Thread Number: 24146
Prototype Kirbys - Did At Least One of Them Exist? |
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Post# 269989   3/2/2014 at 17:26 (3,679 days old) by KirbyClassicIII (Milwaukie, Oregon)   |   | |
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Reading those Kirby instruction books has me thinking... did at least one of these prototype Kirby vacuums - as seen in the instruction books - ever exist?
For example: on page 5 of the Kirby Classic (1CR, 1970-73) instruction book, we can see the arm-type speed switch that was officially used on the Classic Omega, Classic III and Tradition. That is prototypical proof right there, because that speed switch didn't actually exist until the Classic Omega (elsewhere in the instructions we can still see the actual "L"-shaped, two-button speed switch). The front wheels in that same picture did, however, make it past the prototype stage. The front wheels on most pages in the Classic instruction book are prototype. In addition, the "Miracle Head" is called a "fluffer-polisher" according to the belt lifter label (see pages 8 and 18). ~Ben |
Post# 269994 , Reply# 1   3/2/2014 at 18:26 (3,679 days old) by sonnyndad ()   |   | |
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I believe there was a prototype from around 1988 or so when Kirby was trying to get the G3 right. It looked like a Heritage II G3 blend. There should be a picture of it somewhere on Vacuumland. |
Post# 269997 , Reply# 2   3/2/2014 at 18:46 (3,679 days old) by super-sweeper (KSSRC Refurbishment Center)   |   | |
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That was a Legend II, Some members here have prototype Kirbys. Photos of them would likely be frowned upon by Kirby. HOWEVER, Could this below be a prototype Generation Series machine? This is from the poorly-photoshop-ed "Warehouse" of Jim Keeler, the man behind that terrible Kirby bagless conversion kit (Why on earth would you want a bagless kirby? especially one that forces dirt straight into the filter?).
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Post# 269998 , Reply# 3   3/2/2014 at 18:48 (3,679 days old) by super-sweeper (KSSRC Refurbishment Center)   |   | |
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Post# 270000 , Reply# 4   3/2/2014 at 19:03 (3,679 days old) by super-sweeper (KSSRC Refurbishment Center)   |   | |
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The Heritage II/Generation mash-up! (Owned by User: LunchBoxSean in Australia-Link to his thread below).
I would've loved the Generation series to look like this! CLICK HERE TO GO TO super-sweeper's LINK |
Post# 270064 , Reply# 5   3/3/2014 at 10:01 (3,678 days old) by rugsucker (Elizabethton TN)   |   | |
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There was a power drive kit offered for Kirby about the mid 70s from someone in Fla.It seems to have been drive wheels,handle grip,etc from a power drive Hoover.Have only seen ad to dealers.Anyone seen a Kirby with this kit? |
Post# 270071 , Reply# 6   3/3/2014 at 10:36 (3,678 days old) by dysonman1 (the county)   |   | |
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Post# 368652 , Reply# 8   3/18/2017 at 21:59 (2,567 days old) by crazykirbydude (Lexington, KY)   |   | |
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Post# 368696 , Reply# 9   3/19/2017 at 13:20 (2,566 days old) by myvacsrock (USA)   |   | |
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There is no adhesive residue on this machine...it is completely smooth. It is just a machined piece of metal. I can tell you nothing has ever been on it.
View Full Size
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Post# 368707 , Reply# 10   3/19/2017 at 14:06 (2,566 days old) by Kirbyg6 (York)   |   | |
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Post# 368712 , Reply# 11   3/19/2017 at 15:03 (2,566 days old) by TheSpiritOf76 ()   |   | |
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please tell us WHY you think that??? |
Post# 368715 , Reply# 12   3/19/2017 at 15:58 (2,566 days old) by Kirbyg6 (York)   |   | |
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Post# 372171 , Reply# 13   5/14/2017 at 17:32 (2,510 days old) by crazykirbydude (Lexington, KY)   |   | |
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Post# 372185 , Reply# 14   5/15/2017 at 12:58 (2,509 days old) by a007kirbyman (--->> Originally My Mom <<--- (now Wisconsin))   |   | |
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Post# 372234 , Reply# 16   5/16/2017 at 21:56 (2,508 days old) by pr-21 (Middletown, OH)   |   | |
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Post# 372251 , Reply# 17   5/17/2017 at 09:46 (2,507 days old) by gsheen (Cape Town South Africa)   |   | |
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I Love prototype vacuums, especially early samples in the design phase. Those early test jigs made from parts of other existing vacuums.
With Cad these days this stage is now often on a computor and missed in real life. When a new vacuum comes into fruition It happens in two ways. Most common is that Marketing says to the engineering and design department they need a new vacuum and they outline the parameters. The other way is that the engineers get a bee in their bonnet about something and build a crude but working test rig and show it to the marketing department who then see's if they can sell the idea. This is the far cooler way if you are into test rigs and prototyping because its often done after hours or in the spare time. The rigs are awesome. I have two of them from my days at Electrolux SA. I must get them out of storage and post picks of them. |
Post# 450449 , Reply# 18   2/28/2022 at 22:12 (759 days old) by KirbyCollector (Columbus Ohio USA)   |   | |
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Sorry for bringing back a very old thread, but I wanted to mention for those who didn't know. In the Sentria owners video, the Sentria used has a delicate switch. Which could indicate that Kirby wanted to continue with the switch, though it is never mentioned in the video. It is interesting to see though. Here is the video (part one). You see it a few times after the 3:30 timestamp. |
Post# 450450 , Reply# 19   2/28/2022 at 22:17 (759 days old) by KirbyCollector (Columbus Ohio USA)   |   | |
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I don't think there is a single vacuum in existence that I want more than that Generation 3 Prototype. This is a long shot, but if anyone out there has one by chance, and they are willing to cough it up for some cash... please let me know. That would actually be awesome. I know they are very rare, almost nonexistent, but out there somewhere.
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