kirby 561 pic and questions

[mdoble]

Hi -
New to the forum. Just acquired what I believe to be a 561 (no orig riveted tag but a kirby rebuild sticker id's it as such. ser # 266078 implies it's not a 561 though)

It has an 11 blade impeller.
The wheels are all single skinny.
The bag top says 'dual sanitronic 50' (I guess that is way wrong.)
Cord is real dark brown or black with ridges (ends are same color.)
Non-sunburst belt puller - looks right for 560-561.

1. If the orig tag was missing at rebuild time (5/94) where did the guy get the ser # Is the ser # stamped on another location?

2. What is the small plug on the top rear of the debris ejection box?

3. Can I convert this to a paper bag ayatem (I love how it works; but too much fine dust escapes.

4. I took lots of pix for positive id; how do I post them?

Thanks,

Malcolm

 

[kc_kirby]

1. The original Id tag with the serial number would be in same location as the rebuild tag most likely. The 561 looked pretty much the same as models 516 through 561. So your vacuum may have been a different model. Sometimes the rebuild tag will denote the model it was originally.

2. The small plug you ask about is to put sweet air on a wick to odorize the air while you vacuum. Also the metal box that the bag is attached to is officially called an emptor.

3. You can obtain a disposable bag system for it. It converts it to use a Eureka F&G bag. I doubt you can buy one new so you will need to find one used. I have seen people engineer their own disposable bag system as well. And some people use a Kirby Heritage bag with its mini-emptor.

4. I am not savvy enough to be able to post multiple pics in one post if that is what you are trying to do. I am sure someone else can help with that. You can just post pics in individual posts, that's what I do.

 

[eurekastar]

I am not positive, but it appears that yours is a Sanitronic VII (1963).  From 1956 (Model 516) to 1962 (Model 562 -- a.k.a. "Sanitronic"), the fan case gasket was a very thin piece of round rubber.  In 1963 (with the Sanitronic VII), Kirby began using a larger gasket with more surface area for a better seal.  It's the same gasket that is still used to this day.  Yours appears to be the larger gasket, though my eyes may be seeing things!.  The other thing that may have happened is that during the rebuild, Kirby may have installed a brand new fan case.  That would explain the larger gasket. 

 

[mdoble]

I'm going to try uploading combined pics of the kirby; perhaps an id can be made

Malcolm

 

[mdoble]

Hey it worked. Here's 4 more.
Malcolm

 

[eurekastar]

That belt lifter is a replacement that Kirby began making at some point in order to match the tan trim when the red trim was dropped from production.  Yours certainly could be a 561 rebuild because it still has the Sweet-Aire plug on the Sani-Emtor.  I think that was dropped from production when the pocket bag was introduced on the Sanitronic in 1962. 

 

[lillylux]

If you can obtain an original model 560 belt lifter and it fits the hole where you have removed the one you have, then it is an original 560; the Sanitronics all had a larger diameter fitting at the nozzle and thus, the proper Sanitronic magic finger lifter will not insert into a 560, it will be too big---of course, I'm assuming that the nozzle is the same one the machine has always had.