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alkirbyguy

Active member
Joined
Oct 9, 2012
Messages
29
Hi Vacuumland! My name is Kevin Atchley, I'm 21 years old, and I live in a small town called Arab, Alabama. I am a CIS major in college. I have been fascinated by vacuums since I was three years old. Kirby's are my thing, and I have photos of my current collection in my photo album. I have had tons of cheap-o vacuums through the years, but over the past year I have started seriously collecting and restoring Kirby's. I have learned so many new skills through this hobby! I just wanted to say hello to everyone, and I hope to continue learning more with the help of this forum.

Again, check out my collection photos, and I hope to make some new friends!

-Kevin Atchley
alkirbyguy
 
Kevin

Welcome to VacuumLand! I looked at your collection, and you have some BEAUTIFUL machines! I love that Sentria, and that was the SCORE of the century!!! I'm sure you'll fit right in here, you will find some of the most knowlegable, friendliest folk on this site!

Steve
s31463221
 
Steve s31463221

Thanks so much Steve! I put ALOT of work into them. Most of them looked like they were used to vacuum the lawn! The DS50 actually had mud in it.

Have a great day!
Kevin
 
Kevin........

<span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">Welcome to the group. </span>


<span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">You are among the nicest, kindest, most knowledgeable people on earth!</span>


<span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">Enjoy!</span>


<span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;"> </span>


<span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">Greg F.</span>
 
Hi

Hi Kevin, Welcome to the group. I'm sure you will fit in well here. There's lots of us on here that love Kirby's:o)
You have a great collection and I'm sure your will grow even bigger in no time at all. You've done a great job of polishing up your Kirby's. It's always nice to see Kirby's nice,clean and polished:o)

If you would like to look at some of my Kirby's on my website as I'm a massive Kirby fan...

http://www.mrvacuumcleaner.co.uk/page4.htm

James:o)
 
Thanks Everyone!

Thanks to everyone for the warm welcome! So good to see that this isn't a dead forum like so many I have been a member of before. From what I have read so far scrounging around the forum is that everyone is helpful, knowledgeable, and respectful.

To KirbyClassicIII: the logo came off when I laundered the bag :-( I was very upset about it! I knew it was a Royal All-Metal Upright. I just looked closer and the model number is 887. Could you tell me what year it is? The serial number is E87A002003.

Thanks!
Kev
 
Welcome Aboard!

Hi Kevin, Welcome to the forum. You'll find all types on here. Some love only Hoover, some love only Kirby, myself I'm a power head canister guy!! I see your current collection doesn't list any, but have you owned any canister vacuums over the years? Do you like any other brands besides Kirby?

Overall everyone on here works to help each other out. We laugh, joke and get serious about our vacuum experiences, stories and knowledge at the same time!!

I'm a just turned 30 year old in PA, so 21 isn't that far of a jump!
 
Durango159

My childhood vacuum was a red and white FairFax canister. We sold it for pennies on the dollar before I started collecting. What a mistake that was! It had the shampooer and everything! My grandmother had a Kenmore canister when I was little. I would like to find a Rainbow or a nice vintage Lux. I've just had Kirby's thrust at me the past few months so they have taken priority. I like all vintage vacs though!
 
Kevin

You have a 1987 model. The date code on the nameplate you found indicates it was built in May 1987.

The model # also suggests this machine originally came with attachments, too (they were blue in color to match the machine's trim). Model 886 was similar but did not have the attachment set included.

~Ben
 
The Royal

Aww I wish I had the attachments! I got the Royal when I went to pick up the Kirby DS50. When I got there, he had it sitting beside the Kirby and he asked if I was interested buying it too. He wanted $25 for the Kirby, and when I asked how much he wanted for both, he said $30! So home with me it went!
 
That Classic III looks great. I've been using Mother's Mag Polish on mine, but your Kirby looks brand new!
 
WOW!!!Another Kirby Guy-I love Kirbys,too,they were my "childhood" vacuum when I was born in 1951-Welcome to the club,Kevin!!Very nice and well maintained Kirby collection.Usually if you like Kirbys,you will like Royal metals,too.I like both and own both.I am on the lookout for a Kirby 511 in good shape with tools,but haven't found one.My Mom recalls when she and my Dad bought it from a DTD salesman when I was a baby.
 
Welcome Kevin! Very nice collection, and looks well maintained. I too am a Kirby guy. I was a Kirby salesman from 1981-88,,got in on the last of the Traditions, and quit just before the Legend 2 came out.
Its nice to see machines like yours that are kept in buffed up condition.

My daily driver is a 1973 Factory Rebuilt Kirby Classic Omega, with a 4 row brush roll, and a Heritage 2 Mini Emptor and bag, with a G series bag adaptor so that i can use the G series Hepa Bags. Its a cleaning beast!

I have owned practically every Kirby from the DS50 on at one time or another.
Either sold, or gave away (to friends and family) all the other Kirbys.
Now all i have is the Classic Omega, DS50, and a Heritage 2 Legend, like yours.

Im also a huge Electrolux and Filter Queen fan, and certain other cannister with PN machines. I also have Central Vac in the house.
Wish i had room for a large collection, but i have every machine i want, so no complaints here.
Again, welcome to the club!
 
mieles7

I've tried multiple off the shelf polishes and they just didn't get that Kirby shine we all love. The only way I have found to get that shine is with a high speed buffing wheel using a cleaning compound followed by a high gloss compound. It is a lot of work... I'm always drenched in sweat when I'm done... but the results are excellent.
 
Welcome Kevin!!

Those are some nice Kirbys you have there, and a nice Royal too! Although I have more Hoovers, Royals, and Electro-Hygienes in my collection than anything else, I do love Kirbys too, and have 7 of them. My oldest is a 512, and newest (and most complete) is a Classic III with the Heritage II bag conversion. I also have a 517, 2 D-50's, a D-80, and a Classic. It's a tossup between the D-50 and the Classic III as to which one is my favorite. Here's a pic of my Classic III. Again, welcome!
Jeff

hygiene903++10-13-2012-22-31-58.jpg
 
Kirby 511 in excellent condition

Hello everyone, I am glad to see that people appreciate quality. I have a Kirby 511 that is in excellent condition with original attachments and original box for the attachments. I am about to put it on eBay or craigslist in Houston, but wanted to see if someone would be interested in it that would appreciate it. Thanks

houston++10-14-2012-15-51-11.jpg
 
Kevin

They say good things come to those who wait....I didn't quite get the deal you did, but I came across a Sentria in great shape with all of the attachments for $50 on Craigslist today! I called the guy, he still has it and I told him to consider it sold! I'll post pics of it on Sunday or Monday after I pick it up! Hope you're still enjoying the site!
 
Welcome Kevin

I just looked at your pictures and they are fantastic!

A lot of us started out as kids. I was only 2 0r 3 when I saw an Electrolux eject the dust bag. The magazine ad for this was the vacuum of the day last week. To a young boy, this was very funny and it began a lifelong interest in vacuum cleaners.

My main interest is the non electric pumpers of the late 1800's. The oldest vacuum is called the Whirlwind, it was invented by Ives W. Mc'Gaffy who lived in Chicago. It was patented on June 8, 1869, and manufactured by the American Carpet Cleaning Company of Boston. There are only a few of these, most were lost in the great Chicago fire of 1871! I have one, and it is a wonderful addition to my collection.

I favor the early Kirby, and Electrolux models that date back to the 1920's and 30's. I was also a training manager for Kirby from 1975 - 1985.

My interest is mostly history, and I know a lot about the lives of James B. Kirby, and Axle L. Wenner-Gren who started Electrolux in 1910.

As I said you have a great collection, but I have some advice. Change the way you have the cords. I see that they are in a figure 8 pattern, that is very bad for the cords. Also, when you wind the cord, keep it loose otherwise there is a lot of stress on the wires inside.

Feel free to contact me if you want to learn the history of the club, early machines or various brands.

Glad you are with us.

Alex Taber
co-founder of the VCCC.
 

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