Kirby Design
What Kirby has failed to realize is that today's homemaker/house cleaner wants a vacuum that is EASY to use. People do not really want on-board tools on their upright vacuums. Ever see an OBT upright with all the tools missing, just the hose and wand left?
THAT's what people want, an instant on wand end to grab debris inaccessible to the machine's rotating brush head. For thorough ATF cleaning, a separate canister, or a long extension hose are suitable for using attachments. (Or removing a nozzle to attach a hose) IF the hose is the dirt path from the nozzle, the longer is is, the more weight it adds, and the longer the dirt path is. A valve to divert airflow from the floor to the hose/wand is the way to go.
Of all manufacturers to get with the program, ORECK is introducing just such a model in April, called The Edge. It will have a V belt, a beefed up motor and brushroll suitable for cleaning thick plush and frieze. It will be in ORECK stores exclusively, and come with a totally revamped canister, which will be available in three versions, standard, FLASH, which will have an electrical connection for a wide straight suction tool with a U/V light, and a battery operated cordless model. Oreck and Bissell have managed to increase market share and show increases in sales during this economic downturn.
The gal who manages the local Kirby service center was totally unaware that Kirby was gearing up to introduce a new model! I saw her at the local annual home and garden show.
As someone who has had several successful stints selling Kirbys, I have seen a few new model introductions. There is always hype, hoopla, and speculation, before a model change, but the new model may turn out to be nothing more than a refinement of an already excellent design, as has happened before. If the patent drawings posted by link here on the forum are any indication, I have a hard time imagining that unit being brought to market.
Despite the economy, Kirby sales here are doing well. More sub paper is being written, to be sure, but consumer reports just published their annual report on vacuum cleaners, and once again, Kirby received a high rating for cleaning, ease of pushing, filtration, and once again was rated #1 of ALL brands for reliability. People often buy a Kirby after being sick of buying big box junk vacuums, or being unable to secure authorized service for another expensive D2D brand. I find it difficult to believe Kirby would jeopardize their enviable market position for trouble prone innovations.
We shall see...
Trebor