Photos from Kirby Tour

[electrolux137]

.
.

I can't find it now, but somewhere here someone posted a comment saying that photographs are prohibited at the Kirby Company. That must be something new, because the last time the VCCC toured the plant a few years ago, folks took -- and posted -- tons of photos. I hope that's not the case (that no photos are allowed), because I sure would love to see some.

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Charles,

You looking for, perhaps, this thread?
http://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?7360

~Ben

 

[hoovercelebrity]

I did hear that Kirby changed its tune and photos are no longer allowed.

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Do you think we as vacuum cleaner collectors could take this case to court?

~Ben

 

[dysonman1]

Maybe they are embarrassed about their fake "anniversary". Tacony Manufacturing allows pics at the factory.

 

[vinvac]

No photos!

Kirby and Cleveland Wood Products neither would allow photos. In fact we had to all sign waivers saying we would not take photos.

However we had a surprise trip to Filter Queen today and they did allow pictures! Long story, but one of their Florida sales reps stayed at our hotel and during breakfast on Thursday morning invited us for a tour. They were very friendly.

 

[Gr8DaneDad]

Kudos to Filter Queen! What a wonderful bonus.

 

[hygiene903]

Kirby No Longer Allows Photos?

Makes me glad I took a bunch of them when we were there in 2008! What impressed me most was the people--they genuinely seemed to enjoy their work and were proud of what they made.
Jeff

 

[electrolux137]

.
.

That's really too bad. What the hell are they afraid of??

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Charles,

I liken this situation to that of various transit agencies disbarring photography and videography for security reasons. One famous example is for MTA Maryland.

When will Kirby stop violating this civil liberty, and make photography of the vacuums in their historic collection legal?

~Ben

 

[tolivac]

Maybe the Kirby plant has trade "secrets" that they don't want others to know about-competing vacuum companies.When you think of it-the site is THEIR property and can restrict you taking pictures.At many gov't agencies-photography is not allowed-esp at the mints.You can go there on the tours and watch them making money-you just can't take pictures of it.At the studio site In DC where I used work-they won't let you take pictures-yet you can see the agency operations on the public tours.So the property holder can restrict photography-I do respect that.After all if you ran a plant-for some things YOU may want to restrict folks taking pictures of your operations.You the site holder should have that choice.

 

[vinvac]

The club personally supports Kirby's decision. Understanding their business model we understand the reasoning behind no pictures.

The company treated us very well and did allow photos in the lobby where the collection of older machines is held. They don't allow their sales reps or anyone to take photos!

The most interesting part of the trip has been CWP. Watching them make brush rolls and sewing bags was incredibably interesting.

 

[frkirby560]

Kirby Tour

[COLOR=black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA]Indeed, Kirby and CWP were very gracious to us., as was Filter Queen.  CWP gave us each a free brush roll of our choice. At CWP and Kirby, it was some of their development engineers who gave us the tours; and they were very hospitable in both factories.  At Filter Queen it was a sales executive.
 
At Kirby we were in a building that has housed the manufacture of Kirby vacuums since the beginning. That, in and of itself, was significant for me. For its age, it was well kept, very clean, and in good repair.

As mentioned earlier, the most striking thing about both factories is that the workers -- all of them--clearly took pride in their work, shared in the overall sense of accomplishment of the product, and shared a relationship of mutual respect with management. Very few had worked there less than 20 years. They were very happy in their work. This was also true of Filter Queen.[/COLOR]


 


[COLOR=black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA]It was a great day; very much appreciated. [/COLOR]

 

[sonnyndad]

We didn't get to tour the bottom floor of Kirby because it's rumored that the new machines are down there. Rumor also has it that CWP and Kirby have been working on the new machine for three years.

 

[kirbymodel2c]

Hi,

Hi, I'm glad all of you that went had a great time. I'm not surprised Kirby no longer like people taking picture.


For one thing they have no control of what happens to them after. Also for one example I can think of a few years back when there was another tour around the Kirby factory someone took a picture of a prototype Kirby Sentria hard floor cleaner. OK that version was never released as it stood but just a few years later a version of it was released. So you can understand why they want to keep things secured. Imagine if by accident some one took a photo of the next Kirby due out and posted it on a public forum. Not that I wouldn't mind seeing it but for a company who's making a product it wouldn't be good as you only want information on it released when the finished product is ready to roll.


 


James

 

[kirbyg6]

Hi I'm new here I would love to visit Kirby and wow a sentria hard floor cleaner that's sounds interesting

 

[kirbymodel2c]

Hi,

<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: book antiqua,palatino;">Hi George. (Kirbyg6) Welcome to the site. If you ever get chance to go to the Kirby factory and rebuild plant I recommend that you go.</span>


 


<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: book antiqua,palatino;">James

</span>

 

[kirbyg6]

Hi James thanks I really want to go there

 

[kirbymodel2c]

Hi,

<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: book antiqua,palatino;">Hi George, I ment to ask are you a UK or US member?</span>


 


<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: book antiqua,palatino;">James

</span>