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Thread Number: 27122
/ Tag: Pre-1950 Vacuum Cleaners
Musings on Pre-War Air-Ways |
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| Post# 303565 10/28/2014 at 21:45 (3,461 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada) | ||
Having acquired a fabled and supreme 1935 Air-Way DirtMasteR fairly recently and subjecting it to a slow careful restoration (dismantling and polishing every single metal fitting including bolts & screws) I took time out to look up all the patent numbers on the base plate.
In 1938 Air-Way introduced the free-standing vertical Model 55A. Some of this is gleaned from the writings of Tom Glasko. Timeline: 1935 Air-Way introduces the twin-motor Model 35 Chief making it the first vacuum with a powered nozzle brush. It featured a backwards revolving brush that did not grab the carpet edge fringe, and flexible rubber beater bars with steel split cylinders capping the rubber. The same year Air-Way debuted the much more upscale DirtMastR with the same features but a single horizontal twin-fan/twin path motor and the brushroll width increased to 13". This was a heavy duty domestic upright vacuum cleaner intended for the wealthy larger homes with acres of fine imported carpets. Other features were an integrated headlight and an easily accessed side port with a valve for full suction through a hose and various attachments. Opening the port raised an internal rubber edged plate that closed off suction to the brushroll floor nozzle, raising it from floor contact through height-adjustable rear wheels. But it was the metal/rubber Beater Bars that caused Hoover to launch a lawsuit, even though the beaters are of an entirely different design and construction. Other cleaners at the time with backward brush-bars were all APEXs, GE's Model 111 and PREMIER GRAND. They were not sued so it seems Hoover felt it 'owned' beater bars. Of course, Hoover didn't have a filter paper dust bag insert like the Air-Way, no doubt knowing by their own tactics that they could be sued in return if they made one. in 1936 Air-Way introduced its SUPER CHIEF, adding a headlight and a brushroll motor shut-off switch, making it the first motor-driven upright that could vacuum bare floors without damage. Although Air-Way continued to make the 1938 ZEPHYR and DirtMastR until the advent of WW2 they sold very few DirtMasteR or ZEPHYR upright models, which, although better performers, were quite expensive. No wonder there are so few in existence... The patent drawings reveal a 1928 prototype of an Air-Way Suction Cleaner based on their earlier models, which replaced the cloth outer and inner cellulose liner bag, utilizing a metal cylinder with an inner perforated cylinder (debuting on the 1938 Model 55A vertical standing floor model) to hold a paper liner and retaining the circular valve diverting full suction to the hollow handle for hose and/or above-the-floor cleaning. It too had a powered brushroll. Pictures show this cleaner as well as the variations of Metal capped Rubber Beater Bars which can be easily replaced (like Hoover's), bags and a convenient storage stand for cleaner and accesories. Oh btw,the original Air-Way patent was filed in 1915. In 1926 they filed the patent for the perforated Dust cylinder. More on the DirtMasteR in a few days. | ||
| Post# 303614 , Reply# 1 10/29/2014 at 09:39 (3,460 days old) by dysonman1 (the county) | ||
Air-Way was at least fifty years ahead of their time, unlike say Kirby, who was always late to the game. Note the 1934 patent drawing shows a tandem-air upright - 70 years before Tacony "invented" it. The DirtMasteR also featured Twin-Fans, fifteen years before Singer would "invent" that feature too (if one were to believe Singer's 1949 Advertising). By the way, Hoover by 1929 had infringed on Air-Way's patents on the disposable bag. The model 725 featured a disposable bag called the Hygienasac, over which Air-Way promptly sued Hoover. The lawsuit over the beater bars was a 'revenge' lawsuit.
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| Post# 303621 , Reply# 2 10/29/2014 at 11:02 (3,460 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada) | ||
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Thanks Tom. My instinctive guess about Hoover was on the right track, if in the wrong direction. :-)
I've always said Air-Way lead the pack with original ideas that actually worked and surpassed its competition. The 55A was a radical departure from standard practice, so brilliant the basic design lasted through the decades to the end. Frankly, if I had a grand home with acres of carpet I'd rather steer a DirtMastR (or any of the gloriously styled uprights of the '40s & '50s) than a heavy Kirby of any age. Already expressed my feelings about the newest one... I think the 1928 perforated tank model would have done well. Air-Way thought of everything and incorporated the best. Love the exhaust takeoff between the rear wheels. Would be fun to cobble one up from spare parts machines - use the perforated basket, motor & shell from a 55A and shed the footed base, replacing it with a second 55A top lid to which attach wheels, reconfigure a curved composition handle with the Diverter up top and a powered aluminum nozzle at the bottom. Mmmmm, the thinking cap is warming up for another steampunk 'Monster Vac'... | ||
| Post# 303646 , Reply# 4 10/29/2014 at 14:58 (3,460 days old) by dysonman1 (the county) | ||
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Hey Dave, don't think the perforated canister/motor at bottom patent drawings haven't been passed onto the engineering department. They have been. Many different designs (some crazy, some not so crazy) have been made into prototypes. Most never see the light of day. Next time you visit, I'll have to take you to the engineering department and into the "Mock Up" room (as they call it). You will definitely appreciate it.
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| Post# 303803 , Reply# 6 10/30/2014 at 20:53 (3,459 days old) by super-sweeper (KSSRC Refurbishment Center) | ||
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