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

[launderess]

Semi-automatic washers, wash houses.... some British housewives just didn't want to know from fully automatic washing machines.

Don't think you'd find another "wash house" in Europe by 1970's, but they were still around in UK.

 

[launderess]

Frigidaire Imperial 514

 

[me]

Zanussi pioneered use of induction motor and pulley system that produced very reliable washing machines.

That calls for a visit to The Washing Machine Guidance Counsellor -




(Incidentally, I believe Arçelik / Beko now own controlling interest in Indesit and the associated brands, although I think whirlpool still holds a smaller interest)

 

[circlew]

Launderess mentioned nylon, which reminded me of when Qiana was all the rage. My mom bought bed sheets made of that fabric, and my dad said it was like sleeping on a bed covered with Saran Wrap. I had a shirt made of it, and didn't care much for it.

 

[stainfighter]

Side tracking for a moment.

What was it with nylon and 1960's or so UK?
Shirts, bed linen, pajamas, the lot. Can understand "easy care" and all but the stuff is hardly comfortable. The static!

And, the heat, clothes did not breathe

 

[launderess]

It is truly amazing how many vintage to near ancient front loaders from Europe built say 1950's through 1960's are still around, and work pretty much perfectly. Things were built to last back then I suppose.

​

 

[launderess]

Third type of front loader found in Europe were based upon "Pullman" h-axis washers. This are usually called "side loader" in commercial/industrial models and offer several advantages over top loading h-axis washers with tubs mounted front to back or sideways.

For one thing long cylinder gives good capacity without necessarily having a deep tub.

Phillips made one such domestic machine for France (and maybe other markets) that included gas heating.

 

[launderess]

On commercial/industrial size side loading h-axis washers have been stable going back to steam laundry days when things were driven by belts.

Craponne. 1910 : la première machine à laver est fabriquée dans l’usine Gayet-Gladel

Série. La fabrication des premières machines à laver a contribué au développement économique de la commune et peu à peu au déclin des blanchisseurs.

www.leprogres.fr

Since 1995 WP held patents for a top loading washer with "cylinder" tub, they've done nothing with it to date apparently.

 

[launderess]

Whether top or front loading h-axis washers came to dominate or are major share of local market post WWII largely came down to home design.

In UK with trend of fitted kitchens where appliances are often built in under counter/work tops, obviously any sort of washer that opens from top is non-starter. Thus front loaders dominate.

OTOH in France, Germany and other areas including parts of Eastern Europe where laundry appliances aren't always built in under worktops, top loading machines have good market share. French in particular those living in urban areas love themselves top loading h-axis washers. Kitchens while yes on often small size, things aren't always all built under worktops. There is usually a small spot perfect to fit an top loader.

Top loading h-axis washers are also incredibly popular with maritime (boat) owners. There is benefit of savings that come from low detergent and water use plus things will fit into narrow spaces.

MieleUSA has a division just for ships/boats and is only place one can (or could) get a Miele toplader outside of Europe.

 

[launderess]

So, does spending more for a front loader equal better quality wash?

That is something up to each consumer. What matters to one household may not to another.

This being said with ever nuclear arms race in laundry appliances happening in Europe, many do wonder if paying three or more thousands for a washing machine is really worth bothering.

 

[launderess]

Bauckecht is another great German appliance manufacturer who started off great in post WWII years, but found themselves in spot of trouble later on. No longer an manufacturer of appliances, but a brand name since WP got their mitts on Bauknecht.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bauknecht_(company)#History

Thread 'A Bauknecht in Canada?'

Aug 29, 2008

A Bauknecht, according to Louis' scans, dating to the late 70's or early 80's. Someone must have privately imported this. Just bought this off Craigslist. 220 Volt, cold water intake only.

• eddy1210
• Replies: 42
• Forum: Imperial

Bauknecht was one of those who gave Constructa notice in late 1950's as more German appliance manufactures entered washing machine market.



Unlike Maytag who largely designed and built their Neptune front loaders from ground up out of nothing, WP having gotten their mitts on Bauknecht put their knowledge of front loaders to good use.

WP's Duet washers were made in Germany and in many ways were far better than Maytag's Neptune.

WP's "Duet" in USA is called "Bauknecht "Big" on other side of pond.

 

[launderess]

Bauknecht, Asko and some others did away with rubber port hole boot. Rather taking a page from commercial/industrial front loaders seal is around door.

 

[launderess]

Post war Germany (west) by the 1950's was a hot bed of innovation and manufacturing. One clear area was in washing machines. West Germany was a rather large place with plenty of households, hotels, hospitals, and other places that wanted (needed) fully or semi automatic washing machines.

As noted Constructa was first out of the gate in early 1950's with their fully automatic front loader. As decades went on Constructa would command about 80% of German machine market, this lasted well into 1970's IIRC.

That remaining 20% or so was anyone's, and there were many others such as Matura which launched in mid 1950's.

 

[launderess]

Louis and the lads having more fun with toplader.

This time it's Phillips.

 

[me]

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

As mentioned in that video, Servis launched the first microprocessor controlled automatic washing machine, the Selectronic in 1976.

This newspaper advert is for the 1980 model

There's a thread here about it: https://automaticwasher.org/threads/the-machine-in-this-advert-is.31491/

Hotpoint followed in 1980, I think, with their Microtronic series, which I would guess could have been the first to have a LED display, although it only showed the selected programme number, plus a 'P' if prewash was selected.


I believe both used a Texas Instruments 4-bit Microcontroller chip.