My current Ultimate Dream Machine.
I want a Duo-Load Dammit!
- Thread starter bajaespuma
- Start date
Why aren't there any vintage Hotpoints floating around? Were they unusually fragile or were they just bad sellers? I saw these machines in person once at a Lumber store in Kingston NY, so there were no pesky salespeople to bother me. The different tub, agitator and filter colors were dazzling. Then, like a dinosaur they disappeared from the planet.
Maybe people were afraid of all that new fangled machinery and walked past them fast before they took possession of their souls. That TOL washer has as many dials as most electric ranges. I don't know if this is generally true or just my observation, but Hotpoint washers sorta seemed to run for a good while and then something, maybe the tranny, would go wrong and people decided to replace instead of fix them. I never saw many second-hand or rebuilt Hotpoint washers.
mrcleanjeans
New member
I grew up with a Hotpoint Siloutte 15 set.Kewl looking and yes, fun but the dryer in particular was very poorly constructed. For example, it had a bakelite blower with a cheesy metal cover held on with three tabs.
ingliscanada
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 20, 2009
- Messages
- 338
Bakelite Blowers
When I was in college, I was working on a 60's Viking dryer, which was a Kelvinator, and I believe it had a bakelite blower, in an impeller-like shape. The Kelvinators of the 60's had a layout very similar to the early Whirlpool dryers. The pulleys were laid out the same way, and the belt-driven fan was even on the top right with a top-mounted lint screen. Those Kelvinator dryers even sounded similar to the Whirlpools. However, the old Whirlpools had a metal blower. About the Hotpoint, was the bakelite fan impeller shaped or hamster-wheel shaped? Hamster wheel fans are usually quieter than impeller fans.
When I was in college, I was working on a 60's Viking dryer, which was a Kelvinator, and I believe it had a bakelite blower, in an impeller-like shape. The Kelvinators of the 60's had a layout very similar to the early Whirlpool dryers. The pulleys were laid out the same way, and the belt-driven fan was even on the top right with a top-mounted lint screen. Those Kelvinator dryers even sounded similar to the Whirlpools. However, the old Whirlpools had a metal blower. About the Hotpoint, was the bakelite fan impeller shaped or hamster-wheel shaped? Hamster wheel fans are usually quieter than impeller fans.
mrcleanjeans
New member
Hamster wheel
revvinkevin
Well-known member
Hey KEN.... here's one of those dryers for sale with a KM washer in Charlotte, NC... GO GRAB IT and you will have half of your dream set!!!
http://charlotte.craigslist.org/app/1426881083.html
http://charlotte.craigslist.org/app/1426881083.html
Ken -
If you want that Avocado Hotpoint dryer, I will see if I can get it for you, or at least house it temporarily, etc.
Gordon
If you want that Avocado Hotpoint dryer, I will see if I can get it for you, or at least house it temporarily, etc.
Gordon
toggleswitch2
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 23, 2008
- Messages
- 5,000
I like the Maytag-esque door for the gas burner on the dryer.
How did the duo-load not mix, say, bleach from the whites into the darks?
I'm gurssing the bleach had to go in the big basket?
Then how did both fill with water?
How did the duo-load not mix, say, bleach from the whites into the darks?
I'm gurssing the bleach had to go in the big basket?
Then how did both fill with water?
"dryer in particular was very poorly constructed"
When exactly did Hotpoint go from being GE's premium brand to a less well made budget brand?
When exactly did Hotpoint go from being GE's premium brand to a less well made budget brand?
Impeller vs. hamster/squirrel cage fans.
Noise is interesting. On our HoH dryer is the quietest I have ever used and it has a Bakelite impeller blower.
The Hotpoints are interesting, but I have never seen a real Hotpoint. They were the second to last to make Solid Tub washers, yet I have never seen one. How well did they perform and what were their weak points?
Dave
Noise is interesting. On our HoH dryer is the quietest I have ever used and it has a Bakelite impeller blower.
The Hotpoints are interesting, but I have never seen a real Hotpoint. They were the second to last to make Solid Tub washers, yet I have never seen one. How well did they perform and what were their weak points?
Dave
norgeway
Well-known member
Dynaflow has a BOL Hotpoint with a white tub.
But he and I have yet to get it out of his basement, also I have been promised a fairly deluxe one from our local Hotpoint dealer as soon as he digs it out of his warehouse.,he also has at least one dryer,I think he would sell it, it is in his used section, coppertone and top of the line.
But he and I have yet to get it out of his basement, also I have been promised a fairly deluxe one from our local Hotpoint dealer as soon as he digs it out of his warehouse.,he also has at least one dryer,I think he would sell it, it is in his used section, coppertone and top of the line.
mrcleanjeans
New member
They had the worst laziest agitator ever. But it was kewl looking
gyrafoam
Well-known member
Oh, I've tried for years to find a good old Hotpoint. The Silouettes were kool, but I'd gladly settle for an early 60's "straight-vane".
Plenty of 'em were sold. But, I think they were just not very good mechanically, and most of them headed to the krusher.
The 'straight-vane" agitator did not look it however it is VERY aggressive. The "spiral" on the other hand, is pretty lame.
Plenty of 'em were sold. But, I think they were just not very good mechanically, and most of them headed to the krusher.
The 'straight-vane" agitator did not look it however it is VERY aggressive. The "spiral" on the other hand, is pretty lame.
mickeyd
Well-known member
Fire Island /circa 1980+ /W&D outside in a dandy shed/ HOTPO
My first experience and of course I was crazy about them. Never met a machine about which I couldn't find something to like. I thought the agitation was wild; it was my first experience with the short fast stroke, which I later learned had become the evolved GE stroke. My memory suggests that the action of Hotpoint is pretty much identical to the ramp agitator in my GE, no slouch there!
Of course, I was young and gay then and exaggerated everything, so maybe the hotpoint was lame, chuckle chuckle, but I DO LOVE Hotpoints and we see so few of them. And if Steve and John can't find them, we're probably going to have a hard time.
Ken your graphics are fabulous.
CLUBBERS: Does anyone have a Hotpoint and would you share your knowledge?
What a great Halloween treat that would be.
My first experience and of course I was crazy about them. Never met a machine about which I couldn't find something to like. I thought the agitation was wild; it was my first experience with the short fast stroke, which I later learned had become the evolved GE stroke. My memory suggests that the action of Hotpoint is pretty much identical to the ramp agitator in my GE, no slouch there!
Of course, I was young and gay then and exaggerated everything, so maybe the hotpoint was lame, chuckle chuckle, but I DO LOVE Hotpoints and we see so few of them. And if Steve and John can't find them, we're probably going to have a hard time.
Ken your graphics are fabulous.
CLUBBERS: Does anyone have a Hotpoint and would you share your knowledge?
What a great Halloween treat that would be.
gyrafoam
Well-known member
There are a number of members with them. Someone down in Lousiana (I think) has a Silouette. Here in SW Virginia, Mark has a really kool late 50's(?) machine I love to watch in action. Gansky has an early 60's.
That ramp agitator is NOTHING like its GE cousin!
Our joke used to be that waiting for the clothes to roll-over was like watching water to see when it boiled! If you didn't look, they would roll-over, or so it seemed.
But hey, it was a "Burp-a-Lator" and so was kool in my book.
That ramp agitator is NOTHING like its GE cousin!
Our joke used to be that waiting for the clothes to roll-over was like watching water to see when it boiled! If you didn't look, they would roll-over, or so it seemed.
But hey, it was a "Burp-a-Lator" and so was kool in my book.
gyrafoam
Well-known member
Oh, and some old friends of ours back home, the Margols, owned "The Big Red Furniture Barn". (What a campy ad they used to have on television).They sold Hotpoint products at the "Barn". Anyway, in about 1972 or so they had a gorgeous (appeared to be TOL) Silouette set. I do not remember the washer as a dual-tub machine, but if the smaller tub had been tucked-away somewhere I guess I wouldn't have been the wiser.
I think that machine and another friend's Penncrest machine were the last ramp agitator equipped Hotpoint machines I saw in operation. It's been a long time.
I think that machine and another friend's Penncrest machine were the last ramp agitator equipped Hotpoint machines I saw in operation. It's been a long time.
Cabinet used as outer tub
IIRC the earlier Hotpoints used the cabinet as the outer tub, like the early Frigidaires. Maybe Hotpoint didn't use as good a grade of materials or workmanship as Frigidaire, leading to rusting out of the cabinet, rendering it unusable, and therefore discarded.
IIRC the earlier Hotpoints used the cabinet as the outer tub, like the early Frigidaires. Maybe Hotpoint didn't use as good a grade of materials or workmanship as Frigidaire, leading to rusting out of the cabinet, rendering it unusable, and therefore discarded.
mickeyd
Well-known member
Think you could get Mark out tonight with some pix and text?
So surprised that John doesn't have one in the warehouse. Oh well, somethin' to hope for. By the by, have an oil bellows on the way, so the Unimatic should be up and running mainly thanks to your instruction. What a bite in the buttocks that the oil was "welded" to the water.
Things are rarely easy, except of course, in an EASY SPIN which has a spiralator, (longer slower stroke, though) very similar to the Hotpoint. Can you, wise man, account for the difference in turnover/performance? I can not.
So surprised that John doesn't have one in the warehouse. Oh well, somethin' to hope for. By the by, have an oil bellows on the way, so the Unimatic should be up and running mainly thanks to your instruction. What a bite in the buttocks that the oil was "welded" to the water.
Things are rarely easy, except of course, in an EASY SPIN which has a spiralator, (longer slower stroke, though) very similar to the Hotpoint. Can you, wise man, account for the difference in turnover/performance? I can not.
Hotpoint in Louisiana
I do have a set; although the controls don't match between the washer & dryer. It has the spiral agitator and I find that the turnover is good. I like the feeling as it starts to throw out the water .. since there is no outer tub you feel the washer and its unlike most of the other machines. I need to post some pics of it; I have been running crazy but will do them soon. Take care everyone! Todd
I do have a set; although the controls don't match between the washer & dryer. It has the spiral agitator and I find that the turnover is good. I like the feeling as it starts to throw out the water .. since there is no outer tub you feel the washer and its unlike most of the other machines. I need to post some pics of it; I have been running crazy but will do them soon. Take care everyone! Todd
mickeyd
Well-known member
I'd love to see the pix, Todd. Thanks so much. I need a
Glad to hear you have good turnover. I saw it too, for two weeks on Fire island, and I was fascinated at this short quick stroke. These Holloween pranksters talking about bad turnover in Hotpoints, Maytags, etc; they must all be suffering from the overloading syndrome. "Trick or Treat!" Even a Unimatic can be stuffed to no turnover.
Glad to hear you have good turnover. I saw it too, for two weeks on Fire island, and I was fascinated at this short quick stroke. These Holloween pranksters talking about bad turnover in Hotpoints, Maytags, etc; they must all be suffering from the overloading syndrome. "Trick or Treat!" Even a Unimatic can be stuffed to no turnover.
I still want one.
My Aunt Sona had a BOL Silhouette like the ones in the second picture. I remember the agitation was very gentle, almost like the machine was mosy-ing down to the corner drugstore. It had a filter-pan like the GE's but instead of a flume it had "burpalator" -type recirculation. I do remember her dryer, which was gas heated and very fast, seeming kind of big and clumsy compared to our GE.
I'm still fascinated by the complicated turquoise agitators of the Duo-Load generation. I remember Consumer Reports 1969 issue with a photograph showing a breakdown of the agitator into many pieces and criticizing it for requiring disassembly for "sand removal". There was a bleach dispenser as well as a filter pump assembly in those things so they must have been like a hybrid between Norge's and Frigidaire's agitators. I remember a vintage ad for Clorox with a picture of someone pouring bleach into the center of the Hotpoint agitator.
There was a "Patent of the Day" on this site that explained the workings of the Duo-Load. In a nutshell, the water for the small tub was diverted inside the fill flume to the top of the large filter-pan looking thing, which I believe isn't a filter pan but the cover or lid for the small tub which allows water in through channels in the center and then there are several small channels built into the side of the tub that throw the water, during the spin, up and over the main tub, where there's a ring of channels designed to throw the water to the outside so it never comes into contact with the main tub water. It looks very complicated and I wouldn't be surprised if it caused many service calls.
My Aunt Sona had a BOL Silhouette like the ones in the second picture. I remember the agitation was very gentle, almost like the machine was mosy-ing down to the corner drugstore. It had a filter-pan like the GE's but instead of a flume it had "burpalator" -type recirculation. I do remember her dryer, which was gas heated and very fast, seeming kind of big and clumsy compared to our GE.
I'm still fascinated by the complicated turquoise agitators of the Duo-Load generation. I remember Consumer Reports 1969 issue with a photograph showing a breakdown of the agitator into many pieces and criticizing it for requiring disassembly for "sand removal". There was a bleach dispenser as well as a filter pump assembly in those things so they must have been like a hybrid between Norge's and Frigidaire's agitators. I remember a vintage ad for Clorox with a picture of someone pouring bleach into the center of the Hotpoint agitator.
There was a "Patent of the Day" on this site that explained the workings of the Duo-Load. In a nutshell, the water for the small tub was diverted inside the fill flume to the top of the large filter-pan looking thing, which I believe isn't a filter pan but the cover or lid for the small tub which allows water in through channels in the center and then there are several small channels built into the side of the tub that throw the water, during the spin, up and over the main tub, where there's a ring of channels designed to throw the water to the outside so it never comes into contact with the main tub water. It looks very complicated and I wouldn't be surprised if it caused many service calls.
peterh770
Well-known member
The Silhouette agitator is probably the prettiest and the most graceful agitator ever made. But it's performance leaves much to be desired. Because the vanes do not flare out like the Easy, and because there is no flat surface to counter the water direction, clothes just slide up and down the agitator as it turns back and forth. I was very excited to see one in action the first year visiting Robert's home, but once it started working, I was sorely disappointed. It is wonderfully gentle, but truly lacking in cleaning skills.
golittlesport
Well-known member
Hey gang...check out Eddy's 1953 Hotpoint video on YouTube
ingliscanada
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 20, 2009
- Messages
- 338
Hotpoint's GE Evolution
Even though Hotpoint was part of GE since probably the 50's, it appears that they were built their own way, then gradually evolved to become pure GE by the late 70's.
I've seen YouTube videos of early Hotpoints which had a one-way drive (agitation goes right into spin without pause) as opposed to GE's reversing drive (motor & tranny pause and reverse for spin). When GE switched to perforated tubs sometime in the 60's (I think), Hotpoint held on to solid tubs until the 70's. I read in a past thread that Hotpoint restyled their tranny numerous times until settling on the GE tranny in or just before the 70's. (Could someone give me details about the trannys they used, and how they worked?) The early 70's appeared to be the last somewhat "pure" Hotpoints. They were mechanically GE, but had a filter ring instead of GE's agitator mounted basket, and a different agitator. By the late 70's, they were pure GE.
As for the dryers, the early Hotpoints, I understand, had the downdraft air flow, with the heat source above the drum, and a pullout filter below. I don't know whether or not this was actually a continuation of the first GE dryers. (Could someone clue me in on that?) I saw ads of Hotpoint dryers from the early 60's, and they appeared mechanically identical to GE, but with a different exterior. I believe this style continued until the late 70's, when they became pure GE.
Correct me if I'm wrong, as I really would love to learn the true history and evolution of Hotpoint (as well as many other makes).
Even though Hotpoint was part of GE since probably the 50's, it appears that they were built their own way, then gradually evolved to become pure GE by the late 70's.
I've seen YouTube videos of early Hotpoints which had a one-way drive (agitation goes right into spin without pause) as opposed to GE's reversing drive (motor & tranny pause and reverse for spin). When GE switched to perforated tubs sometime in the 60's (I think), Hotpoint held on to solid tubs until the 70's. I read in a past thread that Hotpoint restyled their tranny numerous times until settling on the GE tranny in or just before the 70's. (Could someone give me details about the trannys they used, and how they worked?) The early 70's appeared to be the last somewhat "pure" Hotpoints. They were mechanically GE, but had a filter ring instead of GE's agitator mounted basket, and a different agitator. By the late 70's, they were pure GE.
As for the dryers, the early Hotpoints, I understand, had the downdraft air flow, with the heat source above the drum, and a pullout filter below. I don't know whether or not this was actually a continuation of the first GE dryers. (Could someone clue me in on that?) I saw ads of Hotpoint dryers from the early 60's, and they appeared mechanically identical to GE, but with a different exterior. I believe this style continued until the late 70's, when they became pure GE.
Correct me if I'm wrong, as I really would love to learn the true history and evolution of Hotpoint (as well as many other makes).
ingliscanada
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 20, 2009
- Messages
- 338
VolvoGuy
HOH dryers were indeed quiet inside the house, but outside the house, the exhaust vent is actually louder (maybe some more than others, due to aging of machine).
Also, Speed Queen was the last company to do away with the solid tub.
HOH dryers were indeed quiet inside the house, but outside the house, the exhaust vent is actually louder (maybe some more than others, due to aging of machine).
Also, Speed Queen was the last company to do away with the solid tub.
ingliscanada
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 20, 2009
- Messages
- 338
Sorry...
I thought you were asking if Hotpoint was the last washer with the solid tub. I read too fast.
I thought you were asking if Hotpoint was the last washer with the solid tub. I read too fast.
Hotpoint!
We had Hotpoint washers while I was growing up, but they were BOL models. The first one lasted almost 7 years was a 1955 BOL thad had a removeable lid. Than we had another one that only lasted about 5 years (the transmission went bad) and not worth fixing. They did wash well and the TOL models had a lot of bells and whistles and did look real nice but didn't hold up. I do wonder why their are so few collectables. They are real hard finds!
Peter
We had Hotpoint washers while I was growing up, but they were BOL models. The first one lasted almost 7 years was a 1955 BOL thad had a removeable lid. Than we had another one that only lasted about 5 years (the transmission went bad) and not worth fixing. They did wash well and the TOL models had a lot of bells and whistles and did look real nice but didn't hold up. I do wonder why their are so few collectables. They are real hard finds!
Peter
Au Contraire
"then gradually evolved to become pure GE by the late 70's."
There was nothing gradual about it. In 1969 GE began "replacing" Hotpoint dryers simply by putting a Hotpoint control panel on top of a standard 27" wide GE dryer. You can see it clearly in this Duo-Load ad.They even put a phony kickplate on the bottom to make the cabinet more "Hotpoint". By 1972 GE started doing the same thing with the washers by putting Hotpoint styled backsplashes on 27" GE filter-flos. They very cleverly remodeled the filter-flo system to work on the rim of the washbasket and for a while used a left-hand side hinged lid. By 1975 practically all of the machines were GE.
GE used Hotpoint when it was a separate entity in Chicago to test market a lot of bells and whistles. Hotpoint was always ahead of its time in high-market features, but lagged in engineering quality. Pity. It was a great brand and produced a lot of innovations. But Jack Welch was much too interested in the bottom line to try and save something as unimportant as a great US brand and thousands of jobs.
"then gradually evolved to become pure GE by the late 70's."
There was nothing gradual about it. In 1969 GE began "replacing" Hotpoint dryers simply by putting a Hotpoint control panel on top of a standard 27" wide GE dryer. You can see it clearly in this Duo-Load ad.They even put a phony kickplate on the bottom to make the cabinet more "Hotpoint". By 1972 GE started doing the same thing with the washers by putting Hotpoint styled backsplashes on 27" GE filter-flos. They very cleverly remodeled the filter-flo system to work on the rim of the washbasket and for a while used a left-hand side hinged lid. By 1975 practically all of the machines were GE.
GE used Hotpoint when it was a separate entity in Chicago to test market a lot of bells and whistles. Hotpoint was always ahead of its time in high-market features, but lagged in engineering quality. Pity. It was a great brand and produced a lot of innovations. But Jack Welch was much too interested in the bottom line to try and save something as unimportant as a great US brand and thousands of jobs.
jasonl
New member
And check out the Kenmore "No Guesswork" washer in avocado!
Similar threads
