Rare Kirby on eBay

[electrolux~137]

 


 


 


<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,geneva; font-size: medium;">Well, I fully expected the bidding to be far more aggressive on this Kirby than it proved to be. This is one of the "R" - "Retail" series of pre-500-series Kirbys sold in retail stores. The on-off switch is in the handle; the cord goes from the motor up through the handle. There were four R models - R, 1R, 2R, 3R and 4R, corresponding to the four C models (C, 1C, 2C, 3C and 4C) sold door to door. </span>


 


<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,geneva; font-size: medium;">I am not sure of the exact dates of the four R and C models; I just know that the Models C and R came out in 1935 and the 2C and 2R in 1939.</span>


 


<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,geneva; font-size: medium;">When the first 500-series model came out, the 505 in 1945, Kirbys were no longer sold in stores but exclusively by home demonstration.</span>


 


<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,geneva; font-size: medium;">Thus, the four R models -- being the only Kirbys ever sold in retail stores -- are quite rare. Even besides their early date of manufacture.
</span>



http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trksid=p4340.l2557&rt=nc&nma=true&item=300553041746

 

[oreck_xl]

This is just a guess, but perhaps the bidding wasn't as fierce because it doesn't have the original duvetyne bag?

- Hershel

 

[brandon_w_t]

One would think the price would go at LEAST 2 times that. That is unbelievably low for such a rare machine.


Some lucky bugger!

They are out there in basements and old vacuum stores. Keep ye eyes open and one day, you will strike gold!

 

[electrolux~137]

 



<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,geneva; font-size: medium;">Personally, I thought that even though the bag was replaced, the machine was still very desirable and I fully expected it to go much higher. That's an old replacement bag and appears to be in excellent condition. Oh well! </span>

<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,geneva; font-size: medium;">Then here's a beautiful Electrolux XXX that also did far less than I would have expected. It looks to be in practically mint condition with the original hose (granted, with a flaw but that could have been fairly easily remedied). And there's a very rare accessory, the salesman's carrying case. </span>

<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,geneva; font-size: medium;">I asked an Electrolux old-timer why the ends of the case were hollow and he said it was for a bit of "mystery" -- to make people get a glimpse of something chrome and shiny inside and wonder what was in there. (The cord winder would not have been attached as it is here.) </span>

<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,geneva; font-size: medium;">And speaking of cord winders, this one is a real beauty! Doesn't appear to have a scratch on it. </span>

<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,geneva; font-size: medium;">Maybe it's the recession, or maybe it's that there are fewer collectors now who are willing to spend big sums on vacuum cleaners.</span>



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