 | Twin-Motor Airway Late 1920s |
| This peculiar-looking machine is an offshoot of the original Airway “Chief” introduced in the early 1920s. It actually has two motors — one for suction power and the other to drive the revolving brush. Unfortunately, this machine was not made for long — not because it was not a good vacuum cleaner, which it was, but because their motor-driven brush infringed on the Hoover’s patented beater-bar system.
This really was a clever vacuum cleaner. It was easily converted for above-the-floor dusting by inserting a flexible cloth hose into the long handle (which explains the thick diameter of the handle); then you simply turn the large dial in front to direct the suction up through the handle-tube and to the hose. (The entire handle is not shown here because it’s too long!) |
| Airway Model 55 1949 |
| The philosophy behind this Airway was that it was not meant to be rolled or dragged around. It came with a very long flexible hose, something like 9 feet in length; the idea was to place the machine in the middle of the room and go about your cleaning without having to move it around. This basic cleaner was made for many years with variations and improvements. Indeed, even the newest Airway model is based on the “upright-tank” design of the first Model 55. |
