bendix history

[servisslimline]

i've seen bendix machines from 1940's, 50's and 60's but there is a gap between the 60's machines and the one more modern machines, can anyone help find the info. ps make sure you post pictures cos i would love to see the machines i have not seen as i am a BIG bendix fan, thanks
phil

 

[hilovane]

Are you asking about the American or British Bendix?

 

[aussie-plugs]

Why not both?

It would be interesting for us all to see both lines if somebody knows their independent histories.

Based on the pictures I've seen on this site, we had all the early American models here in Australia. I don't know whether they were made in America and shipped here, or whether parts where shipped and assembled here under licence. That went on until mid 1960's that I know of - we got ours in 1962 and it's a model I've rarely seen mentioned here, although somebody does have one (one of the members with the fantastic display in the basement? Robert?) The model I'm thinking of has the timer on the right, the water miser on the left and the soap chute in the middle, all at the front of the machine, concealed under a fold-down lid.

We also had the Italian machines from mid '70's onwards, as often shown in pictures from our UK friends.

Let's hope somebody can shed some light on what appear to be at least two Bendix family trees.

 

[favorit]

I'd like too

Didn't know all euro Bendix came from the italian plant in Brembate di Sotto.
Today Philco Italy is one of the thousand brands of the well known antoniomerloni.it (Servis,ARDO,Nardi,Eudora,EDB,Studio)

Just the time to look for one old real Philco catalogue and I'm postig some scans

http://www.philcoelettrodomestici.it/index.asp

 

[gizmo]

Aussie Bendix

I have seen a couple of old (1950s or early 1960s) Bendix washers which had metal plates attached saying they were assembled by James Kirby and Company. (Australian Assembled.)

I have also seen (and owned) 1970s models which were imported from Philco Italy.

So the change from Aussie assembled to Italian imported occurred in AU some time in late sixties or early seventies.

Chris

 

[favorit]

Philco Italy

Philco was the main brand they sold here, Crosley and Bendix were much less common. Very reliable machines, often used by small hotels and B&B (many were both hot and cold fill, so energy savers). Big drums and large portholes were a plus when washing sheets, tableclothes and other large items

 

[favorit]

W 451

mid eigthies

 

[paulinroyton]

Bendix

My aunty had a bendix in the 1970s. All I can remember it was the same size of the bendix home laundry centre. It had the powder dispenser on the top. It had a programmer for all programmes ie, prog 1, 2, 3, 4,. It also had a button which you could hold in and it would take you to the start of the wash, which was on a reel showing wash, rinse, spin. It also had lights for, wash, rinse, spin. The door was quite big, and had a drain screen at the bottom right hand side. She had this machine for a long time and was so quiet on wash and spin.

 

[favorit]

W 65 Inox

a semi commercial washer with a 58 litres/dm3 drum [rated 6kg, not 9 as nowadays ;-) ] and stainless (inox) steel outer tub

 

[favorit]

WeD

Combo, don't guess it's made in Italy as words on the fascia are in English

 

[favorit]

toploader

looks a bit on the BSH side

 

[favorit]

and from BOSCH catalogue 1986 : the BENDIXX ;-)

The V436. If BSH had been on the porn side as today (all those xxxx : Axxix, Nexxt, Logixx, Maxx and so on), this machine would be named Bosch BENDIXX *LOL*

No need to say this BOL bosch was made by philco it.
There were even cheaper BSH badged machines (i.e. SIEMENS FRIDA) made here by SILTAL

 

[matchboxpaul]

As always - great brochure scans posted there.

Many thanks - really interesting seeing all those machines, which tended to be branded as both Bendix and Philco in the UK.

I seem to remember Philco's in the UK having a light grey facia, but have never seen a picture of these machines since they were on sale and a mates grandma had one.
Squeezed into a small kitchen, one of the kitchen table chairs was right in front of it - thats the chair I always bagsied! Sat with back against the wall, table to my right and a certain Philco less than a centimetre or two away from me, on my left.
lovely looking machine.

A family member and an ex- boyfriend of a cousin of mine each had these brutes:

the Bendix LT!

As a four/five year old, these were monsters of a machine, towering above standard sized machines, as well as me!

 

[servisslimline]

bendix

i forgot to say at the beginning of the thread that i have a bendix 7128 wit one dial and one button which is on/off, ps, i love that philco/bosch machine

 

[ricky5050]

Thats my daily driver

As some of you may know the Bendix LT is my only auto washer and i use it 3 - 4 times a week! Matchbox paul do you have a copy of that full ad you could send me , my e mail is [email protected]

Thanks

Richard

 

[tlee618]

Richard that is a nice looking machine. Is it a combo washer/dryer?

 

[ricky5050]

bendix lt

Hi Yes its a 1966 washer dryer (vented) it was unused until i bought it in 2001 and is going strong !

Richard

 

[tlee618]

Thanks for the information Richard!!

 

[aussie-plugs]

Vented?

So you're beautiful looking machine uses hot fan-forced air to dry the clothes, like a conventional dryer? That seems so sensible and saves water. My impression was that all washer/dryers needed water to condesnse out the water vapour and that they just heated the drum cavity - I didnt' realise blown air was ever used. If somebody could explain these systems (and any other variations), that would be great.