Kirby Classic III Bags (And Older Kirbys Rebuilt 1977-79)

I understand that at one time, as the original owner of the machine, when sending into the Kirby factory for a rebuild, you could ask to have the machine done in whatever color scheme was avalible at the time,(red, brown, blue, green, ect) and the factory charged a higher price than the standard rebuild to have this done.
I dont know if the machines such as the 500 series you see that have been redone in blue, red, ect and the like were actually Kirby Factory rebuilds or not. Ive heard that some vac stores and service centers did this on their own, using bojack parts. Which would violate the Kirby Rebuild Agreement. If the Factory got a machine in for rebuilding, that had been rebuilt this way by someone else,,it was sent back to the customer as rejected because of the Non Factory Rebuilding.
Or the customer could have the option of Factory Rebuild at FULL COST,,not the agreeed upon cost noted in the Original Purchase Agreement.
I know that any bojack or non Kirby parts that show up on a machine for Factory Rebuilding are always rejected, and the factory charges extra for replacing with genuine Kirby parts. If you were to send in a Kirby for factory rebuilding, and the machine has a bojack, or aftermarket,non original Kirby bag, they replace it with a GENUINE Kirby bag, and send back the bojack, and charge extra for the replacement. Same with any bojack or non Kirby part.
Also, about the material itself of the Kirby Classic 3 bags ,,,i remember the name "Filter Felt" being used to describe the material of the bags at one time. I think you could get the "Filter Felt" bags for all shake out models at one time as an option.
Not sure exactly what "Filter Felt" was, but assuming the sort of felt like material that bags were made out of at the time. I think this felt material was treated with the Kirby KBF40 liquid to kill germs, or you could spray it on the bag yourself if you thought it needed it. The Filter Felt was also supposed to let your Kirby "Breathe" easier, and at the same time, filter out the dust and germs better than anything else avalible at the time.


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Post# 152717 9/23/2011 at 18:01 (4,592 days old) by KirbyClassicIII (Milwaukie, Oregon)
Checkrate/Likes I have some thoughts about the Kirby Classic III: It is a fact there seems to be at least three different bag designs concerning this model of Kirby. All involved the use of black and light blue threads on a candy-apple red bag (does anyone know the name of the exact fabric used?). 1. The first version is part #190076 and this style ran between serial #A000001 and #C666666. 2. The second is part #190077 and this style ran from about serial #C666667 through end of production in June 1979 at serial #E999999 (a tag was added to the back of the bag near the zipper, starting at around serial #E500000). The plaid stitching looks to be different than with #190076, especially the black stitches, correct? 3. The current part #190077 used in post-1979 rebuilds is significantly different than the previous two versions. It, of course, has the tag on the back of the bag by the zipper. Why am I seeing posts about the early versions of this bag being porous enough to be replaced? And now, my second thought: were there any older Kirbys rebuilt during the 1976-79 period to look like the Classic III - like, say, the 500 series (505 to Sanitronic 562), the Sanitronic VII and the 2-speed Dual Sanitronic 50 and 80? Furthermore, were there any Classic 1-CR's and Classic Omega 1-CB's rebuilt between 1977-79 to look like the Classic III? Thank you, Ben Edge (KirbyClassicIII)

Post# 152721 , Reply# 1 9/23/2011 at 18:04 (4,592 days old) by vac_whisperer ()
Checkrate/Likes Ive seen pictures of Dual 80s in Trad blue, rebuilt between '79-'81, to match the Tradition. Not sure about the CIII, though, but ill have to check.

Post# 152743 , Reply# 2 9/23/2011 at 18:38 (4,592 days old) by KirbyClassicIII (Milwaukie, Oregon)
Checkrate/Likes There were also a few older 500 series rebuilt in the years 1979-81, as were models representing the entire Classic trio (1-CR, Omega 1-CB and III 2-CB). I saw one Classic III done up in Trad Blue, where on the rug nozzle, they even painted over the original red belt lifter (with meticulous care, so as not to obscure the Vis-A-Belt window unique to this model), including the label with the white Kirby logo. Other Classic III rebuilds involved just using the Tradition's complete rug nozzle. I have seen more Classic Omegas in blue than Classic IIIs. But I am still hungry for info concerning 1976-79 rebuilds of older Kirbys. I did see one Classic Omega at Montavilla Vac & Sew that was dressed up to look like its successor. ~Ben

Post# 152753 , Reply# 3 9/23/2011 at 19:05 (4,592 days old) by BrianKirbyClass (Eudora Kansas)
Checkrate/Likes I understand that at one time, as the original owner of the machine, when sending into the Kirby factory for a rebuild, you could ask to have the machine done in whatever color scheme was avalible at the time,(red, brown, blue, green, ect) and the factory charged a higher price than the standard rebuild to have this done. I dont know if the machines such as the 500 series you see that have been redone in blue, red, ect and the like were actually Kirby Factory rebuilds or not. Ive heard that some vac stores and service centers did this on their own, using bojack parts. Which would violate the Kirby Rebuild Agreement. If the Factory got a machine in for rebuilding, that had been rebuilt this way by someone else,,it was sent back to the customer as rejected because of the Non Factory Rebuilding. Or the customer could have the option of Factory Rebuild at FULL COST,,not the agreeed upon cost noted in the Original Purchase Agreement. I know that any bojack or non Kirby parts that show up on a machine for Factory Rebuilding are always rejected, and the factory charges extra for replacing with genuine Kirby parts. If you were to send in a Kirby for factory rebuilding, and the machine has a bojack, or aftermarket,non original Kirby bag, they replace it with a GENUINE Kirby bag, and send back the bojack, and charge extra for the replacement. Same with any bojack or non Kirby part. Also, about the material itself of the Kirby Classic 3 bags ,,,i remember the name "Filter Felt" being used to describe the material of the bags at one time. I think you could get the "Filter Felt" bags for all shake out models at one time as an option. Not sure exactly what "Filter Felt" was, but assuming the sort of felt like material that bags were made out of at the time. I think this felt material was treated with the Kirby KBF40 liquid to kill germs, or you could spray it on the bag yourself if you thought it needed it. The Filter Felt was also supposed to let your Kirby "Breathe" easier, and at the same time, filter out the dust and germs better than anything else avalible at the time.

Post# 152765 , Reply# 4 9/23/2011 at 20:13 (4,592 days old) by JHGVac ()
Checkrate/Likes I saw this Dual Sanitronic (link attached) recently that is rebuilt with blue Tradition parts. Not sure if it's a factory rebuild or a "bojack". I haven't seen one rebuilt with Classic III parts yet though. Joe CLICK HERE TO GO TO JHGVac's LINK on eBay

Post# 152773 , Reply# 5 9/23/2011 at 20:37 (4,592 days old) by JHGVac ()
Checkrate/Likes Oops, I just saw the new eBay link thread/policy. Sorry for posting that link here. Joe

Post# 152779 , Reply# 6 9/23/2011 at 20:50 (4,592 days old) by KirbyClassicIII (Milwaukie, Oregon)
Checkrate/Likes What about Kirby Factory Authorized Service Centers? How would they handle Kirby rebuilds the factory way? ~Ben

Post# 152796 , Reply# 7 9/23/2011 at 23:50 (4,592 days old) by BrianKirbyClass (Eudora Kansas)
Checkrate/Likes Yep, same exactly as the Factory Rebuilds. In all of the instruction manuals and Rebuild Agreements up until the Classic Series ( i think, not 100 sure on the time line),,they all instructed that any Authorized Kirby Service Center would do the rebuilding for about the same price as the factory, plus any shipping fees that the Service Center has to pay for certain parts in rebuilding the machine,, and even incouraged the owner to take the machine to the nearest Authorized Service Center for the rebuilding, as it would save on the shipping to and from the factory that the owner would have to pay. I think that agreement would still hold true today, if you were the original owner of the machine, had the original owners manual showing the exact serial number of the machine, date of purchase,and the seller's signature. IF you can find an Authorized Service Center that has the ability to do the rebuilding and replacing of every single part,,and the buffing of the entire machine. All owners manuals state that the Factory agrees to put the machine back into A ONE CONDITION,,and that the Service Center cant charge more than the factory for the rebuilding, other than for shipping of parts. But, there may not be that many Authorized Service Centers left anymore that can do that,,or would want to,,or would even be trained to do the rebuilding.