Proof Of Kirbys Co-Existing!

[air-waycharlie]

Not only do these Kiby's live together but here you see the girls getting ready for a Mahjong game since the weather is somewhat inclement. These old gals work well together or independently.

Charlie

 

[air-waycharlie]

Max And His Omega

Max the wonder cat loves this Omega and can be seen here trying to hide behind this early 1970's model.

 

[jdinstl]

Droooooooooooooool......

...just look at those classy gals, all gussied up and looking good! It amazes me how they work like packhorses, yet keep their graceful and sexy figures. Talk about Charlie's angels!

Charlie, what model is the one on the far left?

Also, I'm a dog person -- but readily acknowledge that cats have a high sense of class and fashion. Max is merely socializing with the upper crust society of which he is a natural born member. Remember, cats were royalty in some cultures -- he is amongst his own kind.

Charlie, thank you for posting pics of this beautiful quartet. Do tell us their stories! And yup, they do get along quite well I've discovered, with my little Chorus Line of Kirby's.

Thanks for posting, they're awesome!

John

p.s. Max is a cutie!

 

[air-waycharlie]

Model 562

John,
Interesting that you asked about the model 562, (1962-63), since it is a very rare machine. 562's were only produced for approx. one year since the Sanitronic VII was getting ready to debut. It is the only Kirby in the tan series that has the 2-tone power cord. It still only has one motor as the first 2 motor model was the Dual 50 which is next to it in the photo.

Kirby had to come up with a 2 motor model to compete effectively with Hoover convertibles plus, upscale canisters now had power nozzles. If you look closely, you will see that the Kirby logo also changed slightly with the Dual 50. The circle became more oval and less round.

I've put several pics of vacs in a photo album on this website today and hopefully you will find them.

Thanks,
Charlie

 

[petek]

OK ok

Now I've got to pose Parker and Ben amidst my Kirbys.
BTW Charlie, I have to assume your Max isn't afraid of a running Kirby otherwise he wouldn't be caught dead standing that close. I just finished fostering and selling 3 Border Collie pups (12 wk olds) and they were fascinated with the Kirby running and following it back and forth yapping.

 

[petek]

Traditional Ben

this ones ok

 

[petek]

Legendary Ben

This ones our daily sweeper now, so smooth what's not to like about it.

 

[petek]

Everyone loves a Classic

in Fire Hydrant red.

 

[petek]

Thanks for viewing

my Kirbys

Ben

 

[westytoploader]

Charlie, BEAUTIFUL Kirbys (and cute kitty!)--thanks for posting! You certainly did a great job dressing them up...they look brand new and "factory fresh"!

I didn't realize the 562 had such a limited production run...I wonder what the significance was behind this model and why they didn't start producing Sanitronic VII's right away? And about the Legend II...wasn't there a rare version with a 13" Sanitronic-style nozzle?

I found your album (here's the link)...LOVE the early Hoovers, especially that 450! GREAT collection!

http://automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/00ShowCollectionGETD.cgi?dir=/COLLECTIONS/AIR-WAYCHARLIE

 

[air-waycharlie]

Small head Heritage and Legend

Westy,
Yes! Very good........there was a "small head" rug nozzle available for the Heritage II, Legend and Legend II. They are extremely rare are very hard to find. I know several members in the VCCC that have them. I did find one in a local vac store in Charlotte but the guy did not want to sell it. There were not many sold new. Most customers wanted the large head to cut vacuuming time even though the smaller one is far more maneuverable and easier to use, I think.

I can only speculate on what Kirby was thinking with the 562. Up until that time all the vacs were gray with burgandy trim and variations of that. Finally, the tan was introduced but still using the old logo on everything-(all tools, plug, bag, boxes, etc.) So in the evolution process, with the tan introduced it was time to update the corporate logo. When all that was accomplished it was time to think about the 2 motor concept. Kirby has never been cutting edge. The first model to take a disposable bag was the Tradition, (beautiful blue seen in Ben's pics), in 1979 and even that could use a paper bag or you could still use the shake out/dump bag. Keep in mind that Air-Way used a disposable wood pulp cellulose bag since it's inception in 1920! The Kirby made today is almost exactly the same as the Classic I introduced in 1970. Biggest change? Amperage of the motor, reduction in rug nozzle size and self propelled transmission. (The first run of the G3 had terrible problems which were corrected later on.)

One last thing for clarification, the Sanitronic VII was only a one-speed model so the evolutionary process was: 562, Sanitronic VII, Dual Sanitronic 50, Dual Sanitronic 80, then the big head series.

And........I did want to say to Ben that your Tradition is a beauty as is the Classic III. I had one of those that I rebuilt and also put on a Heritage 1 outer bag with mini-emptor. So much easier for regular use! I have done that with the Dual 50 using a "bojack" outer bag cover and with the Omega using a Legend II outer bag and mini-emptor.

On the older Kirbys, (both 12" and 14"), it is easy to replace the 2 brush strip brushroll with an upgraded 4 brushstrip brushroll. Much better cleaning and grooming of the carpet.

Charlie

 

[air-waycharlie]

Furniture and Doggies

BTW,
I meant to also say your decor is very fabulous and most tasteful! I see your doggies like the Kirbys too. They are really beautiful and look very sweet. Thanks for those pics!

 

[petek]

Just learned something

I didn't know either that there was a smaller head for the Legends. The guy that I got the two Traditions and one Heritage Legend II also gave me a huge box of Kirby bits and pieces I haven't gone through yet. I'll have to dig it out and take a look what's in there. But first I'm going to look at your pics

 

[petek]

OK now I've looked at the pics

I'm stealing your ideas for shelving!! Makes everything look so neat and tidy where mine looks a right mess LOL. Do you friends always want to play with them when they come over, seriously? I really love all the colorful Hoovers, seeing so many different ones all together makes what is a a basically a mundane appliance really appealing. Any connies in the collection? I don't know if I posted a pic of my latest one, it's two tone blue, a bit scruffy yet and I don't have the wands or matching floor brush/attachments for it so far but it floats along nicely.

 

[fnelson487]

Kirby's Live Fabulously Together

Two Shots - Oldest to Newest - Not staged as well as Charlies. Most restored and with their original attachments including Handi-Butlers and Renovators
L to R
Omega
Dual 80
Dual 50
519
561

 

[fnelson487]

Next Set

G5
Legend II
Tradition
Classic III
Omega

 

[fnelson487]

Just For Fun

One of my favorites - An all-new Hoover Aero-Dyne 53 from 1953.

 

[tolivac]

2 Motor Kirby?

Starting with the Dual series-the Kirbys used a two speed motor-When the floor-carpet nozzle was attached-the "low" motor speed was selected.when you put the hose attachment on-the "High" speed was selected.Fast forward to preset-the Kirby Diamond "G" machines-could be considered "4 speed Kirbys"-Low speed was selected when the carpet nozzle is attached.High is selected when the hose is put on.Then there is a two position switch on top of the motor housing to select normal speed of the motor and an addition al "lo" speed -the switch lights up green when the lo speed is selected-that is effective in hose or floor nozzle modes.Kirby suggests using the additional lo speed for delicate rugs and carpets and with the hose-for vacuuming curtains or drapes.
Loved seeing the pix of the machines in the links-esp the Air-Ways in Westy's link.The 562 Kirby sounds interesting-sounds like an intermediate model.It would be the last of the single motor speed Kirbys.The Kirbys before the Dual sereies had one speed motors-it ran at the same speed whether the floor nozzle or hose was used.I have the Dual 50 machine and the Dual 80-feel the Dual 50 is nicer-yes-I too like the lighted Kirby logo on the headlight hood.Very Classy.The pea green color of the dual 80 is sort of nauseating.-Its a very good machine nevertheless.Liked the all metal handle of the older machines(dual 50 on back)than the two peice handle later onDual 80 and later-the upper plastic peice can break-esp when old.In some of the machines I have the upper handle has been replaced on some of them.I have an extra Legend 2 bag that can use the newer Kirby bags I use on the older machines on occasion.gives better filtration to the old timers and allows you to use the Newer Filtrete bags!

 

[petek]

So many choices

I'll need a lotta luck to ever find some of the machines pictured above. The mauve or is it purple G5 I see a few of but folks are still asking too much for them. How many models were there in the Legend series? Mine is called a Heritage II Legend and it's black with red pinstriping. The bag is silver with gray squares and red Kirby lettering throughout. None of mine appear two have two speeds.