Found a Rare Air-Way Hand Vacuum

[kc_kirby]

Last weekend I found a rather unusual vacuum. It's an Air-Way hand vacuum. It looks like it is a royal 501 hand vacuum branded as an Air-Way. Does anyone know anything about this vacuum? I have never seen one before. I have seen some Montgomery Ward's and a few other different brands using the 501 Royal vacuum but never an Air-Way. The vacuum was in a box of attachments for an Air-Way 88 and the colors do match the 88. My guess is it was offered at some point along with the 88.

Chad Cunningham

 

[kc_kirby]

Here's a closeup of the bag. It reads "Air-Way '33'."

 

[kirbyvacuum]

Hi Chad It had to be made by royal

 

[kirbyfan99]

Congrats on your rare find Chad. It looks very similar to a royal 501. Kirbyvacuum, I'm pretty sure that it wasn't made by royal, but I can see why you think so.

Jack
kirbyfan99

 

[aeoliandave]

Score!

Nice Air-Way accessory, Chad.


Of course it was made by Royal to Air-Way's specification and probably a premium bonus for 88 buyers, or there'd be a lot more of them around to find.


Air-Way would have exposed itself to major patent lawsuits if it has copied Royal's handheld, never mind the absurd infrastructure costs to duplicate the Royal molds and parts. Royal cranked out its handheld by the hundreds of thousands for decades  with minor cosmetic changes.


 


Dave

 

[kenkart]

What most people DONT know...

By the time the 88 AirWay came out in 58, AirWay had quit building their machines themselves, Eureka built them to their specs, The 77 was the last model built in Toledo with their own motor , they used a Lamb motor after 1958.

 

[dial-a-nap]

"33"

That is a very cool find - I love the "matching accessories" for vacuums.

Hans, I have never heard that tidbit about Airway-Eureka, etc. before. How interesting. Learn something new every day around here!

 

[rugsucker]

AirWay

Great AW find and helps confirm that the one I found without bag is AW.Does yours have label on vac?Is one of many Royal private labels.Another hard to find is a Brunswick for pool tables.AW also used a private label Silver King for comm wet pick up and had a plain tank at one time.

 

[kc_kirby]

The only type of identification is on the motor and it says Model 501. No where does it mention Royal or Airway on the motor.