Bendix Washer

[mrsalvo]

Ok Guys,
Todays picture of the day shows the Bendix washer without the
normal back and forth agitator. I'm wondering how the "power
surge" cleans the clothes. Sure does look similar to the
calypso washer that Sears came out with, only higher water
levels perhaps. I honestly don't see how that washing action
would get clothes clean, I'd have to see it to believe it.

 

[peterh770]

We think that it worked on the same principle as the Philco Automagic or Blades of Water agitation. This was a precursor to that design.

 

[gansky1]

Here is an illustration of the agitator in the PowerSurge Bendix. As Peter said, this is mechanically very similar to the Philco washer design released in 1959. The PowerSurge was only around for about a year, maybe a little more. Intro'd in 1956, it was dropped from the line in 57-58 when Avco sold the Bendix appliance line to Philco.

This has to be my "holy grail" of machines to find. I have lots of great advertising/sales and service info on this machine, but I don't know anyone that has ever actually seen one...