Kirby Classic Omega and the Blue Tradition

[moreleisuretime]

Greetings, Everyone.

This is my first post here - although I have been enjoying all the chitchat for the past month or two.

My question goes out to the vac folks here. I want to add another Kirby to my collection of one (a DualSonic 50). After washing the 50's pocket bag a couple times and wigging out over how dirty it gets, I think I want a paper bag system.

I know the blue Traditions had the paper bag insert - but I have my eyes on the sexy Omega, with the hidden back wheels and the comforting fake wood grain. They both seem to have the oval-shaped sani-emptor - so I am wondering if the hose/connector that works with the bag on the Tradition is interchangeable with the Omega.

Yikes! Just thought that the cloth outer bag might be an issue as the Omega bag does not have a zipper for access.

Oh, well. I'll throw the idea out there. The worst thing that happens is that I buy both!

- - -
Knowing how much I enjoy all the photos you all have posted, thought I'd send a photo of my scotty dog, Nathan, eating and clearly oblivious to my white and red wonder - an O'Keefe & Merritt.

Dan

 

[frontaloadotmy]

retro fits

Hello MoreLeisure Time (for you!) 1st let me say, the O& M
looks quite nice, and don't be surprised that when Nathan
is out and about scampering with his pals he lets drop that his Human has provided a vintage stove so that his snacks
are prepared correctly! I am hardly a Kirby pro, I believe that some of the Kirby's allow parts interchangeability,
but not many. I am not really sure, but I think the blue
tradition was the last model with the sani-emptor/cloth
bag. There may have been a midline change wherein they switched to a factory paper bag on that model, but I am not positive. The vac pros will know that detail. At any rate, I
think all pre-paper bag models may be retrofitted to use
a disposable bag. The down side is that then you have a
unit that is not original. If you care more about the utility,
no big deal. Also, I have been told that washing of the cloth bags is not advised. Vacuum them with a canister for
optimum results.

 

[hoover1060]

Omegas and bags

As original, the Tradition bag insert will NOT fit an Omega, as the Tradition had a lip in the inside of the emptor which allowed the bag tube thingy to "snap" in.
I'd recommend getting an emptor from a Heritage I and using its paper bag system as the airflow was much better than the Traditions. You should be able to take the Omega bag to any decent dry cleaners that does alterations and have them sew a zipper in the seam that runs the length of the bag back.

Just my thoughts, welcome to the forum!

 

[moreleisuretime]

a clarification

Thanks, guys.

I wasn't clear on your suggestion, Hoover. Are you saying that I can use the Heritage I emptor on the Omega? (It will fit onto the Omega vacuum?) Sorry to be so dense. (I've never dealt with any Kirby other than my sadly neglected 510 and my recent ebay-purchased Sanitronic 50.) Altering a bag will be no problem, I'm sure.

d.

 

[hoover1060]

yes

A Heritage emptor will fit an Omega no problems, or you could even use the Heritage II mini-emptor. All that stuff is interchangeable.

 

[moreleisuretime]

great news!

Thanks, Jeff. You just gave me the green light to go for the Omega.

I wanted to tell you how beautiful your collection of Hoovers is, by the way. I'm thinking I need to acquire a green convertible with light now - the vacuum of my childhood.

d.

 

[hoover1060]

green convertible with a light

About what vintage would that be?

 

[brettsomers]

green with light

hoover has had a green convertible with light in the 60s 70s and 80s?

 

[petek]

If i were you I would just as Jeff suggested find another bag and emptor for daily use but keep the original bag and emptor as is for originalities sake should the time come you want to maybe trade it or sell it as original.

 

[moreleisuretime]

green convert.

Hmm. I had to be about ten when we got it, so that would be approx. 1973. Green probably isn't the proper name for the color - but to me, it was green...maybe avocado.

 

[hoover1060]

green with a light...

Hmmm... Hoover had a NEON green Convertible model U4017 in 1973...
Sound right?
Nothing avocado though...

 

[moreleisuretime]

neon...

I think it was more of a dull green. I know that I was disappointed when we got it (wanting a Kirby) and let my feelings be know. So I had to be old enough to feel I could have some say in the decision. That would mean I had to be older than six, putting it after 1969. And we definitely had it before junior high, approx. 1975. So somewhere between '69 and '75. I think the bag was a vinyl with little pinholes, possibly a tan, but I'm not sure.

 

[hoover1060]

ok

need a little more info:
Full Hood? squared hood? Rounded hood?
bag color?
Zipper or snaps o n the bag?
I've got damn near every Convertible model made between 69 and 75, and I am baffled!

 

[brettsomers]

tan bag...

maybe a 1070? although the motor cover was almost slightly maybe green? the 1070 (which i dont have) is one of my favorite convertibles, other than the 1060.

 

[moreleisuretime]

more info

I remember snaps. I remember that it was always difficult to get the bottom snaps snapped after changing the bag.

Rounded hood. (In the photo on your post 1045511 - 1/18/06 where you showcase your 344, there are several that resemble it, a "green" one on the right, five from the back, between a lavendar and a mustard yellow.)

I'll ask my mom if she can pin down the date, any particulars. Although she couldn't remember my aunt going from a Kirby, which she bought new ($$$$$), to a Connie. (How could anyone forget the shape of the Connie?) Suffice it to say my mom was never big on appliances, so I don't know that she will be much help.

 

[hoover1060]

Green Convertible

The green Convertible in the picture is model 69, made from 1961-1964. This was the deluxe model, long cord, full bumper, zipper bag, foot pedal booties, and handle grip.

 

[moreleisuretime]

definitely not the one

well, that isn't it. At that time, we had a turquoise Signature canister - the canned ham shape - with the vibrabeater (sp?!) carpet attachment. It's my first memory of any vacuum. The hoover replaced the canister.

 

[moreleisuretime]

talked to my mom

as predicted, she was no help. She didn't remember that it was a Hoover. She laughed at me when I asked her if she remembered the color. To quote her, "I was NOT Susy Homemaker." Too true.

 

[hoover1060]

LOL, mom's never remember the important stuff

Do you remember if the Hoover had a 2 or 4 position height adjustment?