Meet - The Kirby Dual '50

[swestoyz]

Hey Guys ~

I'll be the first to admit, I don't know a thing about vacuum cleaners - and the first being Kirbys. I was raised on a bright orange Hoover Convertible, and distinctly remember enjoying the head light, but not understanding why mom always had to change that bag. I've always seen Kirbys at friends homes, in the thrift stores, and always heard good things about them, besides being a bit heavy.

Jumping to earlier this summer. I remember seeing Greg post photos of Terry's Dual Sanitronic '80, and loved it. That amazing glow, and wonderful use of greens and yellows - I was hooked. I knew it was time to keep my eye out, as I'm using a cream button-up Hoover Convertible, and wanted more flexibility.

While nesting at the little lady's parents, I went around to the local flea-markets, and stumbled upon this guy. I couldn't believe I had found it, and liked the copper color as much as the yellow and greens of the '80. It came with a the rug renovator, miracle head, a crazy spray gun, and other assorted attachments.

So, since I'm new to this game, I was wondering a few things. Where do I find belts? What does the Dual '50 and the Dual '80 mean - or better yet, what do the numbers mean in the name? About how old is this guy? And what would be the best recommended method of rejuvenating him? Take it to a local shop, or send it off to Kirby, as I've heard rumor that they still rebuild these older units. I just love the lights, and the bag. Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[swestoyz]

Light #1

Gotta have lights!

 

[swestoyz]

Name of Distinction

#3

 

[swestoyz]

Such a cool bag

And in a copper color!

 

[swestoyz]

And those that tag along

Wanted to be included as well. What are those little white pieces of paper for? And how do you get the dirt out of this thing? Yes, remember, I know nothing ... about Kirbys =)

 

[hoover1060]

The D50 was my first Kirby, way back in

1980, found it in the trash, and carried it home over the handlebars of my 10-speed bike!
Now I may not be 100% right, but there are the Kirby experts to correct me.
The D50 was Kirby's first 2 speed machine, and introduced in 1965, which is where the "50" comes from(I think) The color is called Scirrocco, and was the 2nd machine to sport such hues. The Dual 80 in 1968 would be green.
The other interesting part of the D50 is that lighted Kirby on the headlight hood. This was the only model to have that.
Hope this helps some
Jeff

 

[gansky1]

Awesome find, Ben! Check with your local Kirby dealer to see if they have the buffing and renewal service. I've done mine and Terry and I took his Dual 80 in this summer to have it restored. They do a beautiful job and make them shine like new again. You are lucky to find it in such nice shape too - looks like they used it only lightly. There's nothing better than finding a mint condition vacuum from a dirty house!

 

[jdinstl]

Way to go, Swestoys!

Swestoys -- congratulations on your acquisition of a machine I consider to be one of the best Kirby offered, and a fine example of bygone American engineering.

I hope I can answer some of your questions. The '50 is a dump-bag machine. Note where the back connects into the metal. That metal, which connects into the vacuum proper is called the sani-emptor. There's a release on the right side, which allows that plastic plate to be slipped over and the bag emptied. Open the zipper on the bag of your bag, reach in and down -- there's a scraper device that allows you to scrape down the inside of the bag without getting dirty.

The little round pieces of paper go underneath furniture legs after you've used the shampooer on carpets.

Your nozzle on the right is either a rug renovator or miracle head. These are used to either buff waxed floors, or work up the nap in pile carpeting. I'm not certain it's an either/or thing, I believe there were different brushrolls for each individual purpose -- and I hope someone else can speak more definitavely on this.

Regarding brushrolls, you'll note two screw heads on each end of the brushroll in your nozzle. Those are the adjustments for the brushroll exposure, to compensate for wear. The brush should protrude a bit from the plate to brush the carpet as you clean. On the back of the machine, leftside, is the carpet height adjustment. Step on the lower one to raise the nozzle full height. Step on the upper one and "notch down" bit by bit the nozzle until the motor just changes pitch.

Cleaning effectiveness is a combination of suction and brushroll contact with the carpet. If the nozzle is too high, you loose the brushroll action, as well as take the focus of suction away from the carpet. Set too low, the suction is impeded, and the brushroll slowed.

As far as where to have it services and refurbished. I'm very sorry, but basically all you have is worthless scrap metal. Give me your email address, I'll respond with my street address and you can send it here. You don't have to thank me, many people make the mistake of buying such rubbish -- myself, I prefer to help people out when they've made this kind of mistake by taking it off their hands.

Hmmm...not buying that paragraph above, eh? LOL! Good for you! You shouldn't! I refurbished mine myself, so will have to again defer to others for a more authoritative opinion on refurbishing. But you have a beautiful machine and its good to see you are seeking to choose with care who does refurbishes it.

Mine came with belts, so I don't have a source yet for new belts if these break. I've seen eBay stores and such offering "replacement for non-self-propelled" models -- but I haven't purchased those to see if they work with the Sanitronic models.

Belt replacement can be a pain at first. The badge on the nozzle is the belt lifter. Flip your headlight cover upwards. See the tab on top of the badge plate? Use your thumb on it for leverage and turn the badge plate counter-clockwise until it locks over to a stop. At the top of the nozzle, on the body proper, is a latch. Turn that to release the nozzle, and it will lift off the machine. The same is used for mounting your other accessories, you can peek through the opening for the suction to see the mechanism.

When reinstalling the nozzle, note the little black box at the lower left. You'll see buttons. The carpet nozzzle has a tab that presses one of those buttons when installed. The other special purpose nozzles have a tab to press the other button. The "Dual" is the motor speed actioned by these tabs and this electrical arrangement. High speed for accessories, low speed for the general carpet care nozzle. I love the sound of a Sanitronic motor, it doesn't screech -- it has a kind of growl in its voice. The size of the nozzle, the build of the machien, the logo light, the handle, all make for a machine that fits well in the hand, easily manueverable and effective.

Way to go! Do keep us posted as your relationship with this work of art grows -- and it will!

John

 

[petek]

Hi Ben, great vac find. I haven't come across one yet. Those little paper things are "doilies" to put under table and chair legs after you shampooed the carpet or during maybe so the legs don't get wet. You could I suppose use them as cool coasters.lol.
To empty it you unhook the bag at the top of the handle, then grab the "sani-emptor" , that big thing on the right side that the bottom of the bag is attached to with a latch on it. twist it off the exhaust port of the vacs body. Go outside, unlatch the latch, pull and slide the bottom of the sani-emptor away and shake all the dirt out...yukkers. I don't know if that bag of yours has a "sani-scraper" or not,, a zipper in the side of the bag you stick your hand into to dislodge guck from in the bag and down to the bottom, your hand doesn't actually go in the bag, it has a "sock insert" to protect your hand from touch the dirt.

 

[swestoyz]

A big thanks

For the words of encouragement. I'll play with the height adjuster/brush roller, to see what seems best. I've already heard it change pitch before, hoping it wasn't the bearings going out on the armature shaft - thankfully per John, it isn't. I'll make some calls around, and see if anyone here in NE Iowa will take it in for a complete buff job! (pun intended)

Ben

 

[veg-o-matic]

Awesome find, Ben! You gonna name him Durwood?

What are those two attachments? I guess one is a carpet shampoozer? I need more pics!

veg, who can't believe you call the GF the "little lady"!

 

[swestoyz]

Hey Veg ~

The professional equipment that I used to take the photos last night (ie - a BOL DV camera from a box store) doesn't do the subject justice, and I am afraid of offending the new family member, or anyone else on the board!

BUT - no fear, I've found a solution. Check out the link. There are many wonderful photos of a Dual Sanitronic '50, in action none-the-less! Looks like this individual sure scored on that find. I would say my guy is a little of the scruffy side, but still lovable, compared to that well groomed vixen. There is also a helpful run down of the '500' series Kirby's on the site as well; I found it - educational.

Ben - who gets a kick out of his 'Little Lady'

http://www.137.com/kirbyd50/