Combo Thread!

[Jsneaker]

Water Hardness

Todd, I forgot to ask you, is your local water in No. Cal. hard or soft? My friends in Ashland, OR have naturally soft water, it was a pleasure using it there. I was misled to think that San Francisco had soft water. When I visited there in July 1980, my OLD hotel's water was nice and soft. The other reason that I believed the water was soft, was that back then, I saw so many laundromats with "ancient" Westinghouse & Bendix machines in full operation. I just the water softeness there helped the preservation of the machines. I was SO excited!

 

[tomturbomatic]

Many commercial establishments in FL had water softeners, especially coin laundries. They would advertise 0 grain soft water on the side of the building in the beach towns. We saw that while driving north on Rt. A1A where we could watch the ocean from the highway back in the 50s. My father could be cruel. We saw a very large woman walking out into the breakers and when a wave hit her, my father said she had probably just stripped the gears in the ocean. Hotels would soften the water also. It made it easier to keep the bathrooms clean as well as helping with the laundry and dishwashing.

 

[washerlover]

Hi Jsneaker, our water here is extremely soft, fresh from the crystal clear Mad River. (yes, really -- "Mad!") I do see that it extends the life of washing machines, dishwashers, and plumbing in general. I lived in San Francisco for many years and I agree with your hard water comment!

 

[spin-it]

Norge WD600

What a great looking machine and rare bird. Hi All, Happy Thanksgiving. It's been awhile since I've posted, just dealing with life as we all do, but still have lots to be thankful for.
Anyway, the brochure for the Norge combo says that it has a "simple and very effective suspension of the tank, tub and drive eliminates vibration and reset mechanisms." I thought due to Philco-Bendix's stronghold on the suspension patents that the combo machines did not have any suspension systems to speeak of and had to resort to complex means of regulating spin speeds and or be bolted to the floor. I did see that the Norge still only had a 225 rpm spin. What made the Norge different than say the GE, or WP, KM or SQ combos? These machines fascinate me with their various drive and shifting mechanisms.
Have a great Holiday! Kevin

 

[tomoldcars]

Death of an old Bendix Combo about 50 years ago

I have been lurking on your site since I found it about three years ago while researching a Fridigare washer water pressure gauge. Thanks, by the way, for a new insight into early washer technology, and a buyer. I bounce between an amazement over the strange things people collect and the awareness that each of the nine cars in my driveway displace about the same volume as a dozen washers and dryers. The Packard Ambulance, maybe 16 to 18. Anyhoo, this thread relates to an incident that occurred between Oct. 1961, drivers license, and May 1963, moved. My mom had an automatic washer of some persuasion and a clothesline. Wandering through a Thrift store in Arcadia Ca., I found an old Bendix Combo. I suspect post war 40’s. When I got it home, I realized there was no gas to the location. It lived on the back porch for a few days until I pulled over an extension cord and fired it up dry. It went through a wash cycle, paused to drain then went into extract. It spun up to a rather alarming speed, then, while still accelerating, made a very loud BANG and everything stopped. The ensuing silence was broken by the tinkle of porcelain fracturing off the dented tub. Sometime the following week it left the porch. I have always regretted not finding out what broke. I have also wondered if running empty and dry could have been a bad idea. My only other washer related experience, then, was the Maytag single cylinder engine on my gocart. I will continue to enjoy this site and, maybe, toss in a comment now and then. Happy thanksgiving all. Tom By the way Kevin, I'm not that far from you out here in Montclair.

 

[sharples]

My Combo

Philco YAY

 

[sharples]

another combo of mine

YAY

 

[hydralique]

Sharples . . .

Your first pic is obviously a Duomatic, but is the second a Philco as well? Looks late '60s to me, a very handsome machine! Do you notice much difference in performance between the two?

 

[toploader55]

Graham

That Philco is amazing !!!!

I love all those Philcos with the Color Keys.

 

[peteski50]

Philco Bendix!

Hi Graham - do you think you could take a good closeup of the console -
Thanks,
Peter

 

[swestoyz]

Graham, - screw the '58, show some close-ups of the '66/'67 Combo! Have you had a chance to use it yet?

Ben

 

[jetcone]

Graham we both have the same combo

model! A 1958 TOL. I love mine its a daily driver here. BUT BUT that '67 Philco is to dye for! One of my pursuit machines for sure. Have you used it lately??

 

jon

 

 

[bendixmark]

67 Bendix

I had a 68 Bendix very similar to that 7 years ago before I found this site.It had the color keys and was a beautiful machine.The transmission had a blower solenoid so the blower didnt run continuously.I didnt keep it because the cylinder bearing was noisy.I would have given the machine to someone here who would have wanted to take it on.One of my big regrets...

 

[sudsmaster]

Fun thread!

I never realized that there were so many combo washers. But I have never seen one in person, so they must not have sold nearly as well as separate washers and dryers.

Was also interested to read in the Consumer Reports archives here that the Bendix Duomatic used more water for drying (30 gallons) than most modern front loader washers use for a couple of big loads!

 

[aquarius8000]

I have had experince with one combo, a hotpoint WD61. love all the others. Chris.

 

[sudsmaster]

I have to amend my previous post. I have seen modern combos for sale at appliance stores, like the Malber etc. I was referring to vintage combos, I guess.

 

[circlew]

I can only think of one person that I know that ever had a combo. Jane - my neighbor on the next street over - used to have a 1970 GE in Harvest. It was installed in the house when it was built, and she moved in around 1973. She used it for several years until it broke down. I can't remember what she said happened to it, but said it was too expensive to fix. She got a top load washer to replace it, and to this day has never bought a dryer. Said she'd have to either put it in another room from the washer, or move the laundry area to another part of the house. She doesn't like to spend money, so she uses a clothesline outside.

 

[gansky1]

1953 Bendix Duomatic

 

 

[gansky1]

Maytag Combo

 

 

[gansky1]

69 Kenmore Combo money shot