Golden Age of Washers

[whirlcool]

I currently have a 1993 Whirlpool Super Capacity Electronic Control washer. It's been very reliable, but the top agitator recently stopped working. After getting quotes of $250.00 & up to have some one come out and repair it, I chose to do it myself. All it needed was a Agitator Kit, less than $20.00! BTW, when I was redoing the agitator pieces, I couldn't believe the amount of "gunk" that collected around the top cap below the softener dispenser cup in the agitator center, I guess this requires periodic cleaning. So now we are ready for more years of cleaning.
Anyway this machine cleans well and I am happy with it. A few of my freinds suggested I go with a Miele front loader when I am ready to replace this Whirlpool. So we went out looking at washers. At the appliance store I looked at a few of the Whirlpool top loaders and was kind of surprised to see that in their higher end top loading washers they are still using the same type of agitator that's in my 1993 model! But I also noted that the washers of today are lighter duty and don't seem as well made as washers of an earlier time. I expect that my Whirlpool will last another 10 years or so, so I guess I got in at the end before they started cheapening things up.
Now we have the front loaders, the Calypso's, the Harmony's, etc. Is the era of the top loader coming to an end? When were the best washing machines made?

 

[jaxsunst]

IMHO, It seem that the mid 50's to late 60's was the best time for automatic top loaders. At least it was the most fun.

Congrats on your repair. I love the older electronic panel machines.

 

[frigilux]

I agree--the golden age for washers were during the 50's and 60's; lots of innovations and lots of chrome and lights! After the advent of the 'dual action' agitator in the late 70's, things were pretty dull in the toploading washer department for almost 2 decades. Now we seem to be in a new era of innovation for those machines.

Having said that, I switched over to a frontloader in 1986 and am glad I did. When your beloved Whirlpool finally goes to pasture, I suggest getting a frontloader. Personally, I'd go with an American machine----their capacity is larger and you don't have to fuss with 240-volt connections. The Miele is a fine machine, don't get me wrong, but for far less $$ you can have an excellent US machine which will handle large loads and bulky items like comforters, quilts, sleeping bags, overstuffed chairs and sofas, LOL!

 

[whirlcool]

When I bought this Whirlpool set back in 93, I researched the hell out of Washing Machines. My wife thought I was nuts, our freinds thought I had gone over the edge! I was asking everyone we knew about which washing machine they use and why they like it. I even went to the library to read up about wash technology!
We finally settled on this Whirlpool with the electronic control panel. No dials or buttons, everthing is electronic. After we had it a few months people started asking us if we were having problems with the electronic controls, nope. After we had these machines about 3 years, my wife was washing a queen size down comforter in it and the transmission coupling broke. So we called in a repair man and he fixed it for $150.00 (USD). I thought that was very expensive, considering it took him all of 8 minutes or so to fix it. Anyway, the repair man asked me if I had problems with the "display". I told him no, he said "You will....". Now 12 years later we still haven't had problems with the display on the washer of dryer. However we took his advice and take that comforter down to the coin laundry to wash it.
Speaking of lights on machines, my parents has a Kenmore set that had a florescent display on both the washer and dryer. You could light up the whole laundry room with those panel lights!
I wonder why they stopped putting those on laundry machines? Cost?
Sorry for the ramble...

 

[partscounterman]

We like a good ramble round here!

Welcome to the board Whirlcool. You can research the heck out of washers here and no one will think your nutz. We all seem to mourn the loss of lighted controls on our home appliances. Every year the machines get more boring. The golden age of washers ended in 1980 IMHO. Thats the year Speed Queen dropped the solid tub, Maytag went away from the central dial design and Frigidaire was bought out and gutted by WCI (a bleak time indeed)

 

[whirlcool]

My parents also had a kitchen range that had a back panel light, I can't seem to remember the name, maybe Roper, that lit up the kitchen. We used it as a night light.
Speaking of my Whirlpool, the light in the dryer is the original, 12 years of service and has never needed replacing.
However, here's something maybe someone here can help me with,
the dryer tumbler seems to have some staining on it from Blue Jeans. I have tried Windex on it, no luck. Anyone have any ideas how to get this stain off? I have included a photo of it.

 

[DADoES]

Blue Stains & Lighted Panels

Try a paste of powdered detergent. Or a mildly-abrasive cleanser such as SoftScrub or Bar Keepers Friend, but rub gently. Wipe with a damp cloth to remove the residue.

Here are some pictures of lighted control panels that you may like --
Kelvinator
Frigidaire
Maytag Combo
Frigidaire
Kenmore
Maytag

 

[whirlcool]

Lighted Control Panels

Thanks for sharing those with us. I think that Kelvinator looks especially sharp. Like that last Maytag, a true classic!

 

[appnut]

Allen never apologize for appeared "rambling". I think we all enjoy being able to talk about our washer experiences.

 

[whirlcool]

Rambles, etc.

And I like reading others peoples stories too!
I really liked the GM Fridgidaire machines, especially the Jet Action machines. I had a relative that had one. I had completely forgotten about the distinctive noise they made until I watched one of the videos on this site of one in operation. Instantly I remembered the sound. When we first went to buy our first washer & dryer set in the very early 80's we went to the appliance store and asked about Fridgidaire Jet Action machines, and was told that Fridgidaire is out of the market. I rememember not seeing the name for a few years, so I guess it was dormant a few years before Electrolux bought the name.

 

[mrcleanjeans]

the follies of Frigidaire

Actually,Frigidaire,name wise,has never left the scene.However,in 1979,they were bought out by White Consolidated Industries,so by 1981,TERRIBLE washers were now being made that no longer had the Jet-Action wash.Sure,the washers looked the same on the outside,but the innards were another story.In 1996,Electrolux of Sweden came to the rescue,and improvements began.Don't get me wrong,the Frigidaire top loaders are still nothing to sing about and the lower end dishwashers have as much washing power as a garden can.But the front loaders are excellent and the upper-end dishwashers are quite nice.The stoves and fridges are average IMHO.Hope this helps.

 

[rinso]

I agree that the golden age of washers was during the 50's and 60's. Manufacturers were experimenting with all sorts of different wash actions, and cycle sequences, though most were trouble-prone. Water use was not an issue at that time, so the sky was the limit! Toward the end of the 50's, the washers all started to reflect our faux space age technology. Frigidaire washers really embraced the jet age concept. (I was suprised that that Frigidaire didn't bring out a model with fins) Also, we all remember the phrase, "Just push the button" in ads for machines back then. The only problem is that microprocessors had not yet been invented. When you pushed the button, (wearing white evening gloves, or course) you usually actuated a sequence of solenoids, levers, cams, clutches, and relays that would make Rube Goldberg jealous. (Rumors are that Rube Goldberg patterened his Mouse Trap game after the Whirlpool/Kenmore Wig-Wag mechanism) I will have to say that the most boring and mediocre washers of that time were the Maytags. It wasn't really until they brought out their helical drive mechanism, that their reliablity took off. But, they were still mediocre performers and still boring. They lasted with few repairs, but really didn't do anything very well. But, who can forget the loud bang that Norge's and Wards braking mechanisms made when they were actuated. The noise traumatized many children, who have never opened the lid of a washing machine since, and are probably now all in therapy because of it.

 

[rchris]

The End of Lighted Control Panels

I always thought it was the migration of laundry equipment from garages, dark basements, and unlighted sheds and service porches to the main areas of the house that spelled the end of lighted control panels. How far we have come in America: an air conditioned, well-lighted laundry room is now de rigeur in houses from middle class to obscenely wealthy homes, and even in apartments.

Hey Glenn: What agitator is that in Greg's '64 Lady K?