Thread Number: 89604  /  Tag: Small Appliances
1964 Kirby Sanatronic 7
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Post# 1141982   2/12/2022 at 15:25 (803 days old) by Maytag85 (Sean A806)        

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This is one of my latest acquisitions, a 1964 Kirby Sanatronic 7. Bought this off of Facebook marketplace for $40, everything appears to work and be there but just needs a cleaning and polishing but otherwise works. I know this should be posted to Vacuumland, but am posting it here since I don’t have a account there and this is the forum index for miscellaneous appliances like stoves, refrigerators, small cooking appliances, and other small appliances around the home.




Post# 1142024 , Reply# 1   2/12/2022 at 21:29 (802 days old) by panasonicvac (Northern Utah)        
Nice grab!

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I really like these Kirbys, they're good little vacuums. Does yours have a metal or a lexan fan in it?

Post# 1142032 , Reply# 2   2/12/2022 at 23:25 (802 days old) by Maytag85 (Sean A806)        
Reply #1

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Yes, it has the lexan fan in it. Looks like it was replaced back in the 90’s sometime since the metal fan looks like it has been long gone for some time. I actually had to replace the fan on the Kirby Legend II that was inherited back in the late 90’s since it cracked in 2018 but I can’t complain since it almost lasted 30 years and that was my fist time ever working on a Kirby vacuum. I looked at the ratings tag and turns out it’s a Dual Sanatronic 50 but the Sanatronic 7 isn’t drastically different from it though.

Post# 1142034 , Reply# 3   2/13/2022 at 00:50 (802 days old) by panasonicvac (Northern Utah)        

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That was my first thought was thinking it's a Dual Sanitronic 50 based on the bag. Since you say that you own a Legend II, what other Kirbys or vacuums do you also own? I'm actually curious:)

Post# 1142035 , Reply# 4   2/13/2022 at 01:49 (802 days old) by Maytag85 (Sean A806)        
Reply #3

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The 1964 Kirby Dual Sanatronic 50 and the 1989 Kirby Legend II I have are the only Kirby’s I have at the moment. Going to be getting a Kirby Classic 1CR and 1949 Kirby 509 sometime next week. The story with the Kirby Legend II is it was inherited from my great grandparent’s when they passed away in the late 90’s (this happened a few years before I was born) and was used up until 2004 since my mom claimed it was ‘too heavy’ (reason why Kirby’s get a bad wrap for being heavy is people have a bad habit of setting the nozzle height to the lowest setting making it difficult use plus they weigh about as much as any other vacuum made, reason why they seem heavy is all the weight is all at the bottom instead of being even distributed on any other cleaner) and was set off to the side. What replaced it was a obnoxiously loud Hoover bagged vacuum (don’t remember what model it was, all I remember is it was black, and was extremely load), and the next vacuum after that was a Bissell bag vacuum and after that was another Bissell which was a 2008 Bissell lift off with the turbo brush for pet hair and the Kirby Legend II replaced it once I pulled it from a storage cabinet in my garage. What made me bring the Kirby Legend II back to life was I was tired of the filters getting clogged on the Bissell, and dust spewing out of the trash can when I disposed of it, and decided it was best to have a bagged vacuum since there’s not many filters to deal with and is cleaner since there’s no dust being released back into your house when you dispose of the dust.

Post# 1142051 , Reply# 5   2/13/2022 at 09:31 (802 days old) by luxflairguy (Wilmington NC)        

Lucky find! One of all time favorite machines! Easy to work on and clean amazing well for a machine from the 60"s! Sure wish others made machines that are as reliable! Greg

Post# 1142055 , Reply# 6   2/13/2022 at 10:17 (802 days old) by Maytag85 (Sean A806)        
Reply #5

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I think this cleans better than the Legend II I have since the air flow is more concentrated, and literally has the same fan that I installed in the Legend II 4 years ago since it cracked after 29 years of service. Kirby’s definitely clean better compared to Hoovers and have a easy to use nozzle height since there is some guess work in setting the nozzle height on most other vacuums where you have to turn a dial up and the front or a lever on the back.

Post# 1142075 , Reply# 7   2/13/2022 at 12:00 (802 days old) by Repairguy (Danbury, Texas)        

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Kirby states to lower the floor nozzle one notch at a time until you hear a change in the sound of the motor for correct adjustment.

Post# 1142098 , Reply# 8   2/13/2022 at 17:00 (801 days old) by panasonicvac (Northern Utah)        

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I feel that I like these machines more than the second and third generation models, especially the Legend II even though that's one of my favorite Kirbys and one of my all time favorite vacuums. I wished that they still made those Sanitronics today, but thankfully you can ship those Sanitronics back to Kirby and they can completely factory rebuild them to brand new condition because these are truly meant to last a lifetime! Speaking of which, if you still have your warranty card for your Legend II, you can possibly get a discount for Kirby of rebuilding your Legend II. And regarding Hoovers, I feel there are some models that can clean just as well as any Kirby.

Post# 1142099 , Reply# 9   2/13/2022 at 17:38 (801 days old) by Maytag85 (Sean A806)        
Reply 8

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I don’t think there was ever a warranty card that came with the Legend II that was inherited back in the late 90’s. There probably was one when it was purchased, but gotten lost with time sadly. Hoover definitely made good vacuums many years ago but sadly cheapened them up quite a bit in the 80’s and 90’s while Kirby persisted on making quality vacuums that would last a lifetime and that’s why Kirby is a favorite of mine because they haven’t cut corners like all the other vacuum manufacturers with the exception of Rainbow/Rexair and Filter Queen.

Post# 1142121 , Reply# 10   2/13/2022 at 22:52 (801 days old) by panasonicvac (Northern Utah)        

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Yeah Hoovers today aren't what they used to make nowadays. I mean I still like them but I could care a little less about them. I think in my opinion the last better Hoovers that they've ever made other than the Concept/PowerMAX would be the Conquest. Luckily they're still selling the PortaPOWER under the commercial line but I don't know how much longer they'd keep making that for, they might have already discontinued them but who knows. I no longer have inside information cause I used to work for several vacuum stores in my area. Actually I'm not too thrilled with Rainbow and Filter Queen nowadays. Rainbow's newest model got recalled and Filter Queen's newest model aren't as reliable from what I've seen.

Post# 1142123 , Reply# 11   2/14/2022 at 00:04 (801 days old) by Maytag85 (Sean A806)        
Reply #10

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I don’t have experience with Rainbow or Filter Queen but I am sure they are better than most consumer vacuums like Shark since they don’t have parts support for them and aren’t easy to work on nor are easy to use. There’s countless videos on YouTube showing how Shark vacuums really aren’t all that great.

Post# 1142125 , Reply# 12   2/14/2022 at 00:38 (801 days old) by panasonicvac (Northern Utah)        

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I agree, I'd rather take either one anyday over a Shark. Really am not a fan of them. But hey, at least they work. I wouldn't mind using a Shark in my own home if someone were to gift me one brand new, I could just use that while I'd save up to send in my vintage Kirby 512 to have Kirby factory rebuilt it and use that vacuum when the Shark dies. I hope to have my 512 restored sometime this year.

Post# 1142127 , Reply# 13   2/14/2022 at 01:37 (801 days old) by Maytag85 (Sean A806)        
Reply #12

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I’ve been lurking over on Vacuumland, and apparently someone created a thread on a new Kirby that will be released sometime in the near future or sometime in the future.

Post# 1142130 , Reply# 14   2/14/2022 at 03:09 (801 days old) by panasonicvac (Northern Utah)        

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Yeah I've been replying to those threads recently, one of which I actually created lol. I'm honestly not sure if we'll get a new Kirby soon or not, especially since the Kirby company got sold recently. Guess we'll know when we see it once it comes out.

Post# 1142152 , Reply# 15   2/14/2022 at 08:08 (801 days old) by vacerator (Macomb, Michigan)        
I had one

back in the late 70's from a garage sale. It was in great condition, and ran flawlesslly. It had the carpet scrubber, and sparayer. I even used it to paint the rocker panels and lower front fenders on my '74 Gremlin after stone chip damage.

Post# 1142219 , Reply# 16   2/14/2022 at 22:24 (800 days old) by Maytag85 (Sean A806)        
Reply #14

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I think Kirby should reintroduce the 500 series and offer them in decorator colors such as turquoise, pink, blue, sunny yellow, mint-green, and many other colors that were around in the 60’s.

What company bought the Kirby company? Did they just buy the Kirby company or was it the whole Scott & Fetzer company?


Post# 1142234 , Reply# 17   2/15/2022 at 05:25 (800 days old) by askolover (South of Nash Vegas, TN)        

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I didn't even know it was Warren Buffett's company!

 

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway recently sold Kirby after 35 years of owning the vacuum-cleaner company. The famed investor's conglomerate rarely sells businesses, and Buffett once prized Kirby as one of Berkshire's best subsidiaries, making the transaction a notable one.

Berkshire sold Kirby to Right Lane Industries, an industrial holding company that seeks to acquire US-based manufacturing and industrial-services companies, invest in them, and hold them permanently. That strategy chimes with Berkshire's promise of a "forever home" for the businesses it buys.

Before its sale to Right Lane, Kirby was a division of Scott Fetzer, a manufacturing conglomerate that Berkshire purchased in 1986. Buffett trumpeted the direct seller of vacuum cleaners as one of Scott Fetzer's crown jewels in his 1985 letter to Berkshire shareholders.

"While the Kirby product is more expensive than most cleaners, it performs in a manner that leaves cheaper units far behind ('in the dust,' so to speak)," Buffett said. "Many 30- and 40-year-old Kirby cleaners are still in active duty. If you want the best, you buy a Kirby."

Moreover, Buffett once counted Kirby as one of "The Sainted Seven" among Berkshire's non-insurance businesses, along with the likes of See's Candies and Nebraska Furniture Mart.

"This divine assemblage ... is a collection of businesses with economic characteristics that range from good to superb," the investor said in his 1989 letter. "Its managers range from superb to superb."

Buffett was right about Kirby's stellar prospects. The company's annual pretax earnings almost tripled to $59 million between 1986 and 1996, and Berkshire's net earnings from Kirby nearly quadrupled to $40 million over the same period.

Moreover, Kirby generated more profit than all but one of Berkshire's 10 non-insurance businesses in 1996, and was responsible for about 5% of the conglomerate's operating earnings that year.

It's unclear why Scott Fetzer decided to dispose of Kirby, a company it owned for more than 50 years and partnered with for more than a century. Experts told Insider that financial, operational, or cultural challenges might explain the move.

"It's possible the Kirby vacuum ain't what it used to be, or perhaps that the door-to-door business model controversies aren't worth it," Lawrence Cunningham, a law professor at George Washington University and the author of several books about Buffett and Berkshire, told Insider.

"It could be that the business isn't viable anymore, or there was an issue with management that went deeper into the subsidiary's culture," Adam Mead, the author of "The Complete Financial History of Berkshire Hathaway," told Insider.

Berkshire Hathaway, Scott Fetzer, Right Lane, and Kirby didn't immediately respond to requests for comment from Insider.



CLICK HERE TO GO TO askolover's LINK

Post# 1142252 , Reply# 18   2/15/2022 at 08:50 (800 days old) by jamiel (Detroit, Michigan and Palm Springs, CA)        

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If I were a betting man, I'd say it was either triviality (just not big enough to matter to BH) combined with the stench of the direct-sales model (and the controversies you mention). Very easy to spin a Kirby sold to someone who's non-compos-mentos to an indictment of all of BH.

Post# 1142259 , Reply# 19   2/15/2022 at 12:00 (800 days old) by ea56 (Cotati, Calif.)        

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As far as Berkshire Hathaway’s management of See’s Candies, a long time California only company, in my opinion they took an excellent company and product and made it less superlative than it once was.

While See’s is still the best chocolate candy that money can buy, also in my opinion, its not up to its former standards. BH has made this fine company into an organization that is all about the money. We still buy See’s in our home, but have been disappointed more than once over the past 10 years by receiving candy that was packed long before it was sent and was stale or arrived after the promised date, and their fees for shipping are pretty high when you factor in that you are paying $26.50 to $31.50 per lb.

At these prices it should arrive at the peak of freshness and be shipped for less than $6.95. You only get free shipping now if you spend over $35.00, so you have to buy more than you may want or need to get it shipped free.

Being a native Californian I’ve been buying See’s candy all my life. Believe it or not, there was a time I can recall paying only $0.80 per lb! Just yet another example of inflation.

Eddie




This post was last edited 02/15/2022 at 12:34
Post# 1142312 , Reply# 20   2/15/2022 at 21:07 (799 days old) by panasonicvac (Northern Utah)        

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That would be cool if Kirby brought back some of their older models again. Especially the ComVac line. I think there is still a market left for commercial vacuums since more buildings are having carpets than more homes that do. It's like when Hoover quit making the Guardsman line for residential use but still made them for commercial use. And now that Royal's metal uprights are gone, Kirby could fill in the spot and not have competition anymore. Unless if Kirby buys Royal's design, tooling, and moldings. They could instead bring back Royal but have them rebranded as Kirby. I personally would rather have Kirby bring back Royal's classic vacuums because I personally liked Royal better than Kirby. But yeah I'd love to see this Kirby line again.

Post# 1142336 , Reply# 21   2/16/2022 at 03:35 (799 days old) by askolover (South of Nash Vegas, TN)        

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I've never had a Royal other than my little Prince but I'd like to some day, just for comparison's sake.  But I don't have much room with my already two Kirbys and the Shark I got for Tony to touch up with after he got hurt and had trouble with the Kirby's weight.  And in my shop I have a ShopVac, a Craftsman vac, and a Bissell shampooer/wet/dry vac.


Post# 1142371 , Reply# 22   2/16/2022 at 14:10 (799 days old) by vacerator (Macomb, Michigan)        
How did this

thread drift from a Kirby to Buffet? I didn't hear that his tax accountant's all quit too.
Warren's buiness plans were always wise. Avoid debt, unless it's short term, and transfers to an escrow gain. Don't buy real estate when everyone else is; buy low, sell higher. If possible, move higher risk investements to liquid assets before a market downturn. During or before recovery, use the sheltered principle to buy back lower. Think long term. Saving up cash and buying with it over borrowing affords one more in the long run.


Post# 1142379 , Reply# 23   2/16/2022 at 16:43 (798 days old) by jamiel (Detroit, Michigan and Palm Springs, CA)        

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Because Warren Buffett (Berkshire Hathaway) formerly owned Kirby, but recently divested.

Post# 1142704 , Reply# 24   2/21/2022 at 00:33 (794 days old) by panasonicvac (Northern Utah)        

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I'm reuploading this picture from my last post because it got lost when this website was hacked. Again, I'd love for Kirby to bring these commercial vacuums back!

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Post# 1142709 , Reply# 25   2/21/2022 at 06:41 (794 days old) by tolivac (greenville nc)        

I don't believe the 2800 "comvac" is an actual Kirby product.Have seen these wide area sweeper vacuums under MANY names-even Oreck!

Post# 1142744 , Reply# 26   2/21/2022 at 17:41 (793 days old) by panasonicvac (Northern Utah)        

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Or maybe it is! I mean if you realize this, Scott Fetzer has made products for several brands including Oreck. For example, not only just the wide area vacuums like you've mentioned but also hand vacs and wet dry vacs as well. Now I'm not entirely sure about that, maybe someone who knows Kirby better than I would verify that to us.

Post# 1142762 , Reply# 27   2/21/2022 at 20:27 (793 days old) by Dermacie (my forever home (Glenshaw, PA))        

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I love the Kirby company, I currently own two Kirby vacuums both with complete attachments.  I have a 1967 Kirby DS 50 and a 2000 G6.  I love how they perform.  Parts are inexpensive and the filtration is great.


Post# 1142795 , Reply# 28   2/22/2022 at 09:25 (793 days old) by panthera (Rocky Mountains)        
Cool!

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I love the vintage Kirby vacuums! They really clean well and they look great.
We're fortunate enough to have several.
As to posting here instead of on The Collector's Site Which Must Not Be Named, I believe Samantha modified that ruling quite a while back because some of us are less than welcome over there. To put it mildly.

I imagine one reason for Berkshire-Hathaway Inc. to have divested was the horrendously bad (and deservedly so) rep my favourite vacuum cleaner company has gotten for some really bad sales practices.


Post# 1145001 , Reply# 29   3/21/2022 at 23:19 (765 days old) by Maytag85 (Sean A806)        

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Here’s 2 other Kirby’s I’ve got as of recent. On the right is a 1949 Kirby 509, in the middle is a 1965 Kirby Dual Sanitronic 50, and on the right is a 1970 Kirby Classic 1CR.

The 1965 Kirby Dual Sanitronic 50 I’ve had for awhile but the 509 and Classic 1CR are the newest in my collection. Just a photo of all my Kirby’s together.


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Post# 1145005 , Reply# 30   3/22/2022 at 02:02 (765 days old) by askolover (South of Nash Vegas, TN)        

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I just love Kirbys and Royals.  If I had the room I'd have one of all their models just because.....I especially like blue ones like my Tradition and my Royal Prince.


Post# 1145086 , Reply# 31   3/23/2022 at 13:20 (764 days old) by panasonicvac (Northern Utah)        

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Nice! Have you ever considered polishing any of your Kirbys up to shine like new?

Post# 1145100 , Reply# 32   3/23/2022 at 16:49 (764 days old) by MattL (Flushing, MI)        

How would one do that? One of my Kirbys is in need, tried a few rubbing compounds nothing worked well enough to warrant the effort to do the whole machine.


Post# 1145115 , Reply# 33   3/23/2022 at 20:22 (763 days old) by panasonicvac (Northern Utah)        

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What Kirby are you trying to polish up?

Post# 1145138 , Reply# 34   3/24/2022 at 10:57 (763 days old) by Maytag85 (Sean A806)        

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I suggest Mother’s Mag and Aluminum Polish and that’s what I used on my Kirby’s the other day to give me something to do while the power was out. I’ll post a picture sometime later but it’s a difference from when I first got them. If you use 0000 steel wool, it will be a mirror like finish as soon as you are done.

Post# 1145214 , Reply# 35   3/26/2022 at 01:17 (761 days old) by panasonicvac (Northern Utah)        

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This is what I prefer to polish my vacuums with.





But this is what I would recommend if you're doing it by hand.






Post# 1145252 , Reply# 36   3/26/2022 at 20:03 (760 days old) by MattL (Flushing, MI)        

I have an abused G4 I picked up for $10.  Looks like it got weathered some how, still runs great, power drive is better than the one in my G5. Tried to polish it a couple of times but still looks off.  Will try the methods posted.


Post# 1145277 , Reply# 37   3/26/2022 at 23:33 (760 days old) by askolover (South of Nash Vegas, TN)        

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I polished my Tradition with this kind of buffing setup





Post# 1145313 , Reply# 38   3/27/2022 at 18:07 (759 days old) by Maytag85 (Sean A806)        

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Now here’s question I have that’s somewhat related to this thread, how do I activate my account on Vacuumland? I created a account over there (same user name as on here) and wants me to send a email to Robert. Maybe I might email Robert sometime but I know he can be busy at times.

Post# 1145350 , Reply# 39   3/27/2022 at 23:58 (759 days old) by panasonicvac (Northern Utah)        

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I would reach out to him.

Post# 1146454 , Reply# 40   4/13/2022 at 13:35 (743 days old) by Maytag85 (Sean A806)        

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Since I am not on Vacuumland, here’s something that Kirby has decided to start doing and that is selling their vacuums online. Yes, you can now buy directly from Kirby.

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Post# 1146528 , Reply# 41   4/14/2022 at 02:48 (742 days old) by askolover (South of Nash Vegas, TN)        

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I'm sure Covid affected their door to door sales pitch.


Post# 1146559 , Reply# 42   4/14/2022 at 13:25 (742 days old) by Maytag85 (Sean A806)        
Reply #41

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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.

Post# 1146571 , Reply# 43   4/14/2022 at 17:18 (741 days old) by vacerator (Macomb, Michigan)        
"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.


Post# 1146588 , Reply# 44   4/14/2022 at 23:04 (741 days old) by panasonicvac (Northern Utah)        
Not surprised

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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.

Post# 1146589 , Reply# 45   4/14/2022 at 23:09 (741 days old) by Maytag85 (Sean A806)        
Reply #44

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The $1600 price may be on the high side but is far cheaper than buying disposable vacuums that only last a few years. Certainly cheaper than what the door to door price is that’s for sure.

Post# 1146591 , Reply# 46   4/15/2022 at 00:28 (741 days old) by panasonicvac (Northern Utah)        

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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.

Post# 1146592 , Reply# 47   4/15/2022 at 00:38 (741 days old) by tolivac (greenville nc)        

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?


Post# 1146612 , Reply# 48   4/15/2022 at 11:35 (741 days old) by Maytag85 (Sean A806)        
Reply #46

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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.


Post# 1146657 , Reply# 49   4/16/2022 at 00:31 (740 days old) by tolivac (greenville nc)        

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.

Post# 1146661 , Reply# 50   4/16/2022 at 02:24 (740 days old) by panasonicvac (Northern Utah)        
I agree with Rex

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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.










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Post# 1146671 , Reply# 51   4/16/2022 at 06:37 (740 days old) by tolivac (greenville nc)        

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!

Post# 1146739 , Reply# 52   4/17/2022 at 03:43 (739 days old) by panasonicvac (Northern Utah)        

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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.


Post# 1146747 , Reply# 53   4/17/2022 at 06:53 (739 days old) by tolivac (greenville nc)        

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.

Post# 1146766 , Reply# 54   4/17/2022 at 11:22 (739 days old) by panasonicvac (Northern Utah)        
Interesting

panasonicvac's profile picture
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?

Post# 1146847 , Reply# 55   4/18/2022 at 07:05 (738 days old) by vacerator (Macomb, Michigan)        
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.

Post# 1146918 , Reply# 56   4/18/2022 at 23:58 (737 days old) by tolivac (greenville nc)        

When the bin in the Rainbow is filled with water-the Rainbow is HEAVIER and LESS manuerable than the Kirby.

Post# 1146924 , Reply# 57   4/19/2022 at 03:02 (737 days old) by askolover (South of Nash Vegas, TN)        

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my mother has a hard time lifting her G3 but using it self propelled is no problem.


Post# 1147712 , Reply# 58   4/29/2022 at 22:02 (726 days old) by Maytag85 (Sean A806)        

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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.

  View Full Size
Post# 1147729 , Reply# 59   4/30/2022 at 05:23 (726 days old) by askolover (South of Nash Vegas, TN)        

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Beautiful machine!


Post# 1147929 , Reply# 60   5/3/2022 at 09:14 (723 days old) by vacerator (Macomb, Michigan)        
The new plastic Rainbow is much

lighter than the old chrome domes were. I've demo'd one and it wasn't difficult with water in it.


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