Combos of the Past

Automatic Washer - The world's coolest Washing Machines, Dryers and Dishwashers

Help Support :

S

sjsustudent

New member
Joined
Apr 9, 2007
Messages
3
I'm a university student working on a washing machine and dryer project and found www.automaticwasher.org today. It's fascinating looking at the photos of older machines. They seem to have so much more pizazz than the machines available now. Compared to them, the majority of today's machines look like nondescript white boxes.

I'm researching combo washer/dryers. I thought they were a "new" invention of the last 10 years. But no! Looks like GE made some back in the 60s and 70s!

Why aren't they still made? Why did that style die out here in the US? Were the combos too small? Or did they take too much time? (The European ones on the market today run on 110V and take 2.5 hours per load.)

If anyone has any memories of using a combo washer dryer or answers to any of the above questions, I would be grateful.
 
Have a look at some of the photos of collections on this site and you'll see many combos.

Bendix Corp. introduced the first combination washer/dryer, billed the Duomatic, in 1953. It was called an impressive acheivement by Consumer Reports when it was tested in 1955. Most other manufacturers rushed their own combo designs to the market but because Bendix patented most every part of their machine, including the "combination washer-dryer" idea, other maker's hands were tied to compete with their design. Most of the early combos were very large machines and performed rather poorly. Some machines were so bad that they were recalled by the mfr. and replaced with stand-alone washers & dryers. Maytag and Westinghouse both recalled their combos and ensured that nearly all of them were destroyed. A few of us have been lucky enough to find a few remaining machines - I have a Maytag combo and a Westinghouse in my collection and I can personally attest to their poor design and performance! Whirlpool (and under the Sears Kenmore brand) and General Electric continued to make revisions to their designs through the years and into the early 70's when they finally disappeared from the market completely.

This is just scratching the surface of this topic, you'll read many posts of combo memories!

4-9-2007-19-18-3--gansky1.jpg
 
Hello and welcome. Here is my 1958 Whirlpool Combo...

009@1959%20Whirlpool%20Combination%20Washer%20and%20Dryer@Unimatic1140.jpg


As well as a video of it washing...

 
Here's my circa-1961 GE that I was using regularly (as a washer only; the drying performance is so-so in my opinion) up until a couple of weeks ago, right after I finished replacing the pump. Due to a small leak in the water valve I was unaware of, the motor shorted out and will need to be rewound as well as some other repairs made, so it's currently out of service. I plan to have it installed in its rightful place in the washhouse before this summer, though.

I have to say, it's definitely one of the simplest as far as combinations go. The motor is a double-shaft, and it uses a standard GE pump driven off of a flexible rubber coupling like the TLs. It uses a 3-belt arrangement in sort of a "jackshaft" pulley system. One wide V-belt goes from the motor pulley to a center double pulley, which drives another wide V-belt to a slightly larger pulley, which connects a normal sized V-belt to the tub drive pulley. To spin, a small gearmotor winds up a chain, which pulls a lever down to simultaneously expand the double pulley and put tension on the 2 V-belts. Strange setup, but it gives infinitely variable spin speed up to 250 or so RPM. Jason was able to get some good video footage of the spin shifter last October, when we ran it with the back panel off. The sound is equally amazing, it sounds (and feels through the vibrations in the floor) like a jet engine taking off, and landing when it slows down.

There's also no suspension whatsoever in this machine. Under an off-balance load situation, the machine will gyrate slightly in a circular motion and a small switch connected to the left front leveling leg controls the gearmotor. Most of the time, though, it's pretty rock-solid on spin and gets up to full speed. It's definitely not the best at water extraction (though washing a full load does help), but every load I've done I usually just put in the dryer without spinning out in a better machine, and it comes out fine.

With 6 vanes in the drum, the washing action (and cleaning ability) is incredible, not to mention fun. One of the splashiest machines I've ever watched. When used as a washer only, it can hold a good-sized load; the capacity rivals that of modern FLs.

Can't wait to get it back up and running again!

Austin

4-9-2007-21-02-40--westytoploader.jpg
 
Jon is that the "New Dash" you are working on!! Hope you aren't holding out on us....(I feel a slap coming) Looks like a great cup of coffee there as well!!
 
All About Nondescript...

"Compared to them, the majority of today's machines look like nondescript white boxes."

MISS CASWELL: (sighing) Why do they always look like unhappy rabbits?

ADDISON DEWITT: Because that is what they ARE.
 
I grew up owning a Lady Kenmore gas combo.It was purchased 11/01/1963.We had it for 22 years with only 2 major repairs.One for the pump protector (sump)and the other for the ballance system lock which my dad forgot to unlock before moving the unit during his tile instalation.
 
Bendix Combo or washer dryer uk in use

Hi here is a photo of my 1966 Bendix Washer Dryer as we call them in the UK. It is my daily and only auto washer.I wash approx 4 loads a week and dry probably 2 depending on weather. It uses 230 volts and although old is in brand new condition. It takes approx 45 min for a wash and 50 to 90 for dry depending on load and if i have spun them in a separate fast dryer first. W/D ers are still very popular here as ideal for smaller kitchens or smaller families. See attached link for the machine washing.


4-10-2007-09-25-47--ricky5050.jpg
 
Ricky, that door on the top is like the one on our Philco Hi Speed No Vent Duomatic from 67 or so. There was the hole for adding detergent and stuff and at the back was the handle for the dryer lint filter. It had a very powerful blower.
 
hope not

Hi Jon the you tube video makes it sound louder than it is, it is about ok , but on this model the blower fan runs continuously and as the air flap is shut it does make it make strange howling noises, i understand later models had a separate solenoid to switch it off and on. The machine although from 1966 was never un packed or used until i bought it in 2002 ish so it is in fact 5 years old, so i hope its a long time time work needed Richard
 

Similar threads

M
A 200 GE Model-T washer I got in
Replies
1
Views
38
cfz2882
C
M
The Defense of the Model-T
Replies
14
Views
60
whirlpool862
W
E
Timer/ Timer Motor issues on a 1956 Westinghouse L-9 Laundromat
Replies
9
Views
10
hoover28
H
verizonbear
Splendide Vented Washer/Dryer combo 110 v. Any thoughts?
Replies
12
Views
19
henene4
H
barcoboy
Acquired some Kenmore 80 and 90 series machines
Replies
11
Views
51
barcoboy
barcoboy

Latest posts

Back
Top