Check this out, it appears that it is going to be available for sale, but I need to confirm where it is located. I believe it is in Birmingham, AL. More to come...
Look at this 1956 Dexter!
- Thread starter Unimatic1140
- Start date
Help Support :
The controls and console are almost identical to the Philco of that era. I wonder if it is a Beam?
Ooooh, that's purdy!
Great console on that one. What companies used the Beam design besides Philco <br
And while I'm in a question-asking mood: Which brands used the Franklin (indexing tub) transmission? I believe Wizard/Coronado did. Were they in real Westinghouse TL'ers, too? Or did they show up in Westys when WCI took over?
And while I'm in a question-asking mood: Which brands used the Franklin (indexing tub) transmission? I believe Wizard/Coronado did. Were they in real Westinghouse TL'ers, too? Or did they show up in Westys when WCI took over?
This '56 Dexter is not a Beam/Franklin design despite the similarity of the agitators. Dexter was aquired by Philco in the mid-50's so this is a Philco-made washer through and through. Franklin aquired the Beam Mfg. Co. in the mid to later 50's <br
Beam was a source for parts and entire machines for many manufacturers and brand names - Coronado, Hotpoint, Western Auto/Wizard, Marquette, CO-OP, AMC, Bradford, Firestone, One Minute, Unico, Zenith and others at one time or another were either completely made by Beam/Franklin or used many parts & designs of the Beam Co. machines. Speed Queen was last surviving Beam-design.
Beam was a source for parts and entire machines for many manufacturers and brand names - Coronado, Hotpoint, Western Auto/Wizard, Marquette, CO-OP, AMC, Bradford, Firestone, One Minute, Unico, Zenith and others at one time or another were either completely made by Beam/Franklin or used many parts & designs of the Beam Co. machines. Speed Queen was last surviving Beam-design.
Dexter
Dexter is still in business today. But only builds commerical equiptment.. It is one of the very few co. that builds its own bearings..
www.dexter.com
Dexter is still in business today. But only builds commerical equiptment.. It is one of the very few co. that builds its own bearings..
Homepage - Dexter Laundry
This machine is totally cool <br
Okay - history lesson for those who know jack about Automatic Dexter's/Philco's. Okay, since this is not a Beam/Franklin machine - what is it? Did Philco actually have a facility where they produced automatics before the Bendix purchase in the late 50's - or were these machines actually made in Fairfield? If so - I'm got some doors to go knocking on : <br
Yes, Dexter is an employee owned company, currently with a fully opperational foundry and production facility in Fairfield on Grimes Ave. I remember driving to work and school, seeing the picket lines with foundry workers shouting and screaming at the 'scabs' as they crossed the line to work their corproate jobs at the production facility. Looks like things will never change <br
Ben
Okay - history lesson for those who know jack about Automatic Dexter's/Philco's. Okay, since this is not a Beam/Franklin machine - what is it? Did Philco actually have a facility where they produced automatics before the Bendix purchase in the late 50's - or were these machines actually made in Fairfield? If so - I'm got some doors to go knocking on : <br
Yes, Dexter is an employee owned company, currently with a fully opperational foundry and production facility in Fairfield on Grimes Ave. I remember driving to work and school, seeing the picket lines with foundry workers shouting and screaming at the 'scabs' as they crossed the line to work their corproate jobs at the production facility. Looks like things will never change <br
Ben
golittlesport
Well-known member
wow...what a cool and rare machine! The agitator looks like it came out of the Dexter wringer washer my mom had when I was a wee lad.
Cool looking Washer!
That is one cool looking washer <br
Would luv to see the inner workings! <br
Cheer
Leon
That is one cool looking washer <br
Would luv to see the inner workings! <br
Cheer
Leon
OH THATS JUST OVER THE TOP!
I love the advanced square controls. WHAT A KEEPER, does it have that super fluid drive! <br
Ben you live near the Dexter plant?? I have some snooping to do there at their foundery!!! <br
I love the advanced square controls. WHAT A KEEPER, does it have that super fluid drive! <br
Ben you live near the Dexter plant?? I have some snooping to do there at their foundery!!! <br
Robert
you have to get me a close up of that Automatic Washer script so I can digitize it <br
How do you know its a 1956?? Have you got Doctrine on this <br
you have to get me a close up of that Automatic Washer script so I can digitize it <br
How do you know its a 1956?? Have you got Doctrine on this <br
1956 P H I L C O
[No message]
I brought a Philco washer of this vintage home from a junkyard in Western Nebraska back in 2002. It was pretty rough, but I didn't want to come home empty handed. Jimmy (FilterFlo) took it home with him later in the year after getting the matching dryer at the South Dakota farm. He played with the washer in the driveway and actually got it running. I believe he still has the pair, perhaps he'll post some pics of it. Although some of the parts may have been sourced from other companies, it definitely was no Beam design - all Philco <br
The link is to an ebay ad for Philco-Bendix washers & dryers and it shows, though hard to see, the last of the Philco style agitator washers - 1957.
The link is to an ebay ad for Philco-Bendix washers & dryers and it shows, though hard to see, the last of the Philco style agitator washers - 1957.
As an eBay Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
That is worth a trip to Birmingham. I would be interested. Crazy, but interested...
So BIC made the Philco washers in the 50's??
I'm confused <br
That looks like one solid piece of rubber molded in there pardner
I'm confused <br
That looks like one solid piece of rubber molded in there pardner
So - we know this is a Philco made washer. pre Bendix, but no Franklin/Beam anywhere to be seen - interesting. Are the mechanicals similar to anything else out there? Any picts Jimmy of your set <br
Jon - I lived in Fairfield from June of 1997 till May of 2002 - and graduated from high school during that time and went to a community college in a neighboring city. Most of the original foundry is still there - all original turn-of-the-century. When you walk by the plant along 9th street up by the main set of tracks, you can look into the basement and see shelves of parts - but I assume these are parts to keep the machinery alive and not Bendix parts. But only if... <br
I'm planning a trip to Fairfield in July for a wedding - I'll have to snap some pics for you guys <br
Ben
Jon - I lived in Fairfield from June of 1997 till May of 2002 - and graduated from high school during that time and went to a community college in a neighboring city. Most of the original foundry is still there - all original turn-of-the-century. When you walk by the plant along 9th street up by the main set of tracks, you can look into the basement and see shelves of parts - but I assume these are parts to keep the machinery alive and not Bendix parts. But only if... <br
I'm planning a trip to Fairfield in July for a wedding - I'll have to snap some pics for you guys <br
Ben
Ok everyone, what is cool about this machine is it was produced by Philco. There are no Beam or Franklin parts in it (as far as I know). It was produced from 1956 thru 1958 only, then in 1959 Philco decided to go with the new Automagic design and discontinued this, but they perfected the Ball-Point balance system in this design (which is one of the best balance systems I have ever seen) and then they used that same balance system in the Automagic. Here are some shots of the mechanicals...
It does look like a Beam pump though ;-)
