Kirby Tradition Question...

[mattshaver]

Did the Kirby Tradition (Blue) have an inner bag or did it not? I'm getting ready to restore one. I thought it had an inner bag but it appears to have a near mini-emptor like my D50.

Let me know as I'm a little confused.
Matt

 

[kirbyboy1]

The tradition did have a paper inner bag. It has a oval opening. the earlyest models ahd a latch on teh sides of the headlight hoods. They are very hard to find now. If you need to wash the inside of the bag assembly. You can remove by prying it out witha screwdriver. If you have a hard time getting it back in. Soak it in hot water.

 

[mattshaver]

Then something is wrong...

Or else I'm missing something. I picked up the blue bag from the tradition with the mini-emptor attached and dust and dirt started flowing right out. Could they have not put a bag on or perhaps the replacement outer bag they installed was one without the paper bag lining. Thoughts?

Matt

 

[swingette]

Kirbyboy, the way i understand it, the Tradition offered a CHOICE of shakeout bag or paper. Matt, its very likely your machine did not have the converter and fill tube and was used as the earlier Kirbys were.

 

[em-tor64]

Yes, some traditions had the old style shake out bag...and some were converted with a fill tube and used paper bags.
If the zipper on the bag runs the full length of the bag then that bag should be used with a paper bag and should have a fill tube inside. If the bag only has a small zippered opening with a pocket inside then that is the old style shake out bag.

Good luck with your restoration.....

P.s. if i remember correctly the original sani-emtors, paper and shake out, looked the same.... like the old style polished aluminum emtors, with the door that swings open on the bottom.

 

[mattshaver]

OK, it's the shake out style. Now the 64 thousand dollar question - Can it be converted into the paper bag style and what would that take?

Will work on it restore after I'm done with my Grandma's DS50.

Matt

 

[kirbyboy1]

To cahnge it to a paper bag. You will ahve to buy the whole fill tube or as kirby refers to it as the disposable bag system. That consist of the clear tube the paper bag holder and also base. The base just slides right into the emptor. The emptor should have a small inner ring to hold the base in. I have teh owners manual I can scan it for you.

 

[kirbysanitronic]

is the bag an original kirby bag? if so i have a new tradition outer bag for the paper bags if you would like to trade. for a little $ i could set it up with a fill tube + bag adapter to use the heritage II bags or the more newer micron magic, and the HEPA bags. if you are interested send me a pic of the bag, thanks!

 

[mattshaver]

I don't think it's original

It does not look like an original Kirby bag. From the top of the bag down, it has no Kirby markings or anything. It also does not match up to the picture and looks a lot like a tweed. I'm posting a pict that was sent from the seller. Any thoughts?

 

[swiveltop]

It looks like an Omega or Classic Three with Tradition colors,the belt lifter and hood were different on the Tradition. also the top of the bag and handle are not original

 

[mattshaver]

That's strange...

What would cause this? I just put in a bid for a Tradition that I can pick up. I am noticing the differences as I don't really have a good point of reference. I may get it out this afternoon and put it together - I have not yet. This is very very strange indeed.

Seems like it is an alien Kirby vacuum cleaner. I now have the next plot device for the next Indiana Jones movie. Indiana Jones and the Kirby Brain Suckers...LOL.

Matt

 

[louvac]

Matt:

Here is the deal on the Kirby model Tradition as I know it. I now have six of these models in my collection. It's my favorite model, though many Kirby enthusiasts will wonder why. It appears to me that Kirby created various renditions of any given model over a given period of time. Of the six Traditions I have a few renditions myself. Two are identical and have no suction relief valve atop the rug nozzle. Two others have them, though one is plastic on one and the other one is a thin aluminum disc.

When the Tradition first came out in 1979, it featured the speed control switch combined with the light socket assembly. I wouldn't consider the design a bad one, but I would consider the switch to be of poor quality and design. These models from what I have seen and own, have serial numbers that begin with F20----. There maybe some in the F21---series and/or F19----series perhaps. But two others that I have both have the F20----serial numbers and feature the speed control switch under the visor. There is a small slide control switch that acts as a lock and releases the visor from the locked down position. Soon after Kirby made these models they must have realized or discovered that there was a problem and changed the speed control switch back down to the bottom as in past models. So, another model that I have has the visor with the cut-out for the slide button but there is no button on the visor. So, light emits from it! LOL

Back in 1979, when one purchased a Tradition, he was given the option of the paper bag OR the dump bag assembly. I do not think that both options came with the each machine so that you can "change it" whenever you became tired of one or the other. You chose one or the other and that was the assembly you received. It's possible that they gave you the adapter consisting of the fill tube and Sani-Emptor base plug, but I hardly think that they gave you an extra bag.

Hope this helps.

Louis

 

[kirbysthebest]

This vacuum pictured is not a Tradition

This is a re-done Omega in blue. The tradition only had a bumper stripe across the front of the headlight, it did not go down the middle of the hood, the headlight hood was more square. The cord winder was on the other side of the handle, and the bag hung off center of the handle. The Tradition also had a Visa-belt system for the belt lifter whereas the Omega still used the "Belt is on" "Belt is off. The belt lifter handle was plastic with crome and the clear "visa-belt" in the center.

 

[mattshaver]

Whose to say...

Someone didn't take an Omega body, fit it with a Tradition nozzle, blue bag and emptor and blue handle and there you go. Can you remake a brown Kirby Omega into a Blue Tradition? It's hard to understand why someone would do that...

I'm going to get the serial number out and see what's under the Kirby.

OR

Maybe someone as swapped parts on this one. Whatever the case, I don't think it's a "stock" Kirby Tradition by any means. The bag alone is a dead give away that someone has put on an after market, non-Kirby bag.

It is very difficult knowing this and here poses another question. Does anyone have a "spotters guide" put together for Kirby machines? This would be a gold mine to those who are either looking at machines on eBay or wherever. I have spotter guides of Lincolns of nearly every year.

This is be such a value to those who do not know what the models look like beyond a sign or anything else.

I'm going to pull that Kirby out and get the model and serial number and report it back.

Matt

 

[mattshaver]

Ok here's the scoop....

I took pictures of the nozzle and drive (not sure what to call that) and sure enough the mystery has been solved. It is a Kirby Omega Classic 1-CB that I guess had been restored/redone in blue.

Why did someone redo or try to remake a Kirby Omega Classic into a Tradition? What would be the logic behind that move? I'm confused. Here are those shots though. Read it and weep, a Kirby Classic it is.

 

[mattshaver]

Here's another angle...

from the backside.

 

[mattshaver]

And now the real thing...the serial #

Not on the front left, oh no, on the underside, with the model information (dramatic reverb)!

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Lou,

I've never heard of Tradition rug nozzles having aluminum suction relief vents on them... those were last used on the Dual Sanitronic 50.

~Ben