New collector
- Thread starter tekt
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cb123
Well-known member
You got yourself one fine vacuum there, and welcome to the club!
caligula
Well-known member
Hi tekt.
Welcome to Vacuumland. I'm the founder of the V.C.C.C.. The reason my co-founder John Lucia and I started the club was to provide information to people interested in the history of the vacuum cleaner.
We have several experts who know Kirby inside and out. I was a training manager for Kirby from 1976 to the late 80's, so I know the world of sales. I'm also interested in the early history of Elecrolux, and Kirby, which includes early patent information. I did extensive research on James B. Kirby, who like me, was of Scottish background. Jim Kirby was a very private man, so there is little written about him. All I know is that he was born in September of 1884, left school at an early age, invented his first vacuum cleaner in 1906, went on to design several machines not just vacuum cleaners and died on June 7, 1971 at the age of 87. As for wife, children and so on, this information is not available. If you have any questions I'll be glad to help, or put you in touch with people who can answer any question you have.
Here's a picture of my Kirby collection. This goes back to around 1990 when my spare bedroom was the club museum.
Once again, welcome.
Alex Taber.
Welcome to Vacuumland. I'm the founder of the V.C.C.C.. The reason my co-founder John Lucia and I started the club was to provide information to people interested in the history of the vacuum cleaner.
We have several experts who know Kirby inside and out. I was a training manager for Kirby from 1976 to the late 80's, so I know the world of sales. I'm also interested in the early history of Elecrolux, and Kirby, which includes early patent information. I did extensive research on James B. Kirby, who like me, was of Scottish background. Jim Kirby was a very private man, so there is little written about him. All I know is that he was born in September of 1884, left school at an early age, invented his first vacuum cleaner in 1906, went on to design several machines not just vacuum cleaners and died on June 7, 1971 at the age of 87. As for wife, children and so on, this information is not available. If you have any questions I'll be glad to help, or put you in touch with people who can answer any question you have.
Here's a picture of my Kirby collection. This goes back to around 1990 when my spare bedroom was the club museum.
Once again, welcome.
Alex Taber.
caligula
Well-known member
Hi tekt.
Here's a look at our first logo. It was taken from a non electric vacuum cleaner called the Baby Daisy, circa 1890. The logo was drawn for us in 1983 by Liz Krammes, daughter of the late Stacy Krammes, director of the Hoover Historical Center. I'll tell you more about the history of the V.C.C.C. at a later time, for now, I'll just say that it was Stacy who was responsible for the start of our club.
Alex Taber.
Here's a look at our first logo. It was taken from a non electric vacuum cleaner called the Baby Daisy, circa 1890. The logo was drawn for us in 1983 by Liz Krammes, daughter of the late Stacy Krammes, director of the Hoover Historical Center. I'll tell you more about the history of the V.C.C.C. at a later time, for now, I'll just say that it was Stacy who was responsible for the start of our club.
Alex Taber.
cb123
Well-known member
This photo I like to title Kirby history at a glance, and once more welcome to this forum.
caligula
Well-known member
Hi tekt.
As I said in my first post, we have a lot of members interested in Kirby, the above post proves that there are some fantastic collections out there.
My interest is written history, and patent info. Some of the pre Vacuette machines that Jim Kirby experimented with are quite interesting. He was the first person to think of a water pan to catch the dust (naturally this was a non-electric), it was called the Domestic Cyclone invented in 1906 when he was only 22. He followed with an electric version in 1907, (cloth bag instead of a water pan). In 1910, he designed his first upright which was quite interesting, and looked like what we'd call a stick-vac today. A series of bellow style non-electric's followed, these were sold under the names "Grasshopper," "Ezee," and perhaps others. There were several prototypes of basic elecrric upright's and a number of experimental non-electric's in the style of the Vacuette. Two of these were the "Vital Rand, and the "Kwick Kleen," the latter was featured in the Sears catalog. Knowing Jim Kirby as I do, he most likely patented them under another name, as he was famous for giving away patent rights. As I understand it, the only patents he held onto were the Sani-Em-Tor, Toe Touch Control, and Triple coution vibration. Jim Kirby was also involved with the washing machine and worked closely with the founders of the Apex appliance company. As for his vacuum cleaner, he turned to George H. Scott and Carl S. Fetzer for that.
I'll go through my Kirby patent books and post pictures of these in a few days, if you want the history of the Kirby company, just ask me.
Good luck with the restoration.
As I said in my first post, we have a lot of members interested in Kirby, the above post proves that there are some fantastic collections out there.
My interest is written history, and patent info. Some of the pre Vacuette machines that Jim Kirby experimented with are quite interesting. He was the first person to think of a water pan to catch the dust (naturally this was a non-electric), it was called the Domestic Cyclone invented in 1906 when he was only 22. He followed with an electric version in 1907, (cloth bag instead of a water pan). In 1910, he designed his first upright which was quite interesting, and looked like what we'd call a stick-vac today. A series of bellow style non-electric's followed, these were sold under the names "Grasshopper," "Ezee," and perhaps others. There were several prototypes of basic elecrric upright's and a number of experimental non-electric's in the style of the Vacuette. Two of these were the "Vital Rand, and the "Kwick Kleen," the latter was featured in the Sears catalog. Knowing Jim Kirby as I do, he most likely patented them under another name, as he was famous for giving away patent rights. As I understand it, the only patents he held onto were the Sani-Em-Tor, Toe Touch Control, and Triple coution vibration. Jim Kirby was also involved with the washing machine and worked closely with the founders of the Apex appliance company. As for his vacuum cleaner, he turned to George H. Scott and Carl S. Fetzer for that.
I'll go through my Kirby patent books and post pictures of these in a few days, if you want the history of the Kirby company, just ask me.
Good luck with the restoration.
