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The Kirby Company is a manufacturer of vacuum cleaners and home cleaning accessories, based in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. It is a division of The Scott Fetzer Company (also known as Scott & Fetzer) which in turn is part of Berkshire Hathaway. Dealers are located in over 50 countries throughout the world. Kirby's products are only sold via in-home door-to-door demonstrations.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=The Kirby Story )〕 The Kirby Company is a member of the Direct Selling Association. ==History== The first Kirby vacuums were designed by Jim Kirby (1885-1971) for George Scott and Carl Fetzer after World War I, although the Kirby name was not used on a vacuum cleaner until the 1930s.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=~- Kirby Vacuum Cleaner "500 Series" Details -~ )〕 James Kirby invented the "vacuette" circa 1920.〔Joseph P. Cahill, ''The Wall Street Journal'' (October 4, 1999).〕 The Vacuette Electric, introduced in 1925 with its removable floor nozzle and handle, became the forerunner of today's multi-attachment Kirby vacuum models. In 1935, the company introduced the Kirby Model C, the first product to carry Jim Kirby's name.〔The Scott Fetzer Company, "A History of Quality, Reliability & Performance" (#739807 copyright 2007)〕 From 1935 through the 1960s, continuous improvements and refinements were made to the Kirby home care system. The last model of this first generation, the Dual Sanitronic 80, was produced in 1967 and still resembled the original.〔 In 1970, input from Kirby distributors, dealers, management and customers guided Kirby engineers in developing the Kirby Classic. The model was an instant success, with soaring sales, forcing the company to expand its manufacturing facilities outside of Cleveland for the first time. In 1972, Kirby West began operations in Andrews, Texas. The facility doubled the company's manufacturing capabilities.〔 Berkshire Hathaway bought Kirby parent Scott Fetzer in 1986 for $315 million.〔 Two years prior, Ivan Boesky had offered to buy Scott Fetzer for $60 a share, or $420 million.〔Robert Cole. "Boesky makes bid for Scott & Fetzer" ''New York Times'' (April 27, 1984).〕 Warren Buffett has singled out Scott Fetzer to Berkshire's shareholders as the "prototype" for the "kind of company—and acquisition—he was interested in."〔Miles, 2003, p. 273.〕 According to Berkshire managers, "absolutely no changes were made to the existing Scott Fetzer business or management, and the entire business (and its jet) was preserved."〔Miles, 2003, p. 274.〕 Beginning in the 1990s, the Generation series - starting with the Generation 3, ushered in a new platform for the cleaner. The addition of TechDrive variable power assist eliminated 90% of the effort required to move the unit back and forth.〔 As of 2003, Kirby is the largest source of revenue and profit for Scott Fetzer, with approximately 500,000 sales per year, about a third of which are outside the United States.〔Miles, 2003, p. 276.〕 In 2003, Scott Fetzer sold the vacuums to about 835 factory distributors, who in turn sell the vacuums door to door.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Kirby Company」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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