Todays buy: Kirby Classic Omega

[petek]

I got this Kirby Classic Omega today at our local flea market for $20. It's in 8 out of 10 condition, needs polishing as usual and the bag holder, that plastic sheath part that clips to the handle has tape around it for some reason, haven't removed it yet.. but otherwise it's in excellent shape.
When I got it home I plugged it in the garage..what a stink, almost gagging. So I took it ouside and opened the sani emptor on the lawn in the back corner...oh geeze, a shopping bag full of hair and dust. The guy I bought it from the old coot cuts hair at the flea market and probably hadn't emptied it in years...I sprayed some Febreeze in to the bag so it can sit outside for a day or two and air out...whew

 

[vintageroyal611]

Nice Kirby

Let me know if you want to sell. Here's a tip on airing out that odiferous bag. Set the vacuum on the deck, put the height adjuster on the highest setting,turn it on, and let it suck in the fresh air for about a half hour. That is what I do for rancid bags depending on the age of the cleaner. But you should be safe with a 70's Kirby. Matt

 

[hoover1060]

That looks very nice Pete!

Congrats on that, you can also toss that bag in the washer, cold water, gentle cycle, and woolite detergent.
The Omega is one of my favorites!

 

[petek]

What I've done with my other Kirbys in the past is to remove it along with the sani-emptor and give it a gentle wash in the bathtub, seeing as at our other house we never had a washtub in the laundry room. Now I have one so I can do it in there.

 

[compactelectra]

Kirby Omega

One of my favorites!!! I bought one new before I moved in with my partner. It was the first thing I moved in to the condo. He should have known then what he was getting himself into. This one was bought on Ebay and sent back to the factory for a beauty makeover. The bag is from Charlie Watrous via Jeff Parker. Brand-spankin' new. Love it.

 

[compactelectra]

I don't bother

Cleaning them up. I just send them back to Cleveland.

 

[compactelectra]

Glam Shot - Omega

Pretty amazing for a 30 year old machine.

 

[petek]

oh they look so nice all shined up, makes my look like the frumpy sister

lol

 

[hamiltonbeachbo]

The Most Amazing Kirby Collection

Fred,

You do have one of the most amazing Kirby collections. The time span covered is really my favorite. When I was at your house, I had so much fun connecting with the models from the '60s.. Boy, do I remember the sound of that motor and how excited I was when I learned of the unique way the foot switch worked. I remember being mezmerized by the majestic nature of that machine. Then in '68 my folks bought the Dual 80 in follow up to the Compact C5. I'll never forget what the salesman was like and how I coaxed him with his demo, always encouraging the next step, and I was just this nerdy little pipsqueek. Wow, what fun!!

Fred, can't wait for the next visit to Tarantula Arms to play in your "vacuum" basement. I just remember feeling like this little kid. What a blast!!!

I have to say, I'm really anticipating the "overwhelming nature" of convention. The memory cells will be in overtime. God, how that stirs the soul.

We, collectively, are soooo lucky. Think about it. Til later.

Pat.

 

[normvac]

Kirby cost for rebuilt??

If you don't have paper work for the purchase of a Kirby.
How much will they charge to rebuilt a machine?
Norm

 

[compactelectra]

Norm

I sent my Dual 50 back without the paperwork - it took them some time to figure out a price but it ended up being $300.

 

[compactelectra]

Here's What Happens

To your Kirby back in Cleveland.

 

[compactelectra]

And More

Everything fixed and replaced. You literally get back a brand new machine. Opening the box from Scott and Fetzer makes it like Christmas in July.

 

[kirbyvacuum]

Kirby rebuild

Hi Fred Thank you so much for the Kirby rebuilding process chart.I had my Kirby Dual 50 done about ten years ago. As you said what a job it LOOKED and RAN like the day it was new my coast was 22.95. I will be sending my KIRBY 511 in very soon the price for that is 12.95. I see you are a Kirby fan also I was in the cleaning line a public school head custodian for almost 31 years. I would always try to get Kirbys they get used 185 days a year by some guys who dont take care of them the right way . I retiried Jan 16 2007 always took care of then willing to bet no one will take care of them like me. Sorry for going on. Take care Doug

 

[compactelectra]

Doug

Just be aware that the older Kirbys (before the D50) will not be sent back with the original colors. I have a beautiful 560 that I won't send back because it will probably come back in tan, not the original grey and red. That one may go to a shop in Omaha that restores Kirbys.

 

[air-waycharlie]

Pete,

Your Omega is a beauty! I, like Fred, (Ida), really like the the Classic and Omegas and they always get a bum rap with so many collectors.

My Omega was rebuilt by Kirby and I also have a correct bag, (courtesy of Jeff Parker), but it was in slightly less pristine condition than the I one I orginally received, so I sent that one to Fred and had a few repairs done to the other. (Mine is now fabulous!)

There were three types of bags used for the Omega. One was a totally cloth goldish bag, another was the cloth bag with, "diamonds", in plastic on the bag and the last was with, "plastique", lines down the bag. I'm not sure of the correct order of how these bags came out.

Can anyone help us with this?

Member Louis R., is very knowledgeable about this so maybe he will post regarding this.

My Omega has the upgraded 4 brushshrip brushroll with the knarled belt but still uses the original, bagless, bag.

Clunky?......yes. Oversized?......yes. But, still fun to use and can really clean with the improved brushroll?..........yes.

The Kirby Omega is going to be a, "milestone", vacuum down the road. So, Pete, hang on to your very nice looking original.

 

[arh1953]

What a really interesting and showy thread! The rebuilders look like a great group of people, wonder how many of them were there when mine was rebuilt in 1988?

 

[hoover1060]

Omega bags

For the record, two of the three bags mentioned by Charlie are pictured in this thread. Pete's Omega has the diamond-y pattern bag, while Fred Nelson's Omega has the pinstripe bag. The third variation was a gold bag with the omega patch a-la the Classic 1CR.
I don't know the order of the bags, BUT the owners manuals for the Omega all show the pinstripe bag.
I have two Omegas currently, one factory rebuilt, the other original. My rebuilt model has the diamond bag.

 

[louvac]

OK Guys..I could be wrong also but to my knowledge the Omega bag succession is as follows: The first version has the pin-stripe bag and the longer bag top "tail" through which the bag chain is shrouded. The second version has the four dots that form a diamond, also with the bag top "tail" that shrouds the bag chain. This model has a very short (original) cord which wraps around the cord hooks just about four times- if you're lucky. This was due to the oil crisis in the seventies and so Kirby shortened the cord. It very well may be only a 20' cord, though I never mesasured (don't go there-LOL!) The third and last version features the rather plain gold bag which is similar if not the same as the Classic with the Omega symbol on the badge. Though it is the Omega model, nowhere does that word actually appear. Only the Greek symbol is used. I suspect, and this is an educated guess, that they omitted the rubberized patterns which are made from a petroleum-based product again, be it vinyl or rubber , due to the oil crisis thus reducing costs. However, this may be the better alternative bag to have because when you think about it, the patterned bags have only 50% porosity (through the surface cloth from which "clean" air could escape) or in other words, 50% of the bag surface cloth is sealed! I believe RJ Vanik and Mike Rogers would agree with me on this one. Royal used this same type of outer bag on their uprights with the exception being that they used a paper filter bag inside. Regardless, all in all Kirbys are one of my favorites and some of you who know me know that my favorite is the Tradition (sorry fellow Kirby gurus!) which I have never had any problems with nor complaints. I am still looking for the first version of this model which had the speed switch control in the visor which thus required all accessories to incorporate a "spike" to engage the high speed setting. I had one which I sent in for a rebuild and it came back retro-fitted with the speed switch on the bottom like its predecessor. Fred N. has this original form. If anyone comes across one please let me know! Thanks guys and looking forward to Omaha!

Louis