Kirby Heritage find

The Heritage Model is the model I grew up with. My parents bought it brand new back in 1981 and still use it to this day. Mom got a Dyson for Christmas but dad still prefers the Heritage I think, he isn't ready to let go of it yet. It's been through two COMPLETE house remodelings and the building of one new home and it STILL works like a champ. Still has the original bag, cord and attachments. My grandmother liked my parents Heritage so much that she and my grandfather bought one brand new that same year. I inherited that one when she died. I polished it up (not that it needed much anyways, granny's home was ALWAYS immaculate, almost museum like and that Kirby stayed in pristine condition) cleaned the bag and it runs beautifully. Fairly quiet for a Kirby too. That bag on yours is original. They are extremelly durable vacuums and will perform beautifully if well maintained, (this means changing belts and bags on a regular basis and not just because they are completely worn out or the bag is full up to the brim) If you treat it well, it will be good to you. you may want to take it in for a regular servicing as I do with my Kirby's. A service job only runs me 35.00 and they grease all the bearings, check the carbon brushes, fan, bags , brushroll, etc... Unless you are mechanically inclined and know how to do all of that yourself (which I wished I did)keeping your Kirby's regularly serviced will make them last a lifetime if not longer. Most people seem to think that just because it's a Kirby, it can do anything and everything.. WRONG.. they are VACUUM CLEANERS, made to keep your carpet, upholstry and surfaces clean from common household dust and dirt. You would be amazed at what some people try to do with them. But again, properly maintained, your Kirby will definately out perform most of your common, plastic made vacs that people buy at places such as wal-mart, Target, etc... I'm sure it will meet your performance expectations. Being bought at a thrift shop, I'm guessing you got a great deal on it! I've seen this model sell for $150.00 and up on ebay. There is a local vac shop that I buy parts from sometimes here in Oklahoma City and he has a Heritage Model (probably not even as good as shape as yours) and he wants over $200.00 for it! GREAT FIND! ENJOY!

(P.S) I always see attachment sets for these on ebay so if you on the lookout for those, you can probably score some at a bargain as well!


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Post# 17463 7/30/2007 at 12:15 (6,107 days old) by petek (Ontario)
Checkrate/Likes Got this today at a local thrift..in dire need of polishing but it works beautifully... BTW what year are the Heritages and is that bag original, I'm guessing not

Post# 17464 , Reply# 1 7/30/2007 at 12:16 (6,107 days old) by petek (Ontario)
Checkrate/Likes I also got this.. yet another Panasonic Jet Flo.. this ones in remarkably clean condition.. I like Jet Flo's for some reason..

Post# 17465 , Reply# 2 7/30/2007 at 12:18 (6,107 days old) by petek (Ontario)
Checkrate/Likes And just to round out the day... this very clean Sunbeam Floor Conditioner aka polisher also in near new shape.. Anyone know the age of it....per the color may have matched some Sunbeam vacs?

Post# 17466 , Reply# 3 7/30/2007 at 12:48 (6,107 days old) by thunderhexed (Edmond, OK)
Checkrate/Likes *Kirby Heritage* The Heritage Model is the model I grew up with. My parents bought it brand new back in 1981 and still use it to this day. Mom got a Dyson for Christmas but dad still prefers the Heritage I think, he isn't ready to let go of it yet. It's been through two COMPLETE house remodelings and the building of one new home and it STILL works like a champ. Still has the original bag, cord and attachments. My grandmother liked my parents Heritage so much that she and my grandfather bought one brand new that same year. I inherited that one when she died. I polished it up (not that it needed much anyways, granny's home was ALWAYS immaculate, almost museum like and that Kirby stayed in pristine condition) cleaned the bag and it runs beautifully. Fairly quiet for a Kirby too. That bag on yours is original. They are extremelly durable vacuums and will perform beautifully if well maintained, (this means changing belts and bags on a regular basis and not just because they are completely worn out or the bag is full up to the brim) If you treat it well, it will be good to you. you may want to take it in for a regular servicing as I do with my Kirby's. A service job only runs me 35.00 and they grease all the bearings, check the carbon brushes, fan, bags , brushroll, etc... Unless you are mechanically inclined and know how to do all of that yourself (which I wished I did)keeping your Kirby's regularly serviced will make them last a lifetime if not longer. Most people seem to think that just because it's a Kirby, it can do anything and everything.. WRONG.. they are VACUUM CLEANERS, made to keep your carpet, upholstry and surfaces clean from common household dust and dirt. You would be amazed at what some people try to do with them. But again, properly maintained, your Kirby will definately out perform most of your common, plastic made vacs that people buy at places such as wal-mart, Target, etc... I'm sure it will meet your performance expectations. Being bought at a thrift shop, I'm guessing you got a great deal on it! I've seen this model sell for $150.00 and up on ebay. There is a local vac shop that I buy parts from sometimes here in Oklahoma City and he has a Heritage Model (probably not even as good as shape as yours) and he wants over $200.00 for it! GREAT FIND! ENJOY! (P.S) I always see attachment sets for these on ebay so if you on the lookout for those, you can probably score some at a bargain as well!

Post# 17467 , Reply# 4 7/30/2007 at 13:01 (6,107 days old) by ian88 ()
Checkrate/Likes I'll take the jetflo off ya hands Petek.. lol as always :P

Post# 17469 , Reply# 5 7/30/2007 at 13:02 (6,107 days old) by hoover1060 ()
Checkrate/Likes *nice finds...* you aslways find the neatest stuff Pete! Yes thats the Heritage's original bag, that was not Kirby's prettiest machine....

Post# 17470 , Reply# 6 7/30/2007 at 13:03 (6,107 days old) by sikiguya ()
Checkrate/Likes *Great finds!* Great finds Pete! I really like the Kirby. It has such a classic design!

Post# 17476 , Reply# 7 7/30/2007 at 14:47 (6,107 days old) by petek (Ontario)
Checkrate/Likes Hi Cory.. I got it for $5. I have a few Kirbys alredy. A G3,G4,Heritage Legend II, a Tradition and a Classic III. By far my favorite though is the Heritage Legend II. I pieced together a good Legend II from two distraught machines taking the best of both. I also did the same thing with the Classic III in order to get one good original, albeit now with the shake out bag so I don't use it other than to turn it on now and then. I need to get a bench grinder so I can attach some polishing wheels..it's too difficult by hand or with an attachment on the end of a drill. Ian.. I think of you each and everytime I pick up yet another Jet Flo. Did they not sell them in the UK under the National name brand? Isn't National the name Panasonic used in the UK? I like them because they're fairly quiet, not the best carpet groomers by any means and of course they're very reminisent of the DAM.

Post# 17481 , Reply# 8 7/30/2007 at 15:24 (6,107 days old) by ian88 ()
Checkrate/Likes All our Panasonics were either Panasonic, or in the 80s National Panasonic..as far as i'm aware we only got Panasonic vacs in the 1990s and they were a.) just branded Panasonic and b.) made in spain, you can imagine why I want an actual Jetflo ;p or any older japanese made vac for that matter. And yes i'm sure I've seen it mentioned on this forum that Hoover sold the Dial a Matic design to Matsushita (Panasonic) and thats how the Jetflo was made..