Kirby Question

[s31463221]

Ok guys, I need your help here, as I have stated in the past, I am not a Kirby expert by no means and I don't want to end up with a cobbled up piece of junk! I'm looking at an older Kirby on eBay the seller is calling a Sanitronic VII. I have never seen one in red like this one is, and the owners manual included appears to be for a 519. Please take a look at the link and tell me what you think.....should I steer clear, or is it a decent buy? Thanks!!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NICE-VINTAG...4&meid=7880688803473625746&pid=100015&prg=100

 

[jfalberti]

From what I can tell

This is what we call a "Frankenkirby" meaning parts of a few machines were put together to make this machine. The bag is a generic replacement. The nozzle could be a Sanitronic/Sanitronic VII retrimmed in red. The handle and front wheel assembly look like they came from a Classic III. Only way to tell where the motor/power plant came from is to look at the model plate on the bottom of the machine, assuming it still exists. Whether you should buy it or not is up to you. If it goes cheap enough, and you want it to be original, you could retrim it, pick up a proper bag and handle etc. hope this helps a little.

Joe

 

[s31463221]

Thanks Joe!

Yes, I had that same thought too, I don't deal a lot with Kirby, but I knew that one didn't look right to me, that's why I wanted to ask someone else's opinion before I did anything with it! If it doesn't go much over that, I may pop a bid in on it and see about buying it, if for nothing else, it would make a rather neat daily driver, so we'll see how the auction runs! Thanks again!

Steve

 

[kirbylux77]

Steve, I would definitely buy that Kirby if you are intending it to be a daily driver, & not as part of a collection. Unless you like to collect re-built vacuums too. It is a FrankenKirby, but very well done. I would be willing to bet good money that at some point in it's past, the original owner took it to a vac shop & asked to have it rebuilt, or it was traded into a vac shop & they rebuilt it, put it on their sales floor & resold it to one of their customers. Either way, it looks professionally done, & also appears whomever it's last owner was before finding it's way to Ebay took good care of it. As long as you are aware it's not all original & just want it to use as a daily driver, go for it.

Rob