Rather than hijack Chetlam's thread on improving top loaders thought it nice to start something new.
Depending upon whom one chooses to believer Alva J. Fisher invented first electric powered washing machine in early part of prior century.
Hurley Machine Company had both top loading washers with beaters but also first domestic h-axis washing machine.
Thor's "Cylinder" washer was based on same sort of cylinder h-axis washing machines by then long in use by commercial/industrial laundries. Those machines were first driven by belts, then came fitted with own motors.
www.johnsonrarebooks.com
By 1920's Maytag, Eden and Gainaday among others were all offering "cylinder" washing machines. Like Hurley's Thor washer all extolled the wonders of "cylinder" laundering over other methods, this included being more gentle on fabrics and better overall laundering results.
These early domestic h-axis washers all suffered from same issue as their larger industrial/commercial cousins, they couldn't extract in same tub.
Commercial laundries used separate hydro-extractors (first powered by belts, then fitted with electric motors), but that wasn't an option for American households. Thus things were fed through wringers same as with other washers of time.
In 1937 all this changed when Bendix introduced the first fully automatic front loading washer.
digitalcollections.lib.washington.edu
For first time it was possible to have an h-axis domestic washing machine that washed, rinsed several times and extracted wash. Downside like its commercial cousins these Bendix units required bolting into several feet of concrete.
Since Bendix got there first they tied up tons of patents regarding h-axis washing machines. Others with ideas in that direction either had to pay royalties to Bendix, or find ways around by coming up with their own designs. Not surprisingly given small US market share for front loaders few took up that challenge. Westinghouse, Philco, and few other American appliance makers did however accept challenge.
Important thing to note though Bendix Corp. is commonly associated with producing washing machines, they did not produce them. Rather Bendix Home Appliances was created under license to a South Bend, Indiana (shout out!) company for a 25% stake in company.
en.wikipedia.org
What is interesting is Bendix and Westinghouse (maybe others, am not sure) also marketed their front loaders for what would be called OPL or light commercial use today. In a word, laundromats.
Westinghouse Electric Corp. registered "Laundromat" as trademark in 1940. After that any "washeteria" or any such place had to find another name besides laundromat, or pay Westinghouse. This also explains why so many early word processing programs and so forth insist on capitalizing "Laundromat".
Westinghouse and Bendix pretty much remained only American appliance makers producing front loading washers. Bendix would be sold twice (once to AVCO then Philco).
As Philco-Bendix there was continued innovation of front loading washers both for domestic and light commercial use. Stand alone washers seemed to have vanished, but Philco-Bendix did give us combo units. Indeed what front loading washers that American appliance makers did continue to produce by 1960's or so were combination washer/dryers. Maytag, Philco-Bendix, Whirlpool/Kenmore and others jumped on that bandwagon, sadly it didn't last.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diRkZCQCZbM
By 1970's Westinghouse didn't offer front loaders with heaters in USA market, elsewhere however was a different matter.
www.youtube.com
Depending upon whom one chooses to believer Alva J. Fisher invented first electric powered washing machine in early part of prior century.
Hurley Machine Company had both top loading washers with beaters but also first domestic h-axis washing machine.
Thor's "Cylinder" washer was based on same sort of cylinder h-axis washing machines by then long in use by commercial/industrial laundries. Those machines were first driven by belts, then came fitted with own motors.
NEW THOR CYLINDER WASHER: The washing method experts have found best by Hurley Electric Equipment Company on johnson rare books & archives
Chicago: Hurley Electric Equipment Company, circa 1920. Wraps. Scarce advertising piece for the second iteration of the Thor cylinder washing machine. The first Thor automatic clothes washer was produced in 1907 and is believed to be the first electrically powered washing machine ever...
www.johnsonrarebooks.com
"You and your laundry" : Frederick, Christine, b. 1883 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive
Advertising Thor washing machines and ironing machines
archive.org
By 1920's Maytag, Eden and Gainaday among others were all offering "cylinder" washing machines. Like Hurley's Thor washer all extolled the wonders of "cylinder" laundering over other methods, this included being more gentle on fabrics and better overall laundering results.
These early domestic h-axis washers all suffered from same issue as their larger industrial/commercial cousins, they couldn't extract in same tub.
Commercial laundries used separate hydro-extractors (first powered by belts, then fitted with electric motors), but that wasn't an option for American households. Thus things were fed through wringers same as with other washers of time.
In 1937 all this changed when Bendix introduced the first fully automatic front loading washer.
Bendix washing machine in Ernst Hardware window, probably in Seattle, 1945
Signs in image: All She Wants is a Bendix. She Goes Shopping on Washdays - Her Bendix Does the Work. At Last It's Here! Come In and See Its Magic for Yourself. The One-and-Only Bendix Automatic Home Laundry. Ernst Hardware Co. Here's All You Do With a Bendix - 1. Put in Dry Clothes, 2. Set the...
For first time it was possible to have an h-axis domestic washing machine that washed, rinsed several times and extracted wash. Downside like its commercial cousins these Bendix units required bolting into several feet of concrete.
Since Bendix got there first they tied up tons of patents regarding h-axis washing machines. Others with ideas in that direction either had to pay royalties to Bendix, or find ways around by coming up with their own designs. Not surprisingly given small US market share for front loaders few took up that challenge. Westinghouse, Philco, and few other American appliance makers did however accept challenge.
Important thing to note though Bendix Corp. is commonly associated with producing washing machines, they did not produce them. Rather Bendix Home Appliances was created under license to a South Bend, Indiana (shout out!) company for a 25% stake in company.
Bendix Corporation - Wikipedia
Thanks to Jerry Gay for finding and delivering this Westinghouse washer for our collection. It must be the very first model they made. We have not found a date on it yet, but it must be from around 1940. It is very different from the 1947 model L2 that I have.
What is interesting is Bendix and Westinghouse (maybe others, am not sure) also marketed their front loaders for what would be called OPL or light commercial use today. In a word, laundromats.
Westinghouse Electric Corp. registered "Laundromat" as trademark in 1940. After that any "washeteria" or any such place had to find another name besides laundromat, or pay Westinghouse. This also explains why so many early word processing programs and so forth insist on capitalizing "Laundromat".
Westinghouse and Bendix pretty much remained only American appliance makers producing front loading washers. Bendix would be sold twice (once to AVCO then Philco).
As Philco-Bendix there was continued innovation of front loading washers both for domestic and light commercial use. Stand alone washers seemed to have vanished, but Philco-Bendix did give us combo units. Indeed what front loading washers that American appliance makers did continue to produce by 1960's or so were combination washer/dryers. Maytag, Philco-Bendix, Whirlpool/Kenmore and others jumped on that bandwagon, sadly it didn't last.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diRkZCQCZbM
By 1970's Westinghouse didn't offer front loaders with heaters in USA market, elsewhere however was a different matter.
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