manual for early Canadian auto washer

[golittlesport]

I got this instruction manual for an early 50's Beatty automatic washer...well, automatic after you fill the machine with water...sort of like the early Beam-made machines. It sorta looks like a cousin of the Thor Automagic.

 

[golittlesport]

but there is more...it has a rubber tub

but machine design is not much like Bendix. It uses water to create the pressure to squeeze water from clothes, and it has an overflow rinse! Under the lid is a second twist-off metal tub lid. Check out its insides under the cabinet.

 

[golittlesport]

Drat! No illustration of the agitator...wonder what it looked like. Here is a description of the operation. The manual indicates that there was a model with a electric pump and one with a gravity drain.

 

[eddy1210]

thanks Rich

Thank you for posting this manual of my dream machine yet to be found! I've always wondered what kind of a mechanism this had. Like you, I'm dying to see what the agitator looked like although I suspect it was an aluminum 3 vaned "Speed Queen" looking one. Just a guess.

 

[swestoyz]

Eddy - you were the first person I thought of when I saw Rich posting this! Thanks for the scans Rich - what a fun machine. Now to find Eddy his dream machine ~

Ben

 

[tlee618]

Thanks for posting that Rich, it was so interesting. I wonder if anyone we know has one of these machines and when they were made.

 

[scott55405]

I wonder if it's related to the Bendix Economat, since it uses the same type of extraction system.

 

[jetcone]

Wow it looks like a Launderall

But it has a kabonky mechanism like an APEX! Its the Canadian "Apexerall"!!

I hope you find one Eddy and not in New Brunswick!

Thanks Rich for the fascinating obscure washer history here!

jon

 

[Unimatic1140]

Wow, that is like nothing I have ever seen before. Thanks Rich. I wonder what the HP Pump is???? It almost looks like it shifts between wash and spin via water pressure just like an Apex! But the mechansim is nothing like an Apex or any other American made machine that I know of.

 

[Unimatic1140]

Never mind, now that I read it a second time, the washer must have a rubber tub and the HP Pump is like the Bendix Economat to suck out all the air so the tub collapes and squeezes out the water from the clothes.

 

[mickeyd]

I love old stuff like this so much

"The extraction valve opens allowing water to enter the under the flexatub where it builds to a pressure of 50 pounds"--methinks that is what the HP pump does, and that there is no air inolved. The text only mentions water. But what do I know? I have terrible gas and could be in complete denial regarding air.

What a great machine and what wonderful pictures. Thanks G'sport & eddy

 

[gansky1]

Now that's cool. Thanks, Rich. A perforated lid and a drain trough - I'd keep the cabinet off just to see the show!

 

[bobofhollywood]

hydro flex damp dry

The way I read it, water goes under the flex tub which presses in against the clothing. Outrageous - must be similar to an agitamer and the force those things can develop.

I think the pump is similar to the type used in an economat, being a eccentric pitman type. And I suppose you could say the timer mechanism is in some ways similar to a Blackstone, as it appears to be mechanical.

I wonder what the HP pump is too - it seems to have high pressure fittings of some kind on it - maybe an air pressure actuated clutch or shifting mechanism hiding in there somewhere? It probably does have something to do with that truly 'kabonky' extraction bit.

Extremely cool scans.

Rich - thanks for doing that.

Holla from Hollywood

Bob

 

[Unimatic1140]

Wow, this machine seems to resemble the 1930's National Watermatic Twin Tub washer. Here is the way the May 1937 issue of consumer reports described it...

The Watermatic also has a dryer which differs from the usual spinner or wringer. The wet clothes are placed in a compartment lined with a rubber sack. The lid is then clamped down and water from the facuet is admitted between the sack and the outside wall of the compartment, compressing the sack and squeezing the water out of the clothes. The dryer is very effective provided the water pressure from the facuet is 50 lbs per square inch or more.

 

[jetcone]

Yahoo Bob

I love "HydroFlex Damp Dry"! What other kind is there?
The one and only!

 

[golittlesport]

From reading the manual, I believe the HP (high pressure) Pump was designed to "boost" the extraction process. The manual states that the model without a drain and HP Pump requires water pressure of at least 40 lbs for extraction to be effective.

It also only had one inlet hose. If you had both hold and cold taps, there was an "Y" type adaptor hose to use. Water temp was controlled at the faucet. It states that if you only had a cold water tap, to fill the machine manually through the lids from the stove with hot water. Rinse would then be cold from the tap.

There is a mark on the control dial that opens the fill valve, but the timer does not advance. When proper water level is reached, you are instructed to advance control dial until machine starts to agitate. Here is another page.

 

[gansky1]

This gets an "Energy Slap" for sure...

And how much water does this baby use?

 

[golittlesport]

an "Economat" it ain't

The book says this baby "only uses 9 gallons of HOT water per load." That is for the water cycle only....as the instructions say to fill it with hot water to start and then rinse and extract with cold water. No mention of total water usage...I'm sure they don't dare.

It also recommends that if water volume is low, to keep all taps and valves on the water line close while the washer is in rinse and damp dry cycles. "Don't flush the toilet...the washer is running!"

 

[golittlesport]

P.S.

Greg....I love your energy slap artwork...ha ha