luxlife
Well-known member
“keep that in your mind and then stop talking about it “…
Isn’t that always the hardest part???
Isn’t that always the hardest part???
Potential New Kirby Vacuum Model Discussion
- Thread starter KirbyCollector01
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juju93
Well-known member
Y'all I didn't know that there was a shortage on fans and other kirby parts. Thats on my end. I'm just so tired of avalir 2 (sentria 4) being considered a new model, when its been out for 4.5 years, or just about. God forbid they pull a sentria 1 and have avalir 2 out for another 2 years.
panasonicvac
Well-known member
Alright so I went over to my Kirby dealer today and this is what they've told me. They're not aware of a new Kirby that's coming out anytime soon, otherwise they'd know already from Kirby themselves if there is one that would be released in the near future. They also told me that Kirby did tried to design that Kirby with a hose onboard on reply #13 but they couldn't figure out to get it working right.
luxlife
Well-known member
I wouldn’t rely on that info…
I suspect that they’re denying a new model and not saying anything in order not to interfere with selling more of their currently available inventory. Anyone holding out for the next model wouldn’t want to buy the current one.
I suspect that they’re denying a new model and not saying anything in order not to interfere with selling more of their currently available inventory. Anyone holding out for the next model wouldn’t want to buy the current one.
huskyvacs
Well-known member
"Kirby did tried to design that Kirby with a hose onboard on reply #13 but they couldn't figure out to get it working right."
Look at it this way - that means they do have people that are - or were - indeed working on a new model at some point in time recently. Regardless of it coming out this year or next year or in 2 years there is a new Kirby in the skunkworks in some shape or form. So there will be a new model - just not with any definite time frame.
Look at it this way - that means they do have people that are - or were - indeed working on a new model at some point in time recently. Regardless of it coming out this year or next year or in 2 years there is a new Kirby in the skunkworks in some shape or form. So there will be a new model - just not with any definite time frame.
vaclab
Well-known member
I would be very interested in an all new design BUT
Would us enthusiasts really be that satisfied with an all new Kirby that wasn't much...of a Kirby.
I think of the Hoover Convertible or any other machine of that type. Decades went by and the basics changed very little. Cosmetics sure, but the basic direct air design stayed the same.
While I'm definitely not stuck on any particular shape or color scheme, I'm certainly performance oriented. The last few years of Kirbys hover around 150 CFM and 30" of suction at the nozzle and a whopping 120 CFM at the hose end.
All that useful cleaning power and it only consumes under 730 Watts (I literally just tested my Avalir 1 running on medium pile carpet for this post). Yeah, I know it's rated a 7 Amps (840 Watts), but it consumes far less power.
I'm much more concerned about all-new design completely wrecking the Kirby's cleaning ability.
"Be careful what you wish for. You may just get it."
Bill
Would us enthusiasts really be that satisfied with an all new Kirby that wasn't much...of a Kirby.
I think of the Hoover Convertible or any other machine of that type. Decades went by and the basics changed very little. Cosmetics sure, but the basic direct air design stayed the same.
While I'm definitely not stuck on any particular shape or color scheme, I'm certainly performance oriented. The last few years of Kirbys hover around 150 CFM and 30" of suction at the nozzle and a whopping 120 CFM at the hose end.
All that useful cleaning power and it only consumes under 730 Watts (I literally just tested my Avalir 1 running on medium pile carpet for this post). Yeah, I know it's rated a 7 Amps (840 Watts), but it consumes far less power.
I'm much more concerned about all-new design completely wrecking the Kirby's cleaning ability.
"Be careful what you wish for. You may just get it."
Bill
I'm not a collector, just a person who likes well-built machines that work can be maintained, and more importantly, repaired.
When it comes to vacuum cleaners, companies are now making a huge deal out of functionally tiny differences, and then they're exaggerating those innovations to try to sell consumers NEW vacuums for relatively large sums of money. While discouraging them from just fixing their old machine by phasing out product support. They also do design changes that they know will eventually make repairing their old models more difficult if not impossible (planned obsolescence).
Kirby is one of the last companies that don't do this. Unfortunately, it's not the most profitable business model. But Kirby has been able to do this because of its direct sales and the relatively high prices consumers pay for new machines.
As I said, I'm not a collector or vacuum enthusiast. I like old vacuum machines because I can easily fix them. I prefer metal over plastic. I like simplicity.
Honestly, going forward I think all the innovations and leaps forward will be made in robot vacuums. If I were the CEO of Kirby I'd keep building the same durable manual vacuums, perhaps come up with a smaller model for the Zoomer and younger Milinial market, expand into high-end whole-house systems, and develop a robot vacuum system.
When it comes to vacuum cleaners, companies are now making a huge deal out of functionally tiny differences, and then they're exaggerating those innovations to try to sell consumers NEW vacuums for relatively large sums of money. While discouraging them from just fixing their old machine by phasing out product support. They also do design changes that they know will eventually make repairing their old models more difficult if not impossible (planned obsolescence).
Kirby is one of the last companies that don't do this. Unfortunately, it's not the most profitable business model. But Kirby has been able to do this because of its direct sales and the relatively high prices consumers pay for new machines.
As I said, I'm not a collector or vacuum enthusiast. I like old vacuum machines because I can easily fix them. I prefer metal over plastic. I like simplicity.
Honestly, going forward I think all the innovations and leaps forward will be made in robot vacuums. If I were the CEO of Kirby I'd keep building the same durable manual vacuums, perhaps come up with a smaller model for the Zoomer and younger Milinial market, expand into high-end whole-house systems, and develop a robot vacuum system.
They need to go back to the basics. No tech drive, no giant handle, etc. The D50 was probably their magnum opus. It was still lightweight like the early 500 series and had the comfortable, small handle. But it also had 2 speeds, a better bag connection, and a more powerful motor. I think they should modernize the D50 design, maybe add paper bags, plastic fan, and a cord that is harder to remove. It would make it alot easier for many people to use, young and old alike. Maybe do away with the hose and attachments too, not many people care enough to use them for the effort they take to connect. Being as it is a direct air system, there really aren't any ways to have a good, quick way to use the tools unless they are on board, which is another can of worms. They should probably sell a companion mini canister vac, like Oreck did.
The amount of people I have met that have stored, chucked, or given away their Kirby as it was "too heavy" or hard to use is astounding. Said machines are always Classic, Heritage, and Generation body styles.
The amount of people I have met that have stored, chucked, or given away their Kirby as it was "too heavy" or hard to use is astounding. Said machines are always Classic, Heritage, and Generation body styles.
beldridge
New member
Thanks for providing this thread.
Hopefully new design will have a brushless motor while providing the same performance and reliability. If less room is needed for the motor housing, then may consider doing away with Tech-drive too but am not sure how easy shampooer would be to use.
Weight seems to be number one complaint. I have a modified 1955 Kirby with no emptor and no Tech-drive (of course) and it weighs just a little over 13 pounds!
A fill bag indicator or sensor could be handy as well. Have refurbished well over 50 Kirby's and many times the bag is too full when I pick them up. As a result, performance can be hindered.
Hopefully new design will have a brushless motor while providing the same performance and reliability. If less room is needed for the motor housing, then may consider doing away with Tech-drive too but am not sure how easy shampooer would be to use.
Weight seems to be number one complaint. I have a modified 1955 Kirby with no emptor and no Tech-drive (of course) and it weighs just a little over 13 pounds!
A fill bag indicator or sensor could be handy as well. Have refurbished well over 50 Kirby's and many times the bag is too full when I pick them up. As a result, performance can be hindered.
ilovehoovers
Well-known member
well
It's been 32 years, I think whatever wait we have ahead of us is still shorter than what's behind us
It's been 32 years, I think whatever wait we have ahead of us is still shorter than what's behind us
dysonman1
Well-known member
I don’t see how Kirby is making anything at the moment because Cleveland wood products is not producing any brush rollers for anyone. CWP was sold off by Right Lane Industries.
blackheart
Well-known member
CWP.
Oh that's not good news! They made a good number of replacement brushrolls that were seemingly pretty good.
Oh that's not good news! They made a good number of replacement brushrolls that were seemingly pretty good.
dysonman1
Well-known member
CWP also makes factory original brush rollers for more than just Kirby.
repairman
Well-known member
Tom. I noticed CWP Hoover Elite Brushrolls are discontinued. Does that have something to do with this?
juju93
Well-known member
god forbid avalir 2 is like sentria 1, 6 years in the production line. I mean hey its already been out for 4.5 years, mines well keep it going. (not really wanting that)
KirbyCollector01
Well-known member
Well…
Here we are in 2024, still no new Kirby. The Avalir 2 has now been out for the amount of time the Sentria was out for (six years). But this year being the 110th Anniversary of Kirby, I wonder what they'll do for that? I think they’ll either make a 110th Anniversary Edition Avalir 2, or finally release a new model. And mark that an anniversary edition, before going to a non anniversary version in 2025. Only time will tell.
Here we are in 2024, still no new Kirby. The Avalir 2 has now been out for the amount of time the Sentria was out for (six years). But this year being the 110th Anniversary of Kirby, I wonder what they'll do for that? I think they’ll either make a 110th Anniversary Edition Avalir 2, or finally release a new model. And mark that an anniversary edition, before going to a non anniversary version in 2025. Only time will tell.
juju93
Well-known member
Agreed
Yeah its been way to long for the avalir 2 to be in production. Even people are commenting on kirby's facebook page saying things like its time to release a new model, which people aren't wrong. I've given up on kirby a long time ago in terms of modernizing and tweaking their design model. I'm sure they can and probably redisign a 34 (way to long) platform thats older than some of us that way it can appeal to people of younger generations but still apeal to consumers of older generations. The problem that kirby faces is companies like dyson and hoover who are making pretty good, at lease in my opinions, cordless cleaning products that work as efficient or even better than a 1990s kirby platform with modern cosmetics.
Yeah its been way to long for the avalir 2 to be in production. Even people are commenting on kirby's facebook page saying things like its time to release a new model, which people aren't wrong. I've given up on kirby a long time ago in terms of modernizing and tweaking their design model. I'm sure they can and probably redisign a 34 (way to long) platform thats older than some of us that way it can appeal to people of younger generations but still apeal to consumers of older generations. The problem that kirby faces is companies like dyson and hoover who are making pretty good, at lease in my opinions, cordless cleaning products that work as efficient or even better than a 1990s kirby platform with modern cosmetics.
KirbyCollector01
Well-known member
So yeah, hopefully something happens at all this year. They gotta do something, especially for the 110th Anniversary. Surely they wouldn’t skip out on that, would they?
With the current cost of any capital investments, not sure why they would do anything at the moment.
Anniversary or not, it makes no sense for companies to make any “major” changes. It’s why you see a lot of companies rehashing old products as new again.
Anniversary or not, it makes no sense for companies to make any “major” changes. It’s why you see a lot of companies rehashing old products as new again.
huskyvacs
Well-known member
"a lot of companies rehashing old products as new again."
Hasn't Kirby already done that for the past half century? lol
Hasn't Kirby already done that for the past half century? lol
KirbyCollector01
Well-known member
I think at least an anniversary edition would be cool for 2024. And then maybe a new model and or platform ny 2025. We’ll just have to wait and see.
juju93
Well-known member
I do hope kirby does away with the black color scheme with accent colors. If we really want to get technical, avalir 2 really isn't a "color" change let alone a pattern change compare from when kirby went from the sentria to the sentria 2. That alone was a different color and pattern scheme. As with the transition of the original avalir (sentria 3)and the"current" avalir 2 (sentria 4, at this point) they both shared the same main color (black) and changed the accent colors from red to blue and still kept the same pattern. I've kind of given up at this point on a new kirby system coming out. I'm suprised that the avalir 2 is still selling, even 6 years later. I mean how much longer can Kirby even keep using the sales model? As far as I know, both the sentria and avalir 2 are the longest kirby's to ever be in production. I do think us comsumers are ready for a new model. I say this because people on facebook will be commenting on their post and basically ask when a new model is coming. Me personally would like a baby blue color kirby with white accent parts and a much quieter machine.
juju93
Well-known member
yes the black and blue is a nice color scheme but after 6 years its time for something new.
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