Early Kirby Tradition model with upper speed switch control

[louvac]

Hey guys...

This is a "far cry in the night" type of request, but I was wondering if anyone has or knows where to get a good speed control switch for the very early Traditions that featured the speed control switch under the visor. The switch can be used as long as it works, naturally. However, a brand new one would be very much appreciated!

This design was poor and therefore the machines that had broken switches were converted (and later machines in the Tradition run)to house the speed control switch at the bottom of the fan housing like preceeding models.

I would like to keep this model original if at all possible. From what I have seen, the machines that would have this type of speed controls switch would be models with serial numbers of F20..xxxxx and lower perhaps. I have not seen it in higher serial numbers.

 

[andy]

Louis do you possibly have a picture you can post of this? I can go through my Kirby parts in the stockroom and see if I can find one if I know what it looks like!

 

[louvac]

Andy,

I aprreciate your efforts!

I will try to take a pic of it. In the meantime, let me describe it.

It looks like a typical Kirby black switch about 3 inches long and not quite an inch wide. It has what looks like two "garage doors" each with a "slider" frame. I don't know what the slider frames do but each garage door has a spring activated flap much like a cassette player door (only it's vertical) that retracts when the speed control spike is inserted into the opening.

In my humble opinion I don't think the design was poor but rather the switch quality was the problem. They appear to be cheaply made.

Louis

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Lou,

For what it's worth, this design of speed switch ran up to about serial no. F500000.

Here is a picture of the inside of the Tradition's headlight cap on a converted unit (serial no. F325112).

However, I am still hungry to see the same inside with the original 134379 speed switch mounted to it.

~Ben

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Courtesy of adambomb, here is a picture of the Tradition's headlight inside with the original speed switch.

~Ben