German 1956 "Constructa K3" washing machine video

[revvinkevin]

Came across this on youtube.

 

I find it really interesting that this washer doesn't drain the water out before going into full speed spin.   Sounds like the motor doesn't get out of the "start up winding" the first two times it spins.  I don't know if that's harder on the motor, or uses more electricity (or generates more heat in the motor?).  Makes me think it's working harder because of this.

 

Still a really neat old washer!

 

Kevin

 

http://https//www.youtube.com/watch?v=avtPPENjUN4

 

[launderess]

Constructa

Was the first fully automatic washing machine in Germany, introduced in 1951. Early models required bolting down and were expensive and rather liberal with water usage.

Great minds think alike here as was going to start a thread about these machines!

http://www.zuhause3.de/wohnen-und-design/mit-constructa-in-ein-neues-zeitalter

https://translate.google.com/transl...constructa-in-ein-neues-zeitalter&prev=search

Patents: http://documents.allpatents.com/d/g/Maschinenfabrik-Peter-Pfenningsberg-Gmbh

http://documents.allpatents.com/d/g/Maschinenfabrik-Peter-Pfenningsberg-Gmbh

 

[launderess]

Watched the same video other night.

As it is the same group of lads who were having so much fun using semi-automatic washers in thread one started on that topic.

IMHO this Constructa washer is over loaded. The wash just goes round and round instead of falling from "11 to 2" on the clock or even "10 to 4". Thus you aren't getting any sort of falling and dropping much less slapping against side of tub. All of which contribute to the washing performance.

 

[foraloysius]

I love those Constructa's, they are fascinating. I also like the videos in which they do a boilwash and you see the bubbles coming up.

A small correction on the article about Constructa (page 2). Constructa didn't slip under the umbrella of Neff, but was bought up by BSH (Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete) that owns several other brands like Neff and Constructa.

 

[askomiele]

Constructa vs. others

As I see the videos and read about the washers of Constructa, I think that Constructa used a different "wash-methode" than what is common.

The classic wash sequence is 2 baths, prewash / mainwash, and then a number of rinses.

From what I see the constructa has 2 pumps and a different wash sequence. The first prerinse, prewash and mainwash does not include a full change of the washwater. The water dilutes at the end of every phase. One of the pumps drains by an overflow the top layers of water. At the end of the first rinse the machine drains and spins in order to remove all the water.

At least that is how I think the Constructa 2pump-methode works.
Correct me if I wrong

 

[launderess]

"We had a 4 kg version of this machine from the early 60's, and it did three rinse cycles. It was VERY heavy and powered with 3-Phase electricity, which if the phases changed after a power outage would make the machine spine the oposite way and shoot water out of the detergent funnel. It was a great machine!!!"



Putting things in perspective, owning a Constructa washer was apparently a bigger status symbol in 1950's or 1950's Germany than a Mercedes-Benz or Opal car. The washers were *not* inexpensive by any means so if you could afford one..... The company also offered a sort of extended warranty in that for a bit extra each year you could get a service contract that ran after the original warranty ended.

It goes a long way to explaining these two famous commercials we've seen here in the group.





That is why the first set of 1950's German hausfraus are out having their hair done and the "blonde" isn't worried about her wash day as she has a Constructa. In the second clip the two housewives are still doing their wash by hand even with Sunil. Gather the blonde woman's friend in the first clip still does her wash that way, but can afford a washing machine, otherwise why would her friend try to sell her on the idea.

 

[launderess]

Die maschine muste bodenverankert werde.
keine Laugenpumpe
keine Termostaische Steuerung
keine türveriegelung
die heizungen waren im dauerbertieb
6 Kw anschluss 3 pahsen 220V oder 380V drehstrohm
Vorwärmboiler
Laugenbehälter verzinkt
Trommel Edelstahl
5 kilo fassungsvermögen
Schleuderdrehzahl um die 300 U/min

No drain pump
6 Kw of heating power at 3 phase electric
No thermostat
Pre-heating water container
300 rpm spin speed.



Comments in this YT video explain the unique pre-wash then wash with only a partial drain.

 

[launderess]

"One of the pumps drains by an overflow the top layers of water.."

Wonder if this has something to do with soap (Persil was still the top laundry "detergent" in Germany in 1951 or so), being used for wash day even in a machine.

Draining off the top water would take out the crud/scum that floats to the top whenever one uses soap for washing.

Notice in the first "Constructa" advert posted, the one with two German housewives at the beauty salon. To the left of the washing machine you see a box of Persil and one of Henko. Henko was soda and the Persil is the same green box have in my stash that was the original formula. It wouldn't be until 1959 that Persil introduced a detergent powder that wasn't soap based IIRC. Of course there was Sunil, but not sure what year that came to market.

 

[askomiele]

bit off topic

But "der klassische waschmethode" needed the "Henco" soda to soften the water and soak / prewash the linnens. Persil was the detergent to boilwash. The perboraat en silicaat did the job. And next Sil as a rinse additive (Laundress can you explain Sil? )



If I'm right this methode is still used by some people today.
Miele offered a programmable flush of the prewash drawer during the mainwash fill in order to dispense first a softner before flushing the detergent in the mainwashcompartment. I think it's called Baukasten waschmittel.

http://www.klar.org/deutsch/produkte/waschen/baukasten.html

 

[launderess]

Henkel's "Sil" was a perborate based laundry rinse. It was used to shift stains that didn't go during the wash. Since the first "rinse" after using a soap would be hot or boiling water, there you are then. Think the stuff also contained water glass/silicate (hence the name Sil) which not only softened water but helped remove soap/soil residue from wash.

We know from the translation of the commercial above that Sunil didn't need a wash pre-soak/water softener (Henco) or rinse aid (Sil) because it was a detergent, not a soap based product like Persil.

http://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?68413