Kirby Attachment Box Arrangements Over the Years

[kirbyclassiciii]

I'm writing this post as a primer to help all those junior Kirby fanatics understand how Kirby arranged the attachment box setup.

Item numbers on attachment illustrations, where applicable, are from the respective instruction books for each Kirby model.

I know from the Sanitronic VII to the Tradition, the Kirby cardboard attachment box had usually consisted of the following, in this arrangement:

LEFT VERTICAL SPACE
Duster Buffer floor pad
Surface Nozzle with Elbow
Shoulder Strap (for Portable Handle)
Straight Extension Tube

HORIZONTAL COLUMN #1 (TOP)
Crystalator with cap (item 25)
Portable handle (store on top of item 25)

HORIZONTAL COLUMN #2 (MIDDLE)
Item 22 - Utility Brush Nozzle (item 23)

HORIZONTAL COLUMN #3 (BOTTOM)
Massage Cup (item 22)
Utility Air Nozzle (item 24)
Duster Brush (item 21) (with spare Rug Nozzle belt)

RIGHT VERTICAL SPACE
Curved Extension Tube
Crevice Tool with Brush Tip

However, for the 500 series (except 562, listed further down) it will be arranged in this fashion:

LEFT VERTICAL SPACE
Duster Buffer
Crevice Tool with Brush Tip (Brush Tip first introduced with model 517)
Straight Extension Tube

HORIZONTAL ROWS (FROM TOP)

COLUMN #1
Utility Brush Nozzle (item 23)

COLUMN #2
Blower Coupler (item 27)
Duster Brush (item 21)

COLUMN #3
Utility Air Nozzle (item 24)
Massage Cup (item 22)

COLUMN #4
Shoulder Strap
Portable Handle (item 11)
Crystalator with Cap (item 25)
Suction Coupler (item 26)

RIGHT VERTICAL SPACE
Curved Extension Tube

The complete Surface Nozzle (with elbow) and Shoulder Strap were standard attachments starting with the 562. The Surface Nozzle was placed in the notch by the center row (as later units).

562 ATTACHMENT CASE ARRANGEMENT

LEFT VERTICAL SPACE
Duster Buffer
Surface Nozzle
Shoulder Strap
Straight Extension Tube

HORIZONTAL ROWS (FROM TOP)

COLUMN #1
Utility Brush Nozzle (item 23)

COLUMN #2
Massage Cup (item 22)
Duster Brush (item 21)

COLUMN #3
Utility Air Nozzle (item 24)
Blower Coupler (item 27)

COLUMN #4
Portable Handle (item 11)
Crystalator (item 25)
Suction Coupler (item 26)

RIGHT VERTICAL SPACE
Curved Extension Tube
Crevice Tool with Brush Tip

NOTE: The Suds-O-Gun is also part of the standard attachments group, as well as the Inflator/Deflator tool (from Classic III) but there is no designated space for it (or the Inflator) in the cardboard attachment case.

TRADITION PLASTIC ACCESSORY CASE
(introduced mid-1980)

Left half of case stores:
Suds-O-Gun with Cap
Crystalator
Surface Nozzle
Surface Nozzle Elbow
Portable Handle
Shoulder Strap

Right half of case stores:
Inflator/Deflator
Straight Extension Tube
Curved Extension Tube
Crevice Tool with Brush Tip
Utility Brush Nozzle
Utility Air Nozzle
Duster Brush (with spare Rug Nozzle belt)
Massage Cup

~Ben

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

500 Series Attachment Case Arrangement

Used for models 505 to 561.

The Shoulder Strap is marked 14 and is placed in the fourth column from the top.

~Ben

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

562 Sanitronic Attachment Case

The Surface Nozzle becomes a standard attachment starting with this model.

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Common Attachment Case Arrangement

The Sanitronic VII attachment case arrangement was the most common, and it lasted through early Tradition sales.

This is a shot of the Classic III's attachment box inside.

 

[caligula]

Nice attachment kits.

However, you have not included the Floor Duster in the displays. As for the portable handle, it was called a "Lifter Grip." And if you can, show some of the early tool kits where the hose coupling, and that for the blower were not part of the hose.

Please keep this thread going, I like it!

Alex Taber.

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Alex,

Now here's a picture of the attachment case with the Duster Buffer inside of it.

~Ben

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Alex,

Actually the hose and blower couplings are included with the early attachment cases. On models 516-562 they are illustrated, and carry index numbers of 26 (suction coupler) and 27 (blower coupler).

I thought I already posted them... but just in case, here's a picture of what the attachment case contents and arrangement would've looked like originally (from the model 508 instruction book).

~Ben

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Kirby 516-561 Attachment Case

Here's what the original attachment case contents would've looked like for models 516 to 561. The crevice tool brush tip first showed up on model 517.

The plastic blower coupler first showed up on model 519.

~Ben

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Kirby Heritage II Original Tool Cabinet (1984-85)

All pictures by vacfanatic

~Ben

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Same Case, with the Tools

Again, picture by vacfanatic.

 

[caligula]

Hi Ben.

Thanks, those are some great pictures. I have a few of them and at one time had all of them! Here is my attachment wall from my last house when I lived in San Dego. If all goes well, I'll display them again. Right now they are in boxes in my storage unit.

Alex Taber.

 

[caligula]

Hi Ben.

More attachments.

 

[caligula]

Hi Ben.

More.

 

[caligula]

Hi Ben.

Here is my wall of wands. This picture is actually the V.C.C.C. museum in Naperville, Illinois. It was a former 3 car garage, the time period was the early 1990's.

 

[jeschbac]

Actually....

There is a dedicated position for the inflator/deflator, at least in some Classic III attachment cabinets: top horizontal row, left. In that position, there is a small circular cut-out that holds the narrow point of this tool. Perhaps only later runs had this feature.

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Jeschbac

J.,

I recently checked out my Classic III tool box and it does have the hole for the inflator tool tip in the space where the portable handle also goes.

~Ben

 

[kirbyrama]

Another observation of older Kirby attachment boxes---

From browsing on this website and Ebay as well; There were some inconsistencys. I have noticed that the early red surface nozzle with the swivel connector had its own separate box (models 516?, 517, and 518). I have never seen this box for 519 ,560, and 561; it seems as though it was discontinued for a few years until the tan 562 featured it in the hanging attachment cabinet. Also, I have never seen a separate box for the floor polisher nozzle for 562 and a few models after.

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Kirbyrama

The 518 was the first Kirby to feature the Surface Nozzle which, as you guessed, had to be purchased separately. I do wish I could see its box in the same background color as the other boxes:
518 - Tan with red Kirby logo
519, 560 - White with red Kirby logo and gold Kirby circle pattern
561 - Aqua with red Kirby logo and gold Kirby circle pattern

The Surface Nozzle is marked as items 28 (nozzle unit) and 29 (swivel attachment) in the instruction books covering these models. The 562 Sanitronic instruction book lists the entire group as item 28.

~Ben