1981 Kirby Golden Trophy Tradition...

[twocvbloke]

Well, I was asked for pics of it, so, here they are, well, a link to them at least (too lazy to post 10 posts for 10 pictures!)!!!

The first to were when I actually had Three LegendIIs, they're so common here in the UK, I only have two of them left, but still, they're in bits hiding in places...

The G5 is long gone, sold that cos I ended up with back problems after lifting my Heritage84, and the G5 was heavier, so it went...

CIII ('79 model, I think) I still have, but again it's in bits (needs a new nozzle and pretty much everything that goes with it!!), has an original style bag though...

The regular Trad ('81 model) I still have (it's the one I've had the longest incidentally), still love it, cos it's my favourite colour...

Anyway, enough about those, oggle at me pictures!!!

http://www.recycleabicycle.co.uk/pics/goldtrad/

 

[1971ss15]

OMG

That is my dream Kirby!Does it have any guts?I would trade any of my Kirby's for one of those!Or my mom!!! LOL

 

[twocvbloke]

It does have guts now, but back then in the pics, it didn't, I had to modify a Heritage field coil to fit in there, aswell as buy a US spec Omega safety/speed switch (actually got a NOS pack of 3!!) to utilise the 2-speeds, so it is fully functional, I'm just very very reluctant to use it for anything...

See the link for the video of it working after I fitted a motor...

 

[vac_whisperer]

Thanks for the pics!!!!!!!!

VW

 

[ohio_tuec]

1981 Golden Trophy

I too have a Golden Trophy, serial number 38 (wonder how many there were in all) which I've owned since about 1997. Nice to know at least one made it to the other side of the pond. I wouldn't trade it for anything! I pasted a link below, haven't used the machine since I got it. I'm just curious, why would you modify the safety switch if you're probably not going to use it? I think I've switched it on maybe once or twice, but that's all.

- Karl

http://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/0...show=NL-05-00-027.jpg&dir=/NEWSLETTERS/Spring 2000

 

[vacfanatic]

Nice edition to have for any collector for sure!!!

 

[twocvbloke]

Safety switch...

Well, the safety switch wasn't modified, cos if you look at the pic with the nozzle removed, there is no switch (presumably went to live on another regular Trad somewhere in the country), the only electrical component left on it was the footswitch, being Omega Rosewood coloured (shares a few parts with the Omega, handlegrip, emtor tray, nozzle bumper and presumably the original cable too, if it still had it that is), so I had to buy replacement parts to get it functional, especially as UK version (single speed) Omega-Trad safety switches are hard to come by for little money...

I also fitted it with the filltube from my regular Trad (seeing how I upgraded it for better airflow with a mini-emtor and Polypropylene bags, aswell as having a shakeout bag setup too), seeing how it was missing that part too (dunno if it even had one originally!!!)...

I think there were about 100 in all (might be more, or less, can' remember!!), one for each US state, and the rest for everywhere else in the world, I wish I still had the e-mail from Kirby about it, cos my memory is useless!!!

I think to date, I've now seen at least 4 other Golden Trads, so I know they're still out there...

 

[djtaylor]

Golden Tradition

The first Kirby dealer I worked for had one. It was in his office at the shop. I just loved looking at it. When I went in for my interview I commented on it. I asked if it was a Tradition, he asked how I knew about Traditions... yada yada, I got the job and loved it. He also had a Legend II as an award, but it was not golden, just a normal Legend II with an inscription on the headlight hood. I don't know if the Golden Tradition ran or not. The Legend II did and the boss and his wife gave it to somebody in their family.
Justin