Ever seen a Rotoswirl agitator like this?

[golittlesport]

What is this funky cap? A splash protector? I've never seen anything like this on a Kenmore.

http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-KENMORE...594672463QQcategoryZ71256QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[frigilux]

Huh. That's a new one on me. If I recall correctly, our 1960 KM 'preggers' Roto-Swirl used to shoot up a spurt of water straight into the air from right next to the top of the agitator now & then. So maybe it IS a splash protector, especially with the vanes so close to the top of the agitator...

Thanks for posting the pic!

 

[SactoTeddyBear]

Re: Yes, it is a Splash Guard:

When I had my approx 1954 to 1956 Frog-Eye Kenmore Washer, it had the Pregnant Roto-Swirl Agitator and it had a more flat Disk-Like Guard, that was a real thick Rubber-Made item, that was placed on the Upper part of the Agitator, just for that reason, to prevent the Water from Splashing out, if you had the Lid Opened. It seemed to do it more on the Lower Water Lever {only 2-water levels, low and high} but it did some Splashing on the High Water Level as well.

OH! How I hope to locate another Frog-Eye sometime again here, I'll never let it go this time, like I did before.

Good Times and Happy Kenmore Washing, Steve
SactoTeddyBear...

 

[laundromat]

I believe that is a load level device to keep the owner/user from putting too much laundry in the washer.The older Norge commercial washers had the same device on their agitators saying "Do not load above this line."

 

[toggleswitch]

Would it create an air-bubble if the machine were over-filled therby preventing water form climbing down the agitator where the screw-knob and the agitator meet at the top/tip?

 

[Designgeek]

Re. air bubble: probably not, it looks like it's made from concentric short cylindrical shapes stuck together in one molding. So air could easily escape, and water could escape also though more slowly so as not to splash.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Our 1952 Kenmore with suds saver came with the rubber disc style that SactoTeddyBear described. It was of use during the suds return because the machine was only one speed and the splashing of the water as the water level deepened over the Roto's fins definitely sent suds upward. Once two speed motors came out, WP machines returned suds on the slow speed.