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

[williamr1248]

Air-Way

Fred
That second picture is the factory that we toured in the 70's when they added the power nozzle my family's 88. There was a giant sign on top of the building that you could see for several blocks up the street. It had the Air-Way script in red if I am remembering correctly. The joke is that she never used the power brush after it was installed. They also replaced her gray bumpers on the floor tools with the new blue ones and I don't know why because the old ones were in good condition. I was taken a tour and watched them sew the bags and buff the tools. Also saw the assembly line. Of course this was over 32 years ago!

 

[vinvac]

Rob,

I am curious about the differences in the books. Perhaps mine is an older/newer version than yours, however, I think mine may be the older version as it still has the metal upholstery tool with the plastic base, my grandmothers was an all maroon colored plastic. I am sure it was not a replacement as she always was proud of the fact that her machine had never needed servicing, unlike my mothers Kirby which she had sent to the company for it first rebuild after 20 years.

If you could post a pictures of the original hose, I would greatly appreciate it.

Charlie,

I have often thought I would love to have one of the George Lovely machines. They have a website as well with demo of the Air-way/Air Tec tools. The Black Knight machines are very similar. Perhaps it may be a birthday present from me to me...now theres a thought...

Morgan

 

[williamr1248]

Air-Way

Morgan,
Ours has the metal tool too. I have seen the later plastic tool. My book shows the same model but she is dusting a grand piano.
Here is the original hose. I think we stopped using it when we bought the new hose and I took the 66 to clean my apartment at college.

 

[air-waycharlie]

Correction..........

George Lovely, Jr., owns Air Tech, NOT Black Knight. Sorry for the error!

 

[vinvac]

Rob,

Thank you so much...

I do see another difference, my model 66 has a round push-button type switch instead of the pedal switch that yours has.

My grandmothers also had the push-button type switch as well.

 

[aeoliandave]

The Wirl-A-Way Insector - Part No. 6891

"In accordance with your Dealer's Agreement, this WHIRL-A-WAY INSECTOR has been sold to you, for resale at retail. Because the WIRL-A-Way is a specialized unit, it is not part of the standard equipment...You are to pay this Company for it in cash as soon as you have resold it"

The green one came with one of my 77s in this tattered box with no jar. The blue one came with the blue 66 and appears to have never been used.

 

[aeoliandave]

Box closeup - To the Dealer

nice jar - must find one...

 

[aeoliandave]

Box side two

Instructions and Suggestions.

 

[air-waycharlie]

And yet another correction............

Just got off the phone with Tania and Black Knight and Air-Tec are one and the same owned by George Lovely, Jr.

 

[aeoliandave]

On the subject of the Air-Way wand end flange.

Mentioned this before but I have two slightly different wands. One set came with a 55 and the other with a 66. No wands with the 55s, just tools. While the hose end wand section is identical, the foot ends and their floor tool hole are incompatible with the other's tool 'sockets'. It's not a simple matter of the one on the left being longer. The wand on the right has a wider taper that doesn't fit in the left tools, and the wand on the left is too long to insert far enough for the clip to engage the flange rim.

The 55 tools also only fit the '66' wand on the right and do not have the same press clip as furnished with the 66 and 77 floor tools. The 55 tools use a simple static clip that engages the flange rim.

ok, that was exhausting to explain but I think the picture illustrates the difference. Can anyone else confirm and possibly explain this flange design change and if it did occurr when the 77 was introduced? I note the hose turret coupling fit is the same for all three Air-ways.

Ever curious Dave

 

[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