robfromli
New member
Hi All,
Got my hands on a vintage Kirby 519 a few months ago. Just now starting to dust it off and work toward getting it running. I have a few questions I'm hoping the good folks here can help with. I've attached a few photos, I know they're really poor photos, I'll try to update with some better ones this weekend. My questions are:
1. Although I read that this unit typically has a permanent dust bag that must be emptied, this one has a disposable bag but it's a very strange one with a collar that goes onto a tube and gets secured with a spring coil. Does anyone know if this is a standard Kirby bag or a 3rd party and can I still get them? I've looked around but I don't see anything like it. I'm thinking about going to the Harmony II bag, from what I've read that'll fit but the whole setup seems expensive and hard to find.
2. There doesn't seem to be a lens in front of the bulb but from pictures I've seen online it looks like that's how the 519 came from the factory?
3. Can I still get belts for this vac and will the belts for my G series fit the 519?
4. Does anyone know where I can get a factory accessories kit? I have no hose or anything for it - it was about to be thrown out during the cleanout of my friend's grandmother's retirement village home. Luckily I scooped it up. I'm going to use it for my upstairs if I can get it running since my G series is pretty heavy to carry up and down the stairs.
5. Does anyone know the specs for the bulb? I'm thinking of trying to find an LED replacement and at the very least I'll need to track down an incandescent as the one in there is definitely blown.
Thanks everyone!
Rob



Got my hands on a vintage Kirby 519 a few months ago. Just now starting to dust it off and work toward getting it running. I have a few questions I'm hoping the good folks here can help with. I've attached a few photos, I know they're really poor photos, I'll try to update with some better ones this weekend. My questions are:
1. Although I read that this unit typically has a permanent dust bag that must be emptied, this one has a disposable bag but it's a very strange one with a collar that goes onto a tube and gets secured with a spring coil. Does anyone know if this is a standard Kirby bag or a 3rd party and can I still get them? I've looked around but I don't see anything like it. I'm thinking about going to the Harmony II bag, from what I've read that'll fit but the whole setup seems expensive and hard to find.
2. There doesn't seem to be a lens in front of the bulb but from pictures I've seen online it looks like that's how the 519 came from the factory?
3. Can I still get belts for this vac and will the belts for my G series fit the 519?
4. Does anyone know where I can get a factory accessories kit? I have no hose or anything for it - it was about to be thrown out during the cleanout of my friend's grandmother's retirement village home. Luckily I scooped it up. I'm going to use it for my upstairs if I can get it running since my G series is pretty heavy to carry up and down the stairs.
5. Does anyone know the specs for the bulb? I'm thinking of trying to find an LED replacement and at the very least I'll need to track down an incandescent as the one in there is definitely blown.
Thanks everyone!
Rob


