frkirby511
Well-known member
- Joined
- Aug 31, 2006
- Messages
- 210
I have to say that probably Kirby is my favorite vacuum too. I say that because if I had to choose one vacuum to keep from my whole collection it would have to be a Kirby. If I were stranded on a desert island [provided there was electricity] I would want a Kirby. [I'm not sure for what reason, but surely there would be some attachment in the whole lot that one could fine useful there.]
Currently I use a G-6 and a Legend I [with small rug nozzle] for cleaning the house.
In my collection I have:
I-C
505
511
517
519
561
Dual 50
Classic Omega
Heritage
Legend
Legend II
G-6
In cleaning I combine the older style attachments from the Legend with the new attachments from the G-6. I keep them together and find that using them together provides the maximum versatility.
Now mind you I also have a very dear spot for Electrolux and Hoover and Compact. Sales of the Model 1205 and Model L Electrolux during 4 years of college provided a great job that was flexible in time scheduling and could be done both during the school year in Worcester, MA and during summer at home in Scranton, PA. Not to mention when I was growing up our neighbor's Model XXX regularly cleaned our home until my mom finally purchased our very own Model 62 Hoover. I remember so well the purr of the Model XXX and the "sw...ooosh" of the rug nozzle when you turned it over, using the concentrator to attack a piece of lint that clung stubbornly to the oriental carpet in our living room. And I still use an Epic 6500 to do some of the cleaning in our home.
And Hoovers are a huge nostalgia trip because not only my mother but my grandmother and neighbors had Hoovers -- Model 725; Model 28; my mom's model 62 and then Convertable 69; and a neighbor's Constellation 84 with accompanying Citation. And these were all great vacuum cleaners. And I use a Convertable for daily once -over vacuuming.
But none of them was as fascinating as my Aunt Irene's Kirby 517 when it arrived with all those attachments. The whole damn thing came apart and could morph into all these different types of cleaning devices. I was totally taken by it.
I have to say that, honestly, the 517 didn't clean a rug as well as my mom's Model 62 and later her Convertable. But the Kirby was a lot more fun.
And I have to agree with an earlier post that the Classic, Classic Omega and Classic III with their huge rug nozzles were the worst design of all Kirbys ever made. But then this was the 70's so I'm consolled that this was also the era that produced double knit and the leisure suit!!! In any case, as far as I'm concerned there was nothing redeeming about these models and I have one in my collection only for continuity's sake.
But once everybody got past this age [whatever it was] the Heritage started back to reason by making available the original style smaller rug nozzle. And then...the Legend came along.
Whatever they did to it...it was not only fun, not only did it have all these parts...they actually worked well. The rug shampooer really did a great job. The floor buffer [which was always pretty good] was excellent. And the thing could clean very, very well.
Now I have to admit, I was very skeptical when I first laid eyes on the G series. I was not at all warmed by the new attachments. So it took a long time for me to consider getting one of the G series models. But one of my friends had a G-4 and I used it one day and to my surprise -- it really did clean a carpet exceptionally well --- and it was so easy to push on this very plush carpeting. So I eventually I picked up a g-6. But I never got over the attachemnts. So I combine them with my Legend attachments because there some of the newer ones I like and others not. Yet even with the change made with the G series, there is still an enormous continuity from one generation to the next with Kirby that is not found in any other vacuum except perhaps...Electrolux until they sold out. Honestly I think they have stayed with a certain technology and have done their best to continue to improve it without fooling around with it's basic lines and structure.
So ...the Kirby wins hands down for me. Ad Multos Annos!!!
Bruce Cinquegrani
Memphis
Currently I use a G-6 and a Legend I [with small rug nozzle] for cleaning the house.
In my collection I have:
I-C
505
511
517
519
561
Dual 50
Classic Omega
Heritage
Legend
Legend II
G-6
In cleaning I combine the older style attachments from the Legend with the new attachments from the G-6. I keep them together and find that using them together provides the maximum versatility.
Now mind you I also have a very dear spot for Electrolux and Hoover and Compact. Sales of the Model 1205 and Model L Electrolux during 4 years of college provided a great job that was flexible in time scheduling and could be done both during the school year in Worcester, MA and during summer at home in Scranton, PA. Not to mention when I was growing up our neighbor's Model XXX regularly cleaned our home until my mom finally purchased our very own Model 62 Hoover. I remember so well the purr of the Model XXX and the "sw...ooosh" of the rug nozzle when you turned it over, using the concentrator to attack a piece of lint that clung stubbornly to the oriental carpet in our living room. And I still use an Epic 6500 to do some of the cleaning in our home.
And Hoovers are a huge nostalgia trip because not only my mother but my grandmother and neighbors had Hoovers -- Model 725; Model 28; my mom's model 62 and then Convertable 69; and a neighbor's Constellation 84 with accompanying Citation. And these were all great vacuum cleaners. And I use a Convertable for daily once -over vacuuming.
But none of them was as fascinating as my Aunt Irene's Kirby 517 when it arrived with all those attachments. The whole damn thing came apart and could morph into all these different types of cleaning devices. I was totally taken by it.
I have to say that, honestly, the 517 didn't clean a rug as well as my mom's Model 62 and later her Convertable. But the Kirby was a lot more fun.
And I have to agree with an earlier post that the Classic, Classic Omega and Classic III with their huge rug nozzles were the worst design of all Kirbys ever made. But then this was the 70's so I'm consolled that this was also the era that produced double knit and the leisure suit!!! In any case, as far as I'm concerned there was nothing redeeming about these models and I have one in my collection only for continuity's sake.
But once everybody got past this age [whatever it was] the Heritage started back to reason by making available the original style smaller rug nozzle. And then...the Legend came along.
Whatever they did to it...it was not only fun, not only did it have all these parts...they actually worked well. The rug shampooer really did a great job. The floor buffer [which was always pretty good] was excellent. And the thing could clean very, very well.
Now I have to admit, I was very skeptical when I first laid eyes on the G series. I was not at all warmed by the new attachments. So it took a long time for me to consider getting one of the G series models. But one of my friends had a G-4 and I used it one day and to my surprise -- it really did clean a carpet exceptionally well --- and it was so easy to push on this very plush carpeting. So I eventually I picked up a g-6. But I never got over the attachemnts. So I combine them with my Legend attachments because there some of the newer ones I like and others not. Yet even with the change made with the G series, there is still an enormous continuity from one generation to the next with Kirby that is not found in any other vacuum except perhaps...Electrolux until they sold out. Honestly I think they have stayed with a certain technology and have done their best to continue to improve it without fooling around with it's basic lines and structure.
So ...the Kirby wins hands down for me. Ad Multos Annos!!!
Bruce Cinquegrani
Memphis
