Recent content by human

Yeah, that's why I have a bunch of Kirbys and no Dysons.

I would agree on the Electrolux style uprights. Having twin motors, one for suction and one for the brush roll, they can be used as a straight suction machine on hard floors, saving unnecessary wear on the brush roll, as well as agitate carpeted areas. They debuted as the Discovery II back...

I have zero experience with Fairfax vacuum cleaners, but in general, I would say a shop vac would be the best candidate for cleaning up cat litter or dry cat food, although I've done it plenty with other machines, including my Electrolux 1205. And bless you for doing what you do to help your...

My only experiences with Rainbows have been peripheral at best. I had a girlfriend once who lived in a condo that came with Rainbow in the closet, and in the closet it stayed. She said it was simply too much hassle to use more than once or twice a year. I also had a housemate at about the same...

With the switch guard, that's one of the last ones, from about 1988 or so. However you wash that bag, I don't think you have to worry much about it fading, compared to the earlier gray and red ones.

Which 501 are you getting? I have three. Two are later models with the light blue color scheme and rubberized bags, while one is an early model with gray plastics and a red and gray twill bag. I've never laundered any of them. I've always just used my shop vac to vacuum them out. Seems kind of...

Yeah, I've had the same problem with my Heritage '84. I laundered the bag when I got it about three years ago, and I never could get the original em-tor back on. My cat even tried to help (see my avatar photo, taken while I was trying to put that machine back together), but to no avail. I...

As I've stated before, I love Kirby vacuum cleaners, but I have zero love for their traditional strong-arm sales tactics. I would never let one of those creeps in the door of my home. Thankfully, the new owner of Kirby seems to be moving away from door-to-door intimidation in favor of online...

Looks nice. That should polish up great!

I have long had an appreciation for premium, high-end vacuum cleaners, going back to childhood. I got my first Electrolux 1205 in 2004, not counting the one my dad rescued from a neighbor's trash pile in about 1981, which I used extensively and finally took ownership of some 25 years later. I...

The :Legend II is a great machine. Essentially a cosmetic refresh of the Heritage II Legend, they're both model 2HD, it's the last of the pre-G Kirbys, and a bit less bulky without the later machines' Tech Drive. Clean it, polish it, and treasure it as you think best. It sounds like you have a...

I remember a few years back when a member (dandagrer?) posted here about sending an older Kirby, I don't remember the model, back to the factory for refurbishment and taking all the original plastic trim off of it, and substituting some that would fit but was the wrong color, knowing that what...

Yeah, given that it's an eBay price, I guess that's decent for a relatively rare machine. I'm not at all interested in it at that price, but somebody might be.

It sounds like you've already isolated the problem to the existing plug; it's dangerous and it needs to go, so you have nothing to lose by replacing it. A replacement plug from a hardware store will likely cost you around $5, so it's worth a try, especially compared with $30 or $40 to replace...

Given its age, I would consider that vacuum, in its present condition, to be darn near perfect. Any defects are merely proof of its authenticity.