kirbyotronic
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 27, 2008
- Messages
- 1,151
Well, today we started off at the Salvation Army and I saw two red woks and said to my mom "Gee, those almost looked like Hoover Celebrities!". I discovered they made a new room for washers/dryers, mattresses, and vacuums. Way back in the corner, sitting next to a fantastic plastic Dirty Devil stickbroom, was a decent Hoover Celebrity III! It has dents here and there, I'll try and hammer those out. Still had the original filter, which was rotten. And the bag, which smelled like 30 year old cheeeeeeez! It was only $4.99, so I don't regret buying it. 
Next, after visiting antique shop after antique shop, we went to another and looked around for a bit. There was this little section with a bunch of toys and such, we almost didn't look there. I decided why not so we went over, and a shelf full of vintage spice tins and vintage kitchen stuff caught my eye, and hiding behind an old spice tin was a familiar looking little red box with white writing. I knew exactly what it was, another early 50's Cedar-Pine Sweet-Aire! It was $5, so I made her an offer of $3 and she said don't worry about the tax. After I told her that I collect vintage vacuums she asked me "Do you want an old Kirby?". The story goes, years ago I bought a Kirby 515 for $11 from her at an estate sale (she owns the antique shop and also helps organise estate sales). After I bought the 515 she brought another to the estate sale the next day to see if I wanted it for the same price. She said it was a red one, so I assume it's the same one, it's a rebuilt early 500 series (before the 516), and has a problem with the switch. So today she offered it to me for free (the best price in the world!), when I go to pick it up I'll remind her and see if she remembers me.
Here are the pictures, and I'll try to get scans of the Sweet-Aire brochure soon.
~Alex

Next, after visiting antique shop after antique shop, we went to another and looked around for a bit. There was this little section with a bunch of toys and such, we almost didn't look there. I decided why not so we went over, and a shelf full of vintage spice tins and vintage kitchen stuff caught my eye, and hiding behind an old spice tin was a familiar looking little red box with white writing. I knew exactly what it was, another early 50's Cedar-Pine Sweet-Aire! It was $5, so I made her an offer of $3 and she said don't worry about the tax. After I told her that I collect vintage vacuums she asked me "Do you want an old Kirby?". The story goes, years ago I bought a Kirby 515 for $11 from her at an estate sale (she owns the antique shop and also helps organise estate sales). After I bought the 515 she brought another to the estate sale the next day to see if I wanted it for the same price. She said it was a red one, so I assume it's the same one, it's a rebuilt early 500 series (before the 516), and has a problem with the switch. So today she offered it to me for free (the best price in the world!), when I go to pick it up I'll remind her and see if she remembers me.

Here are the pictures, and I'll try to get scans of the Sweet-Aire brochure soon.
~Alex