What are your favorite Kirby models????

[kirbyultimateg]

I have three Kirbys:
G3 with attachments/shampooer
Ultimate G Diamond Edition with attachments/shampooer
Sentria with attachments/shampooer

 

[ian88]

My god, Thunderhexed looks like Ralf Little..or Johnny in two pints of lager and a packet of crisps which is played by Ralf lol

Ian

 

[vacuumkid3]

I love the Classic III, because red is my favorite color. Yet, those do not perform as well as the Heritage II. I have a Heritage I that used to be my daily driver (and still is for Spring Cleaning), but as most of you know, Kirby's are probably the HEAVIEST vacuum. I like something light and easy to push around. Luckily the newer Kirby's do have the latter with the power drive.

 

[thunderhexed]

Ralf Little..

Is that a good thing or a bad thing? I have no idea who that is!

 

[hoovercelebrity]

Cory~ Take it as a good thing... You're a looker.

Here's my fav Kirby...

A picture from the first day she was fresh back from her makeover at the 'spa'...

The Dual 80 is my top favorite... Main reasons: I like that style handle grip, and I prefer the smaller of the Kirby heads. I also think the color is wonderful! This one just purrrrrrrs! I do need a tool box for mine; the one I have had an unfortunate encounter with a flooded basement, when my water heater decided to keep refilling itself even thought it wasn't empty... about 3 years ago.

The Dual 50 is a close runner up... that lighted "Kirby" just makes me *swoon*. I actually got my dual 50 from Tom Anderson (thanks again, Tom). She'll get her day at the spa one of these days.

The Classic 3 is on the list just because I think the polished chrome and red look so incredibly stunning!

I actually pulled my Dual 80 out the other day and ran it around my bedroom. I had not used it in a while, and forgot how fabulous it is, how smoothly it runs. (I put a 4-brush brushroll in it, and use the inside track or 'knurled' belt.)

~Fred

 

[hoovercelebrity]

Whoops!

Forgot to list the Kirbys I own..

Sanatronic VII ~ Won through the raffle at the VCCC conventiion in MIlwaukee 4 or 5 years ago.
Dual Sanatronic 50 ~ Was given to me by Tom Anderson.
Dual Sanatronic 80 ~ Came across in my travels.
Classic III ~ eBay purchase.
Heritage ~ Given to me by my high school guidance counselor.

 

[ian88]

Ralf

Ah he's just an actor in this british comedy, pretty funny really.

Ian

 

[thunderhexed]

Gorgeous!

Fred, your D-80 is GORGEOUS! That model was the first model I ever remember and fell in love with. I actually have my grandmothers d80 with the original paperwork. Once I make my final payment on my car in february , I plan on saving up to have it rebuilt by Kirby. Granny even has pics of me in my easter best when I was younger standing next to it and they even have home video of me pushing it around the house when I was barely even walking!

 

[kirbyultimateg]

In my opinion, The Kirby G series models cleans the best!

 

[vacuumkid3]

If you are willing to pay the price! I love the Kirby G series, but they are so expensive. I think my best bet will be a G3 used or a G4 from someone...you know who you are!! (wink wink!)

~~K~~

 

[eluxomarty]

Favorite Kirbys

Guys! Those Classic 3's are gorgeous!!! Something about red and shiney together!

Mine is the model 562 because it's the model that i grew up with. I also have a D50 that i bought at a swap meet that works very well. I just love the sound of the older 500 series Kirby's.

 

[convertible68]

Those Kirbys are BEAUTIFUL! The only Kirby I have (aside from one which I will be trading soon with another member...) is a Heritage II Legend (complete with original documentation) purchased in April 1988. The machine itself is in OK condition (aside from a scraping belt lifter and some deep scratches in the nozzle) but works great and is one of the smoothest-running machines I've used and pretty quiet. The other accessories are just MINT. One of these days, I'll have to send the machine in for a rebuild.

My favorite Kirby machines, however, have to be the R and C-series, with the rounded nozzle and the bulbous headlight housing. I just wish they were more common. The 512-and-earlier models are also beautiful machines as well.

James--your Scott & Fetzer Sanitation System is just stunning. I'm wondering, does it have a handle switch? I didn't notice the familiar side-mounted toggleswitch in your other pictures. Can't say I've ever seen one like that before!

--Austin

 

[petek]

Here's my Kirbys

My favorite is the Heritage Legend II.
I made the Classic III up from two machines.
I use the G3 quite regularly in the livingroom and the G4 upstairs. I only got it a month or so ago.
The Dual 80 I got at a vac shop after the owner couldn't pay for the repairs. The Tradition and G3 came from Value Village.

 

[myhooverco]

Fred...beautiful D80! Those old Kirbys just love a day at the spa...the years just melt away!

Thanks for these great Kirby photos everyone...keem 'em coming!

--Tom

 

[vacuumfreeeke]

Mine!

Wow... I would like to go to Oklahoma City too! My three favorite Kirbys are the ones that I own. The Dual 80, Heritage 2, and G5. The Dual 80, I got when I was 17 from a yard sale from a very nice Jamaican couple for FIVE dollars. I need to fix the back left wheel, as it has a radial break along one of the ridges. I don't have anything else for that machine, just the power plant. The Heritage 2 I got from a vac shop guy I used to know for free. I can't believe I lost my "source"... he gave me a complete set of attachments and the shampooer. The plastic bank handle insert broke of a year ago, the headlight has always rattled, and now shorts out from time to time, handle doesn't spring up anymore, and the back right hubcap keeps popping off... the axle knocks it loose. It needs the most help. The G5 I have only had for 7 months... Craig's List.. 200 dollars! That's the most I've ever spent on a machine, but I've wanted a tech drive for so long... and when I saw that price, I had to snap it up. Have all attachments, just need shampooer. All run great, and I love the metal in combination with the HUGE ballooning bags. I also really like the deep press of the power switches and the toe touch height adjust. What a great thread :O)

 

[charles~richard]

Great Photos one and all!

I guess my favorite Kirby is not one particular model but the 513, 514 and 515 - these are so similar that they're really nearly impossible to tell apart other than slight details; then the same for the 516, 517, 518 and 519. I guess that's my favorite series - the 513 thru 519. The 513-15 because of the small size, WONDERFUL motor sound and recollections of many from my childhood, then the 516-19 just because that is just such a beautiful machine. I think the red and gray color scheme look better with the polished aluminum than all the other colors Kirby ever used. I do like the 560 and 561 with the starburst belt lifter but never saw one of these until I was about 17.

To whomever asked, yes, there is a small head for the Legend II. I have one, and do have the four-row brush in it. I can't post pix of it at the moment due to yet another computer meltdown (hey, I thot Macs were supposed to be trouble-free ... well, apparently NOT). As soon as I am back up and running again I'll add the photos.

 

[frkirby511]

late 500 series...

I agree hands down Charles-Richard about the red/gray color scheme of the late 500 series. I always thought it gave the Kirby a quality that no other color scheme does. I think because most of the other color schemes don't have enough contrast. Only the Red and Gray of the late 500's have such unique contrast in color. Interesting that the Sentria returned to the Red/Gray...but it's not as striking. I think because of the bag.

Also, someone mentioned the sound of the late 500 series. Indeed the sound of any one of those with the attachments on is, IMH, the coolest vacuum sound there is. And I think it was that sound that Dave Oreck used for the sound in his commercials. Charles-Richard would know about this better than I.

 

[kirbymodel2c]

Scott Fetzer sanitation system

Hi Austin

The scott fetzer sanitation system in the pic is my new scott fetzer I got 2 weeks ago with the switch in the handel!
So I now have both types one with and one with out switch in the handel.
Which one you like best?

James

 

[kirbymodel2c]

Scott Fetzer sanitation system 2

Here's the other scott fetzer with out switch in handel.
Just so you can look at both.

The one with the switch in the handel has the head with the gear drivern brush.
Also height adjuster is diffrent!

James

 

[rexairman]

Those are some beautiful Kirbys. To me, Kirbys after the Dual 80 have no interest as a collectible. And, as a vac shop owner, I don't sell anything older than the later Heritage II with the cut-down nozzle - customers simply have no interest in buying a cleaner that old. So those in between, Classics, Omegas, Classic III's, Traditions, Heritage I's, and early Heritage II's, I routinely set out for trash collection. If some of you love these old machines, I'll gladly save them for you and give them to you, you only reimburse me for shipping.