washarm with a little mini arm at one end. Did this help?
Nah, not really, any more than they do nowadays. I had the original all-Bakelite arm from the little '69 Deluxe you found us, and the Imperial arm with the twirlie, and the washing was equivalent. But if you had your choice and it didn't hurt, wouldn't you want the mini arm, too?
This wash tower was what the '69 Deluxe came with, and kicked much more butt than the tall but single-slit tower that rode on the rack with the Imperial. This one had directed jets plus a jet to wash the silverware basket, and it worked. The only bummer was losing a contiguous section of rack at the back; the rack with the fixed/bearing-mounted tower made for much more flexible loading.
I love the concentric rings in the top rack that shoo dishes away, so that the stream shooting straight up from the tower could hit the spinning constant-rinse disc on the top of the machine.
Considering how amazingly well the Deluxe cleaned with its basic punch-to-start-and-stand-back cycle, I'd bet the Custom Imperial/Wards Signature here would be stunning, especially with the 150-degree wash option.
Sound-insulated? So, like power-washing a wooden shed instead? ;-)
I think quiet operation is overrated if the sound is satisfying, like a maelstrom of kick-butt unfolding within.