The G-4 was introduced in 1993, the 80th anniversary
being 2014. Vehicle introductions are always in the calendar year prior. On their charts, Kirby has listed the actual dates of production with the exception of the 'Generation III by Kirby' which was so-named because the Legend II was produced concurrently all the way through 1990. The G-3 was introduced in late 1989, but listed as 1991. If the Tech Drive failed in the marketplace, they would have had production of the tried-and-true model up and running.They attribute the Legend II as the only model produced during that time. I knew many old time Kirby salesmen.
There was serious talk of a color change before now, and as time crept along, it was not practical to have two new model introductions in so short a time. The distributors who buy heavily will have a heads up so they can move old stock. The factory tracks serial # so the heavy buyers will start seeing their purchases delayed to level the playing field, so that light purchasers will not have an advantage in getting new machines sooner and leave the heavy hitters with overstock they need to lowball.
"A Kirby is a Kirby"? From 1935 on, true, however, prior to then, it was a Grasshopper, Vacuette, or Scott and Fetzer. That's like saying a Mustang is really Chrysler because it was produced under Lee Iaccoca. It's Scott & Fetzer's history, so they can take a bit of historic license if they choose, but it it is technically inaccurate.
Dissemble and melt down already manufactured Sentrias? You must be joking. That is a decision that makes absolutely no economic sense whatsoever, for any reason.