The year 1920 saw America coming out of World War I with a strong economy and a forward outlook to the future. The Air-Way Electric Appliance Corporation went into business in that year, manufacturing labor saving machines for the home such as an Electric Range (cooking with electricity was almost unheard of in 1920), an Electric Washing Machine, Radio sets, and a unique Vacuum Cleaner.
The inventor of that vacuum, Daniel Replogle, had one goal - a cleaning device that allowed the operator to remove and dispose of the collected dirt in a sanitary manner. The idea of a multi-layered high filtration bag that could be inexpensive to purchase, and easily disposable - was brand new thinking. Air-Way products were sold in retail stores but it soon became evident the vacuum cleaner needed to be demonstrated in the home for consumers to fully appreciate all the ground-breaking features.
The Air-Way Sanitary System vacuum cleaner found instant success through direct to the home sales. Once people saw what the System could do, how it could contain ALL the dirt, and made disposal of that dirt both clean as well as sanitary - everyone bought it. The "Roaring Twenties" came to an end with more than one million Air-Way vacuum cleaners sold. In just a few short years, Air-Way went from an unknown to one of the best-selling machines on the market.
The Great Depression were hard years for everyone, but Air-Way's innovation as well as the popularity of the unique disposable bag kept the company going. During those lean years, Air-Way's highly skilled engineers put all their efforts into designing their greatest achievement - the Air-Way SANITIZOR! 
1937 saw the launch of the Sanitizor and sales sky-rocketed. They couldn't make them fast enough. Leading Consumer Magazines as well as the medical field were quick to see the benefits of Air-Way's sanitary cleaning system. Over three million Air-Way vacuums were in use by 1940.
World War 2 saw many inventions from Air-Way being made for the war efforts. Motors that powered cleaning system were now used to power aircraft loading doors. Air-Way earned many commendations from the U.S. government for their contributions and innovations which helped speed the end of the war.
By 1948, the idea of a clean and sanitary home with less effort saw the Sanitizor selling one million machines in one year. In 1950 Air-Way did it again. No other cleaner had Air-Way's patented disposable bag. No other cleaner had any of the other patented Air-Way inventions that made the Sanitizor the easiest to use and most complete cleaning system on the market. By 1956, over Nine Million cleaners had been sold.
Air-Way engineers were always looking to the future. The RugMaster power nozzle attachment in 1972, which cleaned and groomed all carpets is one example. Air-Way popularity was always built on the idea of service to the consumer. People liked their machines, they liked their sales person, and they liked the service offered after the sale. 2001 saw the introduction of the Signature Series model with its exclusive "Select-a-Flow" airflow control as well as the unique Sentry light. That model brought many features we still enjoy today.
Today, Air-Way continues to lead the way while drawing on their award-winning past. The Sentry light feature on the new Ultra Kleen model is one example of Air-Way's 
commitment to a cleaner home. The disposable dust container - an Air-Way 1st in 1920 - has been redesigned to make it self-sealing as well as bringing the filtration to HEPA hospital standards.
commitment to a cleaner home. The disposable dust container - an Air-Way 1st in 1920 - has been redesigned to make it self-sealing as well as bringing the filtration to HEPA hospital standards.
Our thanks to Tom Gasko for this history of Air-Way. Tom is an avid collector, former curator of the Vacuum Cleaner Museum, and the world's leading expert on the history of the entire vacuum industry.