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I just found another outstanding buy at my local Goodwill outlet store- a Tristar MG1 with its hose and power nozzle (no tools). It is in excellent condition except for a dark scar on the top of the PN and on the door covering the exhaust filter. I am very impressed with it's suction and...

I'm real! Yes, I am a real person who like many of us appreciates Ben's wealth of information and willingness to share it with us. BTW thanks for the new info on the Royal 790 Ben. My email name toastermike is from a nickname given to me years ago when I began collecting and restoring vintage...

You're welcome Ben! I enjoyed meeting your grandparents yesterday.

I was just given a Royal model 790 upright and am puzzled by it. It looks just like an 880 and has a 400 amp motor. The cloth bag is a much new replacement so I don't know what the original looked like. Anyone familiar with this one? Mike

I recently posted that I just bought a Filter Queen Majestic Limited Edition. From what I am reading many people consider the FQ to be one of the best of the canisters. The LE has been referred to as the last of the "traditional" Filter Queens's. Why is this? How are the later models differen? I...

I have both, and although the 5 position pedal adjustment is quick and easy, I still much prefer the old knob adjustment. For my carpets, the 5 positions are spaced too far apart. One position is a little too high, the next one is too low. With the knob, I can get it just right! I have...

Last week, poking through the bins at my local Goodwill outlet store I found what I thought was a shop vac. What I dug out turned out to be a Filter Queen Majestic Limit Edition (model 112B) that was complete with all of the tools and power nozzle. It needed cleaning inside and out because it...

Thanks for checking! Mike

My beautifully restored Kirby D 80 has been a green bag gaurd away from being complete for a long time. I have had no luck finding one new or used, and I know that Kirby only offers them in black. A NOS or like new one would be great if available. Anyone have any ideas? Thanks! Mike

This morning I found a Hoover 575 at my local Goodwill Outlet store. Based on the serial number I believe is was built in 1931. It looks likes it has had very little use for an 84 year old vacuum. There is no rust and almost no signs of wear and it runs great. The bag has a couple of wear...

Congradulations on your Model M! I have one too and it's one of my favorites of my collection. The light bulb is easy! It is the common bayonet style used by many vacuums including older Royal uprights such as the 880, and the Kirby 500 series. You should be able to get one at a vacuum cleaner...

I found my 560 at the local Goodwill outlet store a while back and it seemed completely original. The cord had an ugly generic replacement plug so I replaced it with a new black Kirby cord. Last week I found an incomplete 519 with a gray Kirby cord with red ends in excellent shape and bought it...

I have 4 500 series Kirby's, a restored 509 and D80, an excellent original 560, and a D50 to be restored. I never had any interest in the later models because they just seemed too big and heavy. A few months ago I found a beautiful Legend II with all of its tools, caddy, zip brush and original...

Thanks to Toby's (ge1969) generosity my Air-Way Sanitizor 88 Mk II is now complete with its attachment caddy. Anybody have an idea when this might have been built? Mike

Ben My serial number is C87A001178 (March 1987). I have both red AOR belt covers and I switchd them so that both are now correct. I have the 6 blade fan. Mike

This Royal 786 has been in my basement for a couple of years. I have been "borrowing" parts off of it to compete other restorations and I finally decided to pay back the parts loans and get it going. It still needs some serious polishing but looks and runs great. Does anybody know the story of...

Toby, thanks for your generous offer! I will take you up on it and it will be great to see the 88 complete. I will e-mail you for details. Mike

Years before I became a collecter I saw an Air-Way 55a and wanted to have one some day. I recently bought this one on e-bay and have been cleaning it polishing it. Yesterday I found this 88 Mk II at the Goodwill Outlet store. It was complete except for the tool caddy that I hope to find in the...

Can't choose! From a collecters perspective, I too prefer the smaller 500 models. I like my 509, 560, and D80 equally. My Legend II is what I enjoy using the most and is used weekly. The 509 and D80 are now fully restored. The 560 and Legend II are Goodwill Outlet store finds just needed a...

Painting Kirby trim When I restored my 509 I took Eurekastar's suggestion and used SEM automotive paint for vinyl interiors. It is excellent and remains flexible and tough. He suggests using Portola red. I also used the recommended SEM prespray to promote adhesion. You can find it on the...