Evolution of H-Axis Washing Machines From Semi to Fully Automatic

[launderess]

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.

https://www.oldewash.com/articles/Electric_Washer.pdf

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...

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.

Bendix Corporation - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Thread 'First Westinghouse Laundromat'

Dec 1, 2014

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.

• jeff_adelphi
• Replies: 54
• Forum: Imperial

• 

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.

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

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American version, no heater.

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

www.youtube.com

 

[launderess]

Meanwhile across the pond things were dramatically different.

Countries were picking themselves up and dusting off horrors of WWII and moving on.

By early 1950's Germany (West) was once again Europe's economic and manufacturing power house.
In 1951 1951 engineer Peter Pfenningsberg came up with Germany's first fully automatic domestic front loading washer, *Constructa* was born.

While sharing many same qualities as American Bendix that was launched decades before the Constructa went few better, this included ability to heat water.

Constructa - the first fully automatic washing machine in Germany

Mother’s favorite

www.daidalos.blog

History of the Constructa brand - BSH Wiki

wiki.bsh-group.com

 

[launderess]

Innovations were occurring elsewhere in Europe as well.

Still late as early 1960's Wascator was selling a semi-automatic front loader.

Say hello to my little friend

Den här tvättmaskinen står i vår tvättstuga. Den har stått där sen 50-talet, när huset byggdes. Den fungerar enastående. Jag använder den ganska sällan, några gånger om året, bara. Men jag tycker o…

pelletinen.wordpress.com

Late as 1950's Miele was still producing washers with coal or other solid fuel heating sources below tub.

Historische Miele Trommelwaschmaschine Nr. 307

Historische Miele Waschmachine Nr. 307. Erste Waschmaschine mit "Bullauge", Beladung von vorn,...,Historische Miele Trommelwaschmaschine Nr. 307 in Rheinland-Pfalz - Rumbach

www.kleinanzeigen.de

By middle to late 1950's Schulthess, Bauknecht, AEG, Zanussi among many other European concerns were all producing h-axis washers. It varied by brand but many had quality right down to last screw. Good number boasted advances and features no American front loader (what there was of them) could match.

 

[launderess]

When AVCO got their mitts on Philco they also owed Crosley as well.

It's too long a story worth bothering with now, but though largely forgotten in USA Philco laundry appliances remained a steady player in Europe far longer. There were even "Philco/Crosley" branded units, something you didn't see in USA.

 

[launderess]

Blomberg recently begun selling appliances in USA, however they are long since in Europe building some amazing bit of kits.

 

[launderess]

This bit from Wiki pretty much sums up why H-axis washers usually deliver superior results compared to top loading with central beaters.

Washing machine - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Basically laundry can be done two ways; moving things through water, or move water through things. H-axis perform the latter.

Action of H-axis washers causes textile fibers to flex and open which aids in cleaning. Lifting and dropping wash upon itself and or against drum is far gentler than whacking things against central beater and or rubbing them against same.

 

[launderess]

One part of Europe that lagged behind front loading fully automatic washer revolution was UK.

Post WWII UK had a war to pay for which heavily influenced many areas of economic policy.

There was also fact economic situation of many households meant buying large appliances of any sort was a stretch. Launderettes, wash houses (yes, they were still around), laundries as part of multi-family housing and of course laundry services gave households options instead of owing their own machines.

Then there was perhaps unfortunate (depending upon how one looks at things) focus on semi-automatic washing machines (twin tubs mostly). This served a few purposes including promoting domestic production as Hoover, Servis and others all made twin tub washers right in UK.

Another bit was restrictions on foreign imports which meant automatic front loaders from Italy or other parts of Europe/world couldn't easily reach UK market.

Things began to change with Servis, Bendix and Hoover all launching front loading washers in UK.

 

[launderess]

So why didn't h-axis washer take off in USA?

That's a complicated query with many answers.

First and foremost early front loaders that required bolting down just were a non starter for many American homes. Not everyone had a basement or other area that had concrete flooring or could pour several feet of to bolt machine into.

As we all know even with a suspension system h-axis washer can vibrate excessively or even go walkabout. Early SQ front loaders that Alliance reintroduced to US market for domestic use suffered that issue.

Because front loaders use less water than top you needed a close source of hot water piped to machine. This and even then may need to purge out cold water from line. Top loaders fill with so much water that even early moments of cool or cold will be over come by surge of hot water that follows.

Perhaps most damning thing was something Ms. Betty Furness in all her high heeled and girdled glory never mentions; h-axis washers tend to or can leave one with a tangled mass of wash. Indeed Westinghouse washers often were nicknamed "rope makers" because wash, especially things such as bed linen, pants, or shirts came out in a long tangled mess.

Tangling may have been result of Westinghouse's use of tubs slanted on various inclines. Bendix washers of period seemed no worse for tangling than modern front loaders more or less, but still.

J

Thread 'Westinghouse slant-front machines'

Oct 29, 2017

I've purchased all the pdf material available in the literature side of this site for the Westinghouse front loaders, and am grateful for it being available.

I notice in the 1963 Westinghouse w/d brochure, the notation is that while Westinghouse stopped using the slanted-tub configuration in the late 50's, this 1963 model year was the last for the slanted-front cabinets.

Please educate me: why did Westinghouse stop the slanted-tub machines? I've seen on this site that they were notorious for tangling--was that it? Or was it some manufacturing consideration?

Why did they persist...

• johnrk
• Replies: 9
• Forum: Imperial

Capacity wise early front loaders sold on both sides of pond generally had same rated capacity, 3.5 to 4.0 cubic feet, allowing for about 11- 15 pounds of wash. This was pretty much same as when European machines by Miele, Bosch, Asko and Creda began arriving in USA. At once Consumer Reports and others began harping on about "small" capacity. Today of course washers are up to nearly 20lbs of wash and use less energy and water, so that's something anyway.

As one stated in another thread one big obstacle holding back H-axis washers for domestic use in USA was lack of truly top performing detergent.

By late 1950's into 1960's Henkel, Lever Bros. and rest saw which way winds were blowing. Soap based products were given push and in came synthetic detergents at first largely for tub or semi-automatic washing machines, but that soon switched over to h-axis washers.







Outside of USA P&G had Ariel which they flogged in Europe, so they knew how to make laundry detergents suitable for h-axis washers. Never the less they stuck with high foaming Tide until rather recently.

 

[launderess]

From my stash.

Nabbed bunch of these old Bendix bits years ago. They've sat sitting since, and really should move some of them on I suppose.

 

[hvtech42]

Great history and cool information and links!

I guess what leaves me still confused about the explanation of why front load washers didn't take off in America, is that it seems like most those factors existed later on too in the early era of modern front loaders here too?

Like, we had a lack of good front loader detergents in the 90s and early 2000s too, but that didn't stop Maytag, Electrolux, Whirlpool, etc. from releasing front loaders... Most people with the early US FLs just stuck it out with the sub-optimal detergent, and were generally still happy with the results anyway. Miele pushed their own rebranded Euro detergent to their owners. People in the know on AW and Gardenweb imported their detergent from Europe. Then eventually as FLs gained market share into the 2010s, the detergent market followed.

Similar for water heating. Modern era US FLS aren't exactly close to the water heater either... so you have people in the know running a nearby tap first, or buying a model with a heater - while many just wash with cooler than optimal water (which again, with today's detergent, usually produces fine results with typical loads). This hasn't really hindered FL adoption.

Tangling... again, this seems like a machine-specific issue and doesn't seem to have hindered FL adoption. You mention there were models in the 40s that didn't have the problem any worse than modern FLers.

Finally, bolting down - can understand why that might have been a hindrance - were Europeans bolting down standard home washers in that era?

 

[launderess]

Average American housewife's (or anyone else doing laundry domestically) back then was of a different mindset. Most went from wringer washers to top loaders as it seemed as a natural progression I suppose.

Makers of top loaders then also did their bit about how their machines didn't require bolting down (easy installation) and so forth.

By middle to late 1980's into 1990's when Miele, Creda, Asko, Bosch, Malber (Philco), Equator, began arriving on US shores things were a bit different.

First and foremost you had a larger market demographically of consumers more open to energy savings and other bits that came with h-axis washing machines. They were also in many cases well off/upscale enough to afford the best, and that these laundry appliances came from Europe had a certain cachet. Sort of like Yuppies who bought Mercedes-Benz or BMW cars.

To some fact h-axis washers used on average just fourteen gallons of water compared to forty or sixty for conventional top loaders was a major selling point. Energy crisis of 1970's was still fresh in people's memories and that event had changed many buying habits permanently.

By 1980's and certainly 1990's all sorts of media from "Green" to upscale home decorating magazines and other media were singing praises of tumble action washing machines and matching dryers.

*Greens* liked h-axis washers because they used less water, energy and detergent all while delivering better results than top loaders *and* causing less wear on textiles.

Upscale home design publications touted what Europeans had long known, these "compact" washers and dryers could be fitted into kitchens or other areas of home under counter tops and so forth. Americans were looking to move their laundry appliances out of basements but didn't always want a top loader and matching dryer in kitchen or maybe area off it.

Perhaps biggest boost to h-axis washing machines came from an unlikely event, collision and sinking of ocean liner Andrea Doria.

"When the Swedish-American liner M/S Stockholm collided with the Andrea Doria off the coast of New York in 1956, a young mechanical engineer was hired to assess the laundry equipment onboard. After surviving World War II, Bernard Milch came to America from Eastern Europe and, as a born entrepreneur, started a business repairing and selling laundry equipment. When he drained the waterlogged washers, he was amazed to discover that they still worked! Bernard was so impressed by the robust construction and modern front-load design that he bought the equipment and installed a coin meter – transforming the American laundry industry forever. Coin-operated laundry equipment had existed before, but never with commercial-grade equipment that gave more reliability and longevity to laundry business owners."

Meet the Brand that Built Today’s American Laundromat Industry - Laundrylux

laundrylux.com

Philco-Bendix, Westinghouse and few others did offer h-axis washing machines for laundromat use, but their market share was limited. Top loaders by Maytag, General Electric, Speed Queen and others dominated self-serve/on premise market.

Arrival of Wascomat machines began to shake things up. Consumers could now see and understand for themselves benefits of h-axis washers.



As mentioned previously only front loader left on US markets by late 1970's or so were Westinghouse. They were good machines but offerings by Miele and Asko blew them out of water.

H-axis washing machines were getting further pushes by 1980's thanks to US federal government issuing ever increasing regulations on energy use. It was becoming clear days of top loaders of old were soon coming to pass and smart appliance makers started to get out ahead of things.

Maytag (Neptune) and Whirlpool (Duet) likely looked at some complaints of old regarding front loaders (small capacity and so forth), and did their best to address. These washers offered greater capacity than "compact" Miele, Bosch, Asko and other machines.

Via their own way of saying things Maytag touted their Neptune washer's virtues same as any other h-axis, superior cleaning and stain removal. This time American housewives and others were more receptive to that message.









Same with Whirlpool and their Duet line.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYN1AxqALLE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WuDZsCvyZo

Whirlpool, Maytag, Frigidaire and rest of Americans looked to take best bits of front loading washers, but also address issues to make them more suited to American market. Again this meant usually greater capacity among other bits.

Having a heater wasn't always a non-starter for these American front loaders. This is because as with top loading washers Americans were deeply wedded to using copious amounts of chlorine bleach. European washers were and still are largely designed *not* to use the stuff, or at least frequently. Asko and others did (or still do for all one knows) prohibit use of chlorine bleach in their washers, if one did it could void manufactures warranty.

Detergent wise P&G played things safe. Their early version of Tide "HE" was total disaster. Stuff created same amount of froth as their regular Tide and didn't always rinse cleanly.

MieleUSA of course cracked that bit by flogging Persil from Germany. That detergent flew off specialty appliance or store shelves where offered as owners of Asko, Creda and other front loaders discovered the stuff.

Equator sold their own detergent for use in their front loaders (or others), and people also experimented with various other detergents that worked in h-axis washers.

Asko recommended:

Tide HE

Wisk HE

Amway SA8

Fab

All

Fresh Start

IMHO biggest change in how Americans saw or see h-axis washing machines came with push of saving the environment. Be it energy use (as in heating water), amount of water used (and thus sewage created), overall wash day results including less wear and tear on textiles Americans were of a different mindset by 1980's or so than pre or even post WWII years.

It's an interesting question what would have happened if Westinghouse continued to innovate and other American manufacturers didn't abandon front loaders for domestic use.

 

[aussie-plugs]

Oh, Launderess, you've outdone yourself! What a wonderfully informative history of front loading machines. Thanks so much

 

[launderess]

Across Europe during 1960's onward into 1980's and beyond plenty of housewives and others finally gave up on the old ways (various semi automatic washers) and went with fully automatic machines.



Good number of American semi-automatic washers of all sorts from wringers to other things made their way across the pond. Some still turn up decades later.




OTOH many simply kept to their old machines that would only be taken from their cold dead hands.


To be fair there were still top loading washers with central beaters being offered in various European markets late as 1960's or so.



For those that do not speak French advert is taking dig at front loaders that only tumble wash in small amount of water. This in comparison to tub full of water used by their top loader. Since Concord made both types of washers this is a bit rich.

Whirlpool had (or has because it expired?) a patent for top loading h-axis washer. They've never done anything with idea which is very sad.

Side or top loading h-axis washers are answer to many issues with such machines from space to ease of loading/unloading.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOro2VCJlBg

 

[launderess]

Once floodgates were opened and Constructa had plenty of company across Europe, manufacturers were all looking for angles to stimulate demand for their laundry machines.

Much of this would play or tug upon regional or whatever associations with a particular country or place.

Vendette of France found success with an unlikely choice, and old washer woman from rural part of France.

Laundresses and wash houses had a long history in France, this well into post WWII years for many reasons. As we saw with the Constructa advert linked above where a laundress laments her day is passing but the methods and techniques used lived on with that washing machine, so went the association between a good laundress and these modern washing machines.

After all it would be better off households that could afford washing machines and they were also same demographic that could afford to send wash out and or or hire a laundress.

 

[launderess]

By 1960's Westinghouse launched a partnership with English Electric which brought the "Liberator" and other models to Britain.

V

Thread 'Meet The English Electric Fully Automatic Liberator'

Jan 19, 2017

I had been meaning to do a video of this soundtrack for a long while, it is basically a "disposable" flexible 45rpm record produced to promote the English Electric Liberator 4027 washing machine of 1965/66.

Apologies for the sound quality, but the record is around 50 years old.

I believe this machine to be a development of the Westinghouse Spacemate models - EE introduced a washing machine in 1960 based on the Westinghouse design. In 1967 they produced the all new Reversomat series, which was again based on Westinghouse washers from the mid 1960s.

I hope you enjoy it

Al...

• vacbear58
• Replies: 13
• Forum: Imperial

• 

English Electric had various semi-automatic washers that were result of in house design (IIRC), but for an automatic front loader they needed bit of a boost.

That semi-automatic English Electric top loader with central beater had rated capacity about same as front loader (11 pounds or so), yet one may wonder why many households stuck with that washer over a fully automatic h-axis washer.

Likely it came down to fact one could reuse that washer for more than one load which saved energy and money.

Electric rates were dear and after spending money to heat up all that water dumping it down drain after just one use seemed wasteful I shouldn't wonder. Yes, a h-axis washer did use less water, but still.

 

[launderess]

Wash Day? Just forget it!
Hoover hit pay dirt when they finally moved away from twin tubs and launched fully automatic "KeyMatic" washers in UK.

Year was 1961, WWII was long since over and British consumers were getting fed up on many fronts. UK housewives and anyone else doing laundry at home were long saddled with twin-tubs and other semi-automatic washing machines while their sisters in USA and Europe long by then were enjoying far more choices.

M

Thread 'Hoover Key -Matic'

Aug 6, 2012

HI haveing seen a number of the old key matic's here one thing I would love to know is what the pulsator in the back of the tub did, did the tub fill to the top with water so that it worked like the action in the Hoover twin tub ? if so was this very hard on the fabric. When I was a kid the Hoover TT was always known as a Tangle-A- matic

• mikeklondon
• Replies: 23
• Forum: Imperial

 

[launderess]

For space challenged European homes there were small top loading fully automatic or semi h-axis washers.

So simple even a husband and do the wash (ducks and runs)

These units were often "half" of what would have been a twin tub with separate washer and extractor sides.



You have to love these vintage adverts that show appliances being demonstrated by a man who looks as if he never washed a dish or did load of laundry in his life.



Radion was a Lever Bros. detergent which by 1960's was marketed in parts of Europe for h-axis washers due to claims of being low sudsing and easy rinsing. Many housewives claimed it was neither and looked elsewhere.

 

[launderess]

From this piece one can see why h-axis washing machines took off across Europe post WWII. Can also see how by 1960's or so detergent makers were spending R&D dollars to come up with washing powders that worked with h-axis washers, but also could handle rise of synthetic fabrics and blends.

Small fitted kitchens of multi-family housing required compact laundry appliances if they were to be had at all. Built in under counter top, in or near bathroom all answered.

Curious tidbit; across Europe plumbing codes usually allow for same size pipes for washer drainage as for bathrooms. In USA codes usually require piping of larger diameter which explains why washers are commonly found in kitchens and baths of apartment buildings across Europe, but not so much in many areas of USA. Piping in baths or kitchens by code aren't required diameter to handle washer drainage. This likely applied to top loading washers that use far more water per cycle than h-axis, but am not sure.

Regarding synthetic fabrics, European households embraced them post WWII in many more areas than Americans. Thought of nylon bed linen makes one cringe, but friends from UK and other parts of Europe grew up with them and didn't seem to have issues.

European housewives had centuries of dealing with linen, hemp, cotton and other natural fibers which were various levels of heck on wash day. Arrival of "wash and wear" fabrics, that is bed/table linen and other bits that could be washed and drip dried sounded like heaven I shouldn't wonder.

 

[launderess]

What Maytag, Whirlpool and some other American front loader makers did to make such machines more appealing to US households was help to eliminate other chief complaint about h-axis washers, having to stoop or squat down to load or unload machine.

You see in Constructa video linked above that middle-class housewife in high heels and all must squat down to load and unload her washer. That stooping down was often harped upon by makers of top loaders and even American consumer groups.

Maytag's Neptune via tilted and sitting bit higher drum meant less need for bending. Whirlpool's Duet took a page from commercial h-axis washers and could be installed on a raised pedestal.

Both of above washers also featured larger portholes/door opening than say compared to Miele or other washers then from Europe. Again this allowed easier loading and unloading which helped win American consumers over.

Seeing where things were going with front loaders in USA both Miele and Bosch unveiled with great fanfare uber sized washers meant to take on likes of Neptune, Duet, and other larger capacity h-axis washers sold in USA. Both projects were largely failures for various reasons with machines withdrawn from market barely few years later.