KIRBY AVALIR

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I'm with Alex on this one...

I dread the day that the above machine is the new Kirby. That thing looks nothing like a Kirby. I hope the new machine is the 505, Classic 1CR, and the G3. That is to say it's a true Kirby with the traditional design, just with enhanced features and capabilities. IMHO, the above drawing looks like the offspring of a Hoover Elite and a Eureka model M.
 
Hi sonnydad.

Having this in the back of my mind, but fortunately, no recolection of the what it looked like, had me going crazy. I recall thinking "if that monstrosity I saw in the V.C.C.C. forum in 09 is the new Kirby, I'm in big trouble!"

I hid it well on the factory tour, but was terrorfied. No commnts from Kirby top brass, or seeing the lower section of the factory had me sweating.

The last months were brutal, the not knowing, the waiting, and my mind in overdrive. My housemate finally asked "why is a new vacuum cleaner making you crazy?" I couldn't say what I thought. "That the Kirby as I know it is gone," as he's not interested in vacuum cleaners. I was resigned to the fact that my Classic 111, and G-4 were my last Kirby's.

Then I saw the Avalir, and breathed a sigh of relief. But still didn't believe it, thought this was a hoax, computer genorated pictures, and actually sent a message to Morgan to confirm that the Avalir was the new Kirby.

Now it seems so stupid, waisting years brooding over, as my housemate said, "a vacuum cleaner." But Kirby, like my Electrolux LX, gets in the blood. Only now can I breathe a sigh of relief.
Alex Taber.
 
But you must remember,

That this base model has been used for 25 years. The Generation series is the longest running series of Kirbys ever. The 500 series ran for 24 years, and the Classic series for 19 years. The Avalir is still just a rebadged Sentria. We just have to hope and pray that the new series, whenever it arrives, will carry Kirby's tradition of Quality, Reliability, and Performance.

sonnyndad-2014102919084505239_1.jpg

sonnyndad-2014102919084505239_2.jpg
 
brushroll question

Is the brushroll still wooden like on the sentria 2 or does it have a steel brushroll with replaceable brush strips as another improvement? I love the other improvements of my favorite modern brand overall.
 
Hi 201hoover700

As far as I recall the brushroll is a new design. It's made by the Cleveland Wood Products, a division of Scott & Fetzer.

When we were there for the convention saw that brushroll, and they made a joke about it, as we were not supposed to see it. C.W.P. also makes the bags, that we did not see.

We were told this new Kirby has been in the planning stage for 5 years, and C.W.P. worked hand in hand with the Kirby company.

That's all I know, but yes it is a new design.
Alex Taber.
 
Question of 2006 patent.

Reply 137, shows the 'Kirby of the future.' (God, I hope not!)

So here's the question. First drawing is the upright design with replacement bag for handvac unit, which I actually like, Then the 'power nozzle with hose, and cord. Why? what's the point? if the upright already has a brushroll, hopefully with Triple Cousion Vibration, Safty Switch, and so on, isn't the p.n. utterly useless? And I have to admit the hose set up isn't that bad, or at least tolerable! but as I said earlier, no mini-em-tor? I'd be very dissapointed with that change!

I know nothing of the Avalir other than the few pictures I've seen here, so it's too soon to judge one way or another. However, as listed in an other of my posts, I like what little I see, but tell me please, what is that paint roller thing? a waxer, or part of that new tile cleaner set up?

Certainly it's too early for data on the Kirby homepage. The Avalir hasn't made it there yet. As for my getting one? I'd love it, but living on a fixed income, not likely.

For me, the great thing is that the new design is NOT what's in the patent. And hopefully never will be. At least not in my lifetime!
Alex Taber.
 
2006 Patent

What is it made of? I would hope it's not plastic. I wouldn't imagine that the feature where the whole handle & bag set up comes off would be very stable.
 
2006 patent

"PN utterly useless?"--Perhaps,UNLESS you keep 2 strong men around to lift beds and sofas when cleaning under OR have a 1949 Singer twin fan that with a touch of the trigger on back of hand grip will lower the entire vac to about 4 inches after cleaning the rest of room(with a self adjusting brush).And after cleaning a touch of the second button on front of handle will retract cord and leave the plug at the top where it can easily be reached next time(unlike the new deluxe Hoovers!).
"no mini emptor"--We are at a time that a Kirby without a mini emptor is like a car without a running board if the Kirby is to be updated for today in the manner that the familiar VW Beetle has had 2 updated versions very much for today with great colors.
"paint roller thing?"--This resembles the roller from the 60s & 70s for hard floors and seems to show the Kirby knows more homes have more hard floors even as they continue the same rug/floor tool.This tool has 4 rollers that often become dirty and sticky picking up grit that then is rolled around what may be fine and expensive floors.Also the hard plastic bottom and 1 bristle strip that should be compared to other floor tools almost anyone here would have.In recent years Rainbow went from a good floor brush to a much better one.Almost any central vac att kit fl br is better than Kirby has ever had for nice hard floors.The fit all floor brushes that are in any vac part catalog are better than Kirby and many are based in Ohio.Maybe Kirby should have a truckload delivered to truly upgrade hard floor care!
"plastic"--The bottom half of the Sentria motor unit is already made of a quality plastic that can not have color scrape off and seems to have no problems.
 
Improvements I wish Kirby would make

I use Kirby machines all the time and love them. I'm glad they didn't make the new Kirby into a machine that isn't really a Kirby. Two things I wish Kirby would do, and apparently haven't in this new model, are to sound-insulate the motor unit a lot better and to produce a really good microfiber wood and marble floor tool. I think those two things would make people more willing to use that hose that makes the Kirby so versatile. Doesn't seem like either should be that difficult.
 
"wood and marble floor tool"-"that difficult&#34

Yes!Kirby is a great upright and NOT the best choice to vacuum nice hard floors.The last time I walked past vacs at WalMart I saw-1 Dyson,1 bag vac(Bissell),no canisters(unless you count small Black & Decker with hoses)and a Dirt Devil stick vac at about $50 that would be easier and BETTER to vacuum a hard floor than Kirby(or many others).Take a look.Perhaps Kirby engineers could find a museum that could show them the floor att for the SweeperVac of about 1925 with the dust mop on bottom!Or take a business trip to Europe and see their miles of hard floors and the Miele (and other)floor tools that clean them!!
 
Hi rugsucker.

Go to reply 137. Seems that the Kirby has the main upright nozzle AND a power nozzel, why? Hose, wands and surface floor tool have gone under beds for decades!

Only if the idea was one or the other! A mini power nozzle on the end of a hose was a great idea, remember the turbo tool? but an electric hose/power nozzle and Triple coution Vibration seems a bit of overkill!

Actually it's a mute point, the thing in that patend was NOT used, so no problem. I only thought it looked a bit odd.
 
Hi rugsucker.

Seems that paint roller thing IS a new version of the Handi-Waxer that went with the Kirby Classic, and Classic Omega.

New surprizes every day for a while.

And as a man who has had hard floors all my life, the Kirby Mirical Head does a great job, and the machine in canister mode? awesome!
 
Hi KirbyClassic111

I'm sure that even if that patent had been made, Kirby parts would still be available. But I for one can breathe easy and sleep at night again without nightmares.

Alex Taber.
 
I am KRAZY about

Vacuums but they don't control my life like that Alex no vacuum would ever interrupt my sleep or my life .

Just know that one day Kirby will change the machine TOTALLY it WILL happen and I will sleep and go on with my life as if nothing ever happened .

A total redesign Kirby is out there ...

Dan
 
re new Kirby...

My take is a Kirby is a true mans vacuum....., I have never seen a woman yet that didnt have troubles with the day to day usage of them, for anything other than a big open carpeted space they are awkward and inconvienent...that said, they are well built, and high quality....in reality, im just not impressed by anything new, a new Kirby up thru a D-80, yes, great lightweight, manuverable, after 1970...heavy and too big!
 
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