Noob questions, I am confused.

[ralph]

Question One:
Can anyone please tell me what the 50 and 80 refer to in the Kirby DS-50 and DS-80s? I have found nothing on the web and the owner’s manual for my DS 80 does not mention this. I sort of thought that the 5 in 50 might refer to the first year of production 1965 but the DS-80 was made in 1967 so that theory does not work for the DS-80.
Question Two:
Are the Sanitronic model Kirbys part of the 500 series? Many of the parts are the same and they look the same but Charles does not include them in his 500 series Kirby Vacuum Cleaners page. Please note that I am not questioning Charle’s page, I am just a bit confused.

Speaking of confusion, the purchase of the 518 was to be a logical (a tie in to the Star Trek post earlier), economically and environmentally responsible action on my part. What greener vacuum is out there than on made decades ago and does not use disposable bags? I felt that the Kirby was a well made, durable product that would match my vintage Kodak 720X and 620X digital cameras and my BMW E28. I also find the looks of the 500 series Kirby very pleasing. So six week ago I would have laughed at you if you told me that I would own 6 vacuums myself, not including the house vacuum or the shop vacuum and would be spending time looking for avocado green parts on the web for a product made 40 years ago. Worse yet the confusion is spreading; one of my employees picked up a G3 yesterday and was going to pick up a 500 series tonight. (We could not tell what it was from the ad and the owner was not near the unit when Robert called him.) Thank you all for being here and sharing your knowledge and passion for vacuums.

 

[jfalberti]

Well I'm no expert, but in my opinion as an ex-Kirby dea

all I can say is I would consider any Kirby up through the Sanitronic VII to be a 500 series Kirby. The DS50 was the first Kirby to have a two speed motor, as well as introduce the Rug Renovator. The only difference between the DS50 and the DS80, besides color, was the handle fork. This handle fork was the first to become a standard through the Legend II. Of course the DS50 through the DS80 had the exact same motor. The Classic was the first redesigned machine and had the first 6 amp two speed motor, and introduced the 16 inch wide rug nozzle. The Classic Omega through the the Tradition had improvements to the motor, and the Tradition was the first to have a disposable bag. The Heritage through the Legend II had motor improvements as well as slight differences in the handle grip, and improvements on the disposable bag system. The Generation 3 was the first model to introduce the Tech Drive, and all models after that are refinements. I bought an Ultimate G Diamond Edition, and love it. I thought about trading it in on a Sentria, but felt the UG DE is a better model, and in a way, the Sentria was a step backwards. I don't know if this helps, but that's what I think.

Joe.

 

[twocvbloke]

D50 & D80 (or DS50 & DS80) are just short model names, D50 is older than the D80, so, there's not much to it...

 

[electrolux~137]

 


 


 


<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,geneva; font-size: medium;">While the Sanitronic VII is basically the same machine as the 560, 561 and 562, it would not be considered part of the 500 series, just as the C and R series machines that preceded the 500 series are also the same basic machine but also not considered part of the 500 series. 500 is 500!</span>


 


<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,geneva; font-size: medium;">When the Dual Sanitronic 50 came out with the new two-speed motor, it would logically be considered an all-new machine and, again, not a 500-series.</span>


 


<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,geneva; font-size: medium;">I do not know what the designations of Sanitronic VII, Dual Sanitronic 50 or Dual Sanitronic 80 mean, other than the addition of the word "dual" was obviously a nod to the new two-speed motor. I suspect that these names were "pulled out of a hat" since they have no bearing on their respective machines in terms of features or release dates.</span>


 


<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,geneva; font-size: medium;">The only Kirby model designations that ever had any identifiable relationships were, indeed, the 500 series machines. The 500 number corresponded to the year of manufacture. </span>


 


<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,geneva; font-size: medium;">So, in order for the SVII, D50 and D80 to be considered part of the 500 series, their model numbers would have to have been 563, 564 and 565. But that would only have worked if these machines were each made for only one year, which they were not. The SVII was made for two years and the D50 and D80 were both made for three years.</span>


<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,geneva; font-size: medium;">
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[kc_kirby]

I have always thought the Dual Sanitronic 50 was named so to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Kirby. I have a plate, pictured below that leads me to that conclusion. If the plate isn't correct than why did they make it? It has the date range of 1915 to 1965. The 50th anniversary would probably more like 1966 but the Dual 50 was sold in 1966 so it was just a bit early. As far as the Dual 80 goes, I can't guess as to what it means. I know the first Kirby wasn't produced until the late 20's or early 30's but I think Kirby uses the date of 1915 as their start date. The 100th anniversary for Kirby is happening in 2014 which would coincide with a start year of 1915.

Chad

 

[electrolux~137]

 


 


 


<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,geneva; font-size: medium;">Hmmmmmm... Kirby seems to have "reinvented" its anniversary date a few times. The Model 516 -- "the first totally new, dramatically redesigned Kirby in over 20 years!" -- was introduced in 1956 and was called the "50th Anniversary Kirby" in company literature. </span>

<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,geneva; font-size: medium;">As I noted in my Kirby 500-series web site, that seems to be stretching the point a little -- granted, Jim Kirby made his first mechanically operated sweeper in 1906, but the first machine to bear the "Kirby" name did not come out until 1935. </span>