Arguement over new Royal vs. new Kirby

[fantomfan]

So on one of the Kirby threads on facebook, someone gets the idea that Royals were simply cheap copies of Kirby? Hasn't Royal been in the business LONGER than Kirby? And then, the Royal is like an old Kirby Sanitronic and EVERY Kirby since the 500 series outperforms the Royal. You have got to be kidding me. Most of the people on that page were Kirby salesman.. suprise? I think not. I stated as a collector that Royals have better agitation and are much lighter. I got blasted for simply stating my opinion. The worst part is, one user stated that Royals have not changed much over the past fifty years. Um... and the Kirby has? I guess I shouldn't be suprised. Any salseman wouldn't want to make their product look bad. I'm sticking with the Royal.

 

[sebo_fan]

Well, respectively you're only 17, you still have a lot of years to embrace both past and future vacuums. There may even be vacuums before Royal came along, and before Kirby, that offered the similar blue print.

Sadly in the UK metal Royal uprights are like gold dust. I have only ever used one but I was very impressed.

 

[dysonman1]

Royal started making vacuums in 1910. This picture is the Royal model 1 - serial number 1296. Jim Kirby wouldn't meet Scott and Fetzer until 1917. Making the Kirby very late to the game. Jim Kirby's first production model vacuum was the frantz premier in 1911, they also made the Ezee "grasshopper" vacuum - WAY before Scott and Fetzer even knew what a vacuum cleaner was.

 

[hvrvaclvr]

Royal has been in buisness longer. So wouldn't that make Kirbies a more expensive copies? JK! I don't know which one is better than the other, but I do know they are both great at deep cleaning. They are both very similar in style, which really hasn't changed in the past 50 years, well other than the colors. Both are built like beasts that will take a beating and last a long time.


But the Royal has a few things that makes me like them better than the Kirby. They're lighter, and they don't come with a bunch of useless attachements like massagers and sanders. They have an all metal fan. And they don't cost $1500

 

[charleskirby66]

"Kirby late in the game"...

Jim Kirby invented his first vacuum in 1906. Kirby received his first vacuum patent in 1911. According to the link below, Kirby had already began informing Franz Premier's vacuums in 1910, before acquiring his first patent on his vacuum technology. Given the way information is leaked and traded, isn't it possible that Royal Vacuum had access to Jim Kirby's technology right in the same town of Cleveland?

http://www.friendsofcrowellhilaka.org/jim-kirby.html

 

[ralph123]

thanks for the link. I found the following most interesting: "1906 Kirby built his first vacuum cleaner. Although it was an improvement on existing technology, it used a water based filtration system – thus was bulky and required two people to operate."

I wonder how his water based filtration system worked?

 

[kenkart]

The only down side to a new Royal

Is they are Chinese built, that is a DEAL BREAKER for me!

 

[fantomfan]

So true, kenkart!

I stated on Facebook that it's the ONLY reason why I don't own a new one. But, my Anniversary Edition from 1992 is a VERY powerful cleaner.

 

[suckolux]

Both great machines, the Royal I can still use due to the light weight and not clamping down on the rug.I like that the Kirby can use a hose though.

 

[kirbyg6]

I have never used a royal but I like the look of their simple design. They look lighter than a kirby and less things to go wrong on them. And for kirby my grandma brought a heritage 2 when it came out and now they have the availr and what an improvement it's the best vacuum cleaner I have ever used that's my opinion

 

[tolivac]

Royal,Kirby--I like BOTH-simply can't decide if one is better than the other.I am using a Chinese made Royal right now--Pro elite.Its working and holiding up.And I haven't seen ANY Royal metal uprights coming in to the Sew&Vac shop for service-Chinese or US made.Kirbys come in all the time for---Fan replacement.Years ago when we had a Royal dealer here-he stocked them-metal uprights and canisters-the Royal rep was at his place and gave a good demo on how tough the Royal metal fan is-The man put the hose adaptor in the front of the machine and then used it to suck sevral pennies from his hand-Bill and I commented that would have DESTROYED a Kirby fan.The rep took the front of the fancase off-something like 4 screws holding it on and the fan was in excellent shape-one blade a small nick-another the trailing corner slightly bent.The pennies were bent and folded over after he took them out of the grey dump bag.Bought two machines right then-still have one and gave the other to a friend that needed a vacuum after moving into a place with WW carpet.That was still when the machines were built here.Seems like the Chinese company that builds the present Royals are well supervised.I so wish they still made the metal "pony" style canister and Prince metal hand vac.

 

[sptyks]

The new Royals are made by TTI which is a chinese owned company, however that has had no effect on the quality. The new Royal metal upright called the Everlast is just as well made as the U.S. made models except for a larger 10amp motor.


 

 

[kirbyduh]

I enjoy both

Both are powerful, direct air machines that are great at cleaning carpets. Not that Kirbys are quiet, but I was using a newer commercial Royal a few days ago and I needed ear protection! The sound of newer Kirbys isn't so shrill. I guess it's that 10 amp motor in the Royal that makes it so loud. On the other hand, I love older Royals.

 

[vinvac]

I have Royals and Kirbys and love them both. I personally think the Kirby cleans better but like the weight of the Royal.

The newer Royal Everlast series are awesome cleaners. My only complaint is the noice level. Performance is awesome.

You can't beat the filtration on the new Kirby's . If you keep the bags installed properly there is little to no dirt leakage. Royal even with their Hepa Media bags still leak.

The metal tools on the Royal I personally like and feel are much better quality than the Kirby. However, I have never broken a Kirby tool...so they are built to last even though made of plastic.

No matter, they are all fun to use and work well.

 

[suckolux]

Morgan, I feel that was VERY well put!

 

[sptyks]

The older 7 amp U.S. made Royals were equivalent in performance to the Kirby Heritage II Legend and Legend vacuums. I've heard that the new Chinese made 10 amp Royal Everlast is equivalent in performance to the 7 amp Kirby Sentria thru Avalir systems.


 


I once owned a 1997 Royal which I thought was pretty good , but it didn't come close to my 2009  Sentria in cleaning ability. It was more on par with my Heritage II Legend which was made in 1988.

 

[tolivac]

The 9A Royal Pro Elite I have is quieter than some of their other 10A models.I have two "orange Bag" commercial Royals with 10A motors-one sounds like one of AgentJayZ's jet engines on a test stand-the other more like a Kirby.However the noise of the Royal and Kirby isn't near as bad as the new red commercial Orecks-those sound like a srtangled banshee! The old 7A and below Royals had a softer-quieter motor sounds.Not too bad-but still effective.

 

[gsheen]

Royals are very Rare here in Sa. I have 3. I have way more Kirbys and do enjoy the kirbys but given the choice I would rather use the royal of each time period ovee the Kirby. This especially applies to todays models.