History of vacuum Powernozzle's

[scott55405]

Great pictures Charlie! This is the first I have had a look at your extensive, wonderful collection.

Wonderful car, too. People down the street had a 98 like that. I don't know if it was a 1965, but it did have that same front grille. I want to say it was dark blue. They had 3 different 98s during my growing up years, this was the first and the one I liked the best.

 

[air-waycharlie]

Cen-Tec

GESwivel,
Thanks for your information on Cen-Tec. I was led to believe that they were manking P/N's private labeled for whoever wanted to use their product. There is a definate similarity between all the P/N's they have available, espically in their company catalogue.

As far as Air-Way production goes, without calling the factory and talking with Steve Tomberlin, I don't know the exact number Air-Way produces monthly or daily. From what an employee told me, they built a certain number of machines to keep in inventory so they are available to distributors or the general public that orders via their 800 number.

When I have called, I have asked how many Signatures are available, Centurion available and New Century available. The numbers range from 4 to 10 for all categories. The number of the purple Signature Series is diminishing all the time as that model is out of production and when the last are sold, that is it.

Re: the Kenmore P/N's, they seem to being using a really "dumb downed" version of the Hayden/Matsuhita P/N. Most are wood and do not have replaceable brush strips and I have not seen one with a beater bar(s) strip for years.

I hope Wessell-Werk improves their P/N's. I have not been impressed with any of their offerings for sometime. The small turbo tool offered by many manufacturers and made by W/W is not too impressive. The Rug Rat is far better. The W/W I sold on QVC as an upgrade to a Rowenta vacuum was........passable at best. "Cheap" construction, non-tufted brushroll that was as stiff as a used year old toothbrush! And whiny as all get out.

I'll remain open minded as to what they can bring to the market and competition is what drives the ideas and pricing so I say bring them on!

Again, thanks for your informative post and I hope to see more.

Charlie

 

[petek]

Yester days flea market

I picked up a $20 Eureka power nozzle canister. My first Eureka and of course I'd rather of had a vintage upright. But it appeared fresh looking and worked when I plugged it in there. Now I don't know how old it is.. obvsiously it's not very old,,maybe 10-15 yrs, metal construction, toe kick switch under the hose outlet on the front and cord reel. Upon opening it back home it was the normal exploded bag of filth and clogged nozzle/hose so I blew it out and prettied it up.

Now as for the power nozzle, it's labelled Roto Matic with Edge Cleaner. Well there is no edge cleaner on the bottom plate at all. The belt takes up one end of the roll covered by the sole plate and theres a good half inch on the other end covered by the sole plate.. Where did my edge cleaner go?

The machine has plenty of suction but that power nozzle is the worst..it has no pile level adjustments so it barely skims the carpet.. and the brushroll is like new. She'll be going on sale soon..LOL,, pretty burgundy color though. I'll post a pic when my camera gets going..

 

[programcomputer]

Another Elusive Powernozzle Canister....

I would love to see a pciture of the elusive, yet produced General Electric SwivelTop canister with the powerhead option. I know that they made them, but very limited, because GE left the buisness in I believe 1972.

I have a 1970 General Electric "Cord Reel Cleaner" in Green light (yellow green) and dark (forest Green) with woodtone trim. And today at a backwoods vacuum cleaner shop on Ecorse Rd. I saw the Swiveltop version of this color scheme with a two speed switch, and suction control on the canister body proper...but also had a factory powernozzle outlet. The owner told me I could have it If I wished and told him I may take him up on that in the next day or so.

I went back to my new house and later decided to get it...but when I drove back over there after 4 pm...he was closed already tho his door said he was open till 6pm. Well, becasue I had to come back to Lansing to move more crap, and some more vacuum cleaners...I'll have to go back tommorow.

Anyways... I will get it , and when all my utilities..(including the phone are connected) I will type in the model number of this canister soanyone can see if it's recognizable

Thanks

Chad

Oh P.S. For anyone who cares as to why I moved..I decided that I was no longer happy with Marty and we are selling our house here in town back to my dad, and Im going back to College at Washtenaw Community Colledge and finish my bachelors in Buisness Management. I had to change....

 

[GESwivel]

Cen-Tec

Charlie,

You are partially right. Cen-Tec can put together systems for other companies. These would be the smaller companies. Cen-Tec can be considered the "middle man" so to speak. There was a reason I asked you about numbers for Air-Way. I knew that Air-Way did not produce big numbers like Panasonic, Sears, Royal, etc. Therefore, it would be hard to go to the source to purchase a power nozzle unit designed for a small company. They would want you to purchase in huge quantities. Cen-Tec purchases these power nozzles and puts the Air-Way "Rugmaster" sticker on it and sends it off to Air-Way. They do not make the power nozzles for Kenmore, Panasonic, Royal,Euro Pro, Fuller Brush, Fantom, Thermax, etc.

You are right about the Kenmore power nozzles that previously had the beater bar/replaceable brush strips. My thinking is they thought that it was cheaper and more profitable to install a wooden brushroll on the line instead of the more expensive brushroll with beater bar/replaceable brushstrips. For the customer, it would be more expensive to replace the brushroll instead of replacing the brushstrips. In turn, again it would be more profitable for Sears.

There is another possibility though. Many vacuum users do not want to take the time to remove the power nozzle and put a floor brush on when cleaning floors. Using a brush-only agitator would decrease the risk of damage for some users.

You are right about the Wessell-Werk mini turbo brush. It is not that great. I think the Rug Rat is great. It is very sturdy/durable. I have the original Rug Rat and the same thing under Kirby(from the Heritage). I do not care for the later Zip Brush, IMHO.

peteK,

The Eureka you picked up is more like 20+ yrs. old. The Eureka power nozzle, that you have, is actually a very good nozzle. It does a very good job with the beater bar. The power nozzle was not too noisey compared to the Kenmore power nozzles. These power nozzles were used by others like Rainbow, Compact and Fair Fax. You are right about the edge cleaning, because there really was no edge cleaning. There should be a small indent on one side(opposite the belt)of the metal bottom plate. That is the "edge cleaning".

 

[partscounterman]

Loving this thread

Thank You Chad and Airway Charlie for sharing so much vacuum fun with us. I saw one of those Eureka Upright Powerheads once. I had stopped at a nearby vac shop for some belts or something (I was about 14 at the time). The shop had one of those powerheads attached to a central vac system. The repair guy at the shop commented to me "Now THAT'S a f*#+ing vacuum cleaner. At that tender age I was shocked to hear such uncensored language but he really was right- that was a f*#+ing vacuum cleaner.

I have become awash with vacuums lately. I already have my Compact C-6 and my Kirby G3. Since my shop closed, I brought home the huge new Shop Vac 16 gallon with detachable blower. I like this newer Slop Vac way better than the older ones that Austin likes so well, so to each his own.

I gave a Filter Queen (forgot model-medium brown paint-straight suction) to one of my friends when he first moved out o0n his own at age 25 (late bloomer). He had it all these years. When I last saw him in Las Vegas, he asked me to do a simple rpair on the hose. When I returned it to him, his wife said "I wish you would quit fixing that old vacuum, so we can get a new one". So they finally bought a Shark by redeeming the coupons from Betty Crocker products and my friend shipped the old Queen to me. The tool halo cracked in shipping, as did the bare floor brush. The cord on the cordreel is seriously hashed out. A project vacuum.

When my Parents moved to the lovely senior apartments, Dad asked me what I wanted from the house. I wanted Moms old Revelation Vacuum Cleaner! I got it this week. It still has the original rubber cord. The only remaining original attachment was the rug tool. When I unpacked the machine, a corner of the rug tool cracked off enroute, so now must hunt for a replacement. My Mother bought that machine in 1951 when my folks lived in Hollywood, CA from a door to door salesman named Aaron.

What to do with all these sweepers in a 1 bedroom ohana?

To top it all off, we have one of those detestable little plastique hand vacs called a scorpion or some damned thing. Dennis bought it when he first got here, rather that wait for me to ship the Compact. Oh, and a mid 70's blue Eureka handvac, also plastique.

 

[GESwivel]

General Electric swivel top vacs with power nozzle

The GE swivel-top canister in the vac shop, would of had a plastic control panel on the front(above bumper). This is where the suction control and speed switch would be. Near the bottom of the panel, it would of had the "General GE Electric" logo. This vacuum cleaner, with power nozzle, would be resurrected as the Premier. The colors should have been moss green and celery green.

This GE with power nozzle was not the first. Years earlier, the first would of had the same "steereasy" wheels and front-top mounted swivel hose port. The "General GE Electric" logo was located on the bumper and not like the above later model. The swivel top with power nozzle was not popular. Part of the reason was that these came about at a time when they were not popular. Sears and Electrolux dominated the market for power nozzles. The GE Powr-pak canisters(VT-) were not popular either. The suction-only GE swivel-tops were still popular. I knew so many people who had General Electric vacuum cleaners.

 

[westytoploader]

I have the September 1979 Consumer Reports where they tested vacuums (will have to scan it in and post it). A Premier/GE swivel-top canister with the P/N was tested, and I was surprised. There is even a picture of it in the issue...will have to dig it out.

As a sidenote, one of CR's main complaints about this type of machine was the bag since it didn't "seal" to the inlet like other canisters...the bag opening was the canister!

 

[air-waycharlie]

Cen-Tec Nozzles

GE,
Thanks for the info on Cen-Tec. I have to admit I do like their selection of P/N's. I am ordering through ESSCO one one of the new "Quiet Drive" with the v belt instead of the geared.
You probably know that it is available with or without the Dirt Sensor. If I like it, it would be nice to have it available for customers who may want a quieter P/N.

It is too bad that Air-Way never took it upon themselves to offer these direct from the factory. Espically with the telescoping wands. I just hope the "death bell" doesn't start tolling for them while I'm still around. Such a great company with a great past.

My absolute favorites are the twin motor models. For nostalgia's sake I include a picture of my Scout. Again, thanks GE for the info.

Charlie

 

[air-waycharlie]

Notes on the 35

Since I just really think the 35 and it's sister model The Chief are marvels for their time, I wanted to explain how ingenious they worked for any people that are not familiar with them. (The Dirtmaster is another story)

Brilliantly designed, the 35 was a two motor upright with a motor in the top of the rug nozzle and the other, obviously just above the rug nozzle. After you finished vacuuming your carpets, you simply unplug, (see pic), the lower motor. Then you would turn the clear plastic dial with The Sanitary System name so that the arrow lines up with the handle. (There is a correct name for that dial--help me out folks, my mind isn't what is used to be)

Once turned toward the hollow handle, you turn the machine back on, (see on/off switch pic. Neat for 1936 isn't it?) and now the suction created by the 3 amp motor is directed up the handle. Simply insert the Air-Way hose and presto........you have all the tools and attachments to clean non carpeted floors and do light dusting. And, unlike it's rival the Hoover 150, (which I have complete and treasure, so no hard words Jeff), all the dirt, dust filth and germs are captured in the wood pulp cellulose paper wrapper!

All this on the model 35 also known as The Scout. It's easy to store, easy to change the belt on the agitator, (see pic), adjusts for a number of rug height settings, (of course the Hoover 150 was self adjusting), has beater bars and horse hair brush strips, (see pic), what more could the lady of the house ask for?

 

[air-waycharlie]

Belt change

One side of the motor housing comes off for easy access.

 

[air-waycharlie]

On/Off Switch

The metal work mixed with the other material is beautiful and somewhat, "art deco" like.

 

[air-waycharlie]

Brushroll/Agitator

Wonderful combination of alternating horsehair brushstrips and beater bars. Makes the floor vibrate and turns in reverse! So, the back and forth motion across a rug is very different from brushrolls turning towards the machines.

 

[air-waycharlie]

Plug to rug nozzle motor

Lastly, this the plug you pull to convert your Scout into a canister vac once the hose, wands and tools are used.

Anybody know where I can find that hose and those tools? They are truly like hen's teeth.

 

[tolivac]

Charlie: that Air-Way 35 is a really COOL machine-would love to have one-truely AHEAD of its time.Surprized they didn't have a device to allow you to carry the "tools-on-board" like on todays machines.Love the access to the drive belt for the roller-brush.And the brush roll motor on top of the nozzle-would add weight to help keep the nozzle on the floor instead of skimming over it like similar nozzles do today.The floor nozzle on your Air-Way sort of resembles the floor nozzle on the Dyson "ball" vac-but love the beautiful polished metal of the Air-Way nozzle better!!That machine is truely a FUNCTIONAL peice of art!!Wish they would revive that design and make it today.Can you see the dirt go thru the selector dial as you use the machine?That would also be very neat.

 

[air-waycharlie]

Seeing the dirt

Rex,
You may be able to see the dirt but the movement is so fast that most of us would miss it.

Ahh yes, I would really like to see Air-Way become a major force in the market today with a re-worked version of the 35. Can you belive how advanced it was for the 1930's? Some of the best uprights manufactured now in the not too distant past have copied this technology.

As you point out, this vacuum is not just a classic vacuum, but a piece of art that is functional. I'm not sure if the Dyson will be remembered that way 70 years from now.

Thanks for you post.

Charlie

 

[tolivac]

Charlie: I don't think too many Dysons will be functional or even still around after 70 years.They may be the rage with some folks today-but I don't think the all plastic vac will have the long term durability the older metal ones have.Sadly I would suppose most average users of an Air-Way probably lost or even threw out the attachments for such a machine-for one of us vac guys-thats half the fun!Like a Kirby or Royal in the hose mode-would suppose you would have to pay attention to what you pick up to prevent fan breakage-I would think a replacement fan for an Air-Way 35 would be very hard to find!How do you get bags for it-Last time I spoke to the Air-Way folks they didn't make bags for their uprights anymore-maybe they should reconsider-since many are still around or even in use.Imagine the performance with a Filtrete material type bag!!The performance of Air-Way bags is well above average though.You can pack a lot of stuff in them before the power goes down.I have three of their canister type machines.The Centurion,Signature,and an 88.All are excellent machines-want more!!The Centurion and Signatures put Mieles to shame!

 

[air-waycharlie]

Yes--it has been said! Air-Ways put Mieles to shame!

I'm glad you said it so I don't have anyone coming after me! I could not agree with you more. The 88's, (all models as there were several variations), are efficient, quiet and filter far better than Miele, Bosch, Dyson and even Rainbow, (in my opinion), depending on what you are vacuuming and what your filtering needs are.

I use a "modified" Hoover C bag on the Air-Way 35 at the moment but I have a virgin bag for the vacuum that I am saving for some special event. I downloaded a picture of one earlier on this thread, see 77440.

Kirby has a new filtrete type of bag that I am going to "doctor" to put on the Air-Way as I think it will provide better airflow, hence increased suction. Once I have constructed it and installed it, I will post here on it's functionality as I use the 35 a few times a month.

And your are right about finding a fan for the 35--probably never going to happen. My existing fan is in great shape. Whoever owned this 35 took pristine care of it over the years. I think I am the 3rd owner. I just wish I could find a hose and those attachments! Keep a look out for me in Greenville and surrounding areas as I am only up the road in Charlotte.

Thanks for your post,
Charlie

 

[petek]

Eureka

Ge.. I took the base plate off the Eureka roto matic with Edge Kleen looking for an indent but there is absolutely nothing, no indent in the side of the plastic casing, nor on the sole plate. Strange