What would be considered the "Cadillac of washers" when it comes to deluxe advanced and exaggerated styling like 50s-60s Cadillacs?
Thank you.
Thank you.
The most stylish "Cadillac of washers"?
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thatwasherguy
Well-known member
I’ve always considered 1970’s center dial Maytags to be that. I always thought they were the most beautiful machines ever made.
Thatwasherguy.
Thatwasherguy.
Frigidaires of late 50s and 60s. Made by the same company as Cadillac. The styling changed almost every year and really employed some high-end designs
The winner in my book is my 1957 Frigidaire Imperial Control Towers in charcoal gray
If you don’t mind me saying, the first two posters didn’t even bother to provide pics, so those suggestions are nix’d out of hand. Unimatic1140’s pair are certainly sleek for the 1950s. Very pretty. But I don’t see them as 1950s Caddy extravagant styling, despite their sleek appearance.. The Westinghouse Slant Fronts had that in spades. But how about bumping even that up a couple notches? My proposed entry is the uber rare Commercial version of the Slant Front washer: The Westinghouse “Streamliner” Laundromat Slant Front model RL-1, (~late 40’s, early ‘50s). And Coin-op to boot. And yes, two of them (I was ‘forced’ to, it was a package deal). I also have the Westy dryer (thanks Tyler!)
Curves, sweeping lines, round glass port- what more could you want?
Whatcha think?
Curves, sweeping lines, round glass port- what more could you want?
Whatcha think?
Attachments
Bendix had some notable frontloaders.
chaskelljr2
Well-known member
I’m a Lady Kenmore fan.
As much as I like it to be my Cadillac as far as a washing machine goes, I would give the black Frigidaire the nod here (see Unimatic1140).
—Charles—
As much as I like it to be my Cadillac as far as a washing machine goes, I would give the black Frigidaire the nod here (see Unimatic1140).
—Charles—
I sold my Lady Kenmore just this past Christmas because I found my commercial Westy slant fronts… oh man was that one heavy beast of a girl.
Probably the 1959 or 1960 Lady Kenmores. I don't know what other top loader had more "bling" than them in that time frame.
I have to agree with Roberts choice...those black Frigidaire models are really something!
Sears really did set the foundation in terms of styling and pushing the boundaries for technology and learning what customers would tolerate. I'd tend to agree with Robert, but these certainly are a close second.
While that black 57 Unimatic pair is a nice looking set, I find that Robert's 58 Imperial Unimatic is far better looking. After all shouldn't every washing machine have a panel light on it ?
WOW. I've never seen this before.
I appreciate the history lesson. I have a 50s stove and refrigerator as my daily drivers. I'm new to this vintage washing machine world and seeing what possibilities there are for daily driver machines.
I agree. The panel light reminds me of the old Dixie stoves found in vintage RVs.
Wow, Ben that pink 1959 pair of Lady Kenmore is definitely the Cadillac of washers and dryers.
Can you imagine the thrill of having that new pair in 1959 hooked up to use in your home the convenience and the superior performance these machines achieved plus the speed and economy of the 37,000 BTU gas dryer and the suds- saver system to reduce hot water usage.
The first Kenmore washer that my brothers and I rebuilt for our family to use was a 59 lady Kenmore washer from a friend of my mother‘s. It did an excellent job first thing that was amazing as hell there was just no lint in the dryer lint filter anymore because of the superior Washing action and self cleaning filter in the washing machine, reduced the lint by more than half. Using the wash and wear cycle, the shirts would come out of the dryer looking like they had been pressed that was also amazing compared to the other tw
Three automatic washers our family had used up until this time. The first automatic washer we had was a 1955 Kelvinator, the next one was in 1960 Franklin built co-op, and then we used for about a year and original Maytag AMP that was by far the worst performing automatic washer I had ever used on a regular basis Just simply did not clean very well.
We have a white pair of 1959 lady Ken Moore‘s at the museum. I’m going to convert the dryer to gas and the washer is the non sudssaver version.
John L
Can you imagine the thrill of having that new pair in 1959 hooked up to use in your home the convenience and the superior performance these machines achieved plus the speed and economy of the 37,000 BTU gas dryer and the suds- saver system to reduce hot water usage.
The first Kenmore washer that my brothers and I rebuilt for our family to use was a 59 lady Kenmore washer from a friend of my mother‘s. It did an excellent job first thing that was amazing as hell there was just no lint in the dryer lint filter anymore because of the superior Washing action and self cleaning filter in the washing machine, reduced the lint by more than half. Using the wash and wear cycle, the shirts would come out of the dryer looking like they had been pressed that was also amazing compared to the other tw
Three automatic washers our family had used up until this time. The first automatic washer we had was a 1955 Kelvinator, the next one was in 1960 Franklin built co-op, and then we used for about a year and original Maytag AMP that was by far the worst performing automatic washer I had ever used on a regular basis Just simply did not clean very well.
We have a white pair of 1959 lady Ken Moore‘s at the museum. I’m going to convert the dryer to gas and the washer is the non sudssaver version.
John L
Those 1957 Frigidaire Imperial Control Towers in charcoal gray are gorgeous!!! I have often wondered about those as well as those 1961 Hotpoint black washers and dryers with those funky control panels, both along the same lines of elegance.... How much did these type of machines sell for verses a standard set? Wonder how many units produced?
Oh yes the '61 top of the line Hotpoint automatics should also be included in the running!
Those Hotpoint's are beautiful. We had Hotpoint but it was the BOL model. They washed very well, but weren't the most reliable machines.
The 1958 Frigidaire Unimatic & Filtrator set is also a contender as some have mentioned, I had these in my kitchen for several years until the '57 Control Tower set showed up one day...
pierreandreply4
Well-known member
i so miss the days when washers where simple and i also miss this set dating back from my youth 1972 inglis superb with brush lint filter dispenser and mountable liquid fabric softner dispenser
Do you have an up close of the washer's control panel? I'd love all those buttons scooted to the left with with a stylish timer on the right. User control + lots of options- my favorite!
Sure Chet, not exactly sure if you're talking about the '58 but here it is...
Do you have an up close of the washer's control panel? I'd love all those buttons scooted to the left with with a stylish timer on the right. User control + lots of options- my favorite!
and if you're referring to the '61 Hotpoint here it is...
I washed my father's construction clothes in these machines and got my arm caught in them once I had to pull the plug because there were no safety door locks then.
The Hotpoint, and yes, it is beautiful! I love push button washers. I just wish it would offer more warm rinses. I like the fact the 58 offers a cool rinse option. I'd use that often in the winter.
I think you have to agree the 57 control towers fall into the school of design that "less is more" 
I also have to say these 65 or 66 frigidaires aren't anything to sneeze at.
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