New Kirby Info

VacuumLand – Vintage & Modern Vacuum Enthusiasts

Help Support VacuumLand:

I

isufan11

Well-known member
Platinum Member
Joined
Nov 11, 2009
Messages
207
Location
Minneapolis
Okay so I am new here and going to trey not to get in too much trouble by posting this but once everyone saw it they would get as excited as I did. This is what I believe is the new model Kirby that is going to be coming out. The Patent holder "The Scott Fetzer Company" has done work in the past for The Kirby Company, they are also located in Cleveland OH only a few miles away from The Kirby Companies Corporate office.

http://www.google.com/patents?id=TlqGAAAAEBAJ&printsec=abstract&zoom=4#v=onepage&q=&f=false
 
Wow - that IS radically different! Glad to *finally* see some change and innovation! I'm intrigued to see what the final product will look like - I wonder what colour scheme they picked?

11-11-2009-14-58-13--VintageHoover.jpg
 
Observations...

- I'm curious about the provision for a powernozzle...I can't see why you'd want to hook that up to a direct-air upright which already has a revolving brush...

- A separate, smaller bag for when you use it as a handheld/matress cleaner: does it require a second sort of dust bag? Maybe you fit a standard Kirby bag, but fold it in half?

- I'm looking at all those many belts and gears; why do I find myself thinking of Ira Lee and Sweeper-Vac? I wonder how reliable they'll prove to be, and how much maintenance they'll require...

- Will that toothed belt tangle with fluff and threads?

- What about TechDrive? I assume it's still a feature? How's the weight been affected by all this new technology?

- It looks like a pretty complicated mechanism...being Kirby, I'm sure it's been tested to the Nth degree if they're confident enough to take this huge leap forward.
 
Thanks Jon for digging up these patent applications and for posting them. It's easy to see the design relationship to the all metal Kirby tech-Drive KIRBY upright with various familiar attachment solutions in these proposals.

It would be a big leap forward from the Sentria Series if indeed this turns out to be the Next Generation Kirby.

But let us not lose focus that these are simply patent applications for ideas so that their butts are covered should Kirby/Scott-Feltzer (one is a division of the other) decide to produce this machine next or put them on hold for another decade or even choose to bypass this design altogether - the individual 'imagineering' component designs are now legally registered and protected.

I do admire the new package and am having fun pouring over the drawings and text on printouts I just made. The previous thread on 'the next Kirby' makes for amusing reading, as well. Wild speculation is an enjoyable exercise in 'What If' but only an official press release will confirm what one hopes is a new model KIRBY Series in the pipeline. Let us pray...

Dave
 
There is a new Kirby Coming

After speaking with a friend over at Kirby he told me that there is a new vacuum coming within the next 6 months, and they are going to be winding down the production of the Sentria. He also told me that the vacuum in the patents is one that was first designed for them in the early 2000's and the patent was applied for but never, pursued until late 2007. Doing patent research, I have been able to see that they have applied for patents on every facet of this new machine, form the tech-drive, to the handle, wheels, hose, bag holder assembly, and so on. A patent cost about $60k-$150k. With so many patents being applied for and issued to Kirby, Scott-Feltzer, and Design Crew 2, (Kirby's in house design team) makes me, as well as my insider believe that this is the new model. Of course they could just be trying to throw us off.
 
Just to Clarify...

"The Patent holder "The Scott Fetzer Company" has done work in the past for The Kirby Company, they are also located in Cleveland OH only a few miles away from The Kirby Companies Corporate office."

No. Scott-Fetzer is the PARENT company of Kirby, and always has been. S-F also owns the Douglas brand, Campbell-Hausfeld air compressors and a number of other companies.

Since 1985, Scott-Fetzer itself has been a division of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway.
 
Alex, remember that patent drawings are to help protect specific technologies, and are not necessarily indicative of the exact styling of the finished product.

Unless, of course, you find a patent for the styling of the finished product!
 
Regarding the ever so illuminating comment "*Barf* &quo

as a contribution to an interesting discussion thread in which most posters have shown a positive angle and well thought out debate now that the possibility of a New Kirby appears to be a near certainty...

What are ya? 15?

Oh, right.....
 
Who knows, it may not as bad as I thought!

I know Kirby patents and trust me, there were several odd ball designs from time to time, even some from Jim Kirby himself!

If I understand the drawings correctly there are 2 designs. The more or less "standard Kirby and the newly designed carpet nozzle with hose and wand assembly. There also seems to be a completely redesigned handle as well. Believe it or not, I sort of like it! If there are 2 designs to choose from, the standard and the upgraded I can deal with it.

I notice the bag is in back instead of on the side which makes me think no Sani-Em-tor, but I can live with that too. So Kirby is changing with the times! If we must, we must. And maybe, just maybe, Jim Kirby is not turning in his grave after all, and approves of this.

For me, the bottom line is that I'll stick with my 1-C, 2-C, 512, D50, D80, Classic series and G series. Give my a 1-C, or Classic 111 any day.

Alex Taber
 
No need to get your panties in a bunch now. I think I'm entitled to my own personal opinion. Yes, it's great that there's some change after all these years, but this doesn't even sound like it's a Kirby.

Oh, I'm 14 by the way.
 
I know many people like there Kirby's for one reason or another, I personally love the chrome, ballooning bag and the "classic vacuum" design that they offer. Lets look on the plus side though if this is the Kirby design they are going with at least they tried to stay true to its heritage, they did not turn it into a "Plastic" or "bag-less" which are what everyone else did or is doing. I was at a local store the other day and saw an Electrolux professional that was almost all plastic now, or even the 100 year anniversary Hoover Convertible that was nothing like the original. So my hats off to Kirby for trying to keep true to themselves while adapting to what the consumer tends to be moving towards.
 
I love it !

I think the new possible Kirby generation is an awesome leap
in the right direction. One thing I would have to say having
lived with and repaired all Kirby's since 1970. I will NOT
buy the first one. They will need to come out with a second
edition of the first. As they tend to not alwas have a complete or workable product the first time around !
Just my experience. I would probably have to have one if it
encludes everything that is holding on the Patent drawing.
Then I can say the potential I saw back in 1959 or there about. With the Westinghouse, combo that went NO where and
greatfully so. Kirby did it and did it right, after 40 years!!!
AT least within my life time ! So for all of you bagless
fans! Except for the Dyson's they (In my humble opinion) are the only
"real bagless" worthwhile machine !
Norm
Just my personal thoughts and perspective ! Not intending to
change any one elses mind or preferences !
 

Similar threads

amtraksebo1997
If I owned Kirby...
Replies
13
Views
82
kirbyg6
kirbyg6
hooverkid
A possible g series successor.
Replies
6
Views
7
sleepdoc
sleepdoc
T
Early 60's "Airing The News" KIRBY Sales Magazine on eBay
Replies
0
Views
5
tapedeckvintage
T
J
Popular Science (Jan. 1961) Shop Vac
Replies
4
Views
5
JEH
J
caligula
Filter Queen Convention?
Replies
11
Views
12
caligula
caligula

Latest posts

Back
Top