I don't like the attachments other than the dusting brush (which is wonderful). That's always been a big disappointment with Kirby -- the crummy attachments which have always seemed to be an after-thought despite the company so loudly touting their machine as a "do-it-all" cleaner.

I also have been using my 1954 Electrolux Model E for the bare-floor cleaning.

I wish I had a Hoover 115. I've always really liked that model and it would be perfect for the small bit of carpeting we have here. The 913 is a bit much to lug around!

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

OT: 515 Fan

@electrolux-137
Charles, could you please confirm whether or not the fan (#1190) on your 515 is the same as that used on the 516 to Tradition?

Look at the fan on both this and the 516 to find out, just so I can correct you here, too, if need be.

Thank you,



Ben (KirbyClassicIII)

 

[electrolux~137]

???