At one time, AirWay made a less expensive swivel top canister ,somewhat like a Eureka roto matic, or a SilverKnight, it used the same attachments as a Sani Magic Pricilla, I have only seen a picture in a appliance repair book, does anyone here have one, and if you do would you please post pictures.This machine I am told, was called the Dirt Digger.
Rare Airway information wanted..
- Thread starter kenkart
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dysonman1
Well-known member
Dirt Digger
This is mine. It's a tank type. I know Air-Way had Silver King private label the large canister, with a flat piece of Air-Way cellulose filter paper for a filter. Perhaps they also had a Silver Knight private labeled. In any event, my Dirt Digger is a tank type.
This is mine. It's a tank type. I know Air-Way had Silver King private label the large canister, with a flat piece of Air-Way cellulose filter paper for a filter. Perhaps they also had a Silver Knight private labeled. In any event, my Dirt Digger is a tank type.
fairfax88
Well-known member
Ditr Digger,
Hi Tom, could you please post a picture of the whole machine????
Thanks,
~David
Hi Tom, could you please post a picture of the whole machine????
Thanks,
~David
caligula
Well-known member
The term 'Dirt digger'
was used by Electrolux. While it wasn't a model, it was a nickname used for the pre-war model XXX. The nickname for the Model V (5) was 'The little tin can with the motor,' and the LX was 'the cleaner you never have to empty.'
I knew that Air-Way made a tank, but up till now didn't know the name, thanks for teaching this old dog new tricks.
Alex Taber.
was used by Electrolux. While it wasn't a model, it was a nickname used for the pre-war model XXX. The nickname for the Model V (5) was 'The little tin can with the motor,' and the LX was 'the cleaner you never have to empty.'
I knew that Air-Way made a tank, but up till now didn't know the name, thanks for teaching this old dog new tricks.
Alex Taber.
No, this machine
Is only similar in apperance to the Silver Knight, it is really kind of different from anything I have ever seen, if I had a scanner I could post a picture,imagine a Silver Knight sized swivel top , with a 90 degree AirWay hose connection on top,and the lid is kind of like a GE in that it coveres the top edge of the body of the machine, the bottom section has 3 large wing shaped projections, that make it look kind of like a rocket, under each is a swivel wheel, and sticking out of one on the top is the step on switch.im sure it used a bag the way it is designed.
Is only similar in apperance to the Silver Knight, it is really kind of different from anything I have ever seen, if I had a scanner I could post a picture,imagine a Silver Knight sized swivel top , with a 90 degree AirWay hose connection on top,and the lid is kind of like a GE in that it coveres the top edge of the body of the machine, the bottom section has 3 large wing shaped projections, that make it look kind of like a rocket, under each is a swivel wheel, and sticking out of one on the top is the step on switch.im sure it used a bag the way it is designed.
dysonman1
Well-known member
When the model 88 launched, it was manufactured for Air-Way by Eureka. They had several prototypes, some with suction controls on the body, called "select - a - flo", etc. I wouldn't put it past them to have Eureka build a 'roto matic' with air-way disposable paper bags and attachments, right before they contracted with Royal to build the Priscilla and the Dirt Digger. Edward Lamb was a bastard. Google him and read about how he destroyed companies (like Air-Way in 1958). Edward Lamb had the misfortune to witness an Air-Way model 77 demonstration, and decided to buy the Company just to resell it (after making the company owned branch managers purchase their branches turning them from company-owned to independently owned and paving the way for the end of Air-Way as a manufacturer).
It is
interesting just how these companies evolved and were changed, maybe someday we can see one of these in person and figure out just what it really is, Tom ,you do have a valid point, Eureka was building the AirWay in the late 50s, so it could be some bastardized Roto Matic hybrid, I wonder also if it might be a Canadian built machine, like the Gem was basically the same thing as a Water Matic..etc.
interesting just how these companies evolved and were changed, maybe someday we can see one of these in person and figure out just what it really is, Tom ,you do have a valid point, Eureka was building the AirWay in the late 50s, so it could be some bastardized Roto Matic hybrid, I wonder also if it might be a Canadian built machine, like the Gem was basically the same thing as a Water Matic..etc.
