Air-Way......The Death Knell Has Sounded.........

[aeoliandave]

Floor Tool Business end

You can see the wand clip differences. Left & right large floor tools have a gleaner bar, while the center one has a static brush instead.

Confusing photo disclaimer:
The center tool with brush fits the left side wand end. The left large tool with gleaner only fits the right wand.

I'm luvin' Air-Ways today...

 

[aeoliandave]

Leading me to deduce that gleaners came with the 55 & 66 and the full width brush came with the 77. Also that the double brush smaller tool replaced the interchangeable felt pad or chevron brush/nozzle fittings of the 55 & 66, while a wider clip-on felt pad was provided for the wider smooth floor tool.

 

[vacuumkid3]

Very sad...it's been my favorite new brand, but I guess I will have to pick another soon, as they might be only a thing of the past...here are the first two Air-Way uprights, I believe. The one in front is 100% original minus the cord, plug, and nozzle, and the one in the back is no where near original, but it is the first model.

~~K~~

 

[williamr1248]

Air-Way

You are correct. The full width brush came with the 77. Our friends were sold a new green hose and new lower wand in order to get the new quick- up rug tool during a demonstration of the new 77 in 1955.
Morgan-Tania might know but I think the round botton switch was the later version. They also changed the air diffusion on later models. Ours was purchased in 1951 for $92.50! They tried to sell you the newer 77 because it had the new rug tool,new type hose and attacha-carrier. Of course my parents didn't go for the new 77 and kept the 66!

 

[sfovacman]

Son of 1950's Airway salesman stunned

Charlie, the son of an Airway salesman who sold Airways in the 1950's in Amarillo, Texas, was stunned yesterday when I told him Airway had shut down. My friend's mother assisted her husband in selling Airways door to door. My friend remembers an instance of when he and his brother waited in a hot car while their mother knocked on doors trying to sell Airways.

My friend and his brother own an antique store here, and several months ago I bought an Airway 66 from them. Yesterday I acquired a Lakeside pneumatic vacuum from the turn of the century from them.

Jim Kirby

 

[ohio_tuec]

2101 Auburn Avenue

So sad to see that Air-Way plant leveled so recently. I suppose it's quite possible that in that building, the dream of the Sanitary System began. Maybe the DirtMasteR was even built there! Does anyone have a rough estimate of when that facility was last in service? It would seem as if the roof has caved in some places. I only hope the Hoover factory does not have the same fate...

 

[vintagevacs4me]

American Quality Doesn't Have To Die.

Is very sad to see yet another American company closing it's doors. There are many reasons why Air-Way finally gave up. Many other posters have mentioned the big ones. Lack of innovation and development on there part. Little or no advertising etc. But maybe one way we can help our country as well as the environment is to keep these old vacuums going! If a friend or relative needs a new vacuum after throwing out there 20th piece of plastic junk. Get them a good ole upright or canister. If you know someone getting married or starting out in life. Give them one of those great garage sale finds we always seem to come across. They'll have a quality machine and you'll be doing your part in keeping our heritage alive and keeping perfectly good machines out of the landfill. Paul

 

[beerad]

what an absolutely beautiful vac!!!

 

[rugmaster37]

Okay an update.....

Ahem....

I just spoke to my friend Nicole who lives in Toledo on the north east side. I have been SOOOOO incredibly close to this place several times in the last month...I'm actually really peeved about it. I've been there for her Christmas party ,and her Birthday just last Friday a week ago.

She told me that the last time it snowed in Toledo was on New Years eve, the same night Michigan got plowed with a foot or more of the crap up north by Detroit. That was less than two weeks ago now.

I just Google earthed the 2101 Auburn Avenue plant for Air-Way, and if the shot is as recent as previous to this last week when things got rather warm, and most of our snow melted anyway, this pic is fairly recent.

Therefore, if things are correct the original plant is till there, as well as the St. Clair St location.

Now heres my question...

Clearly the 2101 Auburn Ave. plant was the original factory. Could it be that while they were moving shop from the old plant to the newer, and smaller location that came later on St.Clair, is when Eureka built the Sanitizor for that short while?

Okay folks heres Tonight's view of the old factory...

Cross you fingers and pray that it works...

Chad


P.S. If I am free Sunday I'm driving down there and finding out once and for all if the place is there or not. I will take my cam, and snap some things while there.

 

[aeoliandave]

Early & Odd 66

Found this today at a huge 2 story Woodstock (Ontario) junk building. This is all that came with it...for $10!!! Also an unopened bag of 8 Air-Way bags. The hose is real nice and next in line to get the latex treatment. Although the machine is in excellent running & cosmetic order, the wood floor tool must have sat in a puddle; the aluminum is severely pitted and eaten away. Other brushed tool is fine.

It has the early rounded cast aluminum motor casing with the single exhaust hole diretced down.

But here's the thing - notice the emblem. It is mounted on the Right front on that peculiar angle. This placement is original - there are no other holes in the casing for the pegs to fit into. My guess is this piece of flat sheet metal for the body was prestamped with runner, emblem and screw holes at the factory...and this one got painted & formed wrong side out. Rather than toss it the Factoryo stuck the emblem on anyway and shipped her out.

Oh, made in Wellend, Ontario Canada by Delta Engineering Co.

May be one of a kind?

Dave