Hello and thank you for opening my thread.
I wanted to share an experience I had this Thursday afternoon, while at my local Kirby shop. I also have some questions that I would appreciate honest feedback on.
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INDEX
Background
Family History
The Kirby Sale
Questions
--
BACKGROUND
While having tune-ups done on my modern-day machine, I got to talking with the owner, of this Kirby shop, about antique and vintage equipment he had. He took me outside and showed me the display window of his shop. There stood a wireless Scott Fetzer model, an electric version, and the first Kirby branded model. He explained on with the family history...
FAMILY HISTORY
Upon seeing the three units, I was amazed to find, those three units were the shop owners' great-grandfathers. The same great-grandfather who started this retail location way back in 1923. The great-grandfather would sell the wireless units to farmers and their wives. Since electricity was relatively uncommon in rural settings, many farmers had to cope with alternatives. He of course sold the SF electric versions to customers with electricity. He sold mostly through his retail shop setting but also door-to-door. He showed me pictures hanging up on the walls of the family and its involvement with the business. Four generations of Kirby salesmen; love it!
THE KIRBY SALE
Anyways, so I asked the owner if he had any other vintage equipment laying around that he might be interested in selling. He took me inside and showed me a unit he had recently acquired from a middle-aged couple cleaning out their grandfathers home. The unit was exactly what I wanted, a model from the 1930s with a historical story attached. The best part is, the original owner of this Kirby bought it from the current shop owner's great-grandfather, in the very same shop I was sold in.
It all just felt so right. To think, a Kirby unit purchased from a Kirby retail shop, to then be used for nearly 100 years is then traded back in for a modern Kirby unit at the same store operated by the same family to then be re-sold again and paid to the same Kirby shop itself; not a private sale but full retail transaction. Now that's a product which holds its value.
QUESTIONS
So now I have this awesome Kirby with an awesome history to boot, but after working with it, I have many questions that hopefully the people of this site can provide some clarity on.
See the provided images.
Q1: Upon review of the user manual of this model, https://collectingdust.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/KIRBY-MODEL-C-INSTRUCTIONS-MANUAL.pdf
There should be a Sani Em-tor tank, but there isn't on this, it attaches direct to the motor unit. The mental screw ring also appears to be made into the bag.
Why was this done? Was this something only model R's had?
The patients from the 20s show a sani em-tor tank...
Q2: Is there anything special or different about this unit that makes it stand out?
--
The unit is 100% working. Lightbulb works. Motor bearing greased. New "stretchy" Kirby belts. New belt was installed. Kirby is ready to work.
I am accepting offers on it. Please reach out to me if you're interested.
I wanted to share an experience I had this Thursday afternoon, while at my local Kirby shop. I also have some questions that I would appreciate honest feedback on.
--
INDEX
Background
Family History
The Kirby Sale
Questions
--
BACKGROUND
While having tune-ups done on my modern-day machine, I got to talking with the owner, of this Kirby shop, about antique and vintage equipment he had. He took me outside and showed me the display window of his shop. There stood a wireless Scott Fetzer model, an electric version, and the first Kirby branded model. He explained on with the family history...
FAMILY HISTORY
Upon seeing the three units, I was amazed to find, those three units were the shop owners' great-grandfathers. The same great-grandfather who started this retail location way back in 1923. The great-grandfather would sell the wireless units to farmers and their wives. Since electricity was relatively uncommon in rural settings, many farmers had to cope with alternatives. He of course sold the SF electric versions to customers with electricity. He sold mostly through his retail shop setting but also door-to-door. He showed me pictures hanging up on the walls of the family and its involvement with the business. Four generations of Kirby salesmen; love it!
THE KIRBY SALE
Anyways, so I asked the owner if he had any other vintage equipment laying around that he might be interested in selling. He took me inside and showed me a unit he had recently acquired from a middle-aged couple cleaning out their grandfathers home. The unit was exactly what I wanted, a model from the 1930s with a historical story attached. The best part is, the original owner of this Kirby bought it from the current shop owner's great-grandfather, in the very same shop I was sold in.
It all just felt so right. To think, a Kirby unit purchased from a Kirby retail shop, to then be used for nearly 100 years is then traded back in for a modern Kirby unit at the same store operated by the same family to then be re-sold again and paid to the same Kirby shop itself; not a private sale but full retail transaction. Now that's a product which holds its value.
QUESTIONS
So now I have this awesome Kirby with an awesome history to boot, but after working with it, I have many questions that hopefully the people of this site can provide some clarity on.
See the provided images.
Q1: Upon review of the user manual of this model, https://collectingdust.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/KIRBY-MODEL-C-INSTRUCTIONS-MANUAL.pdf
There should be a Sani Em-tor tank, but there isn't on this, it attaches direct to the motor unit. The mental screw ring also appears to be made into the bag.
Why was this done? Was this something only model R's had?
The patients from the 20s show a sani em-tor tank...
Q2: Is there anything special or different about this unit that makes it stand out?
--
The unit is 100% working. Lightbulb works. Motor bearing greased. New "stretchy" Kirby belts. New belt was installed. Kirby is ready to work.
I am accepting offers on it. Please reach out to me if you're interested.
