Meet the HORTONS!

[Unimatic1140]

Just got home from Wisconsin picking up these two babies!!!! The one on the right, the later one appears to never have been used! At first glance these look like Launderalls until you look underneath. More to come, I'm exhausted but here is a first look.

 

[repairguy]

Really cool Robert! Congrats!

 

[Unimatic1140]

and I had to peek!

 

[bigalsf]

Nice!

Wow, i've never heard of this brand. I love the look! As you said they look like Launderalls, but more Bendixish underneath. Pretty simple looking setup.

Where were these marketed?

Congratulations on acquiring such a cool looking pair! Have fun with them!!

 

[appnut]

Oh my goodness!!!

 

[maytag85]

Nice! Definitely machines you don’t see everyday!

 

[laundryboy]

WOW

Congrats

Those are beautiful...

 

[peteski50]

Hortons!

Robert those are beautiful machines!
Best Of Luck

 

[wayupnorth]

Wouldn't you know it, when you were on a mission to rescue these beauties that the e/mail got hacked. Glad you made it back fine and the website is fine. Thanks Robert.

 

[pulltostart]

Very interesting!

I've never heard of this brand.  They look quite impressive and well cared for.  And I bet there's an interesting story behind their purchase and your trip.  Can't wait for the details!

 

lawrence

 

[foraloysius]

Amazing! Congratulations! Can't wait to hear the whole story. Very rare machines and then an unused one!

 

[mayfan69]

They look great

Congratulations Robert, they look great!

Will be interesting to see them in action.

Cheers
Leon

 

[circlew]

Very nice find, Robert!

 

[fisherpaykel]

Perforated paddles

Double wow! Is one basket aluminum and one stainless? The name Horton rings a bell in my head but I don't know why.

 

[rp2813]

I think I want to change my handle to "Laundeluxe."

 

[Ultramatic]

Jaw dropping.

 

 

Only you Robert! Congratulations!

 

[chestermikeuk]

Hortons

Fantastic Robert, they look NIB, looking forward to seeing them in action, cant see a thumper...BUT

Welcome To the World of H-Axis Washing !!

 

[launderess]

Robert you sly puss!

Always the dark horse coming up with the most fantastic items.

Congratulations and enjoy.

To others; most know name "Horton" from the small "Horton Do All" ironer.

But long before that appliance Horton Manufacturing Company of Fort Wayne, Indiana made washing machines among other things such as corn planters. condition.

Notice word "Automatic" is prominently displayed. This washer like the Launderall was meant to get housewives away from manual or semi-automatic laundry.

Horton page 12: https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Early-Radio-Assorted/Electrical-Retailing-1923-11.pdf[this post was last edited: 9/10/2020-04:38]

 

[ozzie908]

Horton washers

How nice to see you cannot select a cold wash, No wonder they got things clean

 

[tomturbomatic]

Congratulations Robert

I have seen ads in shelter magazines for Horton wringer washers and ironers, but never automatics--a true rara avis. So, are you going to pour a slab for bolting down purposes?

 

[Unimatic1140]

So a very nice man in southern WI contacted me who had these. He told me he bought these both 30 at an auction in South Bend, IN. It just so happens that Horton's headquarters and manufacturing plant were located in South Bend, same city as where the Bendix was made. Which means there is a possibility that these originally might have come directly from the Horton plant from when they closed down for good! Really it's anyone's guess.

Where were these marketed?
I assume Al these were marketed across the entire USA.

So, are you going to pour a slab for bolting down purposes?
I'll do the same thing as I did with my bolt-down Bendix Tom, I'll use 3/8 bolts with lag shield anchors in the basement floor.

Is one basket aluminum and one stainless? The name Horton rings a bell in my head but I don't know why.
Hi Walter, I'm thinking they are both aluminum, but the never used one seems to have a green-ish tint to it. Not sure if that comes off in the first washing. I suspect the name Horton may ring a bell with many hear because that was the washer they doctored up to be used on the I Love Lucy episode "Never Do Business with Friends"

So supposedly this machine has a Bendix like transmission yet somehow does a reverse tumble like the Launderall did. I'm not sure how exactly it reverses, the Launderall used cams and gearing in the transmission to reverse tumble ever 15 seconds, the manual says this machine reverses ever 30 seconds. I'm thinking it may have an early reversing motor in this machine, we will see.

 

[turquoisedude]

Holy Hortons Batman!!   My goodness, Robert what a find!!!  

 

I see what you mean about the difference between a Launderall - no pesky motor-driven timing unit!  Plus a separate timer control to end the cycle if desired - a big improvement. 

 

So, what's the backstory here (foot tapping impatiently)??

 

Congratulations on a fascininating find, Robert!!

 

[lovestowash]

WOW!

I immediately thought of "Lucy" when I saw those top mounted knobs...congrats Robert!

 

[searsbest]

Wow!

Stunning!

 

[mickeyd]

The horizontal, notched dials on the left hand machine are identical to those on your '47 GE. Amazing. Wonder how that happened: brand cross-over or outsourcing--what grand head-scratching fun, these!

 

[mickeyd]

And the automatic's dials look just the the early AMP's. How I love it when they recognize and acknowledge the "DRAIN" cycle marking it separate from the SPIN. Hooray for the almighty drain.

 

[Unimatic1140]

So, what's the backstory here (foot tapping impatiently)??
Hi Paul, as I mentioned above a very nice man in southern WI contacted me who had these. He told me he bought these both 30 at an auction in South Bend, IN. It just so happens that Horton's headquarters and manufacturing plant were located in South Bend, same city as where the Bendix was made. Which means there is a possibility that these originally might have come directly from the Horton plant from when they closed down for good! Really it's anyone's guess.

The newer machines works perfectly. I had to loosen the drain value with very hot water at first and replace the water valve to flume to hose, but otherwise it's ready to be bolted down! It's super cool how quickly the drum reverses, no pausing what so ever between the reverse rotation. It's done with an reverse relay with each 30 second increment impulse click of the timer. I've also measured the spin speed at 380rpm, 155rpm faster than the Bendix. 380rpm is what the Launderall spun at as well. I was also surprised the timer motor worked just fine.

Check out the drain screen, never has seen any lint, I didn't clean this at all...

 

[appnut]

What's also nice is these have timers that can be adjusted for wash length as well as repeating or skipping portion of the cycle vs. the Launderall.

 

[golittlesport]

WOW ! Who knew ?!?

Amazing, Robert! I'm speechless.

These machines look like a Launderall and early GE and Maytag automatic washers went through a teleporter and had their molecules crossed (like in the mover "The Fly.")

 

[chestermikeuk]

Hortons

Wow, straight out the delivery van, look at that white pulley wheel and everything else minty fresh, your gonna have fun with these !!

Looking forward to seeing them in action and your feedback...

Cheers, Mike