panasonicvac
Well-known member
I would reach out to him.
1964 Kirby Sanatronic 7
- Thread starter maytag85
- Start date
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I'm sure Covid affected their door to door sales pitch.
Reply #41
Could be or they want to give people the option to buy from them directly along with wanting to sell more vacuums. Maybe they ran through the numbers and figured it would cost them more to sell them door to door since they’d have to hire and train people to sell them. Since anyone can now buy from Kirby directly, definitely will help them sell a lot of vacuums each year along with making them a household name.
Could be or they want to give people the option to buy from them directly along with wanting to sell more vacuums. Maybe they ran through the numbers and figured it would cost them more to sell them door to door since they’d have to hire and train people to sell them. Since anyone can now buy from Kirby directly, definitely will help them sell a lot of vacuums each year along with making them a household name.
vacerator
Well-known member
"door to door"
Yes, Covid put the kabash on most of that. No witnessess either since. Shanghai been on another lockdown for at least 2 weeks now.
I think I would market Kirby's, Rainbows, and Filter Queen Majestics through house parties like Tupperware.
Yes, Covid put the kabash on most of that. No witnessess either since. Shanghai been on another lockdown for at least 2 weeks now.
I think I would market Kirby's, Rainbows, and Filter Queen Majestics through house parties like Tupperware.
panasonicvac
Well-known member
Not surprised
I figured that Kirby would eventually follow into Filter Queen's foot steps. But geez, that price in my humble opinion is WAY too much for what they're worth. Maybe for like a breast cancer edition, though certainly not for a Avalir 2! Even Kirby just recently raised their prices at their rebuild center, a rebuild is now $375.00 plus shipping for a non-original owner. Should've had my 512 rebuilt when I had the chance. At least it's still cheaper than buying a brand new Kirby.
I figured that Kirby would eventually follow into Filter Queen's foot steps. But geez, that price in my humble opinion is WAY too much for what they're worth. Maybe for like a breast cancer edition, though certainly not for a Avalir 2! Even Kirby just recently raised their prices at their rebuild center, a rebuild is now $375.00 plus shipping for a non-original owner. Should've had my 512 rebuilt when I had the chance. At least it's still cheaper than buying a brand new Kirby.
panasonicvac
Well-known member
Kirbys are good machines, no doubt about it. But in comparison, Royal, back then made more sense and were worth buying for. Take the Royal Everlast 8300 for example, one of the last Royals ever made before the company ceased production. The Royal costed $749 whereas the Kirby costs $1,499 (Now a hundred more). The Royal was a better constructed machine. Metal fan, metal switch, metal cord hooks, metal handle forks, etc. Kirby's are plastic in comparison and I've seen them break more than Royal's. The Royal actually cleans better since it had a 10 amp motor whereas Kirby it uses 7 amps. Royal had a better warranty which was 7 years compare to 3 years on Kirby. The Royal was more maneuverable since it's not self propelled like Kirby, in fact it pulls by itself on the brushroll which doesn't make it required to have it self propelled. Not to mention that it's also lighter weight than the Kirby. And the Royal was more widely available to buy and to take in for warranty repair, they were sold in vacuum shops. Overall, I preferred Royal over Kirby back then. Kirbys again are still good vacuums but as a former vacuum repair technician and sales person through several vacuum stores, they're WAY overpriced and uses plastic parts.
I just bought a great condition Royal 8300--the "black bag" Royal model.Yes,its a 10A "screamer" but does well.You have to adjust the floor nozzle height properly.I use this one along with my Kirby Avalir 2. Both machines are neck to neck to me.I have modified Royal outer bags to use Kirby bags.This is good-since how much longer can you get Royal bags-the Everlast 8300 uses Roayal B bags.Hoover B bags will fit.
I know the Kirby distributer in Atlanta-suggested hew sell his machines online.He complained with covid he could no longer knock doors and go DTD sales.Did I have an influence on these online sales??-or was it a coincidence?
I know the Kirby distributer in Atlanta-suggested hew sell his machines online.He complained with covid he could no longer knock doors and go DTD sales.Did I have an influence on these online sales??-or was it a coincidence?
Reply #46
There’s a reason why they went away from metal fans on direct are vacuums and that’s because if you were to accidentally pick up a small rock or coin, you risk the chance of shattering the fan or putting large gouge marks in which can cause it to run roughly since the fan is off balance.
They went away from metal fans just as manufacturers like Maytag and Whirlpool went away from metal pumps since they had a tendency to corrode and have the bearings eventually lock up.
Metal in most cases is stronger than plastic but in cases with fans on direct air vacuums and pumps on automatic washers, plastic is better suited since plastic doesn’t corrode or break as easily.
There’s a reason why they went away from metal fans on direct are vacuums and that’s because if you were to accidentally pick up a small rock or coin, you risk the chance of shattering the fan or putting large gouge marks in which can cause it to run roughly since the fan is off balance.
They went away from metal fans just as manufacturers like Maytag and Whirlpool went away from metal pumps since they had a tendency to corrode and have the bearings eventually lock up.
Metal in most cases is stronger than plastic but in cases with fans on direct air vacuums and pumps on automatic washers, plastic is better suited since plastic doesn’t corrode or break as easily.
Plastic fans ERODE and DO break like any direct air fan if it hits something hard.I remember a Royal metal vac demo from many years ago.The Royal rep delivored an order of Royal commercial and residentual metal vacuums to the then Vacuum Cleaner Hospital.He put on a demo regarding the metal fans.He put a hose adaptor on one of the machines and let it suck several pennies from his hand.Both Bill and I commented that would DESTROY a Kirby or Sanitaire plastic fan.The rep took the pennies from the bag-they were bent and folded over.Then removed the front of the vacuums fancase and the fan was in still useable condition.One blade very slightly bent-another one a slight nick.Royal used a special tempered metal alloy for their fans.VERY RARE to see one break.The soil in our area is like fine brown beach sand.This erodes plastic fans quickly.Metal ones last longer.You could get a metal fan and fancase for Sanitaire.This was done for the Universtity's Sanitaire fleet-their fans were eroding from the soil picked up.The metal fans and fancases lasted longer than the plastic.
panasonicvac
Well-known member
I agree with Rex
I don't ever recall seeing a metal fan break on any of the Royals in person before, even Kirby. But I do testify that I've repaired dozens or even a hundred plastic fans on direct air vacuums. This is one of the reasons why I personally prefer to use bypass or clean air machines like this Lindhaus Healthcare Pro and the SEBO X4 for example, two of the best overall upright vacuum cleaners that I've ever used by far. Not to mention that it's been proven which metal fans do provide better performance than plastic fans. It's such a shame really that companies have moved away from that technology. The ONLY vacuum I'm aware of that still uses a metal fan today on a direct air vacuum you can buy brand new would be the NSS M1 "PIG" that I use for weekend janitorial work. It's even the most powerful direct air machine ever made by far.
I don't ever recall seeing a metal fan break on any of the Royals in person before, even Kirby. But I do testify that I've repaired dozens or even a hundred plastic fans on direct air vacuums. This is one of the reasons why I personally prefer to use bypass or clean air machines like this Lindhaus Healthcare Pro and the SEBO X4 for example, two of the best overall upright vacuum cleaners that I've ever used by far. Not to mention that it's been proven which metal fans do provide better performance than plastic fans. It's such a shame really that companies have moved away from that technology. The ONLY vacuum I'm aware of that still uses a metal fan today on a direct air vacuum you can buy brand new would be the NSS M1 "PIG" that I use for weekend janitorial work. It's even the most powerful direct air machine ever made by far.
I agree about the PIG-The most powerful canister out there.The most powerful uprights were the metal Royal uprights.I have some 10A Royals-moisy--but BEASTS of vacuums!!!!And have METAL fans.LOVE MY PIGS!!!!Have a "stall" of them!!!Their HIGH CFM moves the dirt the best!
panasonicvac
Well-known member
Actually I did had one metal fan break on a Royal but it was already broke when I got the machine. And I believe one metal fan did got unbalanced on a Royal. I don't remember. But the point though is that It's very rare for me to see a metal fan break. I'm actually even thinking about putting a metal fan in one of my Kirby G4s someday, they really do improve performance! Watch these two videos here.
Rex, have you ever tried a ProTeam canister before like the RunningVac? That I think is the most powerful canister that I've ever used by far. I like it even better than the PIG, but I still love the PIG regardless.
Rex, have you ever tried a ProTeam canister before like the RunningVac? That I think is the most powerful canister that I've ever used by far. I like it even better than the PIG, but I still love the PIG regardless.
Yes,I have two ProTeam canisters and have put them aside in favor of the PIG.In use the good ole pig simply does better.I do use the cordless FreeFlex backpack along with the PIG-just only of the best cordless canisters I have.
panasonicvac
Well-known member
Interesting
The ProTeam I feel does a much better job, even the SuperCoach backpack that I use along with the PIG once a week does a better job. But that's just me. Though I do use the PIG more simply because I'm not a fan of backpacks as much as canisters. Unless if it was a Sandia Raven, I'd use a backpack more. What about the new purple Patriot? How does it compare to the PIG performance wise?
The ProTeam I feel does a much better job, even the SuperCoach backpack that I use along with the PIG once a week does a better job. But that's just me. Though I do use the PIG more simply because I'm not a fan of backpacks as much as canisters. Unless if it was a Sandia Raven, I'd use a backpack more. What about the new purple Patriot? How does it compare to the PIG performance wise?
vacerator
Well-known member
Weight is an issue
for some folks too. Kirby's are heavy! I think the Filter Queen or Rainbow is more managable for stairs, etc.
for some folks too. Kirby's are heavy! I think the Filter Queen or Rainbow is more managable for stairs, etc.
When the bin in the Rainbow is filled with water-the Rainbow is HEAVIER and LESS manuerable than the Kirby.
my mother has a hard time lifting her G3 but using it self propelled is no problem.
Here’s an update with my 1965 Kirby Dual Sanitonic 50, I now have all the attachments and accessories to go with it. Huge thanks and shoutout to my friend Jeremiah for selling me the attachments I needed for my 1965 Kirby Dual Sanitonic 50.
