Need help identifying vintage Kirby

[heritageIIhd]

Hello,

I was recently given a vintage Kirby by my mother-in-law. As far as she can remember, it was never used - it was bought by her mother and she found it cleaning out her mom's house.

What kinds of info/pictures do you guys need to help identify it? It's new in the box and may have been used at some point, but there are original manuals, etc., with it. I hope to sell it on Ebay as we already have a couple of Kirby units here at the house, and this one is too nice to just put into use.

It is at least 50 years old from what we can tell.

 

[kirbykid]

Could you post pictures of the vacuum? And what model is it?

 

[caligula]

Vintage Kirby

Take a picture of the box, and lets start from there. Next, look on the instruction manual, nunber and model are on the cover of the book. Then take out the machine. In front of, or near the rear wheels is a plate that reads Kirby---. Scott & Fetzer Co. etc. there is a number. 512, 513, 517, and so on. If the box is red and gray, it's an early 1950's model. By the way, 512 would be 1952. If the box is light brown it's a Sanitronic, or Dual Sanitronic. There was only one green model, the D.80. there is also a D. 50. A milk chocolate brown is the Classic, darker brown is the Omega, candy apple red is the Classic 111, and blue, is ther Tradition.

Since I don't know your age, the age of your mother in law, or her mother, I can't say. However, my gut feeling is the early 1950's models. If I have a picture of the box, I can tell on sight, as I wotked for Kirby from June of 1975 to November of 1983, and part time till 1985. I know every Kirby since the first, the model 1-C which was introduced in 1935.

Alex Taber.

 

[caligula]

Vintage Kirby models.

From the club museum Naperville, Illinois circa 1994.

 

[heritageIIhd]

I will try to get some pictures and info off of it tonight. Last night it was late, dark, and I didn't feel like getting it out of the car.

It looks, from a rough guess, like the 5th from left in your first picture, with the red handle. Box, etc., appear to be 1950s vintage if I had to guess.

Mother in law is 61, she has lived in her mom's house her whole life except for college, and does not ever remember this vacuum being used. There are some hoses, etc., that are in the box that appear new.

I would like to sell it so any tips you can give me for what to highlight to list it on Ebay or whatever, let me know. This post isn't intended as an ad -- would just like to know what I should ask for it, etc.

 

[kirbykid]

300 to 400 is a good asking price.

 

[kirbymodel2c]

Hi...

Hi Alex. You have some nice Kirby's there. Do you have any more pictures?

James)

 

[caligula]

VCCC museum Naperville, Illinois, 1993 - 95.

The first picture is when my collection was in a spare bedroom. The previous, and this one, as well as the rest, are pictures of the refurbished 3 car garage which became the museum. As my house was club headquarters from September 85, to 95, my collection, became the club museum. The last are the non electric's circa 1890's

Alex Taber.

 

[caligula]

Museum

More.

 

[heritageIIhd]

OK, I got to take a look at the vacuum tonight.

It is a Model 560, 1960 mfg.

I am going to take some photos soon for Ebay.

It appears to have most attachments brand new.

Have not plugged it in and attempted to run it yet.

 

[caligula]

Museum.

Several Hoovers and my non electric Whirlwind which is the oldest known vacuum cleaner, dating bak to June 1869.

 

[caligula]

Museum.

More.

 

[caligula]

Non electric outer room of the museum

The hand pumpers.

 

[stricklybojack]

Name this mystery Kirby please...

I saw (& photographed) it at a thrift store while in a hurry & passed on it at $67, what did i miss?

 

[caligula]

Looks like a Kirby Classic,

which dates to 1970-76. The attatchment box is Classic, the hose is most likely also Classic, but the machine might be Classic Omega, the smaller box most likely a Handi-Butler is definately Omega. After this one Kirby went back to candy apple red with the Classic 111, then deep blue with the Tradition. The Classic 111 came out in June of 1976, and the Tradition was introduced around 1979.

 

[super-sweeper]

What did you miss?

You missed a Kirby some moron taped the boxes too!That tape is going to be the likely
death of those boxes if someone tries to take it off.

-Alex.

 

[rugsucker]

Tape Tip

As a book dealer showed me sometimes lighter fluid will loosen adhesive to remove tape and then evaporate doing no harm.Usually works but as with many things TEST FIRST!

 

[gmerkt]

Back to the original post. You said, "It's new in the box and may have been used at some point." It's either new or used, not both. That distinction right there will make a big difference in potential selling price. The mere fact that it's in a box doesn't necessarily make it new.

Unusued Kirby attachments are not uncommon while the machine itself has been used. Do not judge the condition of the rig by some of the attachments.

So long as valuation for eBay, you don't need advice here for that. Properly described, if it's a gold mine it will sell itself. eBay is an auction venue and it will seek it's own price. If you are worried that it might be a bad eBay week and someone will snap up the gold mine too cheaply, put a starting price on it that you are comfortable with. If it doesn't sell, you can always relist it with a lower starting price; once sold, you cannot go back and relist it at a higher price.

 

[heritageIIhd]

Good points, that's my poor wording. It may have been used, hard to say. No one I have spoken to has any recollection of it being used.

Thanks for the advice! I have it up now with one day to go. Not thinking it's a goldmine, just want to get a fair selling price and have it go to a good home.