What are your favorite Kirby models????

[myhooverco]

This thread could go in two places so I am choosing the Vintage Forum since the one I am posting is from 1972. I hope that it can be overlooked if folks want to post pictures of the newer Kirbys. This thread is being intended for any Kirby model. So again I apologize in advance.

Here is one of my favorite Kirby cleaners mainly because it has been in my family for a long time. I have just about everything for it too. My son loves the way it sounds and how it light up. It is VERY well made.

What are YOUR favorite Kirby models. Are there any collectors out there that have any rare or promotional models or items. What are your favorite attachments and gadgets that went with these fine machines? I would like to see pics of these items in use!

Thanks!!

--Tom

 

[myhooverco]

Here is a close up of the Classic 1 CR bag...

 

[ian88]

I have a kirby heritage 2 (with the european smaller head) but what I would love is a Kirby Classic Omega, I love the wood style trim

Ian

 

[kirbymodel2c]

Favorite Kirby models

Hi,
Very hard question!I love different models for different reasons.
Love my "C" series allot then again I love the Sentria allot.
My Scott fetzer sanitation system is great and different to my other new scott fetzer sanitation system.
The pics you see of my kirby's is what I have. Except for Pics of tool & boxes etc

You have a great Classic.Is it complete?

Sorry still needs polishing! (My new scott fetzer sanitation system.)

James

 

[myhooverco]

James...very beautiful machine...my Classic needs a very good polishing...I think that it is complete...Thanks for the pic..

--Tom

 

[kirbyultimateg]

Kirby G series models.

 

[kirbyultimateg]

I like the standard attachments and carpet shampooer system and ZippBrush.

 

[rexaircollector]

Tom

This is my favorite Kirby model. I am really fond of red and this baby has everything. The shag rug rake, Handi-Butler, Shampooer, Handi-Waxer. It is in pristine condition.

Robb

 

[myhooverco]

Robb...

You have a very complete Kirby there! I am so impressed with the tools and gadgets that one could get to complete the ensemble. Yours appears to be in mint condition. I just love the color combo too. Thanks for the pic!

--Tom

 

[hygiene903]

Favorite Kirbys

My favorite Kirbys would probably be any of them including and/or before the Classic, especially the Sanitronic series and the 500 series. We had a 518 for a long time until we traded it in for an 886 Royal.
Robb, I agree with Tom, that is a nice Classic ensemble you have, and the Rotomatic on the left and the Lux XXX on the right look pretty good, too.
Tom, that's a nice Classic you have, too, but somehow i don't remember seeing a Kirby at your house when I was there.
Jeff

 

[normvac]

Favorite Kirby

My favorite kirby is my dual 80. Love the green trim. I also have a dual 50. I am just now having a zipper installed in a new Cloth bag for the paper bag conersation. Which I will be able to us on both of those Kirby's. Now I need to get at the polishing project!!! Then I will be able to use my kirby's when the mood stikes!

 

[vacuumboy95]

My top two have to be kirby's first modle and my second is the C1.

 

[compactelectra]

I Have Many

But this has to be one of my favorites. Found brand new in the box a Kirby 519 modeled by none other than Ms. Tania. All boxes and literature intact. A beauty! Notice another one of my favorites in the background a Dual 80 restored by the factory.

 

[compactelectra]

Some More

Missing are the Legend II and my favorite of all time bought brand new the Classic III. Another thing we have in common Mr. Castaldo!

 

[compactelectra]

Another Favorite - The Classic Omega circa. 1976

Yikes!! They are all my favorites. This one was restored at the factory, but I bought one just like this brand new in 1976 when I moved into my partners place on the 20th floor on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago. He should have known what he was getting himself into since I moved this puppy in before I even moved in any clothes. Jeff Parker is demonstrating the Omega to Robert Pope at the October gathering at Tarantula Arms. Has all the attachments as well. Makes me want to grab a Kirby and start vacuuming. Don't use paper bags since that wasn't a part of the deal back then.

 

[luxboy]

Classic III

I thought that this thread would be an appropriate place to share the project I completed today. Several months ago I was given a Kirby Classic III by my friend Jim Smith who owns a vacuum store and used to be a Kirby salesman in a small town near St. Louis. It was in pretty rough condition, but I took it completely apart and began to polish it by hand. Well.. that was several months ago due to the fact that the hand polishing was not much fun and I couldn't get interested in doing it. After talking with another vac shop owner here in St. Louis, come to find out he has a polishing booth in the basement of his store, that he told me I could use whenever I wanted. So today, on my day off I went over, and after an hour or so.. the whole thing was polished.. I, however looked like a black man when I was finished, covered in black from the polishing wheel and jewelers rouge. But, I learned a lot in the process, and now, I imagine the next Kirby I do will be a bit quicker. When I first got the machine, Tom G. ordered me some new trim, new wheels, a new cord and bumper which I put on today. It also had the original wool bag which I cleaned out with a vacuum and then took to the dry cleaners. So here it is, my finished project. It sure makes you feel good about when you restore a vacuum yourself. My next Kirby polishing project will be my Dual Sanitronic 80 which is probably my favorite looking Kirby. It's kind of cool though that the first Kirby in my collection was this Classic III, as this was the machine that was out when I was born. Here is a picture....

 

[frkirby511]

If I had to pick just one....

It would be my Legend with the small rug nozzle. I use it in tandem with a G-6 for regular heavy house cleaning. [I don't pull these puppies out for just a once over]

But for fun, my favorite would be any one of the late 500 series from 516 on. I especially like the 517. It brings back so many memories. I remember the day my Aunt Irene got hers brand new. If I could find one brand new in a box it would be stunning. I do have a 560 practically brand new in the box with the bill of sale and all the attachments including the Handi Butler. I would post pictures of it but I'd have to go over to the storage to get it. Perhaps in a few days I'll have time to do that. Also my Model C was a real find. But in any case here is the Legend with the small nozzle and the accompanying G-6.

 

[frkirby511]

Legend with small nozzle

Here are a few more pictures of the Legend with the small nozzle:

 

[frkirby511]

Legend with small nozzle

another close up..