Model 513 Kirby

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vinvac

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This was Eleanor's sister vacuum, when she passed away Eleanor got the vacuum. She much prefers to use her Hoover 28. The cord was bad on the 513 so I replaced the cord with one I had here. I have a good original Kirby cord with the right big round end...but I want to save that for a vacuum of my own. A littel bit of buffing, vacuumed out the bag and she back to the top of her game. Probably should replace the brush roll... perhaps another time. However, I did learn something new, this must be the original brush roll and it is not wooden. It is metal...something I have never seen before in a Kirby. Charlie L, perhaps you know some history here.

3-31-2007-17-09-57--vinvac.jpg
 
Metal Brush Rolls

Handsome 513, Morgan! My 505 has a metal roller too. They probably are legit. Why else would Kirby paint the newer rollers metalic silver if not to make them at least look like the more substatial ones they replaced.

If you're just going to discard that old power cord – STOP!

You can "amputate" the original Kirby plug end(s) from the worn out cord and "trasplant" them onto a new cord. It takes a steady hand and a strong and very sharp x-acto knife. Slice the plug ends HORIZONTALLY and open them up like a sandwich. Cut and/or pull out the old cord and wire. You will re-use the prong or socket parts you have revealed when you sliced open the plug. Fuse the end of the new cord's jacket to the cord-end of the old plug with super glue or clear epoxy. Attach the wires to the prong/socket terminals, soldering if necessary. Super glue or epoxy the split plug end back together and clamp tightly. Clean up ooze before it sets up. If it doesn't work and ends up in the trash anyway, you're no worse off than when you started. I've been successful - so far.

Yours,

Marty Kaplan
 
513

Hi all, and Morgan. That is the correct bag for the 513 (and 514 and 515 although some of the later ones were "speckled").

However, the 513 still had the old-style all-red belt lifter with the older cursive logo in gray. See photo.

What color is the handle grip? Originally, it was gray plastic. If it is red and has the swivel-down cord hook, it too was replaced at some point.

I do believe the original Kirby brush rolls were metal, but I've found so many Kirbys over the years in all sorts of condition and with various replacement parts that I can't say for sure. But it does seem likely.

btw if you want to really super-charge the cleaning ability of these older Kirbys, upgrade the brush roll to the newer style with four rows of bristles instead of just two. You can always save the metal brush roll for the sake of originality.

I agree with Marty that you can, if you're careful, replace the Kirby ends -- at least, the large found machine-end plug. The wall end, I dunno ... since it's a small plug and molded, I don't see how you could save that but, then, I've never tried!

Nice machine, all around. And what a treat to find one with the original bag! This is my all-around favorite Kirby bag, btw. I really like the dramatic lettering. I'd say this is 2nd only to the original black bags with the large cursive logo and the gold and red dotted lines up and down the front.

3-31-2007-19-15-7--charles~richard.jpg
 
Charles,

The handle grip is Gray, not a plastic but more like a vinyl slip on glove. I was wondering about the belt lifter, the center seemed to be a tin snap in.

Eleanor was so pleased to get the Hoover 28 back in good service and was equally surprised to see the Kirby all shined up and ready for service. The belt was so old, cracked, ect. but it still seemed to take care of business. The brush roll needs to be replaced. I lowered it some but the brushes are so short that I don't think it helped much. I will have to order her a new one and perhaps try the four brush strip version. She doesn't like the Kirby at all, but uses it on occasion if the bag is full on the Hoover..and the weather doesn't permit shaking it out, outside.
 
Here are three photos

of my 513, and then one of my 514. Note gray handle, older belt lifter, and the same smooth-finish bag as yours, Morgan.

3-31-2007-20-47-39--charles~richard.jpg
 
514

Note the red handle with larger tip - this was the first model this appeared on. It's also the first model with the flip-down upper-hook cord release. But note it still has the older-style belt lifter.

Also note the bag - same stencilling but note the speckled finish. Isn't that a beeeee-yooooo-teeeee-ful bag!! :)

This also was the first model to have the gray plastic wheels (from DuPont) - the color called "Alathon Gray" whatever that means, instead of the older black vulcanized rubber wheels, and was also the first to have a gray plastic cord instead of dark-gray rubber (both made by Belden).

3-31-2007-20-51-30--charles~richard.jpg
 
Then just for comparison...

Some pix of the 516.

While I have a soft spot for the older Kirbys, this one would surely win the beauty contest, I believe, of the most beautiful Kirby. Second only, maybe, to the 560 and 561 which is the same machine but with a beautiful starbust-logo on the belt lifter. I'll see if I can find a pic.

3-31-2007-21-00-39--charles~richard.jpg
 
Great Kirbys, Morgan and Charles!

Models from the 50's were some of my favorites! And the ones you have pictured here are real beauties! I had a 518 for quite a while that I originally bought for my Mother, but it went along with me when I moved out on my own as she always preferred tanks or cannisters. When it got to a point where it seemed to be spending more time in the shop than in our house, we traded it in for my wife's 886 Royal.
Jeff
 

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