Recent content by supersuds

Robert is one of a select few who could run a website as a complete professional and not let the membership drive him crazy. ;) I've seen it happen repeatedly! We can be a pretty dramatic bunch at times. If Robert says the site will be in good hands, I believe him. Enjoy your retirement (and...

My experience using older detergents tracks Robert's. Sometimes there's no scent but occasionally there will be a box that has some light scent left, most noticeable if you are outside when the dryer is running. I'm using Late Sixties Drive at the moment and it not only cleans well, it's much...

A little confused by your statement, Launderess, that the Arm & Hammer was "loaded with phosphates" in light of the box saying that it contained no more than 0.5 percent phosphorus by weight. The box of Cheer Robert has could well be 20% or more. But if you're getting good results that's the...

Easy 1958 There were so many attractive washers on the market in 1958, it would have been hard to choose. I might have gone with a Whirlpool Imperial because of parts and service availability but this Easy would have been mighty tempting.

Other members had different experiences with Fels, particularly with leaving clothes gray...as you'd expect with a soap in anything but soft water. https://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?47265

Regarding Post #2 (1937 Vitalaire) Consumers' Research Bulletin 1937 annual said it was the best-performing ice refrigerator tested, maintaining an inside temperature more than 2 degrees below the Coolerator model J-5. However, none of the ice refrigerators tested could maintain a temp as low as...

Water heating used to be much harder, as most people didn't have the automatic water heaters we have today. In the house my mom grew up in, there was a coil on the central coal furnace, which was common with central oil or coal furnaces, but many people didn't have any kind of central heating...

Notice the washers can be had for 25 cycle, 50 cycle, and 60 cycle current as well as 32 volts DC. Southern California Edison was 50 cycle territory until the late Forties! I think 25 cycles were used on some of the early hydroelectric installations at Niagara Falls. My grandfather had a DC...

I like the vintage Wamsutta Supercale Plus sheets (50/50 cotton/polyester) I got not too long ago. Many people don't like polyester blends, but except in the hottest weather they work for me, and they don't get wrinkled up as much as all-cotton. Penney's Pencale all-cotton are good too and not...

I can't help with the Hotpoint, but what a nice kitchen you've got there. Love the Formica!

I think you’re right about the 32-50 indicator, Ralph. If you look at the bottom of the Etsy ad you linked, it notes that the fridge has a “full view thermometer” and it is marked 32 and 50. Likely the one on Craigslist fridge broke or just fell out, perhaps. It’s unlikely the refrigerant is...

Thank you for scanning and posting this, David. I’m still working through it, but one notable thing is how much time they spend emphasizing the Second Law of Thermodynamics. Not something you’d expect to see in a service manual today!

Westinghouse irons Around 1999 or 2000 I bought an NOS Westinghouse steam iron with the original box and papers. It looks about the same vintage as the box in the OP’s photos, perhaps a little newer. The seller said it had been given to her mom for opening a new bank account, and never used...

Maybe I can get a startup video at some point. Does anyone know enough about the Rheem model numbers to decipher the cooling output? I see a 24 which might indicate two tons. If the maximum current draw is 14 amps at 230 volts, that would equate to 3220 watts and an EER of about 7.5. A little...

But if I'm reading the serial number right, it was manufactured in October, 1968!