Numerous 1950's Westinghouse questions

[travis]

So I got this 1955 set home from Michigan the other week, bought off ebay. They even came with the manuals!

Chris is going to help me get the washer going. I really want to install a xylophone in the dryer, despite that not being appropriate for the year. I was told that the xylophone was in the 53/54 years, but can't confirm this.

I think I have a L-8M washer and D-8M dryer. The washer model number came off a letter from the original owner in 1974. Maybe it still had it's rear cover back then. The dryer model is on the electric diagram on the back.

A fellow member has graciously offered me another dryer or at least a xylophone. His dryer matches mine, but the timer knob has a button to the right of it. To make me more confused, the washer manual shows the twin to my washer as being the D-8M dryer and shows the dryer the other member has!

I know someone here has the answer. I'll post a pic of my set below and also the other dryer that's been offered.

Thanks Travis

 

[travis]

The dryer

This is the one that came with the set

 

[travis]

The other dryer

This is the other dryer that has the button by the timer.

 

[decodriveboy]

Xylophone or not

that is one nice set and I envy you! How is the washing and drying performance?

 

[mielabor]

Curious to know...

What is a xylophone in this context? I only know a xylophone as a musical instrument.

 

[pulsator]

Some Westinghouse dryers had a xylophone (the musical instrument) built into them and they would play a tune when the dryer was done.

 

[travis]

Performance...

My set is sitting in my vacant building awaiting attention by Chris and me.

The xylophone is the end of cycle signal that plays "How Dry I Am" I want one since it would make this already cool set that much better.

Of course, it may become irritating after awhile, but I'll take the risk.

 

[mielabor]

Well, I had never heard of a dryer with a xylophone before. It is certainly more sophisticated than the ordinary buzzer that can be very annoying, especially when it is from the neighbour's dryer late at night

 

[appnut]

Travis, glad you got these. One of my mom's best friends had the "other" dryer, the one with the button to the right of the timer. I believe that was an "auto dry" option. This is the first time I've seen this particular dryer since I was 13. I don't think anyone else here has that dryer with the button. I vaguely remember someone here saying the button simply popped out when the clothes were dry and there wasn't any kind of "cool down". My mom's friend had a 1955 Unimatic. That washer and dryer went from Houston, to Dallas, and on to a suburb of San Francisco. They werre both still running when my mom's friend decided she wanted to update her laundry with a poppy 1/18 set in 1974 or so.

 

[frigilux]

I thought the term xylophone must mean something different in this context. But the dryer had a real xylophone in it, eh? Any chance of a pic? And can it be programmed to play In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida?

 

[jeff_adelphi]

Here's a pic.

The 5 note motor driven xylophone.

 

[travis]

*drool*

I want one!

 

[washertalk]

I'll take that. I'm sure I can fit it in my KM dryer.
Thatz so kewl.!

Maybe if the heater stops working it can be programmed to play "Raindrops keep falling on my head" or we could get a mini tuba for those times when the dryer doesn't work and it can just play like on the Gong Show or a fog horn.

 

[frigilux]

Thanks so much for posting that, Jeff. Wow, it really is a little baby xylophone; how cool is that?

Well, with only five notes, it won't play In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, but it can play 'Susan's Strange' from the first Psychelic Furs album, LOL.

 

[decodriveboy]

How does the tune to "How Dry I Am" go?

 

[northwesty]

Styling-wise, whatever year they are, they are the same. I'd say they were 55s -- perhaps the one with the xylophone was one made available in Dec. 54 or so? I dunno my 55 doesn't have one.

"How dry I am" you'll know it when you hear it.

 

[liamwa]

How dry I am.

 

[bundtboy]

in solfegio it goes

so do re mi,
so do re mi,
mi fa mi re,
re mi re do.

depending on how youlike to spell that.
That means 5 notes. in a row. do re mi fa so, except the note so is one octave lower than the other 4 notes.
You've heard about that before in
the Sound of Music, I know.

b

 

[63getelevision]

Mi So Fa

Couldn't resist this. Sorry it's somewhat off topic. Great Westinghouses!