The Kirby Classic III

[keither]

My very first Kirby Classic III Its taking some getting used to but ya know..I’m adapting to both the style and unique color of this vintage power house of an upright! ( No thread hijackings please ) thx [this post was last edited: 6/19/2020-15:54]

 

[gottahaveahoove]

excellent condition!

Did you get it that way, or, did you "do your magic"? I have one, but not that good.
Enjoy!

 

[lesinutah]

Dang

I love Kirby's and have quite a few. This looks brand new. I was going to go on about this one time... Jk
You have another amazing machine. Your going to have a museum of quality machines pretty quick.
Keithers' West Coast Vacuum museum. I'm suggesting a name.
Les

 

[gottahaveahoove]

And , meet "Hot Keith"

your curator.
If you took a degree in museum studies. God knows what you'd do!
Really, every machine is nicer than the last one.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

And, now

I'll behave.

 

[keither]

L o L ....Les has officially blessed and granted the name of my future

endeavor!

John : Your too much but please feel free to misbehave as much as you want :-D

Guys I bought this machine from a collector in Texas who was liquidating his

Kirby vac inventory. He posted and an add here on V-Land a few weeks ago. The

machine was rebuilt in 2012 and the attachment set is NOS. It works really

well

 

[lesinutah]

Oic

Your a good photographer.
You don't have to have a degree to run a museum. I been on tours where they don't talk and don't know anything.
You are good at photography then keither. His photos weren't nearly as colorful.
With this social distancing the tours would be virtual tours. John would be east coast keither west coast and tom middle America.
I'll stop with the museum stuff.
Just nice to see awesome vacuums every week or two.
Les

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Well, I doubt that.

lolololol. don't go there. Dying here.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

I've been to wonderful museums.

I've been to so so ones, too.
Of course people don't say anything, because they don't know anything. I knew one, and she's long gone. Another told me about another museum she had gone too. a disaster.
But. back on track.

 

[lesinutah]

Nice

I'll get back on track.
You should take pics with the shag king on it.
You have any other Kirby's?
Les

 

[keither]

Les : Yes an Avilir, Heritage II, Sentria II , and now the Classic III

 

[kirbyklekter]

I've often wondered

what my ClassicIII looked like when new. Better than imagined.I'll bet this model got a lot of oooh's and ahhh's when the salesman brought it in to demo at prospective buyers homes.They're so showy. Great addition Keither!

 

[keither]

Hi Bill

My KC3 is a rebuilt. Here is a YouTube link showing the unboxing of a NOS KC3 :

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Very nice presentation

Excellent sentiments.
ENJOY your grandma's Kirby!

 

[compactelectra]

Keith

That is one of my favorite machines of all time! Bought mine brand new from a Kirby distributor back in Chicago back in the late seventies.  I would never subject myself to a Kirby salesman home demonstration. Before to admitting I was a collector I used to get machines and then either sell them or give them away before I got my next machine.  I could never give this one up and it traveled with me from Chicago to LA back to Chicago and now to Palm Springs.  Went back to Cleveland for a rebuild in the late 90s.  I had them put a Legend II paper bag assembly on when they rebuilt it so it is now a HEPA machine.


 


I adapted some things since I really do use this as a daily driver.  Not much carpeting here but love the attachments for hard floor and above the floor cleaning.  Doubled the hose length and use a Heritage tool caddy (best of everything). I have all the original attachments (rug renovator, floor polisher and Handy Butler) with boxes.


 


I must say, if I had to pick one machine, this would be it.  Use it all the time.  If I could pick two, it would be this one and a Lux.


 


As usual, I am amazed at your ability to scrounge up the most amazing and beautiful machines.  Congratulations!

 

[compactelectra]

PS

If you liked this machine, took care of it and took advantage of the rebuild program, this would truly be the last vacuum you would ever have to buy.  Unlike the throw away crap they sell at Walmart today.  The problem is that it was a bit too complicated for the average buyer. Not for me!

 

[keither]

Hi Fred...thanks again for your kind feedback...you know this is my very first Kirby Classic III and its taking some getting used to and Im liking it! I would almost consider making this machine a daily driver as well! I never cared for Kirby much when I started collecting but after using one for the first time over 10 years ago, I got a little bit of K-fever. Its a great machine. Powerful and convenient. The crap they sell nowadays is too painful to even look at. Thanks again and I hope your doing well.

 

[compactelectra]

Keith

I got hooked on Kirbys early on.  When I was in Junior High my friends mother had a red Kirby 561 (or thereabouts).  She let me use it with the attachments. Like the one Tania is using here which I still have. Then the Kirby man came and gave a demonstration to my folks.  Still wonder if it was Mrs. Moorhead who gave Kirby their name.  Still surprised my folks let him in for a demonstration. In any event my folks definitely had sales resistance and that was that.  My next encounter was in college with a brand new Classic.  I’ve been hooked ever since.  I do have a Sentria but must admit that the soft spot for me are the pre-Generation machines.


 


My college roommate knew I had a soft spot for Kirbys and once said “Let’s put the helicopter attachment on the Kirby and fly into Chicago and go to the bars”.   Ah the good old days.