Kirby Sanitronic VII (7) Mfg date?

[KirbysNphones]

I have a Kirby Sanitronic VII that has serial number 852453. What is the year of this vac?

I know how to read the newer serial #'s but was told the older ones are a different format.

I'm guessing '52 or '53, but don't know for sure.

Btw, the vac still works great!

Thanks for any help!

 

[fairfax88]

You are off

By only 10 years...it is 1963-64.

~David

 

[caligula]

Kirby Dual Sanatronic

The Dual Sanitronic 50 was brown, and ran from 1965 - 67. It was followed by the Dual Sanitronic 80, which was the only green Kirby.

Check the Kirby site, 'our history' for the complete timeline.

 

[briankirbyclass]

Actually, a Kirby Sanitronic 7 and the Dual Sanitronic 50(2 different machines) are Tan, or what Kirby at the time called Sirocco. The Dual Sanitronic was the first 2 speed Kirby, this is where the DUAL comes from. Dual speed.
The Sanitronic 7 was the last of the single speed machines.

The Kirby Clasic 1CR that came after the Green Dual Sani 80 was Brown, and the Kirby Classic Omega that came next was called Rosewood. (dark brown)

 

[caligula]

Kirby timeline

Maybe somebody can post the timeline from the Kirby site, as this was where I got the info.

 

[KirbysNphones]

Can the manufacture date not be determined by the serial #'s on these older vacs?
For instance, my Kirby Heritage was made in Feb. of '84.
If you applied the same scheme to the Sanitronic 7, it would mean it was made in Aug of '52, which I've learned isn't correct. From the sources I've seen, the 511 was from that year, but definitely not the Sanitronic 7.

 

[KirbysNphones]

No additional info on this?

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Sorry, but until we are given access to this kind of information, I cannot help you out much on any of the pre-1981 models. It was starting with the Heritage 1HD that Kirby began adding date codes to their serial numbers.

For example, any Kirby made in August 1983 would be signified as x8308xxxxx. Your Heritage 84 1HD's serial number is signified as x8402xxxxx.

~Ben

 

[compactelectra]

Here is

A fairly comprehensive history of the Kirby models.



http://www.kirby.com/about-kirby/our-history/

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

What's More Confusing...

... is that Kirby reset their serial # for the SVII after they changed their logo on the nameplate from the circle logo (last updated in 1953) to the oval logo (first used in 1963) when 1964 model year production started.

If your SVII has the Kirby circle logo on the nameplate which contains the serial #, it will be a 1963 model, otherwise, you have a 1964 model.

~Ben

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Also...

Kirby makes mention of the 506 and 507 in their timeline.

Rather, that should be the model 505, in 1946, switched to a belt lifter, and in 1947, used die-cast aluminum in its construction.

I also noticed that the model C was indeed introduced in 1934, but Kirby says its name did not appear on it until 1935, and the headlight was added in 1936.

As we enter the Classic era, it says Kirby began using double-insulated motors beginning with the Classic Omega. I don't get this. All other Kirbys before this had 2-wire cords as well.

~Ben

 

[KirbysNphones]

Ben,
That's awesome help! And Compactelectra, thanks for the link!

The logo on my machine is oval, so it would appear to be a 64.

Didn't realize the info on older #'s isn't publically available.
Overall it's an awesome machine for being 48 years old! let's see a bissell do THAT!

Thanks again,
Will

 

[swiveltop]

Nice Sanitronic

Very nice condition with the original bag and cord,After reading this thread I checked my two Sanitronics to find out the age and found one has a round logo and has a 64 date stamp by the back wheels and the other one has an oval logo and is stamped 65,You should have a date stamp on yours,My two also have stamps under the headlight and on the nozzle.

 

[paul]

Re: Reply #12

Which Kirbys have date (year) stamps?

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Paul

If you're talking about the unit serial number, that began with the Kirby Heritage 1HD.


 


But if you're talking about the circle stamps, some only have a single digit, others a letter. I wish I knew what all these meant. Somewhere on my 1969 D80, there are circle stamps with a letter "J" cast on them.



~Ben

 

[paul]

Hi Ben,

Check reply #12.

Also, I have an idea for you that might help answer some of your Kirby questions. Place a want ad in THE PLAIN DEALER Cleveland newspaper or an area shopper asking former Kirby plant workers for info. about vintage machines.

 

[kirbyvertibles]

Ben,
did the logo change in 63-64 also appear on the bag? Meaning did the sani 7 have both bags (early with circle logo and late with oval logo?)

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

kirbyvertibles

Phillip,

No, it was only on the bottom nameplate, though even before 1964 the oval logo was used on the boxes for the main unit, attachments, power polisher and Handi-Butler, and the instruction book.

The other thing that distinguished the S7 from the prior 562 was that there were no longer separate suction and blower couplings, as a new universal coupling was used that was permanently attached to the hose. The cord was now all copper (imitation copper) instead of a white cord body with copper male and female plugs. That also meant a slight change to the O-ring gasket that was applied to the fan case, which would last up to the G4.

~Ben