I have some thoughts as to Kirby's Canadian production: since both Gelling Industries Ltd. and Switson Industries Ltd. were based in different regions in Welland, Ontario, I'm wondering whether Switson had actually taken over Gelling in 1953?
Kirby by Gelling Industries Ltd. - same model #s as USA units (510, 511, etc.) (1930s to 1953)
Kirby by Switson Industries Ltd. - replaces USA 500 series with 600 series (ex. 616 is their 516, 662 is their Sanitronic 562) (1953 to 1965)
Post-1965 - imported from Kirby Co. in USA.
Circa 1969 - Kirby establishes its own Canadian HQs, which were at P.O. Box #116 in Welland (like that of Gelling/Switson) until 1972-73, after which they moved to Whitby, at 1009 Burns Street East. Manufacturing is added there around 1980, since the earliest Turbo Sanders were imported to the USA from there.
~Ben
Kirby by Gelling Industries Ltd. - same model #s as USA units (510, 511, etc.) (1930s to 1953)
Kirby by Switson Industries Ltd. - replaces USA 500 series with 600 series (ex. 616 is their 516, 662 is their Sanitronic 562) (1953 to 1965)
Post-1965 - imported from Kirby Co. in USA.
Circa 1969 - Kirby establishes its own Canadian HQs, which were at P.O. Box #116 in Welland (like that of Gelling/Switson) until 1972-73, after which they moved to Whitby, at 1009 Burns Street East. Manufacturing is added there around 1980, since the earliest Turbo Sanders were imported to the USA from there.
~Ben
