Moral question about a Kirby Classic III Rebuild

[IL-Kirby-Fan]

Hello,

In 2000 I inherited my grandmother's Kirby Classic III when she passed away unexpectedly. This is the Kirby that I grew up with and loved. As a child whenever I was at my grandparent's house I played with it constantly.

When I first got it I used it for about two years but then got a Kirby G3 and stopped using the Classic III so much. Today I pulled it out of storage and looked it over and it's in need of a good polishing.

After careful inspection I noticed that much of the trim work could stand to be replaced and a few screws on it are not original Kirby screws. A big part of me is wanting to take it to a friend of mine's vacuum repair shop tomorrow and do a major overhaul project on it to totally recondition it. But another part of me is thinking since it's in working order with no problems maybe I should leave it be as this is how it was when my grandma still had it and more than likely she is the one who came up with the replacement screws for it.

I think to myself if she were alive and I was cleaning it up for her I would do my own version of a full factory rebuild on it with all new trim, screws etc to present her with. But then I realize that she's not still here and think maybe it's more respectful to leave it like she had it. What do you all think???

Additionally, I noticed that in the center of the head at the bottom under the rubber bumper there is a 1cm by 1cm chunk of aluminum missing. I have no idea how or when this happened or what to do to fix it. I don't want to replace the original head but need suggestions on how I might fill that in. Any help anyone can offer would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Brad

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Like The Old Saying Goes ...

... if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

~Ben

 

[compactelectra]

Interesting Question

Depending on what your motives are.  I have a Kirby Classic III (one of my favorites) that I bought new in 1976.  Sent it back after light use to Kirby for a rebuild.  They upgraded the bag to disposable and I can use HEPA bags in it and replaced and polished everything.  The attachment caddy is from the Legend series.  Updated is fabulous.  It was like Christmas in July when it came back from Cleveland.  They don't use the original color anymore (everything now is black) so if you want it to be original, it will take a bit more work.  I have to think that you would want to restore it back to the day she had it delivered.  What a tribute.


 


Fred

 

[IL-Kirby-Fan]

Hi Fred

Yeah in the past couple years Kirby has started using a lot of black replacement trim and pieces. I would do the rebuild myself...I would trust Kirby too as I love the Kirby Company but with it being my Grandma's Kirby it won't leave my presence long enough to go to Cleveland and back. I did check into the factory rebuild. I will do the recon myself and of course all of the trim will be in original red. A good friend of mine and his partner own a vacuum repair shop and they'd bought out the inventory of the old Kirby service center in the area when that couple retired so I have access to everything I would need and would be able to make it look just like the day it was new out of the box.

 

[IL-Kirby-Fan]

Question for you Fred...

With Kirby upgrading the bag system from the shake out wool bag to the Legend outer bag with paper bag system...did they return the sani emptor to you that originally came with it or did they keep that? I would imagine they probably kept it, but it seems to me they should have given you the option to have that back since it was yours.

 

[compactelectra]

Another One

Of my favorite Kirby's is the Classic Omega.  The very first Kirby I bought new.  Traded it in, but found a good replacement and sent it back to Cleveland for a rebuild.  It came back with a gold replacement bag, but Charlie Watrous supplied me with a gorgeous original armored bag.  As you can tell, I like them restored back to new condition.  With these machines and their quality, that is fairly easy.  Everyone has their favorite Kirby series, but these big-heads are some of my favorites.

 

[IL-Kirby-Fan]

Beautiful Classic Omega! And Classic III.

I am a tremendous fan of Kirbys in general, I like them all from the Model C up to the Sentria but the Classic Omega and Classic III are my fav's by far! The Classic III because it's what I grew up with and the Omega because it's just like the Classic III but with the Brown wood trim and the Omega symbol.

The salesman who originally sold my grandmother her Classic III is who in 2000 taught me how to rebuild Kirbys. After I made friends with him, I chewed him out a bit because he sold my grandma her brand new Classic III in 1976 but gave her an Omega Miracle Head and the tray for the Rug Renovator was the Omega brown. He told me that his distributors inventory was off and they ended up with way more Omega shampooers and Miracle heads than Omega Kirbys so their first several batches of Classic III's they gave out the old shampooer and Miracle head inventory first.

 

[compactelectra]

Brad

I can't remember if they sent me back the Emptor assembly.  After they received the machine, they sent me a letter with the option (at an additional cost) to upgrade the bag assembly to paper bags.  I took them up on it.  The good news is that emptor, and other parts, are easily available.  I have an original bag and emptor for the machine (along with all the attachments including the jigsaw!)

 

[compactelectra]

PS

When I was in college - about 1973 - my roommate at the time commented about Kirbys.  He knew I loved vacuums and Kirbys in particular.   He said that when we went into the city for some evening fun at the bars that "We should put the helicopter attachment on the Kirby and just fly in."  Love all those attachments!

 

[IL-Kirby-Fan]

I love all the attachments too. I have all of them for the Classic III: regular hose and attachment kit, shampooer, miracle head, handi-butler group. I had the waxer too, but it probably hadn't been used since the 70's and was kinda gross so I tossed it.

 

[IL-Kirby-Fan]

What did the Classic III originally cost?

I asked my grandpa what my grandma paid for the Classic III and he said he never did know. He said that she didn't even tell him she got it until she had it about two months and one day he ran across it in the hall closet. He said he asked her when she got it and she said about two months earlier. He said he asked how much they paid for it and all she said was "enough" and that was all the more they talked about it.

Grandpa said that they referenced it once when I was about 5 years old and used it as my toy whenever I was at their house. He said that Grandma said one that it was worth the money as a babysitter alone and they both laughed and he said yes that was true. Other than that, he knew nothing really about the purchase.

In 1994 I was at their house when a salesman came to do a demo of the G4 and I begged my Grandma to get it, but she said that there was nothing wrong with the Kirby she had and didn't see a point in getting the G4. I told her if she got the G4 then I could have the Classic III, she told me that when she was gone I could have it then. When we lost her unexpectedly in 2000, at the luncheon after the funeral my Grandpa said when we get back to my house you should take your Kirby back home with you. So I did and I've had it ever since.

 

[IL-Kirby-Fan]

Got all the trim for the reconditioning...

Well today I got all of the trim pieces I would need for the reconditioning. Tomorrow I just have to take it in and buff all the aluminum castings on the buffing wheel. But today I gathered the following, all of which are genuine Kirby parts:

-Replacement cloth bag
-Cord hooks
-Bag topper
-Bag ring
-Sani Emptor tray
-Hood bumper
-Head bumper
-Scuff plate
-Plastic Handle backing
-Handle Label
-Belt Lifter label
-Plastic window for belt lifter
-2 back wheels
-2 front wheels
-New housing screws

The cord was already new and the handle grip I don't want to replace. I also picked up a whole new floor nozzle head since the original has a chip out of it. So when I use it I can use the new one and when I display it I can use the original.

Tomorrow I will get all the aluminum buffed and then re-trim her out and it will all be done! I wish my Grandma were here to see it, she would LOVE it!!! I hope she sees it from Heaven and knows I did it for her!

 

[compactelectra]

Brad

Sounds like you are good to go!  The only thing I would recommend is that you find someone that can professionally polish the machine.  It is a special skill.  I know of two places that do it well outside of the Kirby factory in Cleveland, one in Racine and one in Omaha.  They have the equipment and skill to do it.  To answer your question about the CIII price in the 70's, I know I have an invoice when I bought the machine, but I remember that it was about $275.00 new.  In today's $ that would be about $1,033.  I love that story about Grandma telling Grandpa about buying it somewhat later and not sharing the price.  She sounds like quite a gal, I'm sure I would have liked her.  Here is a picture of the equipment they use in Cleveland at the Kirby factory.  This is not for use by inexperienced folks!

[this post was last edited: 3/16/2012-21:37]

 

[compactelectra]

Here Is

What the guy in Omaha did with the polishing for my 561.  The rug nozzle had some deep scratches on it but he got them out.  I had the trim pieces and here is what it looks like for a restore not done at Kirby.  BTW - this guy is good because he does vintage auto restorations. 

 

[IL-Kirby-Fan]

@ compactelectra

Hi, thanks for the photo of the Kirby Co's polishing equipment. Wow! That's pretty impressive. I do all my own buffing. I use the high speed buffing wheels at my friend's vacuum repair shop. First I use the wire wheel to get out scratches then I work on deep tarnish and stains with the slower and softer of the two buffing wheels then use the really high speed harder wheel for the final shine! I take my time and use great caution.

Everyone who ever met my grandmother loved her! Her name was Esther and there just wasn't anything that woman couldn't do. She was a hard worker, very intelligent, very loving and devoted to her family. I was her shadow growing up. I miss her terribly. She's the reason I know about and love Kirbys. I hope I make her proud. She's also the reason that I know how to sew, quilt, embroider, reupholster furniture, cook, etc, etc...she and I used to have so much fun together.

 

[IL-Kirby-Fan]

@ Compactelectra

WOW! Great looking 561! Looks just like new.

 

[compactelectra]

Now I Know I Would Like

Esther.  I am a quilter too!  Here is one of my quilting efforts.  I am sure you miss her.  The good news is she lives on in you.

 

[compactelectra]

Yep

I stay away from those polishing machines.  Could break a nail or put out your eye!

 

[IL-Kirby-Fan]

LOL

The buffing equipment used to scare me too but hey, no guts no glory...besides if the straight men can do it, I can too...and so far no one's revoked my 'mo card for it, LOL!