Favorite Agitator?

[DADoES]

 
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.

 

[DADoES]

 
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.

 

[maytag85]

That definitely is a oddball Kenmore set from the early 60’s. Not sure if there are any around or if anyone on the site has a set like that.

 

[appnut]

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.

 

[maytag85]

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.

 

[combo52]

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.

 

[frigilux]

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.

 

[pierreandreply4]

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]

~1964 kelvinator.

 

[arbilab]

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. 

 

[waterwitch]

I'm partial to...

Whirlpool's and Speed Queen's straight vanes.

 

[maytagneptune]

Kenmore Super Roto swirl agitator

Kenmore Super Roto Swirl agitator

 

[repairguy]

I need the filter itself in the first picture of reply 26 if someone is willing to let one go. I have the housing but the washer is missing the filter.

 

[gregingotham]

JETCONE

   

 

 

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[cleanteamofny]

 

 

My favorite is the Super-Roto-Swirl, DAA, and the Pena-Vane.

The Penta-Vane is special. It can handle large loads and swirl the load like the S-R-S.

 

[chaskelljr2]

Favorite Agitator: Kenmore:

Belt-Drive — Straight-Vane (Entry/Mid-Level Kenmores); Super Roto Swirl (Mid-Level Kenmores); Super Roto Flex/Vari-Flex/Dual-Action (Upper-Level/Lady Kenmores)

Direct-Drive — Dual-Action (All Kenmores — Entry-Level to Kenmore Elites)

—Charles—

 

[ultrawash]

Reply# 1

Can’t go wrong with the Surgilator.

 

[maytag85]

The Surgilator is like the Imperial LaBaron or the Imperial Crown of agitators since it works that well.

 

[mrsalvo]

It would be easier to ask what agitators I don’t like!! I like any agitator that cleans well and doesn’t beat up / damage the clothes.
I think Whirlpool’s Surgilator was really good, since they stuck with it for years, and years. It was certainly a proven design. Also thought Kenmore’s Penta Swirl was quite effective and gental.
Oh, and don’t forget........ There were many good agitators...and washers.

Barry

 

[spinmon]

I think my '12 SQ agi looks like a 4-vane mini-Surgilator. Got 'em squigles and splashy sounds!

I love the action and appearance of the classic Surgilators,but was mystified with our new '67 LK Roto-Flex. Each load an adventure!