Kirby 515 with a new owner

[danielsand]

Just signed up on this forum. First of all, I was blown away when I found out that a forum like this exists! I found out by pure accident.

Few weeks ago, a neighbor decided to dump an old vacuum cleaner into garbage. I saw the thing sitting outside, and asked him what is his intention with it. Long story short, I picked it up, and decided to "make it pretty" for a decoration (I was intrigued by it's appearance). Took it home, and started investigating what is it that I had. It turns out it is 1975 made Kirby Classic Omega in FABULOUS condition, with broken (rosewood) handle. Fast forward couple of weeks, and the Omega was polished, new handle installed, new bulb, brush roll, and a new belt fitted. I started shopping for parts, and this is how I found your site, and started to read everything ever posted about Omega!

Then I purchased a complete set of accessories off Ebay, and found out that this old, and beautiful thing cleans better than my modern Hoover,......and the rest is history as they say.

Today, I drove hundred miles to buy Kirby 515 (made the same year I was born!) in mint condition (needs polishing of course), with accessories! Total "expense" 25 bucks not counting the gas. Even has the original bag (according to the posts I've seen over here). The only thing I don't like on it, is the headlight bumper (red) which has a nick in it. And that's when I decided to join you guys, and kindly ask if someone can direct me to where I can find a replacement?

I've been glued to this screen, most of the evening, read everything posted on this forum about 515, searched Google, Ebay, etc. and I can't find what I need! I would also like a replacement bag (the original is kinda dirty, and the logo is peeling). I will wash it tomorrow, and start disassembly of the machine for polishing.

I don't think I will turn into full fledged "vacuum collector", and I am very happy with these two. One from the year I was born, and one from the year I put the uniform on (and kept it on for 20+ years).

And that's it. Wife thinks I'm nuts, and I think I haven't seen a vacuum cleaner prettier (or better performing!) until I put that Omega in service (as a "daily driver"). Please let me know if you know a source out there for 515 bumpers, and/or bags (any shake out bag with some red on it will work for the light duty of cleaning my office). The original bag will be cleaned, and stored along other accessories.

Thank you, and I apologize for the long post/introduction.

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Daniel,

Welcome to VacuumLand!

The part number you are looking for is no. 1619, but it will be tan instead of red. If you wish to buy this, you can paint it red.

The current replacement cloth bag will be black, not gray.

~Ben

 

[danielsand]

Thank you Ben.

I've seen some 515s on this forum, which were fitted with bags from other models and were "pinkish/reddish". Even wrote the part number down, and a website, but I couldn't find the website. I did find tan headlight bumpers, but I am not sure how the painting would work. The bumper is flexible (AFAIK), and any stretching would crack the paint (IMO).

I forgot to mention that both of these machines have original metal fans, and are in perfect working condition (somebody took care of them). No gauges, no deep scratches, and once I'm done with restoration, I'll put some pics up.

 

[hismastersvoice]

Daniel,

SEM (and probably others as well) makes a special paint specifically for painting vinyl and rubber, and it is flexible. You might be able to find it at a larger auto parts store, since it is primarily used in the auto industry. I think this is what most people use for their restorations.

 

[smow69]

Daniel

Welcome aboard, I to redid an omega it is my favorite vacuum to use along with all my others,ha ha, I also have a classic three my mom bought when i was a kid about 5 or 6 yrs old. please post pictures when your done with your machines. MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.

 

[danielsand]

Thanks for the welcome guys.

We love animals (have 13 of them), and seven live in the house with us (plus six horses outside, of course!). Two GSDs, and a Malamute do their best to mess the house up (no "accidents", they are WELL trained, but shedding IS a problem!), and it's on me to make everything PRISTINE. 20+ years in the service, made ma a "clean freak" (my wife's nick name for me), and since this comes from an OR nurse, it carries a special weight. She is much younger, and works full time (and more), and I am taking care of the "family".

So I vacuum every day (and we have a big house)and buy plastic vacuum cleaners every 6-8 months. I don't like paper bags (I fill one up every other day, at the times of the season change when the dogs shed the most)), and the plastic "bagless" ones just get trashed (washing filters every week, and they still smell in a month or so).

And now I "discovered" Kirby! I am amazed with what the Omega picks up AFTER I went over it with the Hoover! I keep talking about it, and the wife says I'm nuts, and if I start collecting Kirbys, she will take me to the shrink (jokingly of course). Since I've been collecting guns, and high end watches my whole life (and restoring them), she knows my passion for cleanliness, restoration, antiques, and "collecting". She is worried. But I look at old Kirbys as the artfully designed machines, that are not only good to look at, but also VERY functional (kinda like my Rolexes). These machines take me back to times when precision machining, quality, and durability was a norm, as opposed to "disposable society" we live in today.

But she will get used to this passion, just as she got used to me starting to shave with a straight razor, when in the beginning I would bleed from several places, daily. Back then (two years ago) she begged me to stop "mutilating" myself, in order to "turn back time". Maybe she is right. Maybe it's a nostalgia for the times gone by, that drives me toward these things. Who knows.....but I'm having fun!

 

[danielsand]

And now I'm taking the 515 apart for cleaning, and I don't know how to remove the bag from the Em Tor!! I don't want to damage anything. Can someone help me please?

 

[hismastersvoice]

Daniel,

The bag has a strong spring sewn into it. If there is a plastic bag guard around where it connects, you will want to first remove that (it will end up being around the bag at first, since it wont stretch enough to get it off of the bottom of the emtor). Then you will need to pry the edge of the bag up with your fingers, in some cases either corrosion or nasty gunk will cause it to stick on the emtor. Then you should be able to just stretch the spring enough to pop it off. It helps to roll the edge up over the lip.

 

[eurekastar]

I paint Kirby trim all the time using SEM plastic/vinyl paint.  If you have any questions, please let me know. 

 

[vacuser]

TO: DANIELSAND

I LOVE MY 515 ALSO. WE SHARE THE SAME BIRTH YEAR & I WANTED ONE FROM THAT YEAR. i use it 3 or 4 times a week to vacuum & it does a great job. you just can't beat the vintage kirbys to do the job right every time ! glad you like it & for finding this site to share your joy. GOT A PIC OF MINE TO SHARE.

 

[ronni]

Welcome to Vacuumland, Daniel.

I wonder what your neighbor thinks of the restored Kirby Omega?

In case you haven't visited it, here is a website from Charlie Lester; a regular Vacuumland contributor and floor care historian:

http://1377731.com/kirby/

 

[sptyks]

Daniel,


if you are plagued by pet hair then I strongly recommend one of the G series Kirbys with the pet hair brushroll installed in it. The later G series from Gsix onward can accodate several types of brushrolls. 


 


You can get a good deal on a G series machine on ebay. I have longhair cats, so I have experience here. The G series machines were made from 1991 (G3) to present which is a Sentria II which is also a G10D I believe.


 


I have a Sentria which is also known as the G10D and it is a beast when it comes to pet hair.


 


Here is a link to an Ultimate G on ebay. Not a bad deal because it comes with all the attachments. needs a new belt and some Mother's aluminum polish.


 


http://www.ebay.com/itm/KIRBY-ULTIM...271705271771?pt=US_Vacuum&hash=item3f42e56ddb

 


Keep in mind this machine may have orininally sold for as much as $2000.00.

 

[sptyks]

Here's a picture of a Sentria just like mine. (not my photo)


 


https://www.google.com/search?q=kir...personaltouchcleaning.org%2Fservices;1280;960

 

 

[danielsand]

You guys ARE a great group!

Since I am a "bit" OCD, I figured the bag out, and went to town disassembling and polishing the machine. What a great little machine! After everything was washed, I realized that the red headlight trim is not that bad, and I can live with it. The metal hardly had any scratches, and the oxidation came off easy enough. My buffer (bench grinder) is only 1/2HP, and I did most of the polishing by hand. I am not even shooting for the mirror finish, because this thing will be my office vac, and it will be used daily. I want it to look like it's been well taken care off, clean and buffed, but not a "display piece".

As far as the neighbor that threw the Omega away,......I showed it to him, and all he said "wow, you DO have too much time on your hands".

"Sptyks",....I appreciate the advice, and I almost bought Sentria II the other day for $160 with ALL attachments. I let it go, and decided that it doesn't fit in our decor in the house. My ranch house was built in late 1800s, and all the furnishings are from the period, in the western/cowboy way. However, Omega looks OK in the hallway (ready to pounce on ANYTHING!).

"Vacuser"....your 515 looks like the twin of the one I have, except mine has the black wheels.

So now the thing is polished, bag is drying (air dry, hanging in the bathroom), and I'll put it back together tomorrow. The belt that was in it is cracked, and I ordered few new ones, so I won't be using it until they arrive. If I get some breathing room tomorrow, I'll snap some pictures, and post them in this thread. Thanks for all replies, and/or advises.

There is a Dual Sanitronic on Craigs right now, for $20! Wife WILL kill me if I bring another one, LOL!

 

[kirbymodel2c]

Hi,

<span style="font-family: times new roman,times;">Daniel. I'm looking forward to seeing the pictures and welcome to the group.</span>


<span style="font-family: times new roman,times;">I hope you do go ahead and get the Dual Sanitronic.....Go on. It's Christmas. Treat yourself. I'm sure your wife will treat herself so you may as well....

</span>


 


<span style="font-family: times new roman,times;">James

</span>

 

[danielsand]

I dropped email to the guy on Craigs,.....we'll see. Problem is with storage. Where do you keep all these vacuum cleaners, and why having more than two if one is not a collector?

As I said in the other thread, by washing the 515 bag (it was FILTHY!)I obliterated the silk screen logo! Not happy. The original bag is worn, has a grease stain (only came to light after all the dirt was washed away!), and down at the contact with Emtor some dry rot. Not usable for the daily service, which will be this machine's job from now on.

This 515 was not abused, but it was not loved either. No scratches to speak off, but DECADES of grime and dirt. Even the bag was half full of dirt when I bought it (you would think one would empty it before attempting to sell it). They ran it over some wet stuff too, and I had to use a knife to dislodge the dirt build up in the Emtor. It was a filthy job. I empty my bag every day after I'm done vacuuming, but hey,......"different strokes..."

AFAIK 515 is all original (builder plate intact), with metal (10 blade) fan, black hard rubber wheels, and the red trim. If I was designing this, the Emtor tray would also be red (it's gray), and I think it would look better. Even the wheels should be red IMO. It says it's only 4 AMP motor, but when I turned it on after cleaning (and without the bag) to show it to wifey, the air blast knocked over some silver she has on display in the kitchen (good 8 ft away)! WAY more powerful than 12 AMP Hoover I've been using.

Luckily I found a replacement bag in gray and red, and placed the order. Since the Omega also has a newer replacement bag (from a newer model, and I'm not sure which one), they will both look similar. All good.

As soon as the bag gets here, I'll do a "photo op" for the forum's viewing pleasure.