ultrawash
Well-known member
What’s your favorite agitator? My favorites are the Kenmore Roto-Swirl and BD Dual-Action.
Favorite Agitator?
- Thread starter ultrawash
- Start date
Help Support :
repairguy
Well-known member
I like the Roto-Flex and Vari-Flex from the upper line Kenmores.
Kenmore Super Roto-Swirl and Vari-Flex.
ultrawash
Well-known member
I think Whirlpool has always been more progressive when it came to laundry.
Norge/Wards Burp-o-Lator!!!!!
Reply #4
Whirlpool definitely had straightforward designs that were easy to fix and service and were more innovative than GE’s design even if GE touted their innovations when Whirlpool was the one who innovated before anyone else in the 1950’s and early 60’s.
Whirlpool definitely had straightforward designs that were easy to fix and service and were more innovative than GE’s design even if GE touted their innovations when Whirlpool was the one who innovated before anyone else in the 1950’s and early 60’s.
blackstone
Well-known member
The Petticoat, which fit on top of the Blackstone 350 agitator, to create a gentle wash.
I will agree to a point with regards to Whirlpool being the most progressive. HOWEVER, most of those creative progressives were used for the Kenmore product line solely or FIRST.
My favorite agitator is a rotating, horizontal axis tub.
ultrawash
Well-known member
Reply# 10
I like horizontal axis tubs too. My favorites would be the Whirlpool Duet/Kenmore Elite HE3, HE3t, etc.
I like horizontal axis tubs too. My favorites would be the Whirlpool Duet/Kenmore Elite HE3, HE3t, etc.
Well, Whirlpool brought forth the first wash & wear cycle and I think was the first to offer a 2-speed washer and not just a "2nd cycle" on the timer that was simply a very sortened cycle. GE brought out the first self-cleaning oven. GE and Wihrlpool both came out with washer filtering systems about the same time. Sears offered the first enzyme soak cycle, something WP never offered. I think KitchenAid brought out the first dishwasher "Soak" cycle, which did more dwelling than spraying. GE surpassed that with its PotScrubber cycle that actually did an extended main wash cycle of anywher3e from 30-45 minutes. Ws far more effective at removing soil. Wirlpool brought out the first ice maker for a refrigerator, but that was because they purchased the company that developed it. GE offered the Mini-Basket for extra small/or delicate loads. Whirlpool brought us Wrinkle Guard (for Sears) that kept wrinkles out of clothes after the dryer was finished.
ultrawash
Well-known member
Reply# 12
Wasn’t it Sears that had the first auto-dry system?
Wasn’t it Sears that had the first auto-dry system?
sears9000
Well-known member
I haven't written on here in awhile, but my favorites are all Kenmore. First is the Pregger Roto-Swirl, (I think that's right). Second is the regular Roto-Swirl, Last is the Straight-Vane agitator. I think the reason is that they all did a good job in getting your clothes clean, yet they were simple one piece agitators that didn't have parts to break in them. The DD Kenmore that I have had for 20 years now has a dual action agitator that's not bad. However, recently I had to pull it out, and replace the what you call "dog ears" which was a little inconvenient. Oh well, I think it still cleans better than some of these new ones.
Super Surgilator. I've never had a machine with one, but my aunt had a nice early 80's Whirlpool washer with it.
Bob, there was a very good reason that Kenmore models got innovations first. That being that the great majority of Whirlpool's laundry equipment production was for Sears for many years. Sears also owned controlling interest in Whirlpool for several years.
Bob, there was a very good reason that Kenmore models got innovations first. That being that the great majority of Whirlpool's laundry equipment production was for Sears for many years. Sears also owned controlling interest in Whirlpool for several years.
Another unique innovation from Whirlpool was they ALWAYS had a perforated tub and pressure controlled water level. None of this water wasting timed fill or overflowing fill that triggered a diaphram switch. Though the solid tub GE's with filter flo did recirculate the water to the filter pan.
Also my favorite agitator is the spiralator from Easy. Then it's the super roto-swirl.
Agitator dogs are prit'much a wear-part akin to tires on a car.
I think there were other brands of dryers before 1958 that had auto-dry but in some cases it operated at only one dryness level with quite a high-temp cut off point.
Kenmore had an automatic water level function on the Lady Kenmore, apparently only for half a year in 1961. It's in the Spring/Summer catalog. The 1961 Fall/Winter catalog shows the same button layout on the panel but *with* a water level control and the description says the user selects the level. Per the 1961 Spring/Summer catalog description: "Automatic water level never wastes a drop . . never needs setting either. Provides just enough for any size load from 2 to 10 lbs. Even adds more water if you add more clothes." I don't think anyone here has yet found any tech details on how it worked.
Very early KM/WP machines had a float chamber integral to the outer tub, not a pressure switch ... but of course that also is not a timed fill that would be affected by water pressure.
Westinghouse dryers had an auto dry cycle that was a "dry" button for like 1954 or 1955. turquoisedude has a canadian westinghouse dryer that was auto dry that allowed varying degrees of dryness on a dial, not sure if that was 1955 or 1956.
My 1963 Whirlpool Imperial dryer has sort of a auto dry setting but all it is, is preset times and usually I go by the suggested drying times and temperatures and haven’t had anything come out damp at all and a few things might ever be so slightly damp but usually everything comes out perfectly dried when I go by the suggested drying times and temperatures. One of the best dryers I have owned so far.
Early firsts In Laundry appliances In The US
Several early clothes dryers had variable automatic dryness controls instead of timers but most dryers just used a timer you set for running time.
The automatic water level control on 1961 LKM washers just filled to the low level [ about 1/2 a tub ] and then started agitating, if the load was heavy it caused the tub assembly to start swinging a little and would hit a micro-switch and every time it hit it would add a little more water till it either stopped hitting the switch or filled to the maximum 18 gallon level at which point it stopped adding water.
Reply # 23, Hi Sean, if you had spent the extra $15 dollars on a 1963 Mark 12 instead of getting the cheaper Imperial dryer you would have had real auto dry, LOL.
John L.
Several early clothes dryers had variable automatic dryness controls instead of timers but most dryers just used a timer you set for running time.
The automatic water level control on 1961 LKM washers just filled to the low level [ about 1/2 a tub ] and then started agitating, if the load was heavy it caused the tub assembly to start swinging a little and would hit a micro-switch and every time it hit it would add a little more water till it either stopped hitting the switch or filled to the maximum 18 gallon level at which point it stopped adding water.
Reply # 23, Hi Sean, if you had spent the extra $15 dollars on a 1963 Mark 12 instead of getting the cheaper Imperial dryer you would have had real auto dry, LOL.
John L.
John- Thanks for the explanation of how the short-lived automatic water level worked on the ‘61 Kenmore. Always wondered how they managed that.
Boy, the ‘61 Lady Kenmore really is a holy grail machine. The fact that no one in the AW family has one is a testament to its Loch Ness Monster-like elusiveness.
Boy, the ‘61 Lady Kenmore really is a holy grail machine. The fact that no one in the AW family has one is a testament to its Loch Ness Monster-like elusiveness.
pierreandreply4
Well-known member
here are my fav agitator type including the dual action in direct drive inglis whirlpools and the vintage kenmore roto swirl first pic this agitagor was in my grandmother old inglis liberator washer
cfz2882
Well-known member
~1964 kelvinator.
arbilab
Well-known member
3-ring Frigidaire. Impressive turnover, apparent gentleness, impressive extraction. Had one briefly in a 1967 rental. Growing up with a slant W'house, I probably was not overly critical of tangling.
Grandma's Easy spiralator could suck down anything you put in it. 'It could drown a tennis ball.'
1973 Panasonic twintub. Impeller not on the bottom nor the side, but at an angle in the corner which imparted a vertical motion component rather than just a tornado.
Grandma's Easy spiralator could suck down anything you put in it. 'It could drown a tennis ball.'
1973 Panasonic twintub. Impeller not on the bottom nor the side, but at an angle in the corner which imparted a vertical motion component rather than just a tornado.
waterwitch
Well-known member
I'm partial to...
Whirlpool's and Speed Queen's straight vanes.
Whirlpool's and Speed Queen's straight vanes.
Similar threads
