Just got a 3-Belt WH Front Loader.

[volvoguy87]

Thanks to Classiccaprice, I just acquired a mid 1960s? Westinghouse front load washer with rear controls. It has 3 drive belts and has the potato pulley. The guts look to be in pretty good shape and there's even a tub light, but the cabinet is very very rusty. In fact, there is a spot on the top of the cabinet where there isn't any metal left at all. I won't be getting to this one for at least a year, or likely longer, but I wanted to know more about them.

What are the strengths and weaknesses of this design?
What is it best at washing, and what should I avoid?
How is performance in general?

What is the likelihood of finding a new top (bonus points if it has a lighted control panel)?

What stories do y'all have with these washers? I've never encountered one before and am curious to hear stories.

Have a good day everyone,
Dave

PS: Thanks Classiccaprice for extracting it from that basement and delivering it to me. It almost makes up for rebuilding your Maytag transmission

 

[akronman]

Hey

Dave---we don't care if it's rusty or dirty, WE WANT PICTURES!

And congratulations! Somewhere on my list of needs is Westy slant fronts, someday.

Good for you for finding one.

Mark

 

[volvoguy87]

Not exactly.

This one is after the slant front series.  It's a flat front with the oval window in a side-swinging door.  I'll try to take some pics after work, but you really cannot see too much due to the dirt.  It's certainly "Barn Fresh."  I think some of the dirt might be structural too.

 

Dave

 

[combo52]

YAY Your First 3 Belt Westinghouse

Strengths and weaknesses ? , rust and not so great durability, but great washing performance and easy to repair.

 

What is it best at washing and what should I avoid? It is best at washing all kinds of clothing, dishes and other hard and breakable items should not be washed in this machine, LOL.

 

How is performance in general ?, Very Good overall except water extraction is below average, but it will diffidently out wash any 50s-80s TL Maytag in cleaning, lint and sand removable, all without wearing out your clothing.

 

To fix the rust you can use a top from any WH dryer through the 1970s and if you want to change the rusted cabinet you can use the cabinet from any WH FL washer built through the 1980s.

 

[lotsosudz]

Strengths of the WH Front Loader

These washers are great for extremely dirty items like jeans, and odd items like stuffed animals and odd shaped items. If it does not reverse while washing, be careful with large items like sheets, and blankets. They tend to ball them up, and then you have a dickens of a time unwinding them while still in the drum. Their door are small, which makes it even harder to get those balls out. Other than that, they use a nice amount of water, and do a beautiful job on most everything. They do a beautiful job on permanent press, and rinse very well. I would still have one, if somebody hadn't broken into my garage, and taken it. Mine was from 1984 with a drop down weigh to save door, but very similar. Enjoy it!
Hugs,
David

 

[tomturbomatic]

Bendix patents kept the WH machines from spinning between the two deep rinses, but other than that, they are good performers. They are loud when the pump solenoid kicks in and even louder then they spin, but they were good performers. They create very little lint and handle suds better than any of the new FLs because of the one minute spray rinse after the wash water is pumped out. Unlike new FLs with separately powered pumps, the WH pump, which features 4 rubber vanes that extend to the walls of the pump chamber, was driven by the main motor with the pump mounted right under a sump in the outer tub so not only does it powerfully pump out all of the water spun out of the load without stopping, the machine cannot stop to pump out because there is only one motor powering everything except the timer. The WH machines use a deep pool of water for washing and rinsing so they are effective and gentle. One thing that it is not gentle with is the drain hose. Secure it in the drain pipe or laundry sink because the water force of the drain pump will kick it right up into the air.

 

[classiccaprice]

It almost makes up for rebuilding your Maytag transmission

Not even, my foot!  YOUR machine fell down and did this to my poor foot.  We are even my friend.  

 

[classiccaprice]

Picture from the seller of the machine...

Rusty but trusty

 

[akronman]

hmm....

I thought the foot fetish pics went in the Dirty Laundry forum, lol.

Dave----Slant front or flat front, very cool machine. Keep us posted on the restoration.

 

[golittlesport]

Nice! My mom had that same flat front Westy for a while after her first Westy slant front. Her's had five water levels and four w/r temps. It looks like yours only has three temp combos....hmmm. It did do a great job, but extraction was weak....about the same as a Whirlpool or Kenmore of that era.

 

[classiccaprice]

Safe and sound in Dave's garage

Dave has the lower kick panel.

 

[classiccaprice]

 

[zipdang]

Memories!

I'm loving this thread! My grandmother's machine was very similar to this one, and this is the closet I've seen to hers ever. Her machine was coppertone, had a similar water level control but with an indicator guage behind a clear panel, and the temp control was a row of buttons for colorfast, non-colorfast, etc.

Can't wait to see this beauty all cherried out!

 

[alr2903]

Great thread, Thank You

This will be a fun thread.  Looking fwd to future posts and pics.  I have always regretted not buying one these when they were still available.  alr

 

[syndets2000]

this is...

...another favorite of mine, I had one some years ago, & I loved it- I was wondering how a potato pulley would preform on my 3 belt slant front- congratulations on your new addition, and keep us all posted with the updates- and yes, make sure the hose is secured to the sink, or standpipe! Robert ps- its such a great feeling to see all these wonderful machines rescued and preserved!!!

 

[tomturbomatic]

How wonderful

This is one year older than ours. I think this was LFA600 and ours, with the addition of the 4th water temperature setting offering cold/cold, was a 590.

 

[revvinkevin]

 

 

Hey Dave <span style="font-size: medium;">CONGRATS</span> on getting this machine!   That is awesome, what an exciting find!   Fun machine!  

 

I recently picked up a pink WH stacked set and am looking forward to getting them running again. 

 

Thanks to Will for hauling it up and out of the basement too!

 

YAY!

 

Kevin

 

[circlew]

Hey Dave, your new washer is a close match to the one my mom got in '64 or early '65. It lasted until '73 when she got the Maytag set. Ours rusted out at the bottom of the door, as it always leaked a little. Best of luck with it.