My Kirby Classic Omega

[petek]

Here's a pic of my Kirby Classic Omega that I'm half thinking of selling sometime in the future.
The pic doesn't do it justice, it's in beautiful condition, there's a light layer of dust I should have removed and the hose and attachments are boxed away. I'm just not sure that I want to part with it yet. Like some others I'm sort of drowning in vacs and the only Kirby I actually use occasionally is my Heritage Legend II which I like .. the G's are just too cumbersome and the Tradition is also a little clunky for my liking.

 

[petek]

Here t'is again being modelled by the much loved and ever popular Davy before all that nasty carpet was replaced with laminate.

 

[JDrums0789]

I agree with you about Heritage series Kirbys, the Classics and G's are just not as easy to maneuver as the Heritage models. I would only keep one if I had acres of carpet to cover.

I must say, the Classic models do have a certain presence. They just scream style to me.

 

[petek]

My Heritage Legend II is shown behind it.. such a great vac those are... with the wide set wheels and the slightly smaller nozzle, they just seem to manouver so much easier. Not as tippy.

 

[JDrums0789]

I use my Heritage almost daily. But my current one has the wide nozzle. I had one with the thinner nozzle before, vastly preferred it. But alas, its at a dear friend of mine.
If I'm not mistaken, I think I saw a Heritage with a skinny, narrow nozzle. Almost 500 series like. I would LOVE to find one like it.

 

[kirbyvacuum]

Beautiful job

Hi Pete Why sell it it is a reall looker. I love the way they clean, sound etc.What do you think of the G series.I just saw the new Kirby at my Kirby dealar.It looks MUCH NICER in person. He can not sell it until he gets the ok from the main Kirby office. They mustsell all the older units.Keep those Kirbys coming Doug

 

[madabouthoovers]

Thats one of my favourite older model Kirbys - I love the wood effect - just reminds me of the old 70's American Stationwagons with the wooden effect side trims. We dont see many of them in the UK, the oldest we tend to get on Ebay is the Tradition, also another one I like due to its lovely blue on silver design.
I think that's because the Tradition was the first Kirby to use paper bags - anything older like the Classic only had the shakeout bag, or had to be emptied by opening the base of the emptor onto newspaper, a messy affair.
Nevertheless the Omega was a beautiful machine, and I cant remember ever seeing one for sale on EbayUK.
Are the old pre-Generation models hard to push around having no tech drive? was thinking of getting a Heritage model myself, but if its anything like a Generation with the tech drive switched off to push about, ie, very difficult, I dont know if I'll get one.

 

[JDrums0789]

The Heritage series are pretty easy to push around. They have nice wide wheels all around which make the body of the vac float on top of the carpet instead of digging in like the narrow rear wheels of the Classic and G models. They also have a slight taper design to them, so they steer a little easier when changing direction. Tech drive adds alot of weight to the G models, and the rubber coated rear wheels help with traction with Tech drive on, but off just slows the machine down.

Petek, the more I look at that Omega, the more I want it! I just might like the brown better than my old red Classic III

 

[kirbylux77]

The key to making a pre-Generation series Kirby clean well & easy to push is the height adjustment. DO NOT adjust it too low....that's the classic mistake most Kirby owner's make. Adjust the height adjuster until you hear a change in the tone of the cleaner....then one more click down & you have the perfect height to clean your carpets thoroughly, yet have an easy to push cleaner.

And also don't hesitate to use the Micro Adjustment to fine-tune the height adjust on your Kirby as well, for that matter.

Rob

 

[petek]

Aye Rob,, done all that but they're still a a bit chunky on the turns etc.. plus that huge sani-emptor  LOL 

 

[madabouthoovers]

Yes, they did have a huge difference in the size of the emptors between the Legends and the Omega, but that was due to the Legand being a paper bag collect model, so the bottom drop emptor wasnt required any more. I do find the side emptors a bit of a pain when going along side furniture, and after a while the bag and rubber seal where it meets the emptor starts to get worn and rips where it rubs against walls and furniture - this is a problem with my G series, so I'd imagine that the large sani-emptors are more cumbersome in that respect.
The rear exit Hoover convertibles were better for manouvering than the Kirbys but I still think the Kirby looks a great classic cleaner with its side exit pipe and bag. I guess its a case of style over functionality with the Kirby - but they still clean excpetionally well.
I may still get a Heritage 2 or Legend 2, as these do have the smaller emptors and use paper bags - more practical. The Omega wood effect still looks fantastic though even despite its large sani emptor.

 

[compactelectra]

That Classic Omega

Is one of my favorite Kirbys and probably one of my favorite machines of all time.  Bought one brand new in about 1976 when I moved in with my long-time partner on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago.  Gave him a good idea of what he was getting himself into since I moved the Kirby in before my clothes or anything else.  Of course, traded it in on a later model - the Classic III - which I still have.  This one is one that I bought on Ebay to replace it and sent it back to the factory for a rebuild.  Charlie Watrous got me that fabulous original cloth bag.  Will probably still have it after scaling down the collection since it has major sentimental value for me. 


 


I still think it is a  very good vacuum and a good cleaner.  Wonderful on wide expanses of wall-to-wall carpeting.  Have to get used to emptying the cloth bag after each use, but an elegant piece of manufacturing nonetheless.

 

[compactelectra]

Here Is The Kirby

That I got when I traded in the original Omega - the Classic III. Bought it from A&A Moley's in Evanston, IL.  Some don't like these machines, but I love them.  Sent it back to Kirby in Cleveland in the late 90's and had it rebuilt.  My second favorite one and use it all the time upstairs.  Has the paper bag conversion that they offered.  Good daily driver.

 

[hooverboy]

good tags

Super tags!