Hi fellow vacuum fans,
Just wanted to share a story with you all.
Last Christmas, I visited a Kirby store and the owner had a pretty incredible collection of vintage Kirbys, all restored. Some of the highlights of his collection included a Kirby Model R--yes, the only Kirby model ever sold in retail stores and also the only one to feature a switch on the handle--and a Wireless Vacuette, which he let me use. There were many other antique Kirbys, but I can't recognize all of them in the pictures. Also present was a very antique Eureka (not pictured).
The owner of the store said he held a contest that whoever could bring in the oldest Kirby could swap for a brand new one, and all of this was what he got. A pretty impressive turnout, I'd say.
Since he has quite a history with the company, I asked him about the prototype Generation 3s--the ones with the Heritage II coloring. The gentleman said he remembered seeing them when they were fresh and that he had the opportunity to use one. The one he used is still with Kirby but is somewhere in California.
I had a great time talking vacuums with him and wound up buying a couple of parts for my own G5.
Enjoy the pictures!
Just wanted to share a story with you all.
Last Christmas, I visited a Kirby store and the owner had a pretty incredible collection of vintage Kirbys, all restored. Some of the highlights of his collection included a Kirby Model R--yes, the only Kirby model ever sold in retail stores and also the only one to feature a switch on the handle--and a Wireless Vacuette, which he let me use. There were many other antique Kirbys, but I can't recognize all of them in the pictures. Also present was a very antique Eureka (not pictured).
The owner of the store said he held a contest that whoever could bring in the oldest Kirby could swap for a brand new one, and all of this was what he got. A pretty impressive turnout, I'd say.
Since he has quite a history with the company, I asked him about the prototype Generation 3s--the ones with the Heritage II coloring. The gentleman said he remembered seeing them when they were fresh and that he had the opportunity to use one. The one he used is still with Kirby but is somewhere in California.
I had a great time talking vacuums with him and wound up buying a couple of parts for my own G5.
Enjoy the pictures!
