This is one of my latest acquisitions, a 1964 Kirby Sanatronic 7. Bought this off of Facebook marketplace for $40, everything appears to work and be there but just needs a cleaning and polishing but otherwise works. I know this should be posted to Vacuumland, but am posting it here since I don’t have a account there and this is the forum index for miscellaneous appliances like stoves, refrigerators, small cooking appliances, and other small appliances around the home.
1964 Kirby Sanatronic 7
- Thread starter maytag85
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panasonicvac
Well-known member
Nice grab!
I really like these Kirbys, they're good little vacuums. Does yours have a metal or a lexan fan in it?
I really like these Kirbys, they're good little vacuums. Does yours have a metal or a lexan fan in it?
Reply #1
Yes, it has the lexan fan in it. Looks like it was replaced back in the 90’s sometime since the metal fan looks like it has been long gone for some time. I actually had to replace the fan on the Kirby Legend II that was inherited back in the late 90’s since it cracked in 2018 but I can’t complain since it almost lasted 30 years and that was my fist time ever working on a Kirby vacuum. I looked at the ratings tag and turns out it’s a Dual Sanatronic 50 but the Sanatronic 7 isn’t drastically different from it though.
Yes, it has the lexan fan in it. Looks like it was replaced back in the 90’s sometime since the metal fan looks like it has been long gone for some time. I actually had to replace the fan on the Kirby Legend II that was inherited back in the late 90’s since it cracked in 2018 but I can’t complain since it almost lasted 30 years and that was my fist time ever working on a Kirby vacuum. I looked at the ratings tag and turns out it’s a Dual Sanatronic 50 but the Sanatronic 7 isn’t drastically different from it though.
panasonicvac
Well-known member
That was my first thought was thinking it's a Dual Sanitronic 50 based on the bag. Since you say that you own a Legend II, what other Kirbys or vacuums do you also own? I'm actually curious
Reply #3
The 1964 Kirby Dual Sanatronic 50 and the 1989 Kirby Legend II I have are the only Kirby’s I have at the moment. Going to be getting a Kirby Classic 1CR and 1949 Kirby 509 sometime next week. The story with the Kirby Legend II is it was inherited from my great grandparent’s when they passed away in the late 90’s (this happened a few years before I was born) and was used up until 2004 since my mom claimed it was ‘too heavy’ (reason why Kirby’s get a bad wrap for being heavy is people have a bad habit of setting the nozzle height to the lowest setting making it difficult use plus they weigh about as much as any other vacuum made, reason why they seem heavy is all the weight is all at the bottom instead of being even distributed on any other cleaner) and was set off to the side. What replaced it was a obnoxiously loud Hoover bagged vacuum (don’t remember what model it was, all I remember is it was black, and was extremely load), and the next vacuum after that was a Bissell bag vacuum and after that was another Bissell which was a 2008 Bissell lift off with the turbo brush for pet hair and the Kirby Legend II replaced it once I pulled it from a storage cabinet in my garage. What made me bring the Kirby Legend II back to life was I was tired of the filters getting clogged on the Bissell, and dust spewing out of the trash can when I disposed of it, and decided it was best to have a bagged vacuum since there’s not many filters to deal with and is cleaner since there’s no dust being released back into your house when you dispose of the dust.
The 1964 Kirby Dual Sanatronic 50 and the 1989 Kirby Legend II I have are the only Kirby’s I have at the moment. Going to be getting a Kirby Classic 1CR and 1949 Kirby 509 sometime next week. The story with the Kirby Legend II is it was inherited from my great grandparent’s when they passed away in the late 90’s (this happened a few years before I was born) and was used up until 2004 since my mom claimed it was ‘too heavy’ (reason why Kirby’s get a bad wrap for being heavy is people have a bad habit of setting the nozzle height to the lowest setting making it difficult use plus they weigh about as much as any other vacuum made, reason why they seem heavy is all the weight is all at the bottom instead of being even distributed on any other cleaner) and was set off to the side. What replaced it was a obnoxiously loud Hoover bagged vacuum (don’t remember what model it was, all I remember is it was black, and was extremely load), and the next vacuum after that was a Bissell bag vacuum and after that was another Bissell which was a 2008 Bissell lift off with the turbo brush for pet hair and the Kirby Legend II replaced it once I pulled it from a storage cabinet in my garage. What made me bring the Kirby Legend II back to life was I was tired of the filters getting clogged on the Bissell, and dust spewing out of the trash can when I disposed of it, and decided it was best to have a bagged vacuum since there’s not many filters to deal with and is cleaner since there’s no dust being released back into your house when you dispose of the dust.
Lucky find! One of all time favorite machines! Easy to work on and clean amazing well for a machine from the 60"s! Sure wish others made machines that are as reliable! Greg
Reply #5
I think this cleans better than the Legend II I have since the air flow is more concentrated, and literally has the same fan that I installed in the Legend II 4 years ago since it cracked after 29 years of service. Kirby’s definitely clean better compared to Hoovers and have a easy to use nozzle height since there is some guess work in setting the nozzle height on most other vacuums where you have to turn a dial up and the front or a lever on the back.
I think this cleans better than the Legend II I have since the air flow is more concentrated, and literally has the same fan that I installed in the Legend II 4 years ago since it cracked after 29 years of service. Kirby’s definitely clean better compared to Hoovers and have a easy to use nozzle height since there is some guess work in setting the nozzle height on most other vacuums where you have to turn a dial up and the front or a lever on the back.
repairguy
Well-known member
Kirby states to lower the floor nozzle one notch at a time until you hear a change in the sound of the motor for correct adjustment.
panasonicvac
Well-known member
I feel that I like these machines more than the second and third generation models, especially the Legend II even though that's one of my favorite Kirbys and one of my all time favorite vacuums. I wished that they still made those Sanitronics today, but thankfully you can ship those Sanitronics back to Kirby and they can completely factory rebuild them to brand new condition because these are truly meant to last a lifetime! Speaking of which, if you still have your warranty card for your Legend II, you can possibly get a discount for Kirby of rebuilding your Legend II. And regarding Hoovers, I feel there are some models that can clean just as well as any Kirby.
Reply 8
I don’t think there was ever a warranty card that came with the Legend II that was inherited back in the late 90’s. There probably was one when it was purchased, but gotten lost with time sadly. Hoover definitely made good vacuums many years ago but sadly cheapened them up quite a bit in the 80’s and 90’s while Kirby persisted on making quality vacuums that would last a lifetime and that’s why Kirby is a favorite of mine because they haven’t cut corners like all the other vacuum manufacturers with the exception of Rainbow/Rexair and Filter Queen.
I don’t think there was ever a warranty card that came with the Legend II that was inherited back in the late 90’s. There probably was one when it was purchased, but gotten lost with time sadly. Hoover definitely made good vacuums many years ago but sadly cheapened them up quite a bit in the 80’s and 90’s while Kirby persisted on making quality vacuums that would last a lifetime and that’s why Kirby is a favorite of mine because they haven’t cut corners like all the other vacuum manufacturers with the exception of Rainbow/Rexair and Filter Queen.
panasonicvac
Well-known member
Yeah Hoovers today aren't what they used to make nowadays. I mean I still like them but I could care a little less about them. I think in my opinion the last better Hoovers that they've ever made other than the Concept/PowerMAX would be the Conquest. Luckily they're still selling the PortaPOWER under the commercial line but I don't know how much longer they'd keep making that for, they might have already discontinued them but who knows. I no longer have inside information cause I used to work for several vacuum stores in my area. Actually I'm not too thrilled with Rainbow and Filter Queen nowadays. Rainbow's newest model got recalled and Filter Queen's newest model aren't as reliable from what I've seen.
Reply #10
I don’t have experience with Rainbow or Filter Queen but I am sure they are better than most consumer vacuums like Shark since they don’t have parts support for them and aren’t easy to work on nor are easy to use. There’s countless videos on YouTube showing how Shark vacuums really aren’t all that great.
I don’t have experience with Rainbow or Filter Queen but I am sure they are better than most consumer vacuums like Shark since they don’t have parts support for them and aren’t easy to work on nor are easy to use. There’s countless videos on YouTube showing how Shark vacuums really aren’t all that great.
panasonicvac
Well-known member
I agree, I'd rather take either one anyday over a Shark. Really am not a fan of them. But hey, at least they work. I wouldn't mind using a Shark in my own home if someone were to gift me one brand new, I could just use that while I'd save up to send in my vintage Kirby 512 to have Kirby factory rebuilt it and use that vacuum when the Shark dies. I hope to have my 512 restored sometime this year.
panasonicvac
Well-known member
Yeah I've been replying to those threads recently, one of which I actually created lol. I'm honestly not sure if we'll get a new Kirby soon or not, especially since the Kirby company got sold recently. Guess we'll know when we see it once it comes out.
vacerator
Well-known member
I had one
back in the late 70's from a garage sale. It was in great condition, and ran flawlesslly. It had the carpet scrubber, and sparayer. I even used it to paint the rocker panels and lower front fenders on my '74 Gremlin after stone chip damage.
back in the late 70's from a garage sale. It was in great condition, and ran flawlesslly. It had the carpet scrubber, and sparayer. I even used it to paint the rocker panels and lower front fenders on my '74 Gremlin after stone chip damage.
Reply #14
I think Kirby should reintroduce the 500 series and offer them in decorator colors such as turquoise, pink, blue, sunny yellow, mint-green, and many other colors that were around in the 60’s.
What company bought the Kirby company? Did they just buy the Kirby company or was it the whole Scott & Fetzer company?
I think Kirby should reintroduce the 500 series and offer them in decorator colors such as turquoise, pink, blue, sunny yellow, mint-green, and many other colors that were around in the 60’s.
What company bought the Kirby company? Did they just buy the Kirby company or was it the whole Scott & Fetzer company?
I didn't even know it was Warren Buffett's company!
Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway recently sold Kirby after 35 years of owning the vacuum-cleaner company. The famed investor's conglomerate rarely sells businesses, and Buffett once prized Kirby as one of Berkshire's best subsidiaries, making the transaction a notable one.
Berkshire sold Kirby to Right Lane Industries, an industrial holding company that seeks to acquire US-based manufacturing and industrial-services companies, invest in them, and hold them permanently. That strategy chimes with Berkshire's promise of a "forever home" for the businesses it buys.
Before its sale to Right Lane, Kirby was a division of Scott Fetzer, a manufacturing conglomerate that Berkshire purchased in 1986. Buffett trumpeted the direct seller of vacuum cleaners as one of Scott Fetzer's crown jewels in his 1985 letter to Berkshire shareholders.
"While the Kirby product is more expensive than most cleaners, it performs in a manner that leaves cheaper units far behind ('in the dust,' so to speak)," Buffett said. "Many 30- and 40-year-old Kirby cleaners are still in active duty. If you want the best, you buy a Kirby."
Moreover, Buffett once counted Kirby as one of "The Sainted Seven" among Berkshire's non-insurance businesses, along with the likes of See's Candies and Nebraska Furniture Mart.
"This divine assemblage ... is a collection of businesses with economic characteristics that range from good to superb," the investor said in his 1989 letter. "Its managers range from superb to superb."
Buffett was right about Kirby's stellar prospects. The company's annual pretax earnings almost tripled to $59 million between 1986 and 1996, and Berkshire's net earnings from Kirby nearly quadrupled to $40 million over the same period.
Moreover, Kirby generated more profit than all but one of Berkshire's 10 non-insurance businesses in 1996, and was responsible for about 5% of the conglomerate's operating earnings that year.
It's unclear why Scott Fetzer decided to dispose of Kirby, a company it owned for more than 50 years and partnered with for more than a century. Experts told Insider that financial, operational, or cultural challenges might explain the move.
"It's possible the Kirby vacuum ain't what it used to be, or perhaps that the door-to-door business model controversies aren't worth it," Lawrence Cunningham, a law professor at George Washington University and the author of several books about Buffett and Berkshire, told Insider.
"It could be that the business isn't viable anymore, or there was an issue with management that went deeper into the subsidiary's culture," Adam Mead, the author of "The Complete Financial History of Berkshire Hathaway," told Insider.
Berkshire Hathaway, Scott Fetzer, Right Lane, and Kirby didn't immediately respond to requests for comment from Insider.
markets.businessinsider.com
Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway recently sold Kirby after 35 years of owning the vacuum-cleaner company. The famed investor's conglomerate rarely sells businesses, and Buffett once prized Kirby as one of Berkshire's best subsidiaries, making the transaction a notable one.
Berkshire sold Kirby to Right Lane Industries, an industrial holding company that seeks to acquire US-based manufacturing and industrial-services companies, invest in them, and hold them permanently. That strategy chimes with Berkshire's promise of a "forever home" for the businesses it buys.
Before its sale to Right Lane, Kirby was a division of Scott Fetzer, a manufacturing conglomerate that Berkshire purchased in 1986. Buffett trumpeted the direct seller of vacuum cleaners as one of Scott Fetzer's crown jewels in his 1985 letter to Berkshire shareholders.
"While the Kirby product is more expensive than most cleaners, it performs in a manner that leaves cheaper units far behind ('in the dust,' so to speak)," Buffett said. "Many 30- and 40-year-old Kirby cleaners are still in active duty. If you want the best, you buy a Kirby."
Moreover, Buffett once counted Kirby as one of "The Sainted Seven" among Berkshire's non-insurance businesses, along with the likes of See's Candies and Nebraska Furniture Mart.
"This divine assemblage ... is a collection of businesses with economic characteristics that range from good to superb," the investor said in his 1989 letter. "Its managers range from superb to superb."
Buffett was right about Kirby's stellar prospects. The company's annual pretax earnings almost tripled to $59 million between 1986 and 1996, and Berkshire's net earnings from Kirby nearly quadrupled to $40 million over the same period.
Moreover, Kirby generated more profit than all but one of Berkshire's 10 non-insurance businesses in 1996, and was responsible for about 5% of the conglomerate's operating earnings that year.
It's unclear why Scott Fetzer decided to dispose of Kirby, a company it owned for more than 50 years and partnered with for more than a century. Experts told Insider that financial, operational, or cultural challenges might explain the move.
"It's possible the Kirby vacuum ain't what it used to be, or perhaps that the door-to-door business model controversies aren't worth it," Lawrence Cunningham, a law professor at George Washington University and the author of several books about Buffett and Berkshire, told Insider.
"It could be that the business isn't viable anymore, or there was an issue with management that went deeper into the subsidiary's culture," Adam Mead, the author of "The Complete Financial History of Berkshire Hathaway," told Insider.
Berkshire Hathaway, Scott Fetzer, Right Lane, and Kirby didn't immediately respond to requests for comment from Insider.
Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway sold Kirby after 35 years. The vacuum-cleaner company generated 5% of Berkshire's profits at one point.
Buffett included Kirby in Berkshire's "Sainted Seven" businesses, along with the likes of See's Candies and Nebraska Furniture Mart.
markets.businessinsider.com
If I were a betting man, I'd say it was either triviality (just not big enough to matter to BH) combined with the stench of the direct-sales model (and the controversies you mention). Very easy to spin a Kirby sold to someone who's non-compos-mentos to an indictment of all of BH.
