Plano TX Kirby Service Center closing Nov 2019

[texaskirbyguy]

crazykirbydude,
Come on, Texas is just a U-haul truck drive away. )
James has around 100 parts units just waiting for you! They are in Original boxes, about 2 units per box.
Seriously, anyone in the area who has the space to store, part out and/or sell these can jump on a great deal and help out Kirby collectors while making some dough as well. If I had the space and was staying in Texas for a while, I would have got them already. I had bought a few of these and they DID work. They are just cosmetically challenged, and are motor units only (for the most part)

 

[crazykirbydude]

My mother would KILL me (figuratively) if I ever brought that many old vacuums home!

 

[texaskirbyguy]

Come on, just hide them under the bed and you're good. D

 

[lesinutah]

Bag

I'll show a couple pics. I can't find exact page but I have a pic of the Kirby bag on a vacuum. It said blakemans was an authorized Kirby dealer.
I believe magazine was a released in 1961. There is another ad for a rebuild and it has vacuum with bag identical to yours.
If it's not Kirby bag why would an authorized dealer and distributer that Kirby alowwes to do rebuilds.
It may be in only portions of US but my educated guess is it's a Kirby bag. There is no other explanation. If you look at the new Kirby generation 3 vacuum bag released recently it's same design.
I'll try to find page that has rebuild pic with this bag. It's very cool.
Les

 

[lesinutah]

Uhaul

Damn they are in working order. People sell armature and coils for well over $100.
I wouldn't care if anyone got mad. You could seriously go on eBay and sale items like Kent oyler. I'm sure someone will bite. That's insane.
Les

 

[texaskirbyguy]

Les, thanks for the insight to the bag on my machine. I may try to leave it as-is to display some some history there. Too bad I cannot wash it. If you find that other page you mentioned, please post - would be very interesting to see.

 

[a007kirbyman]

texaskirbyguy (Rob) & Kirby Bag...

Hello & good evening Rob (& all),

Rob, if you are referring to the bag shown in reply #54, that is NOT a genuine Kirby bag. It is a bojack, after-market bag.

If you L@@K on the 2nd photo of the page(s) of that parts book (Blakeman), in reply #62, you will see the the bag in question.

If you will also note, the pages say "...TO FIT..."

Companies like this were not authorized to sell Genuine Kirbys themselves, so many of these 'other' companies tried any way they could to get a "piece of the action" of the Kirby business. ~lol~

I hope this helps clarify things.

TY & hagn/d all,

Bill

2044

 

[aaron158]

is Kirby getting rid of all there service centres or something. use to be one here in London ON but when i called the a few months ago number was disconnected and its no longer listed on the Kirby list. seems like there's only 1 in Canada that's within 500 miles in Ajax ON seems like its just a dude working out of his house when u look the address up on google its just a house with a tiny Kirby sign on his garage door.

 

[mpbyrd]

Mine closed too

Had one in Morganton, NC and it’s closed the only office they have now is in Asheville. I used to get some excellent deals on trade in vacs there.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

none of this is a

good sign Might be a great time to 'stock up' on supplies.

I'd love to have an opportunity to go to both Texas and North Carolina. as there are people there I'd love to see.

 

[texaskirbyguy]

Bill, Thanks for pointing out my bag is an aftermarket one - the shop keeper said it was too but I had no idea. Still is old and looks cool, so i will keep it on there.

Aaron, my Plano shop is closing because the owner just want to retire and focus on his hobby of artwork. The place he is at is also is raising his lease substantially. So this was not any work of Kirby itself. Sad to see so many of these shops are closing though. Sounds like we need some others to open up some new shops, not sure how challenging that is, though...

Sure hope someone can help save his old stash!

 

[texaskirbyguy]

My 10-9-19 visit

Back on Wednesday I paid a visit to the Plano shop to see what was left, and to get some more stuff.
Oddly enough I did not come back with any vacuums...

Biggest score was a complete attachment set for the Omega. I had a mostly complete set, but was missing some important parts like the long wand. I also wanted a set to use and a set for show (strange I am!) I also got the big storage box which I very much like. I spent most of today washing everything and even taking apart the boxes to wipe out the dust. I typically do this to most used stuff I get so it is as clean as can be.
Only issue is that the hose is stiff. Anyone know if there is a way to soften them up??

I also got a parts list book for Kirby (505-Diamond) and one for lots of other brands of vacs. These are so much fun to look through I may not be parting with them any time soon. There is even a factory instruction set on converting the Tradition to the case-mounted speed switch.

I did get a bunch of resto/repair/spare parts for machines I own as well. He tossed in his last red 5xx hose as it was stiff like the Omega one.
All cost me a Ben Franklin.

On my way out the shopkeeper asked me if I had room at home for the 'Generations' framed picture on the back wall of his shop. I knew I did but unfortunately I was out of cash. He told me "I want you to have it". I got choked up as I thanked him...

I am close to getting the D80 he has, just because it is unique. Maybe another Omega for out in the garage...

He still has over 100 motor units for generation 2 models for now the cost of a case of beer. I sure wish i had the space to part them out. Still hoping someone here can save them. They are destined for the dumpster if noone claims them. Lots of good parts on them for sure.

Shop will be closing down end of next month, so time is running out. Hope someone can save those things...

I will go back in a couple weeks to get some other stuff, maybe some vacs next time!

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

texaskirbyguy

Rob,

In the 1st picture, I see you did manage to get that long blue wand!

~Ben

 

[rivstg1]

ben, no long blue wand there...just blue bumper for Tradition that I see. I was looking for one there for you Ben(as was Rob) and he has one...but doesn't want to break up the accessory 'set' of blue attachments.

Rob, nice score!! I didn't see that parts book, I"m envious!!! haha. I was gonna get that generations poster but forgot to!!!!! argh!!
Kelton

 

[huskyvacs]

OMG! I love that Kirby Generations picture!

 

[texaskirbyguy]

Ben, true - he did not want to break up that set of Tradition attachments because it is near-complete (only issue is the two brushes are black). If you would like to buy the whole set, you can get it shipped for the price of an ebay wand (estimating $30).
I had run out of cash so did not get the set, but I might go back for it if noone else wants it. One set to use, one for show... And to think I had to buy 3 mismatched Tradition sets to get one complete one several years ago...

Kelton, the parts books were not out there for sale. I had told him I would be interested in them once he closes his store, and he sold them on the spot. I bought the Kirby one and the other was a dumpster save.
Are you still going back out there later this month?

Husky, yes, the Generations picture is way cool! It is on my wall now. ) The way he presented it to me made me tear me up a little. Very sad to see his shop close - lots of experience, parts, honesty, and courtesy is going into business history. Such a friendly guy, and his wife is, too.

Some kind little things I noticed he does for his customers:
Helping customers load and unload their vacs from their vehicles as standard practice.
Returning any 'Kirby treasures' found in the emtors to customers, such as screws, change, jewelry.
Returning all bad parts for customer inspection.
It is hard to get above services from other places even if I ask...

 

[lesinutah]

Kirby

Texaskirbyguy
There are very few established Kirby dealers. There is 2 in Utah and both are what seems to be inherited Kirby dealer with the business. I call and ask questions and I know alot more than they do.
You don't find owners that truly care. I know Kirby's were made in Texas in 1970s and not sureif it's still there. You won't find many business owners of any business that are genuine. I'd say dysonman is this way with his shop.
Les

 

[rivstg1]

texaskirbyguy

Yeah, I'll be returning there...he and I have exchanged texts...I MAY...take what he's got...may...

 

[turbo360]

Got some Kirby’s

I decided to got to the place over the weekend and picked up a classic iii and a tradition with attachments. They run just fine but need to be polished.

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Turbo360

Both your Classic III and your Tradition that you have appear to have been made at different timepoints in 1979: the Classic III around late that winter (January-March), and the Tradition that summer (July-September), due to their serial numbers.

~Ben