How rare is this Heritage?

[genemegamat]

I recently picked up this Heritage and have never seen one with the small power nozzle on it. Is it rare? What's interesting is that the casting on the nozzle appears to work on the Heritage and 516 to Sanitronic safety switches. Thanks for your help!

 

[KirbyCollector01]

The Kirby itself is a common Heritage II, it's the nozzle that's rare. It's an optional 13 inch nozzle that Kirby had for the Heritage/Legend models. They're pretty rare. That's a great find.

 

[genemegamat]

Heritage 2 power head

This Heritage had that nozzle on it and on his shelf he had two other nozzles with the exact same markings. One was shaped like an Omega/Classic/Tradition and another was just a plain old Heritage 2 nozzle...I'm guessing they were all just options? The other two nozzles didn't have the muliple safety switch positions, so I didn't grab them. Should I have?

Gene

 

[KirbyCollector01]

You could get the other three nozzles. Or depending on the serial number, you could get an original nozzle for this machine.
The Heritage IIs made in 1984 had the big classic style nozzle,
The ones made in 1985 had the newer style nozzle without an indicator light.
The indicator was added in 1986

 

[kirbyvertibles]

The bigger classic style one I'd say is the most uncommon

 

[kenkart]

That small head

Was optional,most often ordered by Churches because it would fit between pews better than the oversized monstrosity used since the Classic, With the small head the power is concentrated and these clean rings around the wider ones...A great find.Much more convienent in the average home.

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

genemegamat

Gene,


 


Like Thom (KirbyCollector) and Hans (kenkart) said, the 13" wide nozzle was indeed an option and was preferred by those end users and businesses that have many tight spots. Going by the 3rd picture, it appears your 13" nozzle, as well as the machine itself, must be made after December 1984 (x8412xxxxx) because the attaching lug for the Classic Omega/III/Tradition speed switch is not present.


 


And also like Thom points out, the other nozzles you're referring to were used depending on the serial number of the machine itself. If the HII in question was made between September and December 1984 (s/n x8409xxxxx to x8412xxxxx), the nozzle casting would not only have wings but also the attaching lugs for the Classic Omega/III/Tradition speed switch (134374/134380); if built between December 1984 and March 1985 (s/n x8412xxxxx to x8503xxxxx) then that lug on the back of the nozzle casting for the older machines' speed switch was removed.


 


Here's my small HII nozzle (this one was made in September 1985)... mine too lacks the Classic Omega speed switch attaching lug.


 


~Ben