Guess Who Owns a COMVAC Now?... Me!

[kirbyclassiciii]

I was given this 1982 Kirby COMVAC 1600 by Rick Nye, who used to work as the museum director at Stark's Vacuums at 107 NE Grand Ave. I could not be much happier today!

The other vacuum he gave me, at left, is a Kirby 515, my second such model.

~Ben[this post was last edited: 3/22/2022-14:29]

 

[blackheart]

Nice!

You see fewer of those larger nozzles ones. Congrats!

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Blackheart

Devin,

Thank you! This one is also an early build, since the serial number on the bottom starts with 8216, a date code meaning it was built during the 16th week of calendar-year 1982.

~Ben

 

[thevacomaticiec]

That is wonderfull congrats to you enjoy your new sweeper .

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Thevacomaticiec

Antoine,

Thank you!

~Ben

 

[kirbyklekter]

KirbyClassicIII

Ben, Can you tell me a little about this machine? Is it a commercial machine? I'm glad you finally got one, congratulations! I'm sure it was worth the wait. Is this model a cousin to the heritage line as I see a lot of those cues. Billy

 

[huskyvacs]

Great find!

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

kirbyklekter

Bill,

Yes it is a commercial machine.

And yes it is related to the Heritage 1HD.

~Ben

 

[dysonman1]

By the early 1980's, many door to door vacuum companies were looking for a way to make more profits. Women were working during the day, so not as many home to see a demo.

Filter Queen came out with the Princess line to sell in stores.

Interstate Engineering made the Compact for vac shops and the Tri-Star for door to door sales.

Kirby made the ComVac for janitorial stores and the Kirby Heritage for door to door.

Even Electrolux got in on this (in the later 1980's) with a line of plastic canisters and uprights for catalog stores as well as Sears.

 

[vacuumdevil]

That's awesome! Every collector should have one!

 

[toastermike]

Congratulations Ben! It's always great to acquire something rare and unusual, especially something you've been hoping to find for a while.

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

toastermike

Mike,

Thank you so much!

~Ben

 

[kirbylux77]

Congratulations Ben! You now own a rare piece of Kirby history. And that someone was nice enough to give it to you makes it even better.

The only thing I would suggest if you actually plan on using it is to take off the original bag and put a Heritage 2 bag assembly on. Not only to preserve the original bag, but for improved performance. Also it might not be a bad idea to get a spare set of carbon brushes for the motor.

Rob

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

kirbylux77

Rob,

Thank you! Although, if I were to install a large Emtor on this machine, I'd have to change out the rear axle to the shorter, 4.5" long version (102080) in order to support it (just as I did with my 1987 Heritage II).

~Ben[this post was last edited: 3/24/2022-18:43]

 

[rivstg1]

good for you Ben, I know you've wanted one of these for a LONG time! congrats

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

rivstg1

Kelton,

Thank you!

~Ben

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Me at Stark's Old Museum in 1998 (for toastermike)

Mike,

Here was I at Stark's, at age 17, visiting the old museum, and you'll see the COMVAC 1600 in the background.

~Ben

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Stark's Old Museum, 2016

And here's more pictures of Stark's former museum in 2016, its last full year of existence.

~Ben

 

[hoover300]

A Frantz Premier!
The thing on the right in the first pic is a Diamond, made around 1910-11. The only one known currently.