I don't know the exact date the Classic 111 was first built, but I do know the date it was introduced to the public because I bought one of the first. Kirby introduced it the second week of June, 1976 to coincide with the nations 200th birthday. Kirby also went with it's standard color of candy apple red. The Classic 111 ran until the end of 1979, when it was replaced with the Tradition which came out in late September. I was working as a replacement training manager for Pacific Coast Kirby, in San Diego at the time, and the first Traditions had a locking mechanism on the headlight hood. Kirby quickly dropped that idea when sales were lost due to the difficulty we salesmen had with the headlight when demoing the machine. It was also the first time Kirby went with blue as a primary color. I hope this helps pinpoint the dates of these Kirby models.
Actually, the Tradition was originally launched during June 1979. I know, because four years ago there was an eBay auction of this vacuum (with a Classic III bag on it!) that was delivered to its original owner on July 21, 1979. It was serial no. F116862.
I'm wondering if the Pacific Northwest states (including Oregon and Washington State) didn't get their Kirby Traditions in until after the change of speed switch, in early 1980? I'd like to think they had some early Traditions prior to that date, but the original headlight-mounted speed switch on the earlier models was not well-received by most customers.
Anything could have happened to that over the years, with all the traits that you mention.
BTW, this is also for Alex (caligula) to answer: were any of the Tradition shipments you've witnessed come with blue suction relief vents on the rug nozzles (especially the ones that had the speed switch engagement pin)?
I found the information below yesterday and thought I would share -- I would like to give credit to someone else but dont want to drop a name, just know I got the info from another source and am sharing just to share.
Dual Sanitronic '50' (April 1965 - August 1967)
A= April 1965 - May 1966
B= June - December 1966
D= January - August 1967
Dual Sanitronic '80' (September 1967 - Late 1969)
A= September 1967 - May 1968
No letter used in serial number after May 1968
Classic 1-CR (January 1970 - June 1973)
R= January - June 1970
S= July - December 1970
T= January - December 1971
A= January - August 1972
B= September 1972 - June 1973
Classic Omega 1-CB (July 1973 - June 1976)
M= July - December 1973 (Gold Bag)
N= January - September 1974 (Pinstriped Bag)
P= October 1974 - September 1975 (Diamondback Bag)
R= September 1975 - June 1976 (Diamondback Bag)
Classic III 2-CB (July 1976 - June 1979)
A= July - December 1976
B= January - July 1977
C= July - December 1977
D= January 1978 - August 1978
E= September 1978 - June 1979
Tradition 3-CB (July 1979 - August 1981)
F= July 1979 - February 1980
G= March 1980 - February 1981
H= March - August 1981
Mine was never factory rebuilt. It still has the original tag on the motor shell. It sounds great also. A rebuild is way down the road for this Tradition.
I'm also growing very fond of the blue color and chrome belt lifter on this one. The Dual 80 is getting jealous!
On eBay (item # 161130742739) and it's serial number is F512059. According to above, it was made between July 79 to February 80. By the pictures, it looks like a newer build than that. Anyone have any thoughts?
when I was buying mine on ebay. The thing that caught my eye was that none of the wheels had hubcaps. I considered buying it, but it was more than I wanted to pay, and I don't need anymore attachments.
Your Tradition was made after the headlight locking cap and headlight mounted safety switch was discontinued (after serial number F500000), so there would have never been a post on the nozzle. All Tradition and even some Heritage nozzle castings had that little stump. It just appears that there is a little less tarnish on that area.
You're right. After seeing a few used Tradition rug nozzles on Ebay, a few had the post which was located at the very front of the raised surface. I thought mine was ground off but what looks like a grind mark is too far back.