Kirby cost in the 50's and 60's

[charleskirby66]

Hello friends!

I'm trying to find out how much a Kirby would have cost back in the day? Of course, I know it's IMPOSSIBLE (?) to get an exact cost, given the nature of the sales model of the Kirby Company. But, if you or your parents or friends or WHOEVER happen to have actually purchased a new Kirby in the 50's or 60's, I'd love to know the cost!

Most specifically looking for the original new cost of:
Kirby 515
Kirby 519
Kirby Dual Sanitronic 50
Kirby Dual Sanitronic 80.

Thank you for any help you may have!!!

 

[electrolux137]

~
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I have this info...

Somewhere in my archives I also have some receipts for in-home sales but can't get to them at the moment.

Hope this helps.

 

[bikerray]

I have a receipt for a Kirby D80 dated 5-7-68 for $269.50, it was stapled in one of my D80 owners manuals.

 

[charleskirby66]

Thanks guys!

Thank you, Charles and Ray!

I was asking so I could do a comparison of how much Kirby USED to be sold for, versus what it's sold for NOW. It seems the average going price NOW for the Kirby Avalir is around $1500 for the power house, standard attachments, and shampooer/mopper. I used an inflation calculator and came up with this for the vintage models...

Kirby 515, $197.30 in 1955 has the buying power of $1756.84 in 2015.

Kirby 516, $213.85 in 1956 has the buying power of $1876.20 in 2015.

Kirby Dual Sanitronic 80, $269.50 has the buying power of $1848.07 in 2015.

Given this, the average cost in the 50's and 60's for a Kirby with standard attachments (not including Handi-Butler) was $226.88, or about $1827.04 with current inflation.

Dare I say, the average cost of Kirby has DROPPED since the 50's and 60's?!?! SAY WHAT?!?!?! I didn't expect that one!

 

[jeschbac]

Revealing...

Good work, CharlesKirby. Very helpful. Yet we get these horror stories on a regular basis of these "independent" distributors jacking up the prices far over MSRP, asking for $2500 or even $3000. This sullies the reputation of this great product.

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

electrolux137

Charles,

What great Kirby literature I see! That surface nozzle brochure first debuted with model 518.

~Ben

 

[charleskirby66]

jeschbac

Thank you! Isn't it horrible what some of these Independent Distributors are doing?! I think they ask $2500 and $3000 in order to "give a great deal" and go down to the full MSRP, pretending that's a sale/deal. Greed knows no boundaries!

It would seem the average price for Kirby power units and standard accessories has slowly been creeping up past $1800 since the 50's (factoring inflation, of course). I would venture to say if you get a brand new Kirby for less than $1800, you paid an average "fair" price (when compared to their historic costs).

 

[jeschbac]

agreed

As much as I applaud their products, I hold the Cleveland executives totally responsible for this irksome practice. Regrettably, these "independents" (using the term loosely) often talk the uninformed into paying these outrageous sums and don't even approach MSRP. Then there's the practice of pasting over the MSRP printed on the box. Supposedly, Cleveland execs prohibit the practice, but it goes on nonetheless, unenforced. UGH!!