A pair of 505's, the one on the left has a aftermarket reproduction bag, the one on the right is original, I also have another 505 motor waiting in the wing's to be completed.
My pair of 505's
- Thread starter vacmadman
- Start date
Help Support VacuumLand:
kirbyvacuum
Well-known member
505 WOW
I have never seen two 505 Kirbys look like that what a wonderful job looks new ENJOY
I have never seen two 505 Kirbys look like that what a wonderful job looks new ENJOY
<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ffffff;">~</span>
<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ffffff;">~</span>
A few years ago an uncle came to Los Angeles for a visit. When we came home from the airport, as soon as he got in the front door he stopped in his tracks, turning as white as a sheet. I asked him what was wrong. He said, pointing to my beautifully restored 505, "That was the same exact Kirby that Mother [my grandma] had. It was my job to use it every Thursday." I said, laughing, "Tomorrow is Thursday — feel free to use it!" And he did!!
The first four photos are of that very Kirby and the remaining photos are of another one I found a few years later.
<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ffffff;">~</span>
A few years ago an uncle came to Los Angeles for a visit. When we came home from the airport, as soon as he got in the front door he stopped in his tracks, turning as white as a sheet. I asked him what was wrong. He said, pointing to my beautifully restored 505, "That was the same exact Kirby that Mother [my grandma] had. It was my job to use it every Thursday." I said, laughing, "Tomorrow is Thursday — feel free to use it!" And he did!!
The first four photos are of that very Kirby and the remaining photos are of another one I found a few years later.
Thanks
Doug,
Thank you for the kind words.
Charles.
What a great story and memory...and what a wonderful find indeed, thank you for sharing. I would love to find an original handle grip for my 505's the one on the right is all original except the handle grip...I'm so close.
Thanks again
Jim
Doug,
Thank you for the kind words.
Charles.
What a great story and memory...and what a wonderful find indeed, thank you for sharing. I would love to find an original handle grip for my 505's the one on the right is all original except the handle grip...I'm so close.
Thanks again
Jim
VacMadMan
Jim,
The one at right in picture #4 looks like an earlier build, as I can see the bakelite safety switch wire insulator. That version would also have had the aluminum Emtor bottom painted black, as well as the version of the nozzle with the non-functional belt cover.
~Ben
Jim,
The one at right in picture #4 looks like an earlier build, as I can see the bakelite safety switch wire insulator. That version would also have had the aluminum Emtor bottom painted black, as well as the version of the nozzle with the non-functional belt cover.
~Ben
Early 505
Benjamin
I have never heard of a 505 having a black painted aluminum emptor tray. I know the earlier models had aluminum emptor trays that were not painted. I also have never seen one. I have seen the painted emptor's with the hammered on finish. I also have never seen a 505, or heard of one that came without the belt lifter? That is the 505's claim to fame.
Having said that anything is possible when it comes to Kirby and how the changes or upgrades came to be, and when. The earlier Kirby I have with the Bakelite safety switch wire insulator...or connector, did come with the belt lifter. Interesting info thanks.
Jim
Benjamin
I have never heard of a 505 having a black painted aluminum emptor tray. I know the earlier models had aluminum emptor trays that were not painted. I also have never seen one. I have seen the painted emptor's with the hammered on finish. I also have never seen a 505, or heard of one that came without the belt lifter? That is the 505's claim to fame.
Having said that anything is possible when it comes to Kirby and how the changes or upgrades came to be, and when. The earlier Kirby I have with the Bakelite safety switch wire insulator...or connector, did come with the belt lifter. Interesting info thanks.
Jim
They
Never had metal emtors painted black I've owned 5 505 emtors and 0 were metal painted black. I have a 505 produced in the first 3 months and it has a belt cap and hard plastic bottom with the metal petruding nipple.
Interesting paper on the floor polisher. I have a model 4c floor polisher in its original box but it doesn't have a letter from kirby.
Never had metal emtors painted black I've owned 5 505 emtors and 0 were metal painted black. I have a 505 produced in the first 3 months and it has a belt cap and hard plastic bottom with the metal petruding nipple.
Interesting paper on the floor polisher. I have a model 4c floor polisher in its original box but it doesn't have a letter from kirby.
~
~
I don't know about black-painted emptor bottoms, but I do know that the earliest 505s did not yet have belt lifters, just caps. The belt lifter was introduced sometime during the run of the 505.
~
I don't know about black-painted emptor bottoms, but I do know that the earliest 505s did not yet have belt lifters, just caps. The belt lifter was introduced sometime during the run of the 505.
oreck_xl
Well-known member
I have an early 505 that my father rescued from the trash back in the mid '80's that does not have the belt lifter. Originally I thought it might be a 2C/3C or 4C but no, it is an early 505, so Charles is correct.
505 belt lifter
Thank you for that little bit of 505 history. I thought all 505's came with the belt lifter, but like I said before, Kirby is famous for making changes mid stream. ...good to know.
Thank you for that little bit of 505 history. I thought all 505's came with the belt lifter, but like I said before, Kirby is famous for making changes mid stream. ...good to know.
Belt lifter
Another belt lifter that started mid stream was, what I call the silver back. Some say it started with the 516. When I got my 515, the belt lifter on the nozzle had the incomplete circle on the logo, but the 515 floor polisher that came with it had the silver back logo on it. The 515 also started with the black wheels, but ended with the grey "smooth" finish plastic wheels. I think the bag also changed mid stream that year going from the stripped bag to the plain round Kirby logo with the straight lined Kirby name, all grey bag. I think the 515 was also the first to use the bag protector trim.
Another belt lifter that started mid stream was, what I call the silver back. Some say it started with the 516. When I got my 515, the belt lifter on the nozzle had the incomplete circle on the logo, but the 515 floor polisher that came with it had the silver back logo on it. The 515 also started with the black wheels, but ended with the grey "smooth" finish plastic wheels. I think the bag also changed mid stream that year going from the stripped bag to the plain round Kirby logo with the straight lined Kirby name, all grey bag. I think the 515 was also the first to use the bag protector trim.
KirbyCollector01
Well-known member
So cool!!
I love those!! They look amazing. Here is my 505 & 4C.
I love those!! They look amazing. Here is my 505 & 4C.
zenith12
Active member
My 512
I noticed that the 515 has a different switch
I noticed that the 515 has a different switch
Zenith12
Mark,
The 513, 514 and 515 all have the step-type foot switch button... and the 515 also has a 10-blade fan.
~Ben
Mark,
The 513, 514 and 515 all have the step-type foot switch button... and the 515 also has a 10-blade fan.
~Ben
Nope
The 505 was introduced with the belt cap. The original manual shows a belt cap. The belt lifter was introduced in the second year of the 3 year run. I am showing my 505 belt cap from my 505 a model c belt NOS and 505 NOS belt lifter.
My 505 is a one owner every part is original not from another vacuum. I have a 508 all original except the bag.
You can piece together a 505 oem but all original is super rare like the condition of your bag.
You have to love the photo rotation. The link is to my 505 all original.
In my opinion it's the kirby everyone likes no matter what vacuum company they're loyal too.
https://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?35768
The 505 was introduced with the belt cap. The original manual shows a belt cap. The belt lifter was introduced in the second year of the 3 year run. I am showing my 505 belt cap from my 505 a model c belt NOS and 505 NOS belt lifter.
My 505 is a one owner every part is original not from another vacuum. I have a 508 all original except the bag.
You can piece together a 505 oem but all original is super rare like the condition of your bag.
You have to love the photo rotation. The link is to my 505 all original.
In my opinion it's the kirby everyone likes no matter what vacuum company they're loyal too.
https://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?35768
Bag collar
The bag collar first appeared on the 562. The open top bags 505 to 561. It rolled out with the 562 with the sani pocket. There also refered to as sanitronic style bags as opossed to open top bag.
If you look at a 519 and a 560 there almost the exact same. The big triangular belt lifter was introduced.
I corolate the switch with 4 amp motor. There is a large vent on the 3 amp 513s and the 4 amp is narrower? Thomas could explain it better a since he was the one who told me.
The bag collar first appeared on the 562. The open top bags 505 to 561. It rolled out with the 562 with the sani pocket. There also refered to as sanitronic style bags as opossed to open top bag.
If you look at a 519 and a 560 there almost the exact same. The big triangular belt lifter was introduced.
I corolate the switch with 4 amp motor. There is a large vent on the 3 amp 513s and the 4 amp is narrower? Thomas could explain it better a since he was the one who told me.
Correction
I am wrong again what can I say I married I'm used to it.
Bag collars were introduced on the 516 model. I look at my exploded diagrams, manuals and archives.
I do believe the sweet Aire ended with 561 model. It's not in my 562 manual and the few machines i own or have owned didn't have sweet Aire ports.
I try to be correct with my information and I'm here to post as accurate as possible information.
I am wrong again what can I say I married I'm used to it.
Bag collars were introduced on the 516 model. I look at my exploded diagrams, manuals and archives.
I do believe the sweet Aire ended with 561 model. It's not in my 562 manual and the few machines i own or have owned didn't have sweet Aire ports.
I try to be correct with my information and I'm here to post as accurate as possible information.
Bag collars
The bag "collars" at the top of the bag started with the Kirby 508. The 505 was the last to have a bag clip rubber boot. If your talking about the bag protector at the bottom of the bag around the top of the emptor, that stated at the end of the 515 run. The first 515's did not have them. Pictured is the 505 rubber boot clip cover.
The bag "collars" at the top of the bag started with the Kirby 508. The 505 was the last to have a bag clip rubber boot. If your talking about the bag protector at the bottom of the bag around the top of the emptor, that stated at the end of the 515 run. The first 515's did not have them. Pictured is the 505 rubber boot clip cover.
Similar threads
