Thread Number: 31686
/ Tag: 80s/90s Vacuum Cleaners
Does anyone have a picture of Keeler's self propelled converter? |
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Post# 350152 , Reply# 1   4/12/2016 at 12:33 (2,933 days old) by speedqueen (Harrison Twp MI)   |   | |
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If you have pictures or knowledge it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, in advance, -Richard Jolly |
Post# 350214 , Reply# 2   4/13/2016 at 09:20 (2,932 days old) by dysonman1 (the county)   |   | |
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He used to advertise the contraption in the VDTA (vacuum dealer's trade association) magazine that came out each month, back in the late 1980's. I have some of those issues, buried, but I promise as soon as they come to light I'll make a copy of his picture.
He used a Classic III, and added a new motor shell, which had a Hoover Dial A Matic power drive module in it. He also modified the handle to accept the Dial A Matic handle grip and transmission drive cable. It was a horrible monstrosity. I've seen one in person. About 7 or 8 inches longer in the back than a standard Kirby, it was an overgrown abomination. Tremendously heavy. There was a vac dealer near me who bought one for resale. I don't think he ever sold it to anyone. He's been retired for two decades, so I don't know what ever happened to that overgrown, glorified sawmill he called a "Keeler". A vac shop could buy the entire machine, or the 'conversion kit' from him. He also sold rebuilt Kirbys to the vac shops, ready for sale. Saw one of those too, he never used genuine Kirby parts, and the rebuild always looked sloppy and shadily done. |
Post# 350217 , Reply# 3   4/13/2016 at 09:30 (2,932 days old) by kirbyvertibles (Independence, KS)   |   | |
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Tom, I remember an old codger of a vacuum dealer in my town years ago talking about this and I guess he had seen it in person at one of the shows? anyhow I'm just curious if you ever crossed his path. His name is Paul Kennedy and he owned Kennedy's sweeper and sewing. I learned a lot from this man in the 90's before I took over being this areas vacuum guy.
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Post# 350225 , Reply# 4   4/13/2016 at 11:05 (2,932 days old) by mchmike (West palm beach fl)   |   | |
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Here's one , it crisps as it burns as it explodes.
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Post# 350228 , Reply# 5   4/13/2016 at 11:30 (2,932 days old) by reo580 (Holland, Michigan)   |   | |
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I'd be curious to see a Keeler Conversion. Especially the Classic 3 described above. I'm curious: when Keeler is brought up- people on this and other forums seem to have a negative slant towards him. I remember when he tired to advertise his bagless Kirby Kit back in 09-10. There was some hostility directed towards him. I'm not trying to point fingers or anything like that, I'm just trying to understand where it all comes from. I have to admit that a self propelled Classic 3 with a Hoover Concept handle conversion and trans hookup- that does take some ingenuity. My question is What's the issue with Keeler- I'm wondering if I had missed something in the past. I'm just curious that's all.
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Post# 350230 , Reply# 6   4/13/2016 at 11:54 (2,932 days old) by dysonman1 (the county)   |   | |
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Hey Derek:
It wasn't so much the bagless contraption as it was his insistence that it was "better" than the bag. Many people pointed out that it was a Eureka Optima dust cup and filter, mounted on a Kirby hose connector. We realized it restricted air flow even clean and empty, was a filthy mess to clean out, the filter clogged almost immediately, and it was a detriment to the way a Kirby, with its tremendous airflow, was able to clean the rug. He just didn't understand that he was making it worse and not better. And he liked to argue his points, in a group with many Kirby enthusiasts, who understand the Kirby way better than he did. |