Back from the SPA!

[tolivac]

john: Interestingly--Kirbys first cleaner was a canister-it even had a water filter like a--Rainbow.It took two people to use it-one person to pump the bellows in the canister and the other to work the hose and attachments.Does any of the vac collectors have one in their collection? I would imagine the machines are VERY rare.there is a picture of one in the later Kirby "Proof" salesmans book.Kirby started out making non-electric vacuums in the early part of their career.The second machine was called the "Grasshopper" it was an upright-a crank mechanism on the wheels pumpted the bellows as you pushed over the floor.I don't know what it used as a filter.A picture of it is in the same proof book as the canister.Another non electric machine they made had a friction powered motor-like a toy car-that spun a suction fan as you pushed it over the floor.It was marketed to homes without electicity.They did well with it.
Kirby "Canisters" didn't they make canisters under the "Douglas" name-A company that S&F owned that made hand vacs and small canister vacs.
In the future Kirbys-wether it by still upright or canister-DITCH THOSE PLASTIC tools-go to a locking metal wands-and locking metal Floor tools.That plastic floor tool provided now is HORRIBLE! I use a standard bare floor tool in its place.the hand tools should lock to the wands or handle peice as well-its bad when you are using them, to clean a wall and the rig falls apart!I feel the "friction" fit plastic tools and wands have no place on a $1500 dollar cleaning system!

 

[tlee618]

Thanks Charlie and everyone one else for the information on the Kirby canster. I hope that we are able to locate a picture. I have thought for a long time that Kirby would come out with something new and different like an attached hose, but so far nothing. Wouldn't be something that I would want but would blend in with the flow so to speak. Very interesting. Terry