Imperial vs Imperial 70?

[wigwag]

I've always wondered...

In terms of product rank:

Imperial Mark 18
Imperial
Imperial Seventy
Supreme 80
Supreme

is that how it goes? I noticed that around 78 when the LFA series came out, that the Imperial name became Imperial Seventy, anyone know what the product line distinctions were? I'm wondering if LFA was the first Imperial Seventy with the intro of the double duty which ran until the last of the (real) belt drives.

 

[DADoES]

 
The model labeling changed a little through the years.

Upper & TOL are the Imperial varieties.  Imperial-whatever, Imperial 70, Imperial 80, Imperial Mark XII (standard capacity). 70 & 80 were slightly less featured than the Mark ... such as non-timed bleach and agitator-softener vs. both timed for Mark.  There was a 3-speed Imperial for a year or two that had a rotary speed selector vs. pushbuttons on the Mark.

Imperial Mark 18 was the 18lb-ers.  The electronic control models were Solid State Mark Series or Mark II (IIRC).

Imperial Seventy was the top mechanical-control model against the electronic controls at that time.

Supreme was mid-line but still nicely featured.  Late-mid 1960s the Supremes would typically have 3 or 4 fixed water levels vs. variable on the Imperials.  Supremes may have Super Wash on normal but not Perm Press, Imperials may have it on both.

As I recall on the LFA series, LFA5700 (and lower) didn't have a "name" and LFA5800 (18lb) was Supreme, LFA7800 Imperial Seventy.