machineage
Member
Thanks guys - I hope you enjoy the photo's
All the best - Chris.
All the best - Chris.
MINT Kirby Classic III on EBay UK
- Thread starter madabouthoovers
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madabouthoovers
Well-known member
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- Aug 14, 2012
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I was sorely tempted by this, and indeed it was worth every penny of £375, but I like to use my cleaners, and the one deal breaker on this was that it wasn't able to be used with paper bags - this is possibly why Kirby's older than the Tradition (1979 - 1981) hardly ever appear for sale on EBay.
Had it have been a mint Tradition, or Heritage, and the fact that I live very near you Chris, I would have been seriously tempted. I already have a H1 that I cleaned up myself, but it is nowhere near the beauty that your Classic III is. But the Classic 3 is just so perfect I would have been afraid to use it, rather just look at it and admire it.
I will be looking out for any future resto's you do, and if finances permit, may buy one from you, dependent on price.
Keep up the good work!
Had it have been a mint Tradition, or Heritage, and the fact that I live very near you Chris, I would have been seriously tempted. I already have a H1 that I cleaned up myself, but it is nowhere near the beauty that your Classic III is. But the Classic 3 is just so perfect I would have been afraid to use it, rather just look at it and admire it.
I will be looking out for any future resto's you do, and if finances permit, may buy one from you, dependent on price.
Keep up the good work!
machineage
Member
Thanks madabouthoovers
It went to a gentleman who used to own one in the past - it will be cared for & used regularly.
I'm currently restoring a Tradition to the same level. I convert the Sani Em-Tors to use a G6+ snap fill tube with either a twist or F style bag top adaptor. This retains the look of the cleaner - but allows it to breathe much better & use the latest polypropylene HEPA bags. I will likely offer the upgrade with this Tradition. I'll post photo's of it once the refurbishment is complete.
Interesting to see so many collectors in the vicinity - must be a Midlands thing
All the best - Chris.
It went to a gentleman who used to own one in the past - it will be cared for & used regularly.
I'm currently restoring a Tradition to the same level. I convert the Sani Em-Tors to use a G6+ snap fill tube with either a twist or F style bag top adaptor. This retains the look of the cleaner - but allows it to breathe much better & use the latest polypropylene HEPA bags. I will likely offer the upgrade with this Tradition. I'll post photo's of it once the refurbishment is complete.
Interesting to see so many collectors in the vicinity - must be a Midlands thing
All the best - Chris.
spiraclean
Well-known member
Chris, that is absolutely amazing. I was astonished at the amount of care and attention that has gone into this, and am really looking forward to seeing what you come up with next. Have to admit I was sorely tempted to go for it myself, but sadly it wouldn't be practical right now as I live in an apartment and just don't have the room to store or use it. Hopefully that will change one day in the not too distant future.
As far as the paper bag question, a Classic III will work quite happily with a Mini Em-Tor, fill tube and cloth outer bag from a Legend II. It's not 100% original of course, but matches closely enough that Kirby themselves often suggest this as an upgrade for those wishing to convert to paper. You can easily switch back and forth between the two bag setups, so it's definitely an option to consider for those who want a vintage cleaner that can be a daily driver as well as a display piece.
As far as the paper bag question, a Classic III will work quite happily with a Mini Em-Tor, fill tube and cloth outer bag from a Legend II. It's not 100% original of course, but matches closely enough that Kirby themselves often suggest this as an upgrade for those wishing to convert to paper. You can easily switch back and forth between the two bag setups, so it's definitely an option to consider for those who want a vintage cleaner that can be a daily driver as well as a display piece.
madabouthoovers
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- Joined
- Aug 14, 2012
- Messages
- 2,351
If the Tradition is to the standards of the Classic III, It should look fantastic. If it is fitted with the paper bag fill tube as mentioned, that would make it very saleable. My H1 has the Sani-emptor with bag tube and type 2 bags, which I can still get, but the Tradition would be nice to have with the facility to use the Hepa bags of later G7 and Sentria models.
The only thing I seem to notice with the Tradition is that many of the original bags have now faded out to a lighter blue than the original, so wonder if you would be dying the bag or using a re-manufactured one?
The tradition is one of the nicer looking Kirbys, in that lovely blue colour, also the Classic Omega is a nice one too, with the wood veneer effect.
Will keep watching for the tradition when it is finished.
The only thing I seem to notice with the Tradition is that many of the original bags have now faded out to a lighter blue than the original, so wonder if you would be dying the bag or using a re-manufactured one?
The tradition is one of the nicer looking Kirbys, in that lovely blue colour, also the Classic Omega is a nice one too, with the wood veneer effect.
Will keep watching for the tradition when it is finished.
dysondestijl
Well-known member
I just got rid of a tradition lol-it was in terrible condition
(video by James aka KirbyModel2C?)
Here's what seems to be a pristine-looking 2CB that has original parts, including its fan.
~Ben
dysondestijl
Well-known member
No this wasn't from kirbymodel2c, it's from a different guy called James on here
Oh, yes, James Sandilands is the one I'm actually referring to.
~Ben
~Ben
dysondestijl
Well-known member
Yup that's him
reo580
Well-known member
That...Is the most beautiful Kirby C-3 I have ever seen!
The Cast Aluminium housings truly shine like chrome!
Excellent work!!
The Cast Aluminium housings truly shine like chrome!
Excellent work!!
beko1987
Well-known member
That is a work of art!! When we get out of this 1 bed flat and into somewhere more spacious I'm dropping you a PM!
rowdy141
Well-known member
"... The only thing I seem to notice with the Tradition is that many of the original bags have now faded out to a lighter blue than the original, so wonder if you would be dying the bag or using a re-manufactured one?"
Madabouthoovers:
The blue Tradition cloth bags weren't a dyed fabric in the conventional sense. It was a superficial pigment added to the surface after manufacture - like the fine powdery coating of dust on butterfly/moth wings. The pigment fell away from the material over time. If the owner ever washed the bag, the pigment bled out straight-away (even with a cold hand-wash) leaving dark blue water and a permanently washed-out bag.
You cannot successfully re-dye Tradition bags. The plasticy/nylon/polyester blend of the fabric will not take new colour dyes permanently. It'll be a slight improvement (+10%), but not much.
Replacement bags are available, but aren't up to original Kirby standards.
They're very,very expensive.
They don't have the same houndstooth pattern. Close, but no cigar.
They're a very loud 'electric-blue' colour. It looks out-of-place.
There's no felt lining strip inside, to seal the zipper.
Raw fabric edges are unfinished white, and look very unsightly.
The top hanger loop is too deep, so bag hangs droopy.
There is no Kirby® Label.
The zips are black nylon - Not blue, not aluminium.
There's no zip-concealment flaps at the sides or top.
I tried dying my original bags. All were virtually unchanged.
So I bought an expensive replacement.
Unpicked and re-made the zipper seams.
Added internal felt flaps - from the original bag.
Re-made topper loop, so bag now hangs properly.
Adjusted the internal loop so it functions now.
Added the Kirby® label from the original bag.
Having done all that; I prefer the look of the original, faded bag, to this modern, gaudy, knock-off.
I'm considering making my own from blue corduroy.
Madabouthoovers:
The blue Tradition cloth bags weren't a dyed fabric in the conventional sense. It was a superficial pigment added to the surface after manufacture - like the fine powdery coating of dust on butterfly/moth wings. The pigment fell away from the material over time. If the owner ever washed the bag, the pigment bled out straight-away (even with a cold hand-wash) leaving dark blue water and a permanently washed-out bag.
You cannot successfully re-dye Tradition bags. The plasticy/nylon/polyester blend of the fabric will not take new colour dyes permanently. It'll be a slight improvement (+10%), but not much.
Replacement bags are available, but aren't up to original Kirby standards.
They're very,very expensive.
They don't have the same houndstooth pattern. Close, but no cigar.
They're a very loud 'electric-blue' colour. It looks out-of-place.
There's no felt lining strip inside, to seal the zipper.
Raw fabric edges are unfinished white, and look very unsightly.
The top hanger loop is too deep, so bag hangs droopy.
There is no Kirby® Label.
The zips are black nylon - Not blue, not aluminium.
There's no zip-concealment flaps at the sides or top.
I tried dying my original bags. All were virtually unchanged.
So I bought an expensive replacement.
Unpicked and re-made the zipper seams.
Added internal felt flaps - from the original bag.
Re-made topper loop, so bag now hangs properly.
Adjusted the internal loop so it functions now.
Added the Kirby® label from the original bag.
Having done all that; I prefer the look of the original, faded bag, to this modern, gaudy, knock-off.
I'm considering making my own from blue corduroy.
rowdy141
Well-known member
"... The only thing I seem to notice with the Tradition is that many of the original bags have now faded out to a lighter blue than the original, so wonder if you would be dying the bag or using a re-manufactured one?"
Madabouthoovers:
The blue Tradition cloth bags weren't a dyed fabric in the conventional sense. It was a superficial pigment added to the surface after manufacture - like the fine powdery coating of dust on butterfly/moth wings. The pigment fell away from the material over time. If the owner ever washed the bag, the pigment bled out straight-away (even with a cold hand-wash) leaving dark blue water and a permanently washed-out bag.
You cannot successfully re-dye Tradition bags. The plasticy/nylon/polyester blend of the fabric will not take new colour dyes permanently. It'll be a slight improvement (+10%), but not much.
Replacement bags are available, but aren't up to original Kirby standards.
They're very,very expensive.
They don't have the same houndstooth pattern. Close, but no cigar.
They're a very loud 'electric-blue' colour. It looks out-of-place.
There's no felt lining strip inside, to seal the zipper.
Raw fabric edges are unfinished white, and look very unsightly.
The top hanger loop is too deep, so bag hangs droopy.
There is no Kirby® Label.
The zips are black nylon - Not blue, not aluminium.
There's no zip-concealment flaps at the sides or top.
I tried dying my original bags. All were virtually unchanged.
So I bought an expensive replacement.
Unpicked and re-made the zipper seams.
Added internal felt flaps - from the original bag.
Re-made topper loop, so bag now hangs properly.
Adjusted the internal loop so it functions now.
Added the Kirby® label from the original bag.
Having done all that; I prefer the look of the original, faded bag, to this modern, gaudy, knock-off.
I'm considering making my own from blue corduroy.
Madabouthoovers:
The blue Tradition cloth bags weren't a dyed fabric in the conventional sense. It was a superficial pigment added to the surface after manufacture - like the fine powdery coating of dust on butterfly/moth wings. The pigment fell away from the material over time. If the owner ever washed the bag, the pigment bled out straight-away (even with a cold hand-wash) leaving dark blue water and a permanently washed-out bag.
You cannot successfully re-dye Tradition bags. The plasticy/nylon/polyester blend of the fabric will not take new colour dyes permanently. It'll be a slight improvement (+10%), but not much.
Replacement bags are available, but aren't up to original Kirby standards.
They're very,very expensive.
They don't have the same houndstooth pattern. Close, but no cigar.
They're a very loud 'electric-blue' colour. It looks out-of-place.
There's no felt lining strip inside, to seal the zipper.
Raw fabric edges are unfinished white, and look very unsightly.
The top hanger loop is too deep, so bag hangs droopy.
There is no Kirby® Label.
The zips are black nylon - Not blue, not aluminium.
There's no zip-concealment flaps at the sides or top.
I tried dying my original bags. All were virtually unchanged.
So I bought an expensive replacement.
Unpicked and re-made the zipper seams.
Added internal felt flaps - from the original bag.
Re-made topper loop, so bag now hangs properly.
Adjusted the internal loop so it functions now.
Added the Kirby® label from the original bag.
Having done all that; I prefer the look of the original, faded bag, to this modern, gaudy, knock-off.
I'm considering making my own from blue corduroy.
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