What was the largest capacity residential washer ever made? How many cubic feet did it hold? I remember GE once making that claim.
Largest Capacity washer ever made
- Thread starter Chetlaham
- Start date
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There has never been a domestic washing machine for sale in USA with capacity greater than twenty pounds (20 lbs). This is due to local construction zoning regulations often have set that weight as total max allowed. This in turn allows developers and others planning to know what they have to design for in terms of max load.
Top loaders went from 8 - 9 pounds in 1950's up to 12-16 pounds by 1990's IIRC. Some like Norge claimed 20 lbs.
Thing about washer capacity is since appliance makers sold units as matching sets an increase in washing machine capacity means dryer has to grow as well. Otherwise one full load from washing machine would have to be split into two before going into dryer.
Top loaders went from 8 - 9 pounds in 1950's up to 12-16 pounds by 1990's IIRC. Some like Norge claimed 20 lbs.
Thing about washer capacity is since appliance makers sold units as matching sets an increase in washing machine capacity means dryer has to grow as well. Otherwise one full load from washing machine would have to be split into two before going into dryer.
Good question!! Are you talking current line up or vintage? Just because a manufacture advertised largest capacity does not mean cleaning ability scored well at say 20 lbs, would think you’d have to take that into account. Also clothing wear & tear. Certainly the old Norge 20 lb top load was nothing to sneeze at, and NO DA agitator either. Think back in the day it was the largest capacity available. I shutter to think what water usage would be for one full load, presoak and extra rinse. Don’t think the old GE FF’s could hold a candle to them.
The new modern front loaders might have an edge today. Amazing that manufactures keep increasing capacity, it’s like they’re trying to get the family to wash only one load for the week!! Think the normal everyday person HATES doing laundry and tub sizes now MUST accommodate king size bedding...or at least that seems to be the excuse. Gov. almost dictated larger tubs also.
Barry
The new modern front loaders might have an edge today. Amazing that manufactures keep increasing capacity, it’s like they’re trying to get the family to wash only one load for the week!! Think the normal everyday person HATES doing laundry and tub sizes now MUST accommodate king size bedding...or at least that seems to be the excuse. Gov. almost dictated larger tubs also.
Barry
Both current and vintage, but I think current machines would score more records in the size category.
Why is the limit set at 20 pounds? What is the standard or regulation that requires this?
Why is the limit set at 20 pounds? What is the standard or regulation that requires this?
As I recall, Whirlpool / Kenmore standard-capacity belt-drives were said to be 14 lbs in the 1970s, maybe 1960s, and forward. Super-capacity debuted in the mid 1960s was "up to" 18 lbs.
Capacity nowadays, at whatever point in time that began, is rarely if ever stated in pounds. Cubic feet is the reference, which eliminates the need to validate any poundage claims.
I was referring to the 20 lb Norge as it was. in my mind, the largest that I knew of. Like Glenn stated, today’s machines would probably make mincemeat of the older ones.
Bigger does not always equal better though.
Barry
Bigger does not always equal better though.
Barry
If you took the inner basket out of a GE FF, and lowered the outer tub to the point it was 8 inches off the floor and put an impellar inside it I would imagine the machine would hold a substantial amount. 
tomdawg
Well-known member
Maytag bravos
A few years ago, Whirlpool made a 6.2 cu ft for the Maytag bravos line up. I thought I heard 22lb capacity but I clearly could be wrong. I noticed it’s not in the line up anymore. Even at 20 or 22lb its laughable because we all know it most likely won’t clean well.
A few years ago, Whirlpool made a 6.2 cu ft for the Maytag bravos line up. I thought I heard 22lb capacity but I clearly could be wrong. I noticed it’s not in the line up anymore. Even at 20 or 22lb its laughable because we all know it most likely won’t clean well.
In 1986 I bought a Magic Chef TL that was Norge built. It was supposed to have a 20 lb capacity and I believe it. It was the largest TL washing machine tub I ever saw. It was a very good performer too. We had to sell it about 18 mo. later when we moved into our first condo, a 1 bedroom with a laundry closet that would only accommodate a stacked washer and dryer.
We sold the Magic Chef set for $400 to a women I worked with, who already had an aging Norge and wanted another similar to her old washer. Lorraine used that Magic Chef set for about 15 years before the washer gave up the ghost.
Eddie
We sold the Magic Chef set for $400 to a women I worked with, who already had an aging Norge and wanted another similar to her old washer. Lorraine used that Magic Chef set for about 15 years before the washer gave up the ghost.
Eddie
There was a time where Jenn Air touted their washer (and probably some other Norge products with other brand labels such as Magic Chef) could hold up to 22 pounds. This was towards the end of this product line.
Jenn-Air Ultra 22
Photos saved in January 2009 from Jaytag, and a video.
Photos saved in January 2009 from Jaytag, and a video.
Glenn, that's exactly what I was seeing in my head.
Jenn-air
Oh! I was not aware these existed. Who built them and why? What is their history? And for that matter I will admit I know little about Norge, or why some love them while others dislike them.
Let me know if I should start a new thread about them.
I will watch those videos now, thank you for posting them!
Oh! I was not aware these existed. Who built them and why? What is their history? And for that matter I will admit I know little about Norge, or why some love them while others dislike them.
Let me know if I should start a new thread about them.
I will watch those videos now, thank you for posting them!
The owner guide for our 1976 LDA7800 stated water levels of 12, 17, 22, and 27 gallons. Maybe the numbers were rounded. Figure that water usage on Perm Press with a double partial-drain cool down, and add a Super Wash partial drain for the upper models that had it on PP ...
repairguy
Well-known member
Looking at some info on the Jenn air I was surprised to find that they would furnish a new inner or outer tub if either failed to defective materials or workmanship for 22 years. Not including any shipping, service calls, or labor, of course.
The large capacity whirlpool/kenmores were introduced in 1967 and ran through mid 1981 when the capacity was lessened for the new 1982 models.
The large capacity whirlpool/kenmores were introduced in 1967 and ran through mid 1981 when the capacity was lessened for the new 1982 models.
Highest capacity listed on energystar.gov are the Whirlpool-made top loaders at 6.2 cu.ft., followed by the 5.8 front loaders by LG.
Looking at LG websites from other countries (Mexico, South Africa, Singapore and Australia) the capacity is always stated in weight. The large LG top loaders are rated at 55 lbs. capacity. I'd love to see the wash action with that much stuff in there.
Looking at LG websites from other countries (Mexico, South Africa, Singapore and Australia) the capacity is always stated in weight. The large LG top loaders are rated at 55 lbs. capacity. I'd love to see the wash action with that much stuff in there.
To me, something more than 20 years older, as in Imperial Forum machines...
-- Dave
-- Dave
"Looking at some info on the Jenn air I was surprised to find that they would furnish a new inner or outer tub if either failed to defective materials or workmanship for 22 years."
Isn't that bit like lifetime warranty on porcelain drums or maybe motors many washing machines (IIRC) had back in day? Truth to tell often something else would go long before tub or motor that would cause machine to be scrapped.
That is if cost of a new transmission or something on a fifteen year washer is more than machine is worth to some, it likely will be replaced by a new machine. This regardless if tub or motor are still fine. IIRC same could be said of dishwashers with their lifetime warranties on tubs and or motors.
Isn't that bit like lifetime warranty on porcelain drums or maybe motors many washing machines (IIRC) had back in day? Truth to tell often something else would go long before tub or motor that would cause machine to be scrapped.
That is if cost of a new transmission or something on a fifteen year washer is more than machine is worth to some, it likely will be replaced by a new machine. This regardless if tub or motor are still fine. IIRC same could be said of dishwashers with their lifetime warranties on tubs and or motors.
