Kirby Question

[tyson]

I was wondering if anyone can tell me is this 1-CR that I found equipped with the original bag? I have a second bag as well that is rosewood in color with small print Kirby on it.Witch is witch?I also just ran across an Omega Classic from the early 70's as well and my question is what were the big changes they did to the machines on the Omega besides the light cover being different that made them possibly a better machine?Again sorry about the camera spots.I'm working on getting a new camera that takes better pics.

 

[tyson]

early 70s Omega as found I plan on restoring this one maybe too.

 

[tyson]

Rosewood bag that originally came on the 1-CR in the pic.Does it belong with the 1-CR?Someone told me that it could be a replacement bag and didn't come with the 1-CR.

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

@tyson
The avocado green bag with the green Kirby ovals is from the Dual Sanitronic 80.

The Classic 1-CR's original bag is gold in color and had an orange patch on the front of it that says "Kirby Classic." The bag cap and bag guard are both chocolate brown in color.

The Classic Omega bag was also once gold in color (up to around December 1973). After January 1974, the bag became coffee brown in color and changed to a pinstriped jean fabric. Around January 1975 through to end of production in June 1976, the bag, while still coffee brown, was of a vinyl diamondback fabric (a la the Royal 880 bag from 1971-1987).

~Ben

 

[tyson]

Thanks Ben,I do have the gold bag with the Kirby Classic and it also has the horseshoe on it and is more like jean fabric that bag originally came with the Omega and the other bag is a pinkish color with brownish ovals was on the 1 CR.One more thing what product would do the best job on cleaning these up?The silver polish?or would that hurt the finish.I know you would be the one to ask with your knowledge and experience.I appreciate the help.

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

@tyson
That tannish bag with the ovals, then, would be a replacement bag for the Dual Sanitronic 50 and other older Kirbys. Originally, the DS50's bag was also tan, but the Kirby ovals were spaced closer like the original Sanitronic 562/VII bag that had the close-spaced Kirby circle pattern.

~Ben

 

[vac_whisperer]

Well could we see another pic of the bag, looking at the patch this time?


Otherwise it looks pretty original.

 

[tyson]

Ok Ben Thank you then it is a replacement bag that was on the 1CR when I found it.The other bag that I put on the 1CR does belong with only the Omega then or was the Classic's bag the same?Her'es a pic of the Patch of the gold bag.

 

[truckerx]

Your CR-1 Omega has the original bag...Yay!!

 

[truckerx]

let me further elaborate - you CR-1 Omega in the first photo has the correct original bag.

 

[tyson]

Yay!!! Super! I have the right bag!Thank's so much.I was hoping it did!I want to completely go thru the 1 CR although it runs and picks up great.I'm not sure if I like the 1CR better than the Omega.I've looked them both over and there's something about the omega that seems like it's a much bigger vac.I don't know if it's me or if the Omega had a lot of changes made to it.I know I like the ribbed light guard on the front verses the smooth one on the 1 CR.plus I looked at the Omega and the light guard and the way its designed makes it look to be a much bigger vac.

 

[vac_whisperer]

Yay! Correct bag.

 

[lillylux]

That takes me back! When the Omega came out we got the first ones and they had a chemical composition in the bag that was to make filtration more complete while allowing maximum air movement...it was the first Kirby bag to have polymers in the construction. The problem was that the polymers in the fabric had a bad reaction to the dust which caused corosion on the spring that held the bag onto the sani-emptor. What would happen is that our customer would be vacuuming and all of a sudden the bag would blow off the machine! We had many, many irate customers returning covered with dust and holding de-bagged machines! Well, Scott-Fetzer acted quickly and sent us special "C" clamps which repaired the blown bags. They fit snuggly under the rubber collar over the emptor. Your machine is a very nice Classic. I liked them better than omega's....fewer burn-outs.

 

[tyson]

Thank you,I never knew they made a chemical composition bag for the Omega but then again I'm still learning about the Kirby's of yesterday and that's interesting.I bet they were mad about it when it happened during a demonstration.My 1 CR seems to be in pretty good conditions with no scratches on the nozzle and still picks up really good.I like the looks of the Omega though too.I worked pretty hard on the 1 CR bringing it back as when I found her at a local thrift shop she looked more like the Omega in the pics."Pretty old and Tired"I did some work to her and a good internal cleaning she runs as good as she looks.It's funny how you said about the problem with the bag because the Old Omega had alot of white build up where the bag attaches.When I put a little CLR on a rag it cleaned the opening where the bag fit on pretty nice and now it stays on without a problem.So maybe it was one of the one's you were speaking of.Thank you for the compliments.I've worked hard on my 1 CR to get it back to looking and running so well.I would love to see some of your favorite vacs sometimes as well. Your friend Tyson

 

[tyson]

Thank you,I never knew they made a chemical composition bag for the Omega but then again I'm still learning about the Kirby's of yesterday and that's interesting.I bet they were mad about it when it happened during a demonstration.My 1 CR seems to be in pretty good conditions with no scratches on the nozzle and still picks up really good.I like the looks of the Omega though too.I worked pretty hard on the 1 CR bringing it back as when I found her at a local thrift shop she looked more like the Omega in the pics."Pretty old and Tired"I did some work to her and a good internal cleaning she runs as good as she looks.It's funny how you said about the problem with the bag because the Old Omega had alot of white build up where the bag attaches.When I put a little CLR on a rag it cleaned the opening where the bag fit on pretty nice and now it stays on without a problem.So maybe it was one of the one's you were speaking of.Thank you for the compliments.I've worked hard on my 1 CR to get it back to looking and running so well.I would love to see some of your favorite vacs sometimes as well. Your friend Tyson

 

[jfalberti]

I hate to be a stick in the mud but ...

the machine in the first picture is a Kirby Classic model 1-CR. The original bag for it was gold in color with a patch that read "Kirby Classic". The close up of the gold bag has a patch that reads "Kirby Classic" with an upside down horse shoe (Omega symbol). The bag pictured is an original Classic Omega bag (Classic Omega model 1-CB) It would go with the second Kirby you have pictured. As a matter of fact, if you look at the belt lifter on the second Kirby, you will see that it also has the Omega symbol (upside down horse shoe) on it.

 

[tyson]

Thank's I was able to put the bag with the Omega.I need to try to find a bag that is original for the 1 CR now.I plan on going through the Omega as well.I'll have to keep a lookout for the original bag for the 1 CR as well.Thanks again

 

[normvac]

Joe, your on top of the problem !

Tyson
Joe has got you on the correct track. There are gold org. Classic bags out there.
I just had a Kirby Classic Factory Rebuilt 2 years ago. It came back with a brand new gold cloth bag. Minus the Patch !
So Gold Classic Bags found in the future, will be Kirby Org. factory Replacements. Just to confuse the issue in the years and decades to come !
Just my 2 cents for what it's worth ! LOL !
Norm

 

[JHGVac]

Hey Tyson,

If you need a set of attachments for your Omega, there is a set for local pickup in Toledo listed on that auction site that no one has bid on yet. Do a search for seller "mnmestatesaless" and you should find it.

Joe