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

[foraloysius]

Staber has often been discussed here. With the search function you can easily find them.

 

[user 12105]

Whirlpool had a circulation spray system in the 50s. That was decades before Zanussi.

 

[phillymatt53]

Know of Staber since its first introduction

I've seen mixed reviews of that brand.

 

[appnut]

Yes that Whirlpool circulation spray system was the foundation of the Kenmore & Whirlpool washer dryer combination units.

 

[DADoES]

I believe it was Jetcone (Jon Charles) who had a Staber at one of the early group gatherings. I recall it was in need of repair so not runnable at the time, and he wasn't impressed with it as I also recall.

 

[me]

Whirlpool had a circulation spray system in the 50s. That was decades before Zanussi.

An H-axis machine?

I assume Zanussi's patents related to the recirculation spout / "jet" passing through the door seal. Monotub's Titan, which also had a recirculation system, was first released around 2000, however it pumped the water though a hollow drum shaft and sprayed it out of the holes in the paddles, so presumably didn't infringe whatever patents Zanussi still held.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/1740246.stm
This must be the relaunched model, from after Monotub folded.

 

[foraloysius]

Yes, an H-axis machine

 

[me]

Italian advert for Hoover "Keymatic" . Note visuals on how Keymatic tub and washing action differed from then traditional front loaders.

Here's a nice video of the keymatic doing a wash, showing the clutch mechanism as well.



I guess Samsung's Quickdrive is the modern version, although doesn't look like it does much.



Their addwash doors seem a bit pointless to me aswell, and it must weaken the door glass. I'd rather have a machine with an instantaneous lock, so I can pause the machine and open the door without waiting if it hasn't filled above the door seal.

Textured drums, diamonds, honeycomb or whatever, with smaller holes to reduce bobbling and the wear on fabric, plus make the drum stiffer, was another innovation that I don't think has been mentioned yet.

 

[launderess]

Well if normal/cottons wash cycles are going to run nearly three hours, yes, then can see need to reduce wear and tear on fabric.

Issue one has with these h-axis washers that have micro holes in drum is muck that should drain away sometimes doesn't, but is left on wash. Not such a huge deal one supposes if things are bunged in dryer, but line drying is another matter.

 

[launderess]

Leave us not forget our own Laundry Alternative top loader



Few years ago someone locally had two of these machines on offer. Well they purchased a job lot of two at storage auction and were selling one on while keeping other.

As already had the AEG toplader didn't see need. So that was that.

 

[phillymatt53]

Well if normal/cottons wash cycles are going to run nearly three hours, yes, then can see need to reduce wear and tear on fabric.

Issue one has with these h-axis washers that have micro holes in drum is muck that should drain away sometimes doesn't, but is left on wash. Not such a huge deal one supposes if things are bunged in dryer, but line drying is another matter.

A washing cycle of 3 hours?
Besides wear and tear on fabrics........ what about the electrical energy used for those 3 hours?
Doesn't that go against any "Energy Savings" that are always touted about new products?
My old 1984 Maytag does a large load in a half-hour!

 

[me]

A washing cycle of 3 hours?
Besides wear and tear on fabrics........ what about the electrical energy used for those 3 hours?
Doesn't that go against any "Energy Savings" that are always touted about new products?
My old 1984 Maytag does a large load in a half-hour!

The EU specified, eco 40-60, is usually the longest wash on current UK machines, which I think is supposed to be equivalent to a 60C cotton wash using lower temperature, less water and longer duration. An actual cotton 40°C will obviously use a lot more electricity.

Most of the energy consumed is in heating the water, the motor won't use a huge amount tumbling the washing, especially with modern 3-phase/permanent magnet motors.

Here's some consumption figures from a modern 10kg energy efficient Bosch.

 

[cad55ken]

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."
https://laundrylux.com/blog/wascomat-history-laundromat-industry/#beginnings
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.

Excellent article / recap. Thanks for writing.
I love my Miele Little Giants and I use Persil.
Great consistent results.
Too, I have a Miele Dishwasher - the model one step below the model that has the 'knock knock' Auto Door Opener. Great machine - great results and the Auto Does detergent dispenser works great. Most quiet dishwasher I have ever had

 

[launderess]

Vintage Apex h-axis washer complete with wringer.

https://hibid.com/lot/260277965/apex-electric-washer?ref=lot-list

Capacity seems likely less than Thor Cylinder washers, but still proves what was out there in early part of prior century.

That is taking a page from laundries domestic washing machine manufacturers knew of benefits that came with h-axis washers. They just needed to sort out various quibbles.

 

[launderess]

A washing cycle of 3 hours?
Besides wear and tear on fabrics........ what about the electrical energy used for those 3 hours?
Doesn't that go against any "Energy Savings" that are always touted about new products?
My old 1984 Maytag does a large load in a half-hour!

Motors and electronics on modern laundry and dishwashing appliances consume very little energy. Big draws on juice comes from heaters, especially resistance heating. Basically anything that adds or removes heat (such as AC or refrigeration) uses good to large amounts of energy.

One quibble many have with cold fill only washers is if they do have a source of inexpensive or even free (as in solar) heated water they still must use heaters in washing machine by design. There are work arounds but they tend to confuse appliance where programming is designed to include heating water.

Far as laundry is concerned energy use can be reduced if you get at persons to wash in warm or cold water. In Europe this is or has largely happened. Germany for instance, once a place known for boil wash now has average wash temps of 104 degrees F.

 

[pstehle]

I really loved the front loaders at the laundromat in Sydney years ago. They pumped out the rinse water, but didn't spin. You took your wash out, put it in a little centrifuge and gave the lady a dime. She put it in the slot, then the motor started and you had to feather a great big John Deere-looking clutch lever to spin up your load. After that, it was about 10 minutes in thr dryer and you were done.

 

[launderess]

I really loved the front loaders at the laundromat in Sydney years ago. They pumped out the rinse water, but didn't spin. You took your wash out, put it in a little centrifuge and gave the lady a dime. She put it in the slot, then the motor started and you had to feather a great big John Deere-looking clutch lever to spin up your load. After that, it was about 10 minutes in thr dryer and you were done.

Those extractors (centrifuges) in laundries were long a danger even when just used by industrial or commercial establishments. After some poor wee lad had his arm ripped off by a Bock extractor that was it far as laundromats were concerned. Many either took the things out an or disabled them so couldn't be used. IIRC many insurance companies insisted upon this as part of granting or continuing coverage.

Once industrial/commercial and domestic h-axis washers were invented that could spin dry, need for separate extractors diminished if not vanished in some quarters. This again much to the benefit of safety and even worker comfort in commercial establishments.

Moving all that wet and often heavy laundry about was hard work and created dangerous conditions such as wet floors.



That being said places still did hang onto extractors for various reasons. Things such as spin drying laundry washed by hand. In USA due to dominance of top loader is laundromats some places still had extractors to get out more water thus lessening drying times. Often these extractors could only be operated by attendant on duty.