My Kirby collection

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toastermike

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 31, 2013
Messages
114
Location
Milwaukie Oregon
I displayed my entire Royal collection a while back and thought I would do the same with my entire (and much smaller) Kirby collection. Left to right: 509, 560, Dual Sanitronic 80, Classic III, Legend II and matching Vacuette. The 509 and DS 80 are fully restored, and the others are in their beautiful original condition. The DS 80, Classic III, and Legend II are all complete with all of the accessories. Not shown is a 512 that I am going to restore and customize in black because that model and myself were both built in 1952.

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Legend II Nozzle

Toastermike, I must commend your Kirby collection. A good selection of machines, all in top condition. I particularly like the 509 and the 560. I'd love to get my hands on some more of the older Kirbys like those again.

I must admit, I have never seen one of those large nozzles in a Legend II. However, I have seen them on the Heritage II/Legend. Is that nozzle original or is it a Heritage/Heritage II nozzle dressed up in Legend II trim?

Incidentally, I just acquired the Craftsman cousin to your Vacuette and am in the process of cleaning it up right now.

http://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREADM.cgi?34690
 
1952 was a good year

I know, I too was born that year. Will be 65 in two weeks. Now I will be looking for a 512 to refurbish too! I was told that to determine the model year in the 500 series that you just drop the middle digit, so 501=1951 etc. Can you tell me what year a 562 model is? Was that just for the 1950-1959 era? Very nice collection Mike. I'm a new member but a long time guest, thanks Billy Clyde aka,kirbyklekter
 
Legend II Nozzle

Broomvac, this is the original nozzle. I often find Legend II's, all with large nozzles. I would like to find a small one for it someday. My understanding is the small nozzle was an option and was an old 500 series nozzle with the newer belt lifter and bumper fitted. Maybe I could make my own with spare parts!

Mike
 
broomvac

What an early Heritage II nozzle looked like (1984-1985 - 1st picture), and what a small nozzle from the same machine had looked like (2nd picture)... as you can see, the only casting change made to the small HII head from the Sanitronic 562 version, aside from the blanked-out space where the suction relief vent would be (covered up by the belt lifter instruction decal, but if you look inside the casting you can still make out the indentations for the vent), was the additional nodule to support the speed switch for the Heritage/Legend series, although the small nozzle casting for the Heritage I/84 (and some early HII small heads--mine not one of them, of course) also had another additional nodule to support the speed switch for the Classic Omega/III/Tradition.


 


~Ben

[this post was last edited: 7/11/2017-21:09]

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Mike I Love the kirbys They looks awesome.

On the large Heritage II large nozzle does anyone know if these were fitted to export units.

I have a few Heritage ii,s and most are 84 to 85 models according to the stamps underneath, I also have a vacuum shop and we specialize in Kirby's. Never seen one of these older style nozzles
 
toastermike

Mike,

And here it is (I acquired it July 25)! As you may or may not know, not everything on it is quite right. To start with, I have already changed out the axle to the shorter one, as you can see in picture #2.

The last thing I want to find for this is the original black hammertoned Sani Emtor (179984S), but as that is quite rare to find these days, my next best option is the polished Sani Emtor (180069S, 179978S) as used on the Classic 1CR up to the Tradition 3CB--the Sani Emtor I have on my machine presently is from a Heritage I 1HD.

~Ben

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toastermike

Mike,

Please note what I am referring to in the second paragraph (179984 black as 1st choice; 180069 polished as 2nd choice) the next time you go to Goodwill to search for more vintage Kirby parts. Please let me know how much money it is, if ever you find it. Good luck!

~Ben
 

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