Double-Duty Super-Surgilator – 16mm Film

[cadman]

This week we drop in on the Whirlpool laundry lab to check the cleaning effectiveness of their Double-Duty Super-Surgilator on a bevy of baby bibs. The second half is an alternate version that takes a dig at Maytag. Sure to cause a fuss, haha.

Can anyone ID the year of these machines? Looks like at least one of them is Platinum.

 

[Unimatic1140]

My guess would be 1978-1979 possibly 1980. Love this video and those clear tubs are amazing! I wonder how they were made, I would assume a sample tub was sent out to some plastic molder and made from that?

 

[maytag85]

I’d say 1978 since the Imperial Mark 18 was superseded by the Mark II in 1978.

 

[agiflow]

Whirlpool calls that double duty a Super Surgilator in my 85 Whirlpool. Wonder when they change that ? Maybe when they went to the more energy efficient slightly reduced capacity tubs ?

THIS is the Whirlpool many of us want back again !

 

[DADoES]

It's the first version electronic control model, LFA9800. Solid State Mark Series (not Mark II). LFA was 1978.

Solid State Mark II, I believe LHA series (1980), went to a linear button layout.

The machines at 3:33 are LDA (distinctive circle around the rotary controls). LDA series did not have the Double Duty, and there wasn't an electronic model. LDA was 1976.

There's a Kenmore model rolled on a cart at 3:37.

The LFA9800 console is clearly seen beginning at 1:27 and 2:00. Again at 4:00 and at 4:38 when the controls are set. Full view of the machine at 6:05.

LFA series wasn't available in platinum color. White, almond, copper (coffee), avocado (new avocado), harvest gold (golden harvest, new gold).

 

[combo52]

Love These Videos Cory

The Whirlpool washer used is an LFA9800 which was built in 1977-1979.

You will notice that they did not compare a Lady Kenmore or a Frigidaire 1-18 in this test because they would also passed the cleaning test.

I saw a great training video in the mid 1990s comparing washing performance of the leading top load washers, hopefully you can find a copy of this some day Cory.

John L.

 

[Unimatic1140]

You will notice that they did not compare a Lady Kenmore or a Frigidaire 1-18 in this test because they would also passed the cleaning test.

I thought the exact same thing John, although the difference in cleaning ability was so extreme in the GE and Maytag that it makes me wonder if this was really a 100% fair test. A Norge/Wards should also be added to this list of machines they passed up.

 

[maytag85]

They claimed to use the ‘normal’ cycle, but I’m willing to bet they used the Super Wash cycle but didn’t show the console options since that’s apart of the marketing. They did show it in another clip in the other video, but probably selected the Super Wash cycle when the camera was off, again apart of the marketing.

To get those bibs cleaned in the Maytag, would have had to choose a lower water level to allow for more aggressive and brisk agitation, along with selecting a pre wash and soak.

 

[DADoES]

Super Wash is lit for a moment in the second version, then not.

Super Wash may not have a large effect even if it was used. The prewash is 6 mins, soak is effective 4 mins including the partial drain and pause. Double the normal detergent dose is advised vs. the (claimed and shown) one cup.

 

[phillymatt53]

They claimed to use the ‘normal’ cycle, but I’m willing to bet they used the Super Wash cycle but didn’t show the console options since that’s apart of the marketing. They did show it in another clip in the other video, but probably selected the Super Wash cycle when the camera was off, again apart of the marketing.

To get those bibs cleaned in the Maytag, would have had to choose a lower water level to allow for more aggressive and brisk agitation, along with selecting a pre wash and soak.

Bingo!
To this day, advertizing is manipulated and glorified with "scene changes" in order to enhance selling power.
But we know what's going on.