Airway 55a?
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sleepdoc
Well-known member
The 55a is the original Air-Way canister from the 1930s and 1940s. It is cylindrical with a wider base with feet on which it stands upright. It doesn't have wheels. The hose plugs into an angled connector at the top and swivels 360 degrees. It is metal and very heavy. It came first in purple then in metallic light blue. It uses the same round bag that the newest Air-Ways use. As usual, if used with genuine bags and cared for, these Air-Ways can still work just fine. The hoses deteriorate, and I've seen only one, in Tom Gasko's collection, that remained servicable at the time. I have a purple 55a, which is rare, in fair to good condition. The original hose leaks badly and is, at best, arguably decorative. With a sealed hose, the machine performs fine. Original bags filter and maintain airflow excellently.
The problem with Air-Ways now is that the original cellulose bags are no longer made. The bojacks just don't filter as well, and that defeats the real purpose of using an Air-Way.
The problem with Air-Ways now is that the original cellulose bags are no longer made. The bojacks just don't filter as well, and that defeats the real purpose of using an Air-Way.
electroluxxxx
New member
here is a pic of mine
the motor has been switched out with a 12 amp 2 stage Ametk Lamb motor and boy oh boy does it pull in some major suction. the original motor was in good condition but the fans from many years of use and sitting turned into little pebbles. so in another words rotted away. mine was a trash find right across the street from my old house. the design is great and I had to retro fit a plastic universal hose to it. but all in all the suction and airflow is superb
the motor has been switched out with a 12 amp 2 stage Ametk Lamb motor and boy oh boy does it pull in some major suction. the original motor was in good condition but the fans from many years of use and sitting turned into little pebbles. so in another words rotted away. mine was a trash find right across the street from my old house. the design is great and I had to retro fit a plastic universal hose to it. but all in all the suction and airflow is superb
electroluxxxx
New member
I also had to dump the motor because it almost went up in flames. it was in good shape but in bad need of repair and would have cost more to repair than a new motor was worth
aeoliandave
Well-known member
Both of my 55s run great. Not sure if this pretty Air-Way hose is original to this model but it is supple and flexible and after the latex treatment it is airtight.
aeoliandave
Well-known member
The hose is so supple like new it can be coiled as intended for storage. Note that the 55 doesn't have the lid interlock safety lever so the 55 can be used without a bag - not a good idea. 
Also, genuine 55 tools are not interchangeable with 66/77/etc wand end coupling, even tho the tools look identical. Meaning 55 tools will only connect to a 55 end J-wand. The wand's raised lock ring rim and mating tool socket have different linear dimensions. Not really a problem if one already has a later Air-Way as all the J-wands and hoses have the same friction connectors and bezels.
Dave
Also, genuine 55 tools are not interchangeable with 66/77/etc wand end coupling, even tho the tools look identical. Meaning 55 tools will only connect to a 55 end J-wand. The wand's raised lock ring rim and mating tool socket have different linear dimensions. Not really a problem if one already has a later Air-Way as all the J-wands and hoses have the same friction connectors and bezels.
Dave
aeoliandave
Well-known member
I should have said 'model 55 FLOOR NOZZLES will only connect to a 55 end J-wand'. They are designed to swivel on the end of the wand. The dusting brush, crevice and upholstery tools are the usual friction fit.
briankirbyclass
Well-known member
I always wondered about these "Fire Plug" Airway's,,,,and assume the idea was to place the machine in the middle of the room, and the 1940's housewife would work around the room like a clock, with the hose? What if the hose wasnt long enough to reach all the areas of the room?
Being that these vacs were so heavy,,Were they intended to be left in the room permanently, like over to the side or corner somewhere, when not in use?,,or where they intended to be hauled off and stored in a closet after using?
I wonder if some woman had a problem lifting them,,,certainly if the room was large enough,,,the vac would have to be lifted and moved a little here and there to reach all areas of the room.
Yikes! I bet many a 1930s,40s houswife complained to their husband (or anyone that would listen) about how heavy that monster was!,,,and/or made THEM come and lift/shift it around the room.
I also bet vacuuming a long carpeted stair case was a nightmare with using it! I guess someone would have to hold the thing upright on a lower stair, while the user went up step by step with the hose.
I wonder how many hosewives back then got rid of the Fire Plug in post and in haste when the Kirby man came and showed her his new "Feather Weight" Kirby!! haha
Being that these vacs were so heavy,,Were they intended to be left in the room permanently, like over to the side or corner somewhere, when not in use?,,or where they intended to be hauled off and stored in a closet after using?
I wonder if some woman had a problem lifting them,,,certainly if the room was large enough,,,the vac would have to be lifted and moved a little here and there to reach all areas of the room.
Yikes! I bet many a 1930s,40s houswife complained to their husband (or anyone that would listen) about how heavy that monster was!,,,and/or made THEM come and lift/shift it around the room.
I also bet vacuuming a long carpeted stair case was a nightmare with using it! I guess someone would have to hold the thing upright on a lower stair, while the user went up step by step with the hose.
I wonder how many hosewives back then got rid of the Fire Plug in post and in haste when the Kirby man came and showed her his new "Feather Weight" Kirby!! haha
collector2
Well-known member
Hey Guys - this is what the original hose was like (sadly its a web pic - not my machine)
Doug
Doug
collector2
Well-known member
Another web pic of the first 55
normvac
Well-known member
weight of a 55 Air Way
Yes, the 55 and 66 were heavy,but not impossible to deal with.
Having grown up with a 66 and had family with a 55 that I had
used at the time. The Air way had a little longer hose (about2/3ft)
longer then the average electrolux, or any other of the time.
Yes, in principal the machine was demonstrated as sitting in the middle of the room and cleaning around. Any Air Way was
designed to slide on it's side. The 55 did not do as well as
the 66 forward. I can remember vacuuming on Fridays after school was my job. Our 66 would lay sideways on the carpeted
steps to vacuum, just like a lux XXX of the time.
Actual carrying weight, was/is not much different then a lux XXX of the time and certainly less the the Pop-out paper bag
LX Lux. It was more vertical weigh like a well balanced upright.
Norm
Yes, the 55 and 66 were heavy,but not impossible to deal with.
Having grown up with a 66 and had family with a 55 that I had
used at the time. The Air way had a little longer hose (about2/3ft)
longer then the average electrolux, or any other of the time.
Yes, in principal the machine was demonstrated as sitting in the middle of the room and cleaning around. Any Air Way was
designed to slide on it's side. The 55 did not do as well as
the 66 forward. I can remember vacuuming on Fridays after school was my job. Our 66 would lay sideways on the carpeted
steps to vacuum, just like a lux XXX of the time.
Actual carrying weight, was/is not much different then a lux XXX of the time and certainly less the the Pop-out paper bag
LX Lux. It was more vertical weigh like a well balanced upright.
Norm
briankirbyclass
Well-known member
Thanks Norm,,,always wondered about how these vacs were in actual use.
aeoliandave
Well-known member
The Air-Way 55 is not as old as it might look to our modern eyes. 1946 to 1950. It was very likely designed and tooled up preceding the outbreak of hostilities and had to be put on hold as all manufacturing turned to the War effort. The very stable wide flared stylized base is similar to trilight floor lamps of the time but without all the girly-curly incised & molded frou-frou extraneous surface decoration - note the 6 splayed legs with round ball feet for anti-tip stability. The hose coil storage rail is reminiscent of submarine periscope guardrails while the fluted body is purely functional, the motor & fans in the cast aluminum base and the upper section enclosing the familiar suspended inner perforated basket that holds the paper liner bag from touching the sides, ensuring full suction over the entire bag surface.
Heavy? No more than any vacuum of the time - the shiny polished parts are solid aluminum and the sheet metal is thin wall embossed steel. And of course, the J-wands and floor nozzles are aluminum as well. Having provided for convenient on-board hose storage Air-way also included a maroon leatherette Attacha-Kit tool bag that snapped to the hose rail. Thus the 55 could be conveniently stored in a corner behind a chair or took up little room in the closet.
Yes, the hose is a good 2-3 feet longer than other vacuums of the time. Post-war houses being built had smaller rooms and the basic FourSquare house was a popular option for GIs returning to build new homes and families. It is surprising how much area a centrally placed vacuum with a long hose and lightweight wands can vacuum before moving to another room. Hardwood & Congoleum floors with low pile area carpets were the norm in the 1940s and early 50s older homes so this was not a vacuum meant to be dragged across the floor, same as most vacuums other than uprights that had sliding rails and skis such as the extremely heavier 1952-55 Electrolux LX. Even the much admired Compact started out with rear wheels only with two bumps at the front. It was the middle of the 1950 decade that brought such across the board innovations like casters and wheels. Things really took off in 1957 when the vacuum became the wheels with GE's Roll-Easy.
We are all spoiled by tug and push around wheeled canisters and uprights and forget what housework was really like for Moms and Grandmothers post-Depression and through the War years, I think. Note that at this same post-war time GE Swiveltops and Reach-Easys, Filter Queen and many others added wheeled dollys for their vacuums to address this perceived inconvenience, rather than provide longer hoses.
Heavy? No more than any vacuum of the time - the shiny polished parts are solid aluminum and the sheet metal is thin wall embossed steel. And of course, the J-wands and floor nozzles are aluminum as well. Having provided for convenient on-board hose storage Air-way also included a maroon leatherette Attacha-Kit tool bag that snapped to the hose rail. Thus the 55 could be conveniently stored in a corner behind a chair or took up little room in the closet.
Yes, the hose is a good 2-3 feet longer than other vacuums of the time. Post-war houses being built had smaller rooms and the basic FourSquare house was a popular option for GIs returning to build new homes and families. It is surprising how much area a centrally placed vacuum with a long hose and lightweight wands can vacuum before moving to another room. Hardwood & Congoleum floors with low pile area carpets were the norm in the 1940s and early 50s older homes so this was not a vacuum meant to be dragged across the floor, same as most vacuums other than uprights that had sliding rails and skis such as the extremely heavier 1952-55 Electrolux LX. Even the much admired Compact started out with rear wheels only with two bumps at the front. It was the middle of the 1950 decade that brought such across the board innovations like casters and wheels. Things really took off in 1957 when the vacuum became the wheels with GE's Roll-Easy.
We are all spoiled by tug and push around wheeled canisters and uprights and forget what housework was really like for Moms and Grandmothers post-Depression and through the War years, I think. Note that at this same post-war time GE Swiveltops and Reach-Easys, Filter Queen and many others added wheeled dollys for their vacuums to address this perceived inconvenience, rather than provide longer hoses.
williamr1248
Well-known member
Air-Way 55a
Norm and Dave,
That was a good explanation of the design of the 55.It's true back then the houses had smaller rooms. My grandparents old farmhouse had a lot of rooms but they were smaller. The Air-Way was marketed by sitting it in the middle of the room and using the upright design of the machine and the longer hose and "s" wands you could clean an entire room. Because of the upright design, the hose also circled around and it was above the coffee table height. Of course they also sold the idea of no longer picking up the dirt and throwing it back in the room with a dust belching cloth bag.
As a vac collector try this experiment: compare using the Air-Way with the revolving intake,upright design,longer hose,S wands,postitive connect floor tools and attacha-carrier with a Electrolux XXX. The Electrolux had a shorter hose,heavy wands,friction connect floor tool,cloth dust bag and had to be pulled all around the room. The housewife also had to bend to the floor to pick up the Electrolux while the Air-Way could be moved by the upper chrome ring. It was quite a different machine from the old dust spewing upright that you had to push and pull all the weight of the machine back and forth and back and forth over the rug.
I remember the Air-Way man telling during the demo of the 88-does it make any sense to pick the dirt up off the carpet and then throw it back on your furiture,drapes,floors and breath all that filth. The early post years were very interesting time for appliances! Thanks for you comments Dave and Norm.
Rob
Norm and Dave,
That was a good explanation of the design of the 55.It's true back then the houses had smaller rooms. My grandparents old farmhouse had a lot of rooms but they were smaller. The Air-Way was marketed by sitting it in the middle of the room and using the upright design of the machine and the longer hose and "s" wands you could clean an entire room. Because of the upright design, the hose also circled around and it was above the coffee table height. Of course they also sold the idea of no longer picking up the dirt and throwing it back in the room with a dust belching cloth bag.
As a vac collector try this experiment: compare using the Air-Way with the revolving intake,upright design,longer hose,S wands,postitive connect floor tools and attacha-carrier with a Electrolux XXX. The Electrolux had a shorter hose,heavy wands,friction connect floor tool,cloth dust bag and had to be pulled all around the room. The housewife also had to bend to the floor to pick up the Electrolux while the Air-Way could be moved by the upper chrome ring. It was quite a different machine from the old dust spewing upright that you had to push and pull all the weight of the machine back and forth and back and forth over the rug.
I remember the Air-Way man telling during the demo of the 88-does it make any sense to pick the dirt up off the carpet and then throw it back on your furiture,drapes,floors and breath all that filth. The early post years were very interesting time for appliances! Thanks for you comments Dave and Norm.
Rob
kirbyvacuum
Well-known member
Thanks Air-Way Fans
Hi All Thanks for all the old Air-way 55 talks. They sure make me feel old ( maybe i am 64 Oct 1 any way)When i was a kid i was lucky besides haveing a wonderful family my dads side lived about a mile appart. on Saturday i would go vacuum for all of then and got a big 25 cents from each one Times 3 = 75cents. My one Aunt had the Air-way 55 my other Aunts had the Kirby505 thats what got me into vacuums 40 uprights last count and about eight or so canisters. I hope you enjoyed my vacuum story Doug By the way movies were 25 cents and you were their from 1.00 to 5.00pm
Hi All Thanks for all the old Air-way 55 talks. They sure make me feel old ( maybe i am 64 Oct 1 any way)When i was a kid i was lucky besides haveing a wonderful family my dads side lived about a mile appart. on Saturday i would go vacuum for all of then and got a big 25 cents from each one Times 3 = 75cents. My one Aunt had the Air-way 55 my other Aunts had the Kirby505 thats what got me into vacuums 40 uprights last count and about eight or so canisters. I hope you enjoyed my vacuum story Doug By the way movies were 25 cents and you were their from 1.00 to 5.00pm
aeoliandave
Well-known member
The 55a Owners Manual
Mine is missing it's cover so there are only 12 pages. There are no page numbers and so I have labeled them from page 3 to 14.
Surely someone else has this book and could scan the front & back covers and inner leaves, please?
Dave
page 3
Mine is missing it's cover so there are only 12 pages. There are no page numbers and so I have labeled them from page 3 to 14.
Surely someone else has this book and could scan the front & back covers and inner leaves, please?
Dave
page 3
