Meet the HORTONS!

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well, it's about damn time

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Wonder if Horton bought out the factory supply and patent rights of Launderall once they closed shop? Horton saw an opportunity for entry into the automatic washer white goods business to compete with Bendix of South Bend Indiana. I knew of this machine mfg years ago when I found the Launderall in my collection.

I just knew something would turn up for you either a Launderall or a version from the Lucy show the Horton. Enjoy the new toys to tinker with. Lets hope you won't destroy these rare models making a Dr. Frank-n-washer creation.
 
Watch TV While Doing Laundry . . .

Brought to you by the men and women of Fort Wayne, where Capehart Farnsworth was cranking out high-end television sets (we had a 1951 model 325) around the same time these Hortons were coming off the assembly line.

 

So much manufacturing history in that part of the country.
 
Incredible. Just incredible. I'm still amazed at what is out there, yet in 2020.

Great finds, great saves, and perfect for your collection of early automatics. Would love to hear what this sounds like during wash for the reverse tumble. The "connector" on the motor is interesting/odd, almost like a coat of permagum!

Is it possible the one on the left is a more TOL version of the original? Lots of glam, chrome, etc.

Anyone out there have documentation on these - service or parts?

Ben
 
What a find, Robert! What year are these machines? I'm guessing late 40's. I immediately thought of the controls on your 47 GE when I saw the machine on the left and a 49 Maytag or 49 ABC with the machine on the right. And now the mystery of the I Love Lucy machine is finally solved! I can't wait to see a video!
 
All Bolted-Down and Washing!

Lets hope you won't destroy these rare models making a Dr. Frank-n-washer creation.
Hey Gary, no absolutely not, these are too rare of machines to upgrade/tinker with them. I only consider doing that to machines that several other collectors have in good shape or are very common such as a 70's Maytag.

The "connector" on the motor is interesting/odd, almost like a coat of permagum!
Hi Ben, both machines have this kind of electrical insulation on the motor, the newer model has white gum and the older one has black gum.

Is it possible the one on the left is a more TOL version of the original? Lots of glam, chrome, etc.
I very much doubt this because the one on the left has only a start switch and no timer to advance to repeat any cycles. The newer model is date stamped January 1952. I have yet to get into the older one to see a date stamp but I would guess 1949.

I'll be surprised if it does a reverse tumble, not enough wires into the motor for a reversible motor, and the transmission looks too small and simple to have the needed gearing. It will be fun to see!
Ohh I get to surprise one of the Lefever boys, I love that!!!

What year are these machines?
1949 and early 1952 Les.

Okay here is the video of the 2nd wash load I did. Two large blankets. The coolest thing is when it goes into spin (about 5:15 into the video time), there is so much violent water action that it even slightly sprays out of the two vent holes in the lid lol!!!



unimatic1140-2020091111383808676_1.jpg

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unimatic1140-2020091111383808676_3.jpg
 
Wow! I'm totally flabbergasted! I was glued to the screen when the video was playing. This is a very advanced machine for that time. It seems to me that the reverse tumbling is not on all increments of the timer (before it goes into spin)? I couldn't make out what exactly happens before the spin. Is it draining? Looks like it. I hear water running, but I suppose it's going out, not in?

I'm also surprised at the sound of the machine. It runs very smooth! Almost like a zen experience!

What an awesome find! Welcome to the world of H-axis toploaders!
 
Wow, that was fantastic! Is the timer pulsing a motor reversing switch (which then reverses the polarity of the motor) every 30 seconds during wash? It sounds like a contractor. Any photos? I don't recognize the motor end bells, either. Mind taking a picture of the motor label? Tag looks Delco-like.

Violent is an understatement :)

Ben
 
Since I'm on PTO this week, plenty of time to play with the new toys, thank goodness.

You're right Louis, the timer only starts reversing the cylinder after about 1 minute of fill on each of the 3 fill/tumble cycles and not during drain. Yes it's draining for 2 minutes before spin and fills for 2 minutes after spin.

So I took the front panel off of the older machine. It's dated February 1950. Sure enough a timer is hidden behind the panel. Both machines seems to have some kind of large relay. I assume this relay is used in reversing the motor and giving the motor a 1/2 second delay so it can quickly stop before reversing. It's what is making those clicking sounds with each reversal. The reversal seems to be triggered at each increment click of the timer. I tried the older machine and its going to need more work, the oil may be low and need changing and the pump valve is leaky so I took the assembly out and took some pictures. Picture #2 Ben shows this big clicking relay.

I really like the look of the older machine vs the newer machine, although it's nice to be able to control timer on the newer machine. I can't decide which one I like better lol.

unimatic1140-2020091115033704334_1.jpg

unimatic1140-2020091115033704334_2.jpg

unimatic1140-2020091115033704334_3.jpg

unimatic1140-2020091115033704334_4.jpg

unimatic1140-2020091115033704334_5.jpg

unimatic1140-2020091115033704334_6.jpg

unimatic1140-2020091115033704334_7.jpg
 
Interesting how it makes a totally different sound when tumbling in one direction as it does in the other. How much water does is in the tub during wash?
 
Robert, this is the coolest thing I've seen in a long time! Thanks so much for sharing! You're right about the water action during spin. If the lid were open you'd have as big a mess as the 49 ABC-O-Matic when agitation starts during the overflow rinse!
 
Robert, just as Les commented, the motor has a different sound/pitch for each direction. To me, when the tub is rotating away from the camera, it sounds like a Bendix tumbling during wash or a Duomatic drying. Am I correct in the assumption this uses a timed fill only for all fills?
 
The Hortons

Very Cool Robert, this has be be the find of the year.

 

What do we know about how long these were built ?

 

And where on earth did you find these?

 

They look to be pretty well built, any idea what the cost would have been and how widely they were distributed ?
 
Am I the only one wondering why there's a window in the lid?  I know it's interesting to watch for people like us, but I doubt the happy 1950 homemaker cared.
 
Wonderful find!!!

The dials on the one unit reminds me of the first Maytag we had in the early 1950's.  The AMP.

 

The sounds remind me of the Jacobs Laundryall of that same time.

 

Are these machines bolted to the floor?

 

I love it!!  Thanks for sharing.

 

Jerry Gay
 
Why Is There A Window In The Lid ?

Hi Ralph, after watching the fun torrents of water splashing around durning the spin acceleration how could it not have a window ?

 

Having the window probably lead to hundreds of laundry enthusiasts today and future members of AW as well as hydraulic engineers, LOL

 

John L.
 

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