Apex

[tcox6912]

I have seen the POD on the Apex and I know that it is Robert's dream machine. Does anyone have any other literature or info other than that POD that we see every so often? This machine fascinates me because I truly cannot picture the wash action in my head ... sorry to sound dumb, but inquiring minds want to know! Thanks. Todd

 

[gyrafoam]

The tub was a turquoise fiberglass affair with with a hump in the middle about as tall as a traditional agitator.It had a pot-metal cover of sorts towards the top. I recall there were ribs along the bottom of the tub that ran at angles.

When the measured amount of water was in the tub it started wobbling much like the disk in the bottom of a Calipso, but here it was the whole tub and its contents. Water FLEW and it seems as though in short order it had flung most of the water over the side and left the clothes in the tub just flopping inside. At least it had an overflow rinse so it managed to keep some water in the tub.

Even as a youngster I remember thinking that these things could not clean very well. I do not think I have seen one since the early sixties.

 

[alr2903]

I always wondered did the wobble reverse in direction or just wobble in one direction, IIRC someone mentioned here the tub did not "right or balance" it's self at spin time, but revolved at the angle where the "wash action stopped, I always got the impression that it bounced/wobbled during the fill portion of the cycle as well. I know it bounced them after spin with "fluff" action. Being everything old is new again, and they were frugal with hot water, they might be the best design for say, independent living centers for the elderly. In the CR archives it even mentions it was a choice to consider if you did not have alot of hot water. We would all be so lucky if one of these would turn up. Is the wards brand of this in any MW catalogues? I won a late 50's MW catalog on the bay but it only had MW wringer washers. alr2903 p.s. Hi Todd.

 

[Unimatic1140]

I always got the impression that it bounced/wobbled during t

I always got the impression that it bounced/wobbled during the fill portion of the cycle as well.
The 1953 model I had did, it was like a front loader in that respect as soon as you started the machine, the wash basket was either bouncing/wobbling or spinning. There was only a momentary pause (like 3 seconds) as the water balloon clutch filled with water to shift the washer between agitation and spin, but the motor ran throughout the entire cycle.

IIRC someone mentioned here the tub did not "right or balance" it's self at spin time, but revolved at the angle where the "wash action stopped,
That's correct

 

[gyrafoam]

Robert

what was the spin speed on them?

 

[Unimatic1140]

650rpm as I remember, they seem to extract water really well, even consumer reports mentioned that.

 

[westyslantfront]

I remember the Apex bounce-o-matic coin ops in the laundry room where I grew up at 15 cents a wash. They would start filling with water and before the tub was full, they would start bouncing. The lid had a round glass window and the water would splash on the window. The machine would operate unless the lid was opened all the way to the back, just like on some of the unimatics where the lid switch was on the control panel.
I also remember the turquoise molded fiberglass tubs with ribs in the bottom.

Ross

 

[hooverzodiac12]

lol ok i dont mean to sound silly but if anyone has a picture of the inside id really love to see it. i hear about these washers and ive never seen inside.

thanks. Josh=]