Door Opening Designs - Early dryers

[groppsm123]

Hi All!

Wondering if anyone can shed light on the attached article from the 1980s. Specifically, the article references 5 dryers where a child could not get out easily.

Were dryers from this time frame made with latching doors similar to the other products (refrigerators, washer/dryers, etc) mentioned in the articles?

Thanks!

http://https//news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1906&dat=19890413&id=zvwfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=nvwEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1143,4859056&hl=pt-BR

 

[yogitunes]

although still not made in that time frame, they could have still existed....

there are plenty of them still around, and fridges with latched doors still being used....

its just a notice to 'be aware' that incidents have happened, and to keep this in the back of your mind if something like this would be in your home and around children....

plus for disposal when the time comes......nothing says that because your appliance has a concerned latch, that it must be destroyed and disposed of...their not exactly outlawed....

not sure of all the styles....a fridge usually would close on its own and latch shut....

dryer doors usually had to be pushed shut, and applied force from the outside to latch for the ones who had it.....

same as washers, I only operated a few, but you had to give a good push for that door to close and latch.....

I know a lot of newer cars with trunks have a safety release from the inside should you get trapped...

 

[classiccaprice]

Maybe Maytags. I know someone could in theory lock someone in the old ones with the handles the way the were. That said, good luck to the kid that fit in there... Those doors were quite small.

 

[norgeway]

Slant Front Westinghouse

We had one and until I was 8 or so I was NOT allowed near it alone!! Mother was afraid I would climb in it! The door if opened, turned it off, but when you closed it , it latched and started back up!, As much as I hate anything new, that WAS dangerous.

 

[superocd]

Hmmm. I've always wondered why newer commercial fridges didn't have strike latches.

I suppose those latches could cause injury if you slipped, too, since most of them were pointing "up" and could take an eye out. In fact, on one of my calls I was replacing the TXV on an old Foster commercial unit in a really greasy, grimy truck-stop type joint. Probably on a final warning from the health department by the looks of that kitchen. As I was stepping off of the stepstool onto the floor, I slipped against the fridge and almost took my eye out on the latch.