1930's CONOVER dishwasher...help!

[perc-o-prince]

Ours is a free standing portable model

There is a lever on the side of ours that in one position you can fill the dishwasher through a telescoping adjustable pipe and in another position to pump out the water. Ours has another pipe that has a type of funnel that I suspect was used for detergent?? It would have to be a liquid as the opening is about as big as a eye dropper. It's a cool dishwasher and as I was running it, for the first time, I couldn't help but think about how excited the original owner must have been with such new technology. I will get pics very soon.

Thanks for all your input and the fantastic sales brochure!! I just wish it showed the model I have :-(

Rich

 

[circlew]

I would also think soap would make too much suds, but the brochure page in Post #473189 states "uses soap flakes effectively". Maybe something else had to be added to control foaming.

As to hot water use, I could see that being a problem. Kohler's website makes mention of the Kohler Electric Sink (introduced in the 20's) which didn't prove too popular for that very reason. I don't know what type of water heaters were available in the 20's (mansions would have had large boilers), but do know that by the 30's any decent house should have had plentiful hot water. One of my relatives had built their house in '36 (nice, but by no means a mansion), and it had a large oil-fired Monel water heater in the basement. They did not however, have a dishwasher. They must have considered one though, as I found information about the GE Electric Sink in the file box.

 

[petek]

Wow it looks really interesting. Are you thinking of installing it somewhere so you can actually play with it.
Where'd you find that thing at Larry?

 

[perc-o-prince]

Pics!!!

I found this dishwasher on eBay and Larry was kind enough to drive 2hrs each way to pick it up for me and keep it safe in his garage....Thanks again, Larry.

As you can see, from the pics, it needs no hook-up. It wheels about. The first pic shows the Conover closed up with the fill/drain tube over the cover turned up in the fill position. If you follow the pipe down you can see the valve which when in the up position allows the dishwasher to fill and wash. Pull the lever down to activate the drain. Everything is enamel over steel. Even the emblem is enameled on.

More pics to follow...

 

[perc-o-prince]

Open with fill arm extended. This would have been rolled up next to a sink and the two way telescoping arm would have been put under the faucet for filling. To drain you would just turn the tube over so that the water would be pumped DOWN into the sink. This was how I found out that it had a pump drain!! In the right area it could double as a fountain

 

[perc-o-prince]

This is a closer view of the fill valve. I don't know what the purpose of the tube to the left is. This is what I think may be a detergent dispenser???. The top part of it comes out and it is funnel shaped. Looking down into the pipe it has some purple gunk. This pipe also goes into the pump.

 

[perc-o-prince]

View down with all racks in.

 

[akronman]

Conover Pics

Thanks for pics!!!!!!! Congrats on that machine, treat it well.
Again, thanks for posting pics

 

[perc-o-prince]

Removable top center rack out for ease of loading bottom.

 

[perc-o-prince]

All racks out

 

[perc-o-prince]

Final pic...All racks laid out on floor

 

[perc-o-prince]

There is a small metal plate that states the model as A - A and the serial number is 13,011. I suspect that these were not made in large numbers and the serial numbers may have been inflated from the start to give the public the impression of larger production/success. This was very common in typewriter production.

 

[washernoob]

One word....

AWESOME!

That is one nice find for sure. Congratulations! I wonder how well these actually clean..... The fan type agitator seems a tad small. But its still cool!

 

[Unimatic1140]

Mint is right

WOW, Rich that is just beautiful and its mint. Are the racks simply coated with enamel paint or is it some kind of rubberized material?

 

[1972lkdishwash]

The Conover Dishwasher..late 1930's?

I have never seen anything like this, nor did I know there was such a machine from that era...!!!!! It is simply stunning and the electric sink model is so unique with the sliding top drainboard...!!! What a find and what a collectible for you...congratulations....!!!! How great this is to reflect the modern dishwasher of that TIME. An Electric dishwasher from the 30's....Who Knew?

 

[perc-o-prince]

Brandon ...

Thanks!! I am rather happy to have it I haven't tried it with dishes, yet, so I can't tell how well it washes.

Hey Robert. The racks seem to be fired on enamel. There were several shell chips on the racks (I've since touched them up) and shell chipping is most often seen with glass/enamel. What is interesting is that the sales brochure says that the sink model has a rubberized coating.

I just would love to find some more history on the company.

Rich

 

[perc-o-prince]

How great this is to reflect the modern dishwasher of that

And it's still quieter than our Frigi Spin Tube!!

 

[circlew]

Very, very nice

Wow, that machine is tops. Looks to have been very lightly used, and well taken care of. The cord however does look like it could use some attention for safety's sake.

Since the company was located in Chicago, perhaps the Chicago public library or historical society there would have info regarding the history of the Conover Co.

 

[a440]

WOW!

Rich that is an awesome find! In fantastic shape!

Mike thank you so much for the scans of the ads. So interesting!

Brent

 

[alr2903]

Thats a beautiful minty machine. No doubt "modern" detergents for both dishwashers and washing machines really improved performance. alr2903