Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

Thanks, I had forgotten the Tandem air system. They used Hamilton Beach uprights, and then Eurekas, with a wand assembly replacing the handle.

I think with agressive marketing to vac shops as a preferred line, Air-Way could have thrived. There is a renewed interest in canisters, to say the least. People are walking into vac shops and plunking down a credit card for a Miele Caprocorn at 1200.00 a pop!  Miele is an excellent vacuum, with plenty of innovative engineering, but it still is a plastic, German-made product. Miele says they expect a 20 life span out of their machines. You can find Air-Way machines 80 years old that run. I think the entire airway line could have been reproduced and sold today, profitably, but at a reasonable cost. Lots of folks still will buy American if given the opportunity.

DysonInventsBig wrote:

Here's one of at least 3 powernozzle designs, intended to be used in conjuction with a central vacuum system, patented by Hoover in September 1919. I don't know if this is actually the first dedicated brush-roll motor, but it's certainly an early one:

DIB - Many Air-Way patents are filed under the name D. B. Replogle. Hope this helps!

Model2,

I gotta tell you... it is refreshing to see others post patents.  Patents are King and tell an accurate story too.  I’ll be taking a closer look at your/the patents posted when I have more time.  Thanks!

DIB

Model2,

Many thanks for the Air-Way inventors name! I never would have found this company or its inventor without your help.  He was a “golden goose”, his creativity has generated billions for others.  Although I cannot understand why Air-Way believed in product that did not fold up like a typical upright, it was brutal to store.  Many great individual parts (innovations), placed on a terrible platform.
DIB