My neighbor had a Legend and my grandmother had a Heritage (my niece has it now). I liked them but my favorite based on looks alone is my Tradition because it is blue...I love blue. I've never used any older than the Tradition.
Wow. Kirby and Flair
- Thread starter panthera
- Start date
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My Mom bought a Kirby model 516 from a lady that knocked on the front door when I was 5 yrs old. I remember vividly her whole demonstration, because I was always fascinated by vacuums.
The lady was very prim and proper and was wearing a suit, heels, hat and gloves. One particular feature I remember her touting was that the slot in the handle near the top could be used to deposit random coins that the user may find while vacuuming, thereby saving towards the monthly payments! I believe that my Mom ended up paying $400.00 for this Kirby and she used it from 1956 until 1989, and it was still working when my stepfather bought her a Riccar upright. In 1956 you could buy a very nice used car for $400.00, so Kirby's were always much more expensive than other vacuums, but well worth it.
Now my Mom certainly didn't have the dinero to pay for this Kirby. Initially, she thought she could use some of the grocery money to make the monthly payments.
I was sworn to secrecy to not tell my Dad about this Kirby that she didn't discuss with him prior to its purchase. But my Mom was always thinking! She got her hair done twice weekly in those days, and the monthly bill was sent to my Dad's Law office for payment. So Mom made an arrangement with her hairdresser, Bonnie to have her "pad" the bill and give the extra dollars to Mom so she could make her monthly Kirby payments.
This went on for at least a year or more before my Dad figured out what was going on. When I think about this its was alot like a scenario from "I Love Lucy", the most popular TV show at that time.
Housewives in the 50's needed to be inventive when they didn't have control of the families money, LOL. I recall that Mom used to be delighted to share this story of subterfuge with her friends.
Eddie
The lady was very prim and proper and was wearing a suit, heels, hat and gloves. One particular feature I remember her touting was that the slot in the handle near the top could be used to deposit random coins that the user may find while vacuuming, thereby saving towards the monthly payments! I believe that my Mom ended up paying $400.00 for this Kirby and she used it from 1956 until 1989, and it was still working when my stepfather bought her a Riccar upright. In 1956 you could buy a very nice used car for $400.00, so Kirby's were always much more expensive than other vacuums, but well worth it.
Now my Mom certainly didn't have the dinero to pay for this Kirby. Initially, she thought she could use some of the grocery money to make the monthly payments.
I was sworn to secrecy to not tell my Dad about this Kirby that she didn't discuss with him prior to its purchase. But my Mom was always thinking! She got her hair done twice weekly in those days, and the monthly bill was sent to my Dad's Law office for payment. So Mom made an arrangement with her hairdresser, Bonnie to have her "pad" the bill and give the extra dollars to Mom so she could make her monthly Kirby payments.
This went on for at least a year or more before my Dad figured out what was going on. When I think about this its was alot like a scenario from "I Love Lucy", the most popular TV show at that time.
Housewives in the 50's needed to be inventive when they didn't have control of the families money, LOL. I recall that Mom used to be delighted to share this story of subterfuge with her friends.
Eddie
I have a Diamond G Ultimate Edition with the 2 speeds. It cleans and grooms the carpet well. I am not really a fan of uprights however as it is a pain to go back and forth from floor to above the floor cleaning and with Kirby's hose switchover process it makes it even more cumbersome. I only bring out the Kirby when I want to do a quick clean of the carpet only before guests arrive.
Gary
Gary
I have the Kirby that belonged to my Aunt Doris. She and Uncle Joe were married in '49, and he bought it for her for their first aniversary. So it would be a '50 model, and a 510.
She told me that for many years they took it in to the Kirby Service Center every 5 years to have it serviced. They would do whatever work needed to be done, and polish it. The last time she had it totally refurbished, so it got the following new parts - cord, bag, brushroll, wheels, and trim such as handle grip and bumper strip. She said the new parts (tan) were a different color than the originals. This was probably about 15-20 years ago.
When I get the time, I would like to take it to the service center and have it polished again, as the metal has gotten dull looking.
She told me that for many years they took it in to the Kirby Service Center every 5 years to have it serviced. They would do whatever work needed to be done, and polish it. The last time she had it totally refurbished, so it got the following new parts - cord, bag, brushroll, wheels, and trim such as handle grip and bumper strip. She said the new parts (tan) were a different color than the originals. This was probably about 15-20 years ago.
When I get the time, I would like to take it to the service center and have it polished again, as the metal has gotten dull looking.
Best Vacuum For Carpeting
My Whirlpool built central vac with electric power head.
No smell and zero dust emissions in the house.
Easily cleans under low furniture.
Lighter and easier to Handel.
Much less noise.
Ops somehow I got on Vacuum Land site ??
John L.
My Whirlpool built central vac with electric power head.
No smell and zero dust emissions in the house.
Easily cleans under low furniture.
Lighter and easier to Handel.
Much less noise.
Ops somehow I got on Vacuum Land site ??
John L.
Nope, John -
Everybody is being pleasant. It most certainly can't be The Collector's Site which must not Be Named.
Everybody is being pleasant. It most certainly can't be The Collector's Site which must not Be Named.
The switch works perfectly!
Because the large Flair elements draw 2.65kW, it's important to have an indirect infinite control which works in that range. This brand new one does - it was made in late 2016, by the way - and it controls the element very well.
Perfect slot in, even the connections are in the exact same place as the originals from Proctor-Silex.
Not the best controls, ever, but let's hope, having made it 50+ years, they have a few more ahead of them.
And, of course, due to the generosity of a member, our '78 Maytag Center Dial is up and running perfectly. I am no fan of timer 'issues' and was very, very happy to receive the help!
So, now we have to decide what to do with the '60/'61. This now working Flair was to have been the 'parts-donor' but turned out to be in nearly perfect condition. On the one hand, it would be awful to throw away several hundred hours of work (my husband's, not mine) on it. On the other hand, looking at Ebay prices for trim and other parts.....
Because the large Flair elements draw 2.65kW, it's important to have an indirect infinite control which works in that range. This brand new one does - it was made in late 2016, by the way - and it controls the element very well.
Perfect slot in, even the connections are in the exact same place as the originals from Proctor-Silex.
Not the best controls, ever, but let's hope, having made it 50+ years, they have a few more ahead of them.
And, of course, due to the generosity of a member, our '78 Maytag Center Dial is up and running perfectly. I am no fan of timer 'issues' and was very, very happy to receive the help!
So, now we have to decide what to do with the '60/'61. This now working Flair was to have been the 'parts-donor' but turned out to be in nearly perfect condition. On the one hand, it would be awful to throw away several hundred hours of work (my husband's, not mine) on it. On the other hand, looking at Ebay prices for trim and other parts.....
rolls_rapide
Well-known member
Reply #20
A case of 'Desperate Housewives of the 1950s'!
How did your dad react when he eventually found out?
A case of 'Desperate Housewives of the 1950s'!
How did your dad react when he eventually found out?
Rolls_rapide
to answer you question, when my Dad finally figured out what was going on with the Kirby I think he probably just paid it off, after first telling Mom to just ask next time if she really wanted something. I don't recall that there was a big blow out over it. But it sure gave Mom a fun story to tell over the years!
Eddie
to answer you question, when my Dad finally figured out what was going on with the Kirby I think he probably just paid it off, after first telling Mom to just ask next time if she really wanted something. I don't recall that there was a big blow out over it. But it sure gave Mom a fun story to tell over the years!
Eddie
warmsecondrinse
Well-known member
Kirby & Regina Electrikbrooms
Kirby: I inherited a non-working one. A member here dx'd its needs being far beyond what was doable in my situation. Sold it on eBay to a young girl who was ecstatic. It was to be a centerpiece in a working mural that would let the owner store his appliances in plain sight, as a work of art. She had an elderly relative who owned a Kirby and the girl was smitten with them. She told me she had geek friend who'd LOVE to restore the Kirby for her.... She gave me her contact info and asked me to give her 6 months to finish the work. Alas, I've lost her card.
Regina Electrikbroom. My mother had one she loved, although emptying the dust cup was a dramatic event the reasons for which I never understood. She lamented there were none with the "beater bar" the new carpeting required. A few years later (I was maybe 10?) I found one in a store and showed her. She wasn't interested. I don't recall her reason, just my wondering what the reason had to do with either vacuums or carpets.
I've an Electolux that meets my needs and is the quietest vacuum I've ever used. Still wouldn't pass up an Electikbroom with a power head if I came across one though....
Kirby: I inherited a non-working one. A member here dx'd its needs being far beyond what was doable in my situation. Sold it on eBay to a young girl who was ecstatic. It was to be a centerpiece in a working mural that would let the owner store his appliances in plain sight, as a work of art. She had an elderly relative who owned a Kirby and the girl was smitten with them. She told me she had geek friend who'd LOVE to restore the Kirby for her.... She gave me her contact info and asked me to give her 6 months to finish the work. Alas, I've lost her card.
Regina Electrikbroom. My mother had one she loved, although emptying the dust cup was a dramatic event the reasons for which I never understood. She lamented there were none with the "beater bar" the new carpeting required. A few years later (I was maybe 10?) I found one in a store and showed her. She wasn't interested. I don't recall her reason, just my wondering what the reason had to do with either vacuums or carpets.
I've an Electolux that meets my needs and is the quietest vacuum I've ever used. Still wouldn't pass up an Electikbroom with a power head if I came across one though....
my mother had a blue Regina Electrikbroom too.
