Did I score big time? Sani-Way Mark IV Canister

[jaker15]

Well, I just bought a very neat machine, a Sani-Way Mark IV, off of eBay for 20 bucks. It has the hose, but no other tools. It's not in excellent shape, but with a little TLC, I think it'll be a sweet machine. Now, I know nothing about this cleaner or the company who made it. I would love it if you guys and gals of VL could provide me with some background info on this machine, and let me know if I just scored a great deal on a rare machine! Click the link to see what I just got. Thanks!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-San...A87W5vN6IZryTJr37q0EQ%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

 

[kenkart]

Saniway..

Was started in 1960 by a man who was a AirWay distributor, the machine was a re badged Kingston, up until 1964 it was exactly like the Kingston, then the mark iv came out like yours, still basically a Kingston with a few trim changes, they were made until 1976  when the owner died unexpectedly and his wife shut the operation down, this information came from Cyrus Fox who was the distributor for the state of North Carolina, he also was a AirWay dealer in Atlanta, he took on the Saniway so his wife could come back to her hometown , Asheville, The Saniway Company is now just a vac shop , but still operates in West Asheville NC, Cyrus told me he sold over 40,000 of these from 1961 until the company went out of business...He told me the owners name, but I didnt write it down and I just plain forgot it.

 

[dysonman1]

One of the Sani-Way's claim to fame was the Hemp bags. Yes, Hemp. They made a great play on the package about its filtration ability and tear resistance of Hemp fibers. There were three versions of the Sani-Way. The first was gold in color with brown accents. Very much like a Filter Queen Golden Monarch model. Flat, clear phenolic casters. The second version was red (Magenta) with black flat casters. Both the gold and first red model had a rubber hose with braiding on top. The third version was also red, but had ball casters, a vinyl wire reinforced hose, and a 'wavy' brush on the rug nozzle.

The consumer was sold on the fact the Sani-Way was also an 'air purifier', similar to what Air-Way and Filter Queen tell people. However, the Air-Way's 14 layer cellulose bag did in fact filter well. The Filter Queen's cellulose cone also filtered very well. The Hemp bag on the Sani-Way leaked a lot of dirt into the cloth bag. The filtration system consisted of the disposable Hemp bag, the cloth bag, the pre-motor cloth filter 'cap', and the cotton batting post motor filter (just like a Filter Queen used behind all those little holes at the top of the machine).

 

[jaker15]

Wowza

Thanks for the information, guys! Kenkart, I was wondering if the company had something to do with AirWay, as the name suggests. Dysonman, do you know what kind of bags will fit it, and are they still available? How quiet and powerful will this canister be?

 

[super-sweeper]

Speaking of recent vintage purchases,I just came home with a surprise visitor to the KSSRC compound! Any guesses? Here's a hint: MILK!!!! 

 

[kenkart]

Nothing to do with.

Air Way, Just started by someone who worked for AirWay, This is a very quiet powerful machine.

 

[jaker15]

Ah

Yeah, I just meant that the name kind of sounded like Airway. I'm really excited! What type of bags would fit it?

 

[jaker15]

super-sweeper,

I have no idea, what is it?

 

[dysonman1]

You can use Royal bags to fit the metal canister - they are the same size. You can also use Eureka type K bags (vintage ones). The best bet might be to buy a pack of HEPA type F bags to fit the Simplicity Freedom, cut them below the cardboard collar, then fit them into the Sani-Way's cloth bag, folding the material over the rim of the cloth bag.

 

[super-sweeper]

We won't know until the rebuild is done! 

 

[jaker15]

Thanks Tom

So the Royal type J bags for the Power Tank will fit?

 

[kenkart]

NO...

Not the Power Tank, The swivel top canister, its basically the same machine.

 

[super-sweeper]

Then why not use GE Swivel-Top bags? 

 

[dysonman1]

The round Royal canister bags, which are identical to the Kingston bags, have a cardboard rim unlike the GE swivel top bags. They form a nice seal with the lid and give you greater suction.

 

[super-sweeper]

ah ok, thanks Tom! never owned a Saniway, but have a wonderful swivel-top!

 

[marks_here]

Oh I'm sure you do Alex! Woo Hoooo

 

[super-sweeper]

You bet your Caddy I do!

1962, Mint Green and Mint Condition, shipped to me as a donation to the house for wayward GE's (See what I did there, Charles? 

). It was his mother's machine. he found it in a closet, had the hose replaced, and did the good dead of seeking out a new home for this cleaner to prosper in. If you're reading this now, thank you again, good sir! 

 

[marks_here]

Love that colour combo!!

 

[super-sweeper]

Don't we all, Mark? It looks great on anything!