A washer as BOL as it gets...

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Kelvinator BOL

one of the recent Automatic Ephemera Kelvinator postings showed a real genuine TOTALLY BOL Machine from 1957--------one hose, no water level switch, you controlled amount and temp at the faucets. Then you turn the single knob to WASH for as long as you wanted. Then to OFF for over 30 seconds for the motor and tranny to stop, then to SPIN until it was as dry as you'd like. You turned the water back on for spray rinsing, etc. Then you repeat the entire steps for deep rinsing. Think about it-----no timer, no temp controls, no water level switch, no valve solenoids, no lid switch. The only cheaper thing would be to eliminate the pump and have it gravity drain. All you are really doing with that simple WASH-OFF-SPIN knob is sending power CCW and CW to the motor, nothing else. Being 1957, I'm gonna bet it was a non-polarized 2 prong plug, be careful.
Could actually be kinda fun, ya know?
 
These Roper/Galaxy/Estate BOL one-dial wonders are also only 24" wide too.

No water level selection and water temps were determined by cycle selection, all followed with a cold/tap rinse, since there is no ATC.  Very simple, kind of kewl grey agitator.

There is a set on CL here locally for sale, the seller wants $300.

tecnopolis++10-16-2012-16-47-2.jpg
 
My aunt had one very similar to this. I asked her why and her response was "do you really ever use all those cycles"? I stopped to think a minute and I had to answer no for the most part. I love all the TOL stuff and buttons and bells and whistles but I really don't use alot of them. I have a TOL LG front loader and I have to say the only cycle I really use is the "speed" wash cycle. The other cycles are way too long. I guess I don't have clothes that are dirty enough for the sanitary cycle and even the normal cycle is like over an hour. In the Maytag top loader I had before it only took like 35 on the longest time from start to finish. I am one of those people that really only do laundry once a week and I hate that it takes all day to do laundry.. so sometimes I pull out the wringer and "get her done". Back to my point.. I guess I do understand the point of a washer like this... quick.. to the point... and done.
 
Reminds me of those little Toyota Tercels they used to sell in the early 80's that didn't have carpet in them. Not even a cigarette lighter. Totally a price leader.

I wish they still did that now! The newer cars have waaay too many bells and whistles I don't care to have or use. Heck, I was pissed that I had to get power windows when I bought my Honda Accord back in '99. If I wanted cruise control, I had to get the package that included power windows. Grrr!

Funny, one of my neighbors has one of those little Tercels with over 300K miles on it. It's starting to look like crap but it runs wonderfully.
 
You guys are so lucky there in CA

That you can keep a car going by the miles with care not the years of salt and now the pre-brine coating that rusts them out. My 95 Buick Wagon has reached finally the end with only 86000 miles but has seen 18 years of Maine winters. There is way too much rust damage to get a state inspection. You can wash it good and before you get home it is covered in a white film in the winter. I'd buy a new Corolla for that price now.
 
This is turning into a cool thread...

Sandy - The 1965 Kenmore BOL, if it was a 29-inch machine, was most likely a 400 series, is that right? They were pretty cool - One full automatic normal cycle, a supplemental temp switch for Hot, Warm, or Cold wash, with H or W yielding warm rinse, and cold wash with a cold rinse. If you could deal with just a normal wash cycle, they were probably a fine choice. I would be fine with that. The diecast console panels were what most all Kenmores had at the time -- as you said, a function of available technology I think. Plastic and aluminum on panels were not far away however. I believe there are a few pics in the archives of that machine if you're interested.

Tom - I thought the same thing you did as soon as I heard the guy's voice in the video...just another kid who has no clue whatsoever how to do laundry or how to take care of things, let alone appreciate them. Its how his generation was brought up I think. As to the temperature - in this model, the temperature is set at whatever the incoming water is. It very well may be connected to cold water only. When I considered buying one of these, I was going to get a Y-connector in-line before the single hose, and control the temp at the faucets, but I bet there are a lot of folks who didn't do that.

Also Tom, I liked your comment about the Sears semi-automatic washers. They are actually numbered in a different series of model numbers than those with two separate water inlets. The single coil models, where temps are moderated at the faucets were numbered as 110.xx03xxx models (such as 110.6703300 for example) where the 3 was in position number four. A 4 there meant non-suds automatic, and a 5 meant suds-saver. Most 3-numbered semi autos were not feature laden machines, but some were two speed, multi-cycle models. They just required the user to manipulate incoming temps. I have seen these in photos here on the site, but only one ever in person. I do not believe that line made it into the 70s very far, if at all.

Andy - I never paid attention to much Capri stuff except the laundry, which was just rebadged Kenmores and not of lower quality, at least I didn't perceive this. Capri hasn't been around in a good while, and later on it seemed to morph into the Galaxy name, and they seem to be scarce if not gone as well. Sears hasn't had a BOL washer, not like this anyway, in quite some time. The BOLiest of the recent DD days was a two cycle, 300 series Kenmore with separate water level and temp switches, and a DA agitator, which is considerably more machine than this one. In fact, I think Roper may have been the last maker of a true one-knob wonder?

Gordon
 
Now with all the DOE mandates on washer water and energy usage, what's to become of the BOL segment?

Obviously they are not Energy Star friendly since they are devoid of most of the electronics that make all that possible.

Start collecting them now because this segment is about to go upmarket or away entirely.

 

 

This is a prototype from Electrolux called, "Intestine".  Which is appropriate, because I got sick to my stomach when I saw it.

And if this is the future of our Hobby I am going to never get rid of my "water hogs".

-Alex

 

tecnopolis++10-17-2012-08-28-15.jpg
 
A friend of mine had bd KM similar to this one, but it had 3 water levels and water temp was controled by the timer setting and rinsed in cold water only. I was a nice machine for a bol/mol. It was on a farm, and washed a lot of heavy jeans.
 
E-lux "Intestine"

 

 

Now come on... what good is a "washing machine" like this one that deposits your freshly cleaned clothes on the floor?!?!?  
smiley-wink.gif


 

AND.... as it's for "busy people" I suppose the idea is to do one or two things quickly.   There is no way this could be your primary clothes laundering machine.   Can you imagine doing your family's laundry with this thing, it would take H O U R S feeding each item one by one.

 

Kevin
 
 

 

Check one for Andy... that's a good one!   LOL

 

And Malcolm.... LOL... very true!

 

Ultimately I don't see how this "Intestine" thing could actually be functional and produce cleaned clothing items (out the front OR the back).   I'm sure it's just a non-fuctional design concept that someone dreamed up, then mocked up.

 

**Hey... shouldn't we be talking about this "thing" in the Deluxe forum?   LOL

 

Kevin
 
Keeping the FLOW

Do you have to sprinkle your dirty clothes with a little fibre before cleaning to make sure the don't get backed up/stuck in your 'Intestine' machine?

If you do have a problem, do you call an appliance repairman or take it to a doctor?

Malcolm
 

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