picked up 4 vintage vacuums for $10 including a cleveland suction cleaner
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Nick,
Any ideas as to the age of your Classic 1CR? The serial # is on the nameplate with the model # (see bottom of motor unit). Example: R200264, B982752.
~Ben
Any ideas as to the age of your Classic 1CR? The serial # is on the nameplate with the model # (see bottom of motor unit). Example: R200264, B982752.
~Ben
brandon_w_t
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Thats a rare kirby you have there!
It is a model R, which stands for Retail. Those were sold in select stores. The C series was the door to door sales model sold along side this.
It is a model R, which stands for Retail. Those were sold in select stores. The C series was the door to door sales model sold along side this.
dysondestijl
Well-known member
That Kirby classic is going to take some polishing... Good vacs though. Have you tried taking the fan case off the mystery Kirby? There may be something jamming the fan inside?
kirbymodel2c
Well-known member
Hi
Hi Nick, Great finds!!
I esp LOVE your Kirby model R. It looks to be a the 3C or 4C equivalent eg a 3R/4R.
Good news you have a rare Kirby there! Bad news getting the correct fancase with the correct badge attached will be very hard! Mind you you could use a Kirby 505 fancase and change them over. Just Keep the original badge!!
Such a shame the fancase is damaged
(
If you take the Kirby and it's motor to pieces you should be able to re-grease the bearings easy enough.And clean the motor out well)
The classic bag should wash easy enough once you have vacuumed out the bag.
Just be carful washing the bag on your Kirby model R. It's a Kirby 513/514 bag.
Vacuum the bag out. Hand wash it or leave it alone altogether or you will wash the logo off.
I've done that before!!!
Hope this helps answer some questions.
I'd give the Kirby R a home if ever you get tired of it lol;o)
James)
Hi Nick, Great finds!!
I esp LOVE your Kirby model R. It looks to be a the 3C or 4C equivalent eg a 3R/4R.
Good news you have a rare Kirby there! Bad news getting the correct fancase with the correct badge attached will be very hard! Mind you you could use a Kirby 505 fancase and change them over. Just Keep the original badge!!
Such a shame the fancase is damaged
(If you take the Kirby and it's motor to pieces you should be able to re-grease the bearings easy enough.And clean the motor out well
)The classic bag should wash easy enough once you have vacuumed out the bag.
Just be carful washing the bag on your Kirby model R. It's a Kirby 513/514 bag.
Vacuum the bag out. Hand wash it or leave it alone altogether or you will wash the logo off.
I've done that before!!!
Hope this helps answer some questions.
I'd give the Kirby R a home if ever you get tired of it lol;o)
James
)dysondestijl
Well-known member
Have you got a R model James?
caligula
Well-known member
Great machines!
I think the Cleveland is a Kirby machine.
No, I'm not talking about the Kirby division of the Scott & Fetzer Co. but rather the inventor, James B. Kirby.
Jim was born and raised in Cleveland and designed a number of upright vacuum cleaners. Before he introduced the Vacuette, he sold a prototype known as the Vital Rand.
And here is a bit of trivia. When Jim Kirby decided to market his first upright called 'The Broomstick' in 1910, he joined forces with three men named Black, Decker and Lamb. Black and Decker went on to produce power tools, and Lamb went on to form the Lamb motor company. In later years, Jim worked with Bill Orr, who helped him design the vacuum cleaners that became Apex.
That Cleveland should look great once it's cleaned up a bit. How about a step by step restoration.
The others are great machines too.
Alex Taber.
I think the Cleveland is a Kirby machine.
No, I'm not talking about the Kirby division of the Scott & Fetzer Co. but rather the inventor, James B. Kirby.
Jim was born and raised in Cleveland and designed a number of upright vacuum cleaners. Before he introduced the Vacuette, he sold a prototype known as the Vital Rand.
And here is a bit of trivia. When Jim Kirby decided to market his first upright called 'The Broomstick' in 1910, he joined forces with three men named Black, Decker and Lamb. Black and Decker went on to produce power tools, and Lamb went on to form the Lamb motor company. In later years, Jim worked with Bill Orr, who helped him design the vacuum cleaners that became Apex.
That Cleveland should look great once it's cleaned up a bit. How about a step by step restoration.
The others are great machines too.
Alex Taber.
kirbymodel2c
Well-known member
Hi Nick, Yes I've washed my Kirby Classic bag in the washing machine on a cool/warm wash not HOT lol.
I might wash it in the sink by hand first so the bulk of the dust/dirt is removed before you put it in the washer. Don't want all the dirt going in to your washing machine)
Mr George...Yep I have four R series Kirbys.
James)
I might wash it in the sink by hand first so the bulk of the dust/dirt is removed before you put it in the washer. Don't want all the dirt going in to your washing machine
)Mr George...Yep I have four R series Kirbys.
James
)
Kirby Classic 1CR
Nick,
I was talking about the Classic 1CR's serial #, not the older (1930s) R. The Classic 1CR was produced from 1970-73.
~Ben
Nick,
I was talking about the Classic 1CR's serial #, not the older (1930s) R. The Classic 1CR was produced from 1970-73.
~Ben
Update
I just took apart the mystery kirby. There was nothing stuck in the fan, the bearings were VERY dry. So dry in fact, It felt and sounded like something wedged in the fan case. I applied oil to the bearing behind the fan, and put some more in what appeared to be an oil port. After an hour of oiling and turning the motor, It began to free up. It now runs without any ill sounds
As for the cracked fan case and missing belt cover, I used a well known fix all..duct tape 
Its very ghetto I know but I wanted to see it work. Boy does it work! Its so quiet that all you can hear is the sound of rushing air, you can barely hear the motor. So now I'm 3 for 4 on this find, now I just need to get the cleveland going. I'm sure it will work I just need to rig up a cord. Does anybody know where to find braided fabric cord?
I just took apart the mystery kirby. There was nothing stuck in the fan, the bearings were VERY dry. So dry in fact, It felt and sounded like something wedged in the fan case. I applied oil to the bearing behind the fan, and put some more in what appeared to be an oil port. After an hour of oiling and turning the motor, It began to free up. It now runs without any ill sounds
As for the cracked fan case and missing belt cover, I used a well known fix all..duct tape Its very ghetto I know but I wanted to see it work. Boy does it work! Its so quiet that all you can hear is the sound of rushing air, you can barely hear the motor. So now I'm 3 for 4 on this find, now I just need to get the cleveland going. I'm sure it will work I just need to rig up a cord. Does anybody know where to find braided fabric cord?brandon_w_t
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hygiene903
Well-known member
Nice Finds, Nick!
The Cleveland is definitely a rare machine, I've never seen one before! It will look nice when it's cleaned & polished, hope it turns out to be a good runner. I have a Eureka G2 that is similar to yours, but mine is polished instead of painted and has a different bag.
Hope you will be able to find the parts you need to restore the Kirby R, it is also a somewhat rare machine. And the Classic will look great when it's polished. Congratulations on some great finds, and here's a pic of my G2.
Jeff
The Cleveland is definitely a rare machine, I've never seen one before! It will look nice when it's cleaned & polished, hope it turns out to be a good runner. I have a Eureka G2 that is similar to yours, but mine is polished instead of painted and has a different bag.
Hope you will be able to find the parts you need to restore the Kirby R, it is also a somewhat rare machine. And the Classic will look great when it's polished. Congratulations on some great finds, and here's a pic of my G2.
Jeff
gsheen
Well-known member
What a great find. I wish it was possible to find vacuums like that with ease over here in SA
It lives!!
After blowing a few breakers, taping wires, I bastardized that cleveland together.
I just grabbed a quick-plug and threw it on the old cord with an extension cord.
Heres a short video of the first successful startup
(its still uploading so it may be 10 mins before its up)
It runs great, though its hard to push across carpet because theres no height adjustment. I need to find a way to replace the wires coming out of the motor, I cant seem to get into it
After blowing a few breakers, taping wires, I bastardized that cleveland together.
I just grabbed a quick-plug and threw it on the old cord with an extension cord.
Heres a short video of the first successful startup
(its still uploading so it may be 10 mins before its up)
It runs great, though its hard to push across carpet because theres no height adjustment. I need to find a way to replace the wires coming out of the motor, I cant seem to get into it
Kirby R question
I noticed the motor on my kirby R spins the opposite direction, (Counter-Clockwise). My Eureka G does also but the fancase vents on the other side. Is there something seriously wrong with the motor? It just doesnt seem like the fan should spin that way with the way it vents to the bag. I first noticed when the belt wouldnt stay on.
I noticed the motor on my kirby R spins the opposite direction, (Counter-Clockwise). My Eureka G does also but the fancase vents on the other side. Is there something seriously wrong with the motor? It just doesnt seem like the fan should spin that way with the way it vents to the bag. I first noticed when the belt wouldnt stay on.
