ericaustin
Well-known member
I will be getting one of these. See pics below. Are these powerful? Can bags still be obtained? Any info would be greatly appreciated as I have never seen one in person.
Air-Way Sanitizor Tom Gasko design
- Thread starter ericaustin
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ericaustin
Well-known member
Too cool!!
Hmmm. Kind of a modern take on a Kenkart. Hesco shows the bags available, 12 bags for $10.73 (cheap!). They turn up on Amazon too. No schematic for it on Hesco. Bummer.
I love this buying vacuums sight unseen. Oh, I've never done it, nope, not me (heh, heh, heh).
I love this buying vacuums sight unseen. Oh, I've never done it, nope, not me (heh, heh, heh).
blackheart
Well-known member
Or
You could use the poly bags from Air-tech. I used to use those with my Vita-vac when i had it, and they really boosted it's airflow
You could use the poly bags from Air-tech. I used to use those with my Vita-vac when i had it, and they really boosted it's airflow
I have used the Air Way sanitzer. A model that was straight suction only machine. Probably circa 1970's (Green body) It seemed to have very good suction and good vacuum lift. I prefer and upright myself.
I do know someone that has one of these with the power nozzle and they seem to feel it does avery good job as well as the Kirby they have also. They do like the benefits of both vacuums.
I do know someone that has one of these with the power nozzle and they seem to feel it does avery good job as well as the Kirby they have also. They do like the benefits of both vacuums.
aeoliandave
Well-known member
No doubt that Tom will see this and chime in with the real story.
I don't know how many model iterations there are or their differences but it all springs from the pre-war model 55 vertical stance 'fire hydrant' in purple or blue hammertone. This was Air-Way's redesign language after the sublime upright Dirt Master of 1938/39.
The concept was engineered in a sleeker modern shape in 1949 thru 1954 as the blue Model 66.
This 'sputnik inspired' styling continued with the green Model 77 with 'astrogator' hose swivel dome.
The purpose of the 4 corner runners was so that the vacuum could also be laid on any side and pulled along the carpet & floors with easier access to the bottom directed blower port. Not sure when the metal Tool Caddy was introduced but it is a honey - shaped cutouts corresponding to two floor nozzles, a felt snap-on polishing pad, a horsehair triangular dusting brush and the crevice tool. designed to be carried or hung on the handle for storage & transport room to room.
Next improvement in the two-tone turquoise Model 88, was the addition of a caster and rear wheels, the axle of which was bent to serve as a cord wrap.
Sometime during the run of the 88 the exhaust port was moved from bottom of the machine and placed on the side with a sealing trap door (which would be above the back wheels when in the horizontal position.
Here Tom needs to insert the consecutive history (and corrections) of when the powered brushroll port was introduced and about the 88 Mark I and II , the Puce Yellow & Cream Mark V and so on...up to the Centurion and Guardian. Somewhere in there are a Burnt Orange and Purple models.
Final picture is my FrankenHoover creation that took many folks by surprise - or horror - at the Minneapolis Convention. It also took a prize which stunned me as I built it as an imagineering exercise in re-cycling and had intended to leave it behind after the Convention. Now, of course, it has a debatabley dubious Pride of Place between the Air-Ways and Hoovers - with a lovely First Place Blue Ribbon.
It began as a too-much-time-on-my-hands vacuum store trash bin sourced double brush Hoover Windtunnel V2 with a destroyed upper section but the motor was good. Those double helix brushes intrigued me. Once I got started I couldn't stop.
The Tim Hortons dustbag container is a 2 liter double-wall thermal mug. I drilled 1600 perforations in a spiral pattern in the liner cup which is a perfect fit for an Air-Way or Electrolux bag. The Dirt Devil hose & wand make above-the-floor cleaning a breeze. So, it runs like an Air-Way with integrated Power Nozzle. It didn't do half bad in the cleaning contest and was fun to watch & use. The handle with cordwinder came off a rusty old eureka floor polisher and the Monster Hand is an animated table-crawling Halloween prop that strokes the Dust Canister - inducing even more exciting static electrical suction and dirt agitation. Okay, I made that last part up.
.
Anyway, I believe the Air-Way line of vacuum cleaners are among the top 6 ever designed and manufactured during the Age of Genuine Innovation.
[this post was last edited: 10/11/2014-22:00]
I don't know how many model iterations there are or their differences but it all springs from the pre-war model 55 vertical stance 'fire hydrant' in purple or blue hammertone. This was Air-Way's redesign language after the sublime upright Dirt Master of 1938/39.
The concept was engineered in a sleeker modern shape in 1949 thru 1954 as the blue Model 66.
This 'sputnik inspired' styling continued with the green Model 77 with 'astrogator' hose swivel dome.
The purpose of the 4 corner runners was so that the vacuum could also be laid on any side and pulled along the carpet & floors with easier access to the bottom directed blower port. Not sure when the metal Tool Caddy was introduced but it is a honey - shaped cutouts corresponding to two floor nozzles, a felt snap-on polishing pad, a horsehair triangular dusting brush and the crevice tool. designed to be carried or hung on the handle for storage & transport room to room.
Next improvement in the two-tone turquoise Model 88, was the addition of a caster and rear wheels, the axle of which was bent to serve as a cord wrap.
Sometime during the run of the 88 the exhaust port was moved from bottom of the machine and placed on the side with a sealing trap door (which would be above the back wheels when in the horizontal position.
Here Tom needs to insert the consecutive history (and corrections) of when the powered brushroll port was introduced and about the 88 Mark I and II , the Puce Yellow & Cream Mark V and so on...up to the Centurion and Guardian. Somewhere in there are a Burnt Orange and Purple models.
Final picture is my FrankenHoover creation that took many folks by surprise - or horror - at the Minneapolis Convention. It also took a prize which stunned me as I built it as an imagineering exercise in re-cycling and had intended to leave it behind after the Convention. Now, of course, it has a debatabley dubious Pride of Place between the Air-Ways and Hoovers - with a lovely First Place Blue Ribbon.
It began as a too-much-time-on-my-hands vacuum store trash bin sourced double brush Hoover Windtunnel V2 with a destroyed upper section but the motor was good. Those double helix brushes intrigued me. Once I got started I couldn't stop.
The Tim Hortons dustbag container is a 2 liter double-wall thermal mug. I drilled 1600 perforations in a spiral pattern in the liner cup which is a perfect fit for an Air-Way or Electrolux bag. The Dirt Devil hose & wand make above-the-floor cleaning a breeze. So, it runs like an Air-Way with integrated Power Nozzle. It didn't do half bad in the cleaning contest and was fun to watch & use. The handle with cordwinder came off a rusty old eureka floor polisher and the Monster Hand is an animated table-crawling Halloween prop that strokes the Dust Canister - inducing even more exciting static electrical suction and dirt agitation. Okay, I made that last part up.
.Anyway, I believe the Air-Way line of vacuum cleaners are among the top 6 ever designed and manufactured during the Age of Genuine Innovation.
[this post was last edited: 10/11/2014-22:00]
jaker15
Well-known member
now
that is an interesting machine. Do you have a video of this Hoover-thing in action?
that is an interesting machine. Do you have a video of this Hoover-thing in action?
ralph123
Well-known member
no need to bother Tom Gasko for details...
For more details:
http://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?356
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=airway+signature+80th+anniversary+vacuum+cleaner
http://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?356
For more details:
http://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?356
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=airway+signature+80th+anniversary+vacuum+cleaner
http://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?356
ralph123
Well-known member
Speaking of Tom Gasko, nice article about him and museum:
http://tmn.truman.edu/detours/2014/...-of-the-vacuum-cleaner-museum-in-st-james-mo/
and here's the story about his adventures with Airway in VDTA:
http://www.vdta.com/Magazines/DEC09/fc-GaskoDec09.html
http://www.vdta.com/Magazines/DEC09/fc-GaskoDec09.html
http://tmn.truman.edu/detours/2014/...-of-the-vacuum-cleaner-museum-in-st-james-mo/
and here's the story about his adventures with Airway in VDTA:
http://www.vdta.com/Magazines/DEC09/fc-GaskoDec09.html
http://www.vdta.com/Magazines/DEC09/fc-GaskoDec09.html
ericaustin
Well-known member
Picked it up today
I think I am in love! This is the only machine that is easy to push on my thick shag 8 x 10 rug! And the crap it picked up!! Omg! Ok I'm in vacuum geek fest over here...
I think I am in love! This is the only machine that is easy to push on my thick shag 8 x 10 rug! And the crap it picked up!! Omg! Ok I'm in vacuum geek fest over here...
ericaustin
Well-known member
Bags
The only bags I could find were the crappy 1 ply. Anyone know where decent filtering bags can be found? Luckily she gave me 4 Airway bags but I know those are NLA.
The only bags I could find were the crappy 1 ply. Anyone know where decent filtering bags can be found? Luckily she gave me 4 Airway bags but I know those are NLA.
Have one of these Purple Tom Gasko vacs-ordered it from his old place many years ago-will have to take it out and use it some!Those Air Ways are other really effective machines in my collection.also have a similar White finish one and a Black Vita-Vac that was traded in towards another machine at the vac place here.It doesn't start-suspect cord or switch.Just haven't dove into it yet.Have the powernozzle for the Vita-Vac it runs-tested it with the suicide cord at the vac place.I use the Air Tec Filtrete bags in these machines.Very effective-and increase the airflow from the vacuum.And you can really pack 'em full unlike the older,thick paper bags.
pr-21
Well-known member
Try Air-tec.com
They have very good allergen fabric bags with the clear top. Just give them a call to order. They have the tool and dye for the vacuum cleaner attachments and make a bk Series Tank like the round tank Air-Ways.
PR-21
They have very good allergen fabric bags with the clear top. Just give them a call to order. They have the tool and dye for the vacuum cleaner attachments and make a bk Series Tank like the round tank Air-Ways.
PR-21
dysonman1
Well-known member
My 2001 Signature Series and the Centurion 2000 that belonged to the late Austin Wilder
dysonman1
Well-known member
My signature series was made the very first day of production. It has a two speed high efficiency lamb motor. The speed selector is called Select-A-Flow because you can select high or low airflow. The red light is the Sentry light. It illuminates when the cleaner is plugged in, so the operator will know if their kids are playing near it, if the switch is pressed the machine will start. Kind of like the green light on top of the plastic bodied Electroluxes.
dysonman1
Well-known member
It's easy to make your own HEPA cloth allergy bags. Obtain some Riccar or Simplicity type F HEPA bags. Cut the bag off right below the cardboard collar. Place the open ended bag into the Air-Way. Remove the plastic top from an old Air-Way bag. Insert the plastic top into the machine, and trim the excess bag cloth about two inches above the plastic bag top. Fold the cloth inwards, and close the Air-Way lid. Simple.
ericaustin
Well-known member
Some pics from the manual
super-sweeper
Well-known member
that poor manual, it looks like it was made in Microsoft Wordpad! shame, are those 3D computer models on page 3? I know if i ever launched a product, it would have the most BEAUTIFUL, colorful, and illustrated manual of this century!
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