Air Way uprights - same problem

[davevac]

The third vacuum added to my small collection is the Air Way upright. I bought it at an antique mall in Columbus..it works perfectly but the air direction indicator was broken. I've been looking for a replacement (didn't bid high enough on the NOS one on eBay) and I finally bought a donor machine. The problem is that the donor machine is an older version and works perfectly. So, I'm still in need of an indicator.
I'm seriously thinking of buying a clock glass face and making a decal and finding a way to place it in the direction fixture. The celluloid original is pressed in so it will be difficult to remove it without damaging the "ring".
If I'm able to make a glass one, I'll update on Vacuumland.
My questions:
the donor machine does not have adjustable front wheels, has the old riveted swivel floor piece and not the one with a collar, so I'm assuming it's older than my other machine.
The shaft or handle has a bend in it ?? I seem to remember seeing a post talking about this but I cannot locate it now. Did any of the black tubes have bends in them ? I can't imagine someone bent it by dropping it, etc.
I attached pics of the donor machine and the broken indicator from my original machine.

dave

 

[dysonman1]

Heat and moisture, along with decades of time, will warp those handles. It was improperly stored, with Handle leaning against a wall, supporting the weight of the cleaner. When that was new, people had radiators and steam heat.

 

[davevac]

warped handle

Never thought of that......and I should know because our house is 139 years old...

Amazing that 90+ year old vacuums still run and look nice

thanks !

 

[madman]

You might find a cheap smallish clock with a plastic cover that'll be the right size. Otherwise, you could try heat forming a thin piece of clear plastic. You'd need a 'mold' to form it over.

It appears to have a snap ring holding the plastic in. Is there enough room to pry out the snap ring? Or is the outside crimped over the ring after the plastic went in?

 

[huskyvacs]

That handle is Bakelite believe it or not, and yes, gravity over time and storing it next to a steam radiator might have warped it.

 

[bikerray]

The one I had had a wire ring holding the plastic indicator in. If you take a small screwdriver and pry under one edge of the ring you should be able to work it out of the groove and then take the remains of the plastic disk out.

The gap on yours is right at the arrow.

 

[davevac]

replacement indicator face

Thank you everyone for your input/advice..
I think I'll have to very carefully remove the broken indicator piece without damaging the exterior "ring". I'm hoping I can remove the celluloid ring without prying open the exterior ring...we'll see..They do sell glass clock face covers in various sizes. My wife works with leaded stained glass so she can cut or grind down a piece of curved glass if needed. Maybe she can solder it in when done. If I'm successful, I'll share the exact procedure with everyone.
dave

 

[huskyvacs]

Sounds like a good deal. You might even get better suction, since glass does not flex and shift, and in addition you will be welding it too.

 

[davevac]

Removing snap ring

Well....bikerray and Madman were right.....there is merely a snap ring holding the celluloid in..I removed the remaining celluloid, put some WD40 on the snap ring,
pried it right out..easily
I found a source for the glass (only $5)...will hopefully make a decal and will be good to go..
the glass will be thicker than the celluloid so I'll either have to buy a thinner snap ring or ask my wife to do her magic with solder and lead.
Good time to refurbish the thin metal unit before the glass is added.