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Thread Number: 7747
My Kirby Tradition Memories |
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| Post# 85647 12/8/2009 at 19:09 (5,250 days old) by kirbytradition7 (Denver (Aurora), CO, USA) | ||
Hi! I'm Francis Smith, a new user! My favourite vacuum is the Kirby Tradition. I dream of getting one; here's why: I grew up in a large family (10 kids), in a 2-story home (that used to be a funeral home) in Garrett, IN, from 1979-2008. In 1979, when I was 4, our family bought a shiny new Kirby Tradition. One of my siblings answered the doorbell--and before Mom knew what hit her, they let the visitor in. He was a Kirby salesman! He proceeded to pour some powder on our parlour floor, put together his Tradition vacuum, and start sucking away whilst talking up the virtues of this vacuum. (This is how Mom has told it to me.) Somehow Mom was convinced to buy the Tradition. I have no memory of what wheeling and dealing went on, or what convinced her to buy it. The beautiful Tradition was our main vacuum from then through 1998. We used it to vacuum the downstairs and upstairs. It came with the cardboard attachment box, and we had some kind of multi-pocket bag hanging on the laundry room door to hold all the tools. It was yellow, so I don't think it came with the vacuum. Mom did most of the vacuuming, until I hit junior high, then I started taking over a good part of the job. The Kirby had a loud roar, like a jet engine, I remember. Its performance, by the time I started using it (in the early 1990s), was somewhat spotty. It was showing its age, after so much use on both floors of our large ex-funeral home, with all of us kids living there! I remember it started eating belts a lot; I quickly became an expert at replacing Kirby Tradition belts! It sometimes would just not pick anything up, and would need to be serviced often. It would roar like a jet engine, but not pick much up. It was getting old! The worst thing about my Tradition was my allergies to dust. The Tradition was built in an era before any real awareness of dust allergies, so there was no HEPA filtration or anything. Whenever I used it, I would start having eye irritation, sneezing, and everything else. I started using surgical masks. Finally, in 1998, our faithful Tradition just gave up the ghost. We took it into our local vac shop (in Auburn, IN), and traded it in on a new Sharp upright with HEPA filtration (which was a great help for me). The vac shop owner put our Tradition (and all the attachments, too) in his own collection of vintage vacuums in his shop! To this day, I wonder if our Trad is still sitting there in that shop in Auburn, IN! Recently, I have been seeing old Trads popping up on the Internet, then I just found your wonderful website! My dream is to someday (hopefully soon) acquire a Kirby Tradition in good working (and looking) condition, for my historical archive! The hunt begins for my dream Kirby! | ||
| Post# 85653 , Reply# 2 12/8/2009 at 20:01 (5,250 days old) by kirbymodel2c (Nottingham, England) | ||
Hi  | ||
Post# 85654 , Reply# 3 12/8/2009 at 20:09 (5,250 days old) by compactelectra  (Palm Springs) |
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Hey Francis
It's too bad your family didn't remember that they could have sent that Kirby back to the factory in Cleveland for a complete rebuild for something in the neighborhood of $60-$70. It would have come back brand-new! I have sent a few back and it is like Christmas in August when that box arrives. The rebuild agreement comes with all Kirby's. Good luck in your search. I am sure you will find one. Here is a link to the story about a poster here who just got one back from Scott and Fetzer in Cleveland. There are many stories here about getting back a beautiful machine from Kirby.
CLICK HERE TO GO TO compactelectra's LINK | ||
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Post# 85656 , Reply# 4 12/8/2009 at 20:17 (5,250 days old) by compactelectra (Palm Springs) |
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Check out this link
This is a thread about our tour of the Kirby factory during the 2008 convention and pictures of the rebuild area at Kirby.
CLICK HERE TO GO TO compactelectra's LINK | ||
| Post# 85660 , Reply# 5 12/8/2009 at 21:39 (5,250 days old) by luxg () | ||
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Welcome Francis! What a neat story. The Tradition will be one you will want for your collection for sure. Give some thought to joining the VCCC. It's a great group and I think you would really enjoy it. Terry | ||
| Post# 85694 , Reply# 6 12/9/2009 at 12:58 (5,249 days old) by kenmore81 (Warwick, RI) | ||
Welcome Francis.... | ||
| Post# 85809 , Reply# 7 12/11/2009 at 01:59 (5,248 days old) by hygiene903 (Galion, OH) | ||
Welcome, Francis!
Enjoyed your story about the Tradition and hope you find one. Although I don't have a Tradition myself, I do have a Classic III, the model produced just before the Tradition. Mine came with a genuine Kirby paper bag conversion which is also available for the Tradition. I believe they were first offered as an option with the Heritage II as an option. Interesting that you mentioned Auburn, IN. I have in-laws that live not far from there in Fremont. Jeff | ||
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Post# 85829 , Reply# 8 12/11/2009 at 11:49 (5,247 days old) by a007kirbyman (--->> Originally My Mom <<--- (now Wisconsin)) |
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Francis & VCCC welcome
Welcome Francis... I too would like to welcome you to the forum/club. I tripped over the forum/club so-to-speak, when I was doing some seaches. There are a lot of nice people in the club & a lot of helpful info. I am somewhat limited on any assistance w/ other brands (don't repair or rebuild others); however, with KIRBYs, if there is any way I may be of help, feel free to contact me. And again, welcome. Bill | ||
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Post# 85838 , Reply# 9 12/11/2009 at 16:34 (5,247 days old) by gsohoover (Reidsville, NC) |
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Welcome to the Club Francis you will enjoy it here. | ||
| Post# 86557 , Reply# 11 12/20/2009 at 03:09 (5,239 days old) by kirbyman89 () | ||
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*untimely death | ||
| Post# 88060 , Reply# 12 1/4/2010 at 00:26 (5,224 days old) by kirbytradition7 (Denver (Aurora), CO, USA) | ||
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I just placed a bid on a very nice complete Kirby Tradition set on eBay--including attachments, floor waxing, and shampooing tools, boxes, manual, and extra belts.
CLICK HERE TO GO TO kirbytradition7's LINK on eBay 
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| Post# 88108 , Reply# 13 1/4/2010 at 15:31 (5,223 days old) by kenmore81 (Warwick, RI) | ||
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WOW | ||
| Post# 88248 , Reply# 15 1/5/2010 at 22:23 (5,222 days old) by kirbytradition7 (Denver (Aurora), CO, USA) | ||
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Finally Bought a Tradition
I did not win the auction I mentioned earlier (the Tradition with all the attachments, etc), because someone outbid me in a furious bidding war of 8 bids. But, not all was lost. I ended up getting a really nice Tradition from "vacstars", the seller who sells rebuilt Kirbys, for a "Best Offer" of $150. I will post photos when my Tradition comes home! CLICK HERE TO GO TO kirbytradition7's LINK on eBay 
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| Post# 88258 , Reply# 16 1/6/2010 at 00:23 (5,222 days old) by kenmore81 (Warwick, RI) | ||
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Sorry you didnt get the one from the bay.
At least you got one though. Ive read alot of vacstars reviews and they seem pretty good.Thas where Im going to purchase my kirby when I get the money and more room. I hate the biddind wars, Now I usualy watch an item for a day or 2 and if its not over my limit I set my limit price and if I get I get it,if not then it wasnt meant to be.Alot of times I have lost by like .50-a buck but if i up it then I end up paying more than I wanted to. Anyway Congrats on your new addition. If your not careful they will start to multiply ;) | ||
| Post# 88289 , Reply# 17 1/6/2010 at 10:34 (5,221 days old) by kirbyvacuum (Long Island New York) | ||
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Go Kirby Hi Francis Very nice kirby. You will be very happy with vacstar last year i got a G3 from then. Kirby looks and runs like new. Good luck Doug | ||
| Post# 88303 , Reply# 18 1/6/2010 at 17:09 (5,221 days old) by xraytech () | ||
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I got a Legend II from them last year, it looks and runs great | ||
| Post# 88462 , Reply# 19 1/7/2010 at 22:55 (5,220 days old) by kirbytradition7 (Denver (Aurora), CO, USA) | ||
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Where does Vacstars get all those vacs? | ||
| Post# 88671 , Reply# 20 1/10/2010 at 22:56 (5,217 days old) by kirbytradition7 (Denver (Aurora), CO, USA) | ||
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My Tradition Has Come Home!
I got my Tradition Friday afternoon (the one I won on Vacstars eBay auction). It's beautiful! It is now part of my Great Archive--a mini-museum of objects and ephemera from all eras of my life. This stands in for my original Tradition, which is no longer with us. I ran some vacuuming tests on it, after I put it together. I did a thorough vacuuming of my studio apartment, then did a little shredded-paper test and a test with some of my shaved whiskers (what came out of my shaver when I cleaned it out). It picked up everything beautifully. I will post pictures when I get a chance. | ||
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Post# 88682 , Reply# 21 1/10/2010 at 23:51 (5,217 days old) by kirbyclassiciii (Milwaukie, Oregon) |
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Vacstars Once Sold a Franken-Classic III
Hi, I've noticed that vacstars used to have a Kirby Classic III the equivalent of Frankenstein's Monster: it was serial #B666017 (which roughly means an April 1977 date of mfg.), but it had the bag assembly from a CIII 2-CB from 1978 or '79, and its motor shell was from a Legend II, which obviously uses as its rear wheels the same two as the front. ~Ben | ||
| Post# 89287 , Reply# 22 1/19/2010 at 01:35 (5,209 days old) by kirbytradition7 (Denver (Aurora), CO, USA) | ||
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Here Is My Tradition! | ||
| Post# 89288 , Reply# 23 1/19/2010 at 01:38 (5,209 days old) by kirbytradition7 (Denver (Aurora), CO, USA) | ||
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| Post# 89289 , Reply# 24 1/19/2010 at 01:39 (5,209 days old) by kirbytradition7 (Denver (Aurora), CO, USA) | ||
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| Post# 89290 , Reply# 25 1/19/2010 at 01:39 (5,209 days old) by kirbytradition7 (Denver (Aurora), CO, USA) | ||
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| Post# 89291 , Reply# 26 1/19/2010 at 01:40 (5,209 days old) by kirbytradition7 (Denver (Aurora), CO, USA) | ||
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| Post# 89292 , Reply# 27 1/19/2010 at 01:40 (5,209 days old) by kirbytradition7 (Denver (Aurora), CO, USA) | ||
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| Post# 89293 , Reply# 28 1/19/2010 at 01:41 (5,209 days old) by kirbytradition7 (Denver (Aurora), CO, USA) | ||
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| Post# 89294 , Reply# 29 1/19/2010 at 01:42 (5,209 days old) by kirbytradition7 (Denver (Aurora), CO, USA) | ||
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| Post# 89295 , Reply# 30 1/19/2010 at 01:43 (5,209 days old) by kirbytradition7 (Denver (Aurora), CO, USA) | ||
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| Post# 89296 , Reply# 31 1/19/2010 at 01:44 (5,209 days old) by kirbytradition7 (Denver (Aurora), CO, USA) | ||
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| Post# 89297 , Reply# 32 1/19/2010 at 01:45 (5,209 days old) by kirbytradition7 (Denver (Aurora), CO, USA) | ||
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| Post# 89298 , Reply# 33 1/19/2010 at 01:52 (5,209 days old) by kirbytradition7 (Denver (Aurora), CO, USA) | ||
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The pictures were a bit small, so I have included this link to my Photobucket album slideshow. This will show you bigger pictures. Enjoy!
CLICK HERE TO GO TO kirbytradition7's LINK | ||
| Post# 89364 , Reply# 34 1/19/2010 at 21:08 (5,208 days old) by kirbytradition7 (Denver (Aurora), CO, USA) | ||
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Replacing the Floor Nozzle
I'm very happy with my "new" Tradition! However, upon closer inspection of the floor nozzle, I see what looks like white epoxy glue (it's hard enough to be epoxy) in the round "window" of the belt lifter. The white stuff is also inside the nozzle, on the belt-lifter hook itself. So I am replacing the floor nozzle with one from the VAC Service Center; I got a quote on a floor nozzle. | ||
| Post# 89497 , Reply# 36 1/21/2010 at 13:49 (5,206 days old) by kirbysthebest (Midwest) | ||
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P.S. I never did care for the Vis-A-Belt system anyway. You couldn't see in the stupid window, I felt it was a big waste. Just give me a "Belt is on" "Belt is off" indicator and be quit of it. | ||
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Post# 89610 , Reply# 38 1/22/2010 at 13:13 (5,205 days old) by a007kirbyman (--->> Originally My Mom <<--- (now Wisconsin)) |
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Tradition 'window' & belt 'on or off' indica
Francis, the lens is available by itself. If you are comfortable replacing it yourself, let me know, i could send you one. "IMHO, the stupid "belt is on" "belt is off" indicator..." "...useless as the belt window..." "...because the belt lifter is in that position doesn't mean the belt is on the motor shaft." --->>> ROTF LMAO <<<--- There is some truth in what you say Karl. I place blame with the salesperson 9 out of 10 times on this for NOT properly teaching the customer, Grrrrr!!! It truly was more meant to indicate... "belt is on" OR "belt is off" [[ ...the pulley position when attached. ]] imho [[ With a vehicle just because you stick the key in the ignition & turn it & move the shift lever, does not mean you are going to go anywhere. If the wires or linkage are NOT hooked up properly you are still going to be in the same spot with frustation. ]] Kind of a 'should be' rather than a 'will be' like the vehicle. | ||
| Post# 89819 , Reply# 39 1/23/2010 at 19:44 (5,204 days old) by kirbytradition7 (Denver (Aurora), CO, USA) | ||
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Belt lifter window | ||
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Post# 89982 , Reply# 40 1/25/2010 at 10:09 (5,202 days old) by a007kirbyman (--->> Originally My Mom <<--- (now Wisconsin)) |
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Francis & 3CB lens... | ||
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Post# 90109 , Reply# 41 1/26/2010 at 18:32 (5,201 days old) by a007kirbyman (--->> Originally My Mom <<--- (now Wisconsin)) |
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Francis & 3CB lens... | ||
| Post# 90137 , Reply# 42 1/26/2010 at 20:16 (5,201 days old) by kirbytradition7 (Denver (Aurora), CO, USA) | ||
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Serial Number for My Tradition | ||
| Post# 246770 , Reply# 43 8/20/2013 at 20:33 (3,899 days old) by powerglide (kansas city) | ||
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kirby tradition I wish I had read this a few days back, there was one on craigslist here for sale. | ||
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