Air Way vacuums

[air-waycharlie]

The

Stunning design and lightweight too. The motor sits balanced between the rug nozzle and the rear wheels with the handle at the right height for most users.

Height adjuster can be seen on the vacuum's left front side.

 

[air-waycharlie]

Detachable Plug

Here you see the power supply to the motor for the motorized brushroll and how easy it is to disconnect.

 

[air-waycharlie]

Modified bag

I only have one, (1), genuine Air-Way unused paper bag for this vacuum so you can see why I use the modified Hoover "C" convertible bag. Strong air flow!

 

[air-waycharlie]

Motor Pulley

Here is the motor pulley that drives the brushroll. The metal cover is designed to just slide on or off and you would never know that it opened--it is that well designed.

 

[air-waycharlie]

Brushroll with Beater Bars

and genuine horsehair bristle brushes. This is the brushroll that started the lawsuit!

Interestingly, the new Kirby brushroll for the G series that came out late in the fall uses this design without the beaters of course. But, they stagger the strips of brushes in a pattern very similart to this..............back to the future?

 

[maytagbear]

Fascinating!

Thank you, Charlie for those interesting pictures and detailed history.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[perc-o-prince]

Thank you so much!!

What a fascinating history!! I knew that there was lawsuit involved but I didn't know the details. Fascinating!! Does yours have a needlepoint bag? I can't tell from the picture.

Is there a way to date them from the serial number?

AirWay has to be one of my favorite vac brands. Such style and quality You have a beautiful example!!!!!

Thanks, Charlie.

Rich

 

[hoover1060]

Airway dirtmaster

I have only seen pictures, never live, but it was enough to send Hoover lawyers running for court!

The Twin motor is a beautiful machine, and as Charlie said years ahead of its time. I doubt though it would have been much competition for Hoover given its nozzle design. Hoovers had rug plates that helped them glide, and the whole wheels behind the agitator made them the cleaners they were. The Airway's wheels are too close to the brush roll and too small for it to lift the carpet and beat it like a Hoover would have.
Still a beautiful cleaner, and convienent for its time.
ALSO: Look closely at Charlies pics of the Airway's nozzle/housing. Then find a picture of Dyson's DC15 Ball... do they look alike??

 

[tlee618]

Thanks Charlie for the interesting history lesson! You are so right, Air Way was way ahead of it time!! Looking forward to seeing you next weekend. Terry

 

[eluxomarty]

air way vacuums

Wow Charlie, what great pictures of the two motor air way upright! I have an old upright that i too use a Hoover c bag , again i polished by hand as best i could.

My Gram had a model 66 and when i was a kid i would spend summers in Cathedral City which is right next to Palm Springs and i would use the airway to clean everything, carpets, floors, i would show Gram how to use the v brush to clean window cills ( of course she already knew but indulged me )and my Grandpa like to use the blower to clean out the wall heaters. What a mess that made. so i spent my summers in swimtrunks vacuuming most of the time! how cool is that?!

 

[air-waycharlie]

More on Air-Way

Marty,

Thanks for your post. My Grandmother too, had Air-Ways. The first was the Super Chief, then the 77 and the last was the Mark II 88, which I have.

The one thing about the 66's that you had to be careful of was the leakage of carbon brush dust through the exhaust port. There were white "bags" similar to a bathing cap that covered the exhust outlet inside of the body of the machine, but sometimes they wore out or just came off with old age.

Many times I've seen somebody all excited about finding a 66 and they plug it in and find a black carbon dust circle on their rug! By the 77 model, the diffuser had been added.

 

[tolivac]

Air-Way-charlie:Super nice air way upright-they should bring those back too:would put most uprights made today to shame.and it could do the job with a smaller motor.and equip it with a Filtrete bag.I would be very interested if they would bring those back.Do you have the hose and attachments for yours-How well does it work with the hose?I also like the idea of the motor exhaust filtered to keep the brush dust out of the air.Truely ahead of its time.Its becoming a concern today.How is the height of the nozzle adjusted to clean various floor types?Truely a QUALITY machine.Another example of a direct air vac that doesn't need a room size motor to clean with.Like the use of a Hoover paper bag in the machine.I beleive a vac dealer in Moorehead City has a suction only airway Upright-will have to try to get in touch with him on it.A customer traded it in toward a Miele or a Sebo.Wow-that AirWay is worth more than the new one!I was told the fan in it was bad-Where would you get a replacement-would a fan for another machine be able to fit it?Just wondering in case I should try to get it.