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I’d say 1978 since the Imperial Mark 18 was superseded by the Mark II in 1978.

 

[user 12105]

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.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

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.

Didn't they take a dig at GE too? I am talking about Whirlpool.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

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 !

I agree Pat. Was this their top of the line agitator? If not, which one was?

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

Thank you for the video Corey and everyone else for your knowledge…

I recall an ad where Sears introduced the dual-action agitator first…

This video I think would have to be in the ‘80’s, save for the metal handle the Whirlpool washer has on its lid, so glad to see it there along with the electronic controls…

Likewise, the platinum color might have come out that decade later…



— Dave

 

[supersuds]

Great videos. I just can't help smiling at the first narrator's pronunciation of Worcestershire. The English don't like to pronounce place names like they're spelled, just to confuse us.

 

[user 12105]

I agree Pat. Was this their top of the line agitator? If not, which one was?

The double duty was their last version of the belt drive surgilator for the large capacity machines.

 

[jamiel]

Intrigued that they used Ann Page catsup...guess the A&P was the nearby supermarket at the time.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

The double duty was their last version of the belt drive surgilator for the large capacity machines.

What did they use on their extra large and super capacity models? I remember their extra roll agitator in the direct drive models.

 

[Marky_Mark]

Great videos. I just can't help smiling at the first narrator's pronunciation of Worcestershire. The English don't like to pronounce place names like they're spelled, just to confuse us.

Haha, yes -- I too noticed that he butchered the pronunciation the first time round and then in the second video it was pronounced perfectly

 

[combo52]

I completely agree with the test results. The agitator in the GE was a very good agitator until you overloaded it and then nothing moved as the test showed. This is why GE went to this agitator that was much more aggressive with large loads however we had a lot of complaints with this agitator being too aggressive, and I had several customers want the old style agitator back or the ramp agitator, which was much more gentle, but less effective with extremely large loads

John L

 

[Marky_Mark]

I'm surprised by how stark the difference is between the Whirlpool results and those from Maytag and GE. I wonder if that’s because the exact same load size was used for each machine—one that the Whirlpool handled well, but was too large for the GE and Maytag models, resulting in poorer performance. Perhaps if the test had been repeated with a load half the size, the gap in performance would have been smaller—or perhaps even negligible.

 

[Marky_Mark]

One aspect that wasn't touched on is fabric gentleness. I recall a thread where someone mentioned that, in their experience, the Whirlpool Surgilator provided the best cleaning performance among the automatics they’d used—but it was also the harshest on fabrics. Interestingly, Consumer Reports found that the only single-speed machine to damage delicate curtains was a Maytag.

So, what’s considered the best overall agitator for a Whirlpool/Kenmore belt-drive washer? The Surgilator? Dual Action? Or one of the others? I have the PentaSwirl in my Lady Kenmore, and it seems to strike a good balance between cleaning power and fabric care—though it does struggle a bit more with overloads compared to some of the other designs.

 

[phillymatt53]

One aspect that wasn't touched on is fabric gentleness. I recall a thread where someone mentioned that, in their experience, the Whirlpool Surgilator provided the best cleaning performance among the automatics they’d used—but it was also the harshest on fabrics. Interestingly, Consumer Reports found that the only single-speed machine to damage delicate curtains was a Maytag.

So, what’s considered the best overall agitator for a Whirlpool/Kenmore belt-drive washer? The Surgilator? Dual Action? Or one of the others? I have the PentaSwirl in my Lady Kenmore, and it seems to strike a good balance between cleaning power and fabric care—though it does struggle a bit more with overloads compared to some of the other designs.

I think I have that PentaSwirl in my Kenmore portable machine.
That's the one with the agitator dogs and corkscrew gizmo, right?
I replaced the dogs a while back, easy job.

 

[Chetlaham]

It is advertising after all. Once you know the weak and strong spots of the machines you're dealing with you can use that to obtain any result you want, and to prove any point you want to prove.


Personally, IMO, the agitator in the film shown here pales in comparison to the dual action agitator.

 

[DADoES]

I think I have that PentaSwirl in my Kenmore portable machine.
That's the one with the agitator dogs and corkscrew gizmo, right?
I replaced the dogs a while back, easy job.

No. This is Penta Swirl. It was used only on 18 lb classic belt-drive machines, typically higher-level models such as the 800 and Lady Kenmore. There was also a Penta Vane used on lower-end 18 lb models.

 

[maytag85]

I honestly prefer the Super Surgilator and DDSS over the Kenmore agitators. The Super Surgilator seems to work quite well, washed a pillowcase that appeared to be cleaned but when I went to move the sheets over to the dryer, was amazed on how clean it came out.

The standard Bakelite Surgilator works well too, but is more persnickety with how the machine is loaded. Roll over with the standard Surgilator seems to be on par with a Maytag PowerFin on larger loads.

 

[user 12105]

What did they use on their extra large and super capacity models? I remember their extra roll agitator in the direct drive models.

The super surgilator with the extended fins was in the standard capacity and the 24-in models

 

[user 12105]

I can agree with Marky Mark about the Penta Swirl. I personally think it's a great agitator and I like it even more than the Double Duty which is also a great performer. Huge loads do hinder it's roll over some but that is true for most agitators. It's very effective in sloshing the clothes around the tub. I have plenty of videos with all different size loads.

 

[circlew]

I honestly prefer the Super Surgilator and DDSS over the Kenmore agitators. The Super Surgilator seems to work quite well, washed a pillowcase that appeared to be cleaned but when I went to move the sheets over to the dryer, was amazed on how clean it came out.

The standard Bakelite Surgilator works well too, but is more persnickety with how the machine is loaded. Roll over with the standard Surgilator seems to be on par with a Maytag PowerFin on larger loads.

When my neighbor V. replaced her 1972 Kenmore 800 washer in 1985, she didn't like the Dual-Action agitator in the new Kenmore. A Super Surgilator was then installed, and she was satisfied with the machine after that.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

I can agree with Marky Mark about the Penta Swirl. I personally think it's a great agitator and I like it even more than the Double Duty which is also a great performer. Huge loads do hinder it's roll over some but that is true for most agitators. It's very effective in sloshing the clothes around the tub. I have plenty of videos with all different size loads.

Isn't it true that Whirlpool wanted more waterflow when they went to the direct drive?

 

[user 12105]

IDK. There certainly is more continuous controlled rollover and not as much splash with the DD, and not as much lateral movement either compared to a belt drive. The BD Penta Swirl for example can get the load to slosh and splash and rock the water. It can get a little tempest going on in that tub.The WP/KM DD's don't really do that by nature of shorter faster agitation strokes.