Denny. Viking was the department stores brand name for tvs and appliances, like Kenmore with Sears. For that reason the American Viking stoves and fridges couldn't be sold in Canada using the Viking name so those were called Ultraline
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- Thread starter goatfarmer
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"Frigidaire that is my favorite machine Was GM, then no more. I wondered who was the owner of them.Thanks again for pointing that out."
Frigidaire (built by General Motors) saw writing on wall regarding major appliances and got out. IIRC story goes at least for their washing machines moldings and other things used to make those famous jet-action washers were worn out and needed replacing.
Boom in white goods sales that began post WWII due to pent up demand and new housing starts largely began declining by 1960's. Increasingly new appliance sales were being driven mostly by new housing alone. This instead of households taking page from new car market and frequently getting rid of older washers for something newer every few years.
Worse General Motors like every other automobile manufacturer in USA was feeling pinch by rising imports of Asian made cars. This along with host of other economic ills of 1970's caused GM and others to either shut down appliance divisions or sell them on.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frigidaire#Automatic_washers
WCI got their mitts on General Motor's "Frigidaire" brand in 1979. They promptly dropped GM's famous "jet action" washers, swapping things out for Westinghouse's top loading washers. Though early on styling of cabinet and controls closely resembled GM's Frigidaire. Thus those expecting a GM designed washer had to look under bonnet because that was no longer a given despite what machine looked like.
https://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?33441
Frigidaire (built by General Motors) saw writing on wall regarding major appliances and got out. IIRC story goes at least for their washing machines moldings and other things used to make those famous jet-action washers were worn out and needed replacing.
Boom in white goods sales that began post WWII due to pent up demand and new housing starts largely began declining by 1960's. Increasingly new appliance sales were being driven mostly by new housing alone. This instead of households taking page from new car market and frequently getting rid of older washers for something newer every few years.
Worse General Motors like every other automobile manufacturer in USA was feeling pinch by rising imports of Asian made cars. This along with host of other economic ills of 1970's caused GM and others to either shut down appliance divisions or sell them on.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frigidaire#Automatic_washers
WCI got their mitts on General Motor's "Frigidaire" brand in 1979. They promptly dropped GM's famous "jet action" washers, swapping things out for Westinghouse's top loading washers. Though early on styling of cabinet and controls closely resembled GM's Frigidaire. Thus those expecting a GM designed washer had to look under bonnet because that was no longer a given despite what machine looked like.
https://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?33441
