Kirby 515

[kirbykid]

hello people, i have a kirby 515 that i am selling. just got it. i have vacuumed out the bag and washed it and i replaced the cord. i also cleaned up most of the dust around the motor. it needs new carbon brushes and new bearings. wheals are black and are starting to crack. i could polish it up a bit but i need money to finish restoring the 518 that i have. i will post it on ebay in a couple weeks or if someone really wants it you can email me an offer and send me a money order. here is a pic.

 

[Good-Vac]

Kirby Vacuum Picture

Now It Look Better
Good Vacuum

http://www.facebook.com/vcsrah

 

[kirbykid]

im going to start wetsanding soon. maybe in a couple of days. still need to finish the 518. almost done with the 518's wetsanding. i got all the scratches out of the head on the right side yesterday.

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Now this unit has a 10-blade metal impeller fan, correct? And what is the serial #?

~Ben

 

[kirbykid]

ten blade fan. not shure if it is original to the vacuum. serial number is 104439ws
not shure what the ws stands for...

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Evan,

In all likelihood, yes, because I know the Kirby timeline from their Heritage II sales manual does document the 515 as having a new 10-blade impeller fan.

~Ben

 

[Washi809]

Gray Wheels

Evan,

I am looking for a 515 and I might give yours a new home.

Does it still have the data plate?

My parents married in 1955 and they bought a new Kirby that year. The 515 was the vacuum I remember learning to vacuum with to "help" Mom around the house -- probably I was 5 or 6 years old. I learned to change between the floor nozzle and the hose. The wheels were gray and the hose was gray cloth -- Wow! I still remember all that.

That vacuum has been living up in the Sierras somewhere around Lake Tahoe since about 1980, but the Handi-Butler stayed with my parents and I've had it with me for about 15 years now.

Your 515 would have good company, a pair of Dual 80s -- one I've owned and used daily since I moved to Colorado in 1985 -- 27 years! -- and the second I got just recently since they're just nice vacuums. The 515 can also hang out with a Hoover Concept 1 that came home with me this summer. I got that one for free from some friends with a thrift store when I brought in a load of clothes and household goods.

I'd thought about putting up the Handi-butler on e-Bay but really always wanted to get a 515 to go with it. Nothing like a new project to take care of any free time I have.

Thanks!
Jack

 

[kirbykid]

i am actually selling it. it has the model plate and i think i might actualy have the hose. i dont know if the hoses that i have would go to this model but i dont have the thing that ataches the cloth hose to the vacuum. if anyone could post a pic of there 515 hose, then i could see if i have the right one. and also im donating 1/4 of the profit to hope and 1/4 to ben.

 

[kirbykid]

just look under "selling the kirby 515" in the vintage list