rare Compact c-4 variation. never seen this before

[kirbyvertibles]

This is a compact c4 standard. What's rare about it is it's a compact SPB meaning compact c4 standard power brush. This goes against everything I've ever heard on the history of the ABC power brush. We've always heard the only compact to use the always beauty clean were the c5 and c6. Also I didn't think the standard would have had this option. Isn't the standard just the basic model?
Also this C 4 has odd little wheels instead of the nubs

 

[suckolux]

Different!

 

[kirbyvertibles]

I wonder if the abc was in matching colors?

 

[hydralique]

Wow . . .

Thanks for posting these pics! They're really interesting, particularly the front wheels replacing the skids. Amazing that Compact went from four wheels to three with the C-5 then back to four with the C-6.

I've always wondered what the real story about the ABC power brush is. It seems very odd that Compact made so many cleaners set up with the port but then sold almost none of the ABC units themselves. I wonder if they released the first ABC-ready canisters before the ABC brush was in production, figuring their salesmen would then be able to get recent buyers to purchase the ABC as an extra. Still doesn't explain why they made so few ABC brushes or why they pushed the Cyclonic Turbinette turbine brush for a few years in the late ‘60s before they started selling power brushes with the later Eureka type design.

 

[dartman]

we had a odd rebadge of one similar

We as a family tried a Anthony James multi level home product sales thing in the late seventies, early eighties. One thing we were given as part of the sign up was a Compact vacuum the same color and idea as the picture.
It was if course labeled as a Anthony James but did have a nice power head included. As I remember it worked really well and was quieter and easier to use then the old Kirby I think we had.
Really wish I still had it now and I seem to remember it really cleaned and fluffed up the shag carpet we had. Cool vacuums anyways, not sure if it is any better then the 4650 Royal I use now but it was built just as well for sure.