Oh My Sweet Lord! Beautiful Philco Wringer
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toploader55
Well-known member
THAT... is just Beautiful.
You can really "Bang" out some laundry with that. What Fun.
You can really "Bang" out some laundry with that. What Fun.
stricklybojack
Well-known member
.
What did something like this cost when new?
What did something like this cost when new?
In 1960 about $189 according to an advert one saw in local Indiana newspaper.
It's amazing to me how many of these Philco/Dexter dualies have survived. Most of them show up in good condition. This one appears to be pristine. I hope it doesn't end up rusting away in the back alley of a car wash somewhere.
I have always wondered how those dual wringer machines were used. Were both of the tubs for washing, or was one for washing and the other was for rinsing?
When I was taught how to use a standard wringer washer, I learned that there were two tubs (or what my mother called a laundry tray) for rinsing.
When I was taught how to use a standard wringer washer, I learned that there were two tubs (or what my mother called a laundry tray) for rinsing.
Using A TwinaMatic
At first one believed you washed in one tub, wrung into second to rinse, then wrung into another when done. Then came upon a copy of user's manual.
Not a bit of it.....
This was the era when soap still reigned queen of wash day and thus pre-soaking was still a part of good wash technique.
First tub was filled with lukewarm, cool or even warm water, a bit of soap or soda, started agitator and added laundry. While this was "pre-washing" you filled the second tub with "HOT* water and soap (or detergent). By the time this was done you stopped the pre-wash load and wrung it into the hot main wash tub. Started this agitating and while it was going added the next load to the pre-wash tub. Now it was time to stop the wash tub and wring that load into the first rinse. This would be in a sink or separate tub. You moved the wringer back into position then wrung the pre-wash load into the "HOT" wash, lather rinse and repeat.
The idea was two fold, to get a conveyor belt if one would of washing going where laundry was moved from first wash tub, to second, to rinse, to final wring dry. As always if one wanted to used bluing or starch that was another step in the rinsing/wringing process.
This idea of "agitated soak" began taking hold soon as "modern" electric washing machines began taking hold. IIRC Bendix front loaders offered a pre-wash cycle. Working theory was that due to mechanical agitator the washer could do more in a short time (five or so minutes) than a whole night of pre-soaking.
With the TwinaMatic doing a pre-wash in first tub kept one's main wash water cleaner as much of the muck was already removed. It also prevented setting certain soils/stains by not putting things directly into hot water for first wash.
Of course every woman/person doing the wash could adapt usage to suit, especially when detergents came along and largely replaced soap. By then one could do away with one or more rinse tubs by simply moving wash between the two tubs. You'd have to have a decent supply of water, but there you are then.
[this post was last edited: 12/2/2016-04:30]
At first one believed you washed in one tub, wrung into second to rinse, then wrung into another when done. Then came upon a copy of user's manual.
Not a bit of it.....
This was the era when soap still reigned queen of wash day and thus pre-soaking was still a part of good wash technique.
First tub was filled with lukewarm, cool or even warm water, a bit of soap or soda, started agitator and added laundry. While this was "pre-washing" you filled the second tub with "HOT* water and soap (or detergent). By the time this was done you stopped the pre-wash load and wrung it into the hot main wash tub. Started this agitating and while it was going added the next load to the pre-wash tub. Now it was time to stop the wash tub and wring that load into the first rinse. This would be in a sink or separate tub. You moved the wringer back into position then wrung the pre-wash load into the "HOT" wash, lather rinse and repeat.
The idea was two fold, to get a conveyor belt if one would of washing going where laundry was moved from first wash tub, to second, to rinse, to final wring dry. As always if one wanted to used bluing or starch that was another step in the rinsing/wringing process.
This idea of "agitated soak" began taking hold soon as "modern" electric washing machines began taking hold. IIRC Bendix front loaders offered a pre-wash cycle. Working theory was that due to mechanical agitator the washer could do more in a short time (five or so minutes) than a whole night of pre-soaking.
With the TwinaMatic doing a pre-wash in first tub kept one's main wash water cleaner as much of the muck was already removed. It also prevented setting certain soils/stains by not putting things directly into hot water for first wash.
Of course every woman/person doing the wash could adapt usage to suit, especially when detergents came along and largely replaced soap. By then one could do away with one or more rinse tubs by simply moving wash between the two tubs. You'd have to have a decent supply of water, but there you are then.
[this post was last edited: 12/2/2016-04:30]
For the record
Dexter was the original maker of "Quick Twin" washer units. When Philco got their mitts on that company they slapped their name on the units.
You have to give the Dexter company credit; they took the old way of pre-soaking then washing laundry and made it as "automated" as possible for the day.
Dexter sold the heck out of these "twin tub" units. Early models of these double tub units were made of wood!
Dexter was the original maker of "Quick Twin" washer units. When Philco got their mitts on that company they slapped their name on the units.
You have to give the Dexter company credit; they took the old way of pre-soaking then washing laundry and made it as "automated" as possible for the day.
Dexter sold the heck out of these "twin tub" units. Early models of these double tub units were made of wood!
mickeyd
Well-known member
This is wonderful, Launderess!
Had always wondered about the Philco Ford/ Dexter thing: Was it like Whirlpool/Kenmore. Thanks for sorting it out.
And the ancient brochure with your rendition of its contents was a thrilling thing to wake up to. Many, many thanks.
I'll be back later today or tonight with my own Dexter story for your reading pleasure.
Had always wondered about the Philco Ford/ Dexter thing: Was it like Whirlpool/Kenmore. Thanks for sorting it out.
And the ancient brochure with your rendition of its contents was a thrilling thing to wake up to. Many, many thanks.
I'll be back later today or tonight with my own Dexter story for your reading pleasure.
That's a right aggressive-looking agitator.
No, Philco-Dexter wasn't like Kenmore-Whirlpool
Kenmore is just a brand name from Sears slapped onto goods made (under contract) by others. For years Whirlpool made Kenmore laundry appliances and IIRC dishwashers.
The whole Philco-Dexter thing is more complicated.
In 1954, Philco Corporation bought The Dexter Company, then in 1961, Ford Motor Co. bought Philco.
Philco purchased Dexter following a time honored tradition in the appliance industry; if you don't make something yourself already, buy a company that does. However Philco still wasn't generating the sort of earnings it needed to continue especially funding for R&D into the rapidly growing and changing fields of electronics. Enter Ford who purchased Philco in 1961. By 1966 Philco-Ford became a wholly owned subsidiary of Ford Motor Company.
The Philco-Ford appliance line-up was not very extensive. Just refrigerators/freezers, washers and dryers, ranges and air conditioners.
Of the state of USA economy during the 1970's less said the better. However like GM, Ford needed to offset high costs (union labor)and affects of a sluggish economy. Appliance sales were slowing and those divisions were draining cash. Ford sold Philco to WCI around 1972 IIRC. That company would get Frigidaire in 1979 when Ford sold it off.
Before Ford sold off Philco a group of investors (and IIRC employees) got together to buy out Dexter laundry equipment and keep it in Fairfield, Iowa. They are still there, now 100% employee owned (again IIRC), and still turning out laundry equipment if only on the commercial side.
http://www.oldradio.com/archives/hardware/philco.htm
http://www.philco-intl.com/company-history
www.automaticwasher.org
Kenmore is just a brand name from Sears slapped onto goods made (under contract) by others. For years Whirlpool made Kenmore laundry appliances and IIRC dishwashers.
The whole Philco-Dexter thing is more complicated.
In 1954, Philco Corporation bought The Dexter Company, then in 1961, Ford Motor Co. bought Philco.
Philco purchased Dexter following a time honored tradition in the appliance industry; if you don't make something yourself already, buy a company that does. However Philco still wasn't generating the sort of earnings it needed to continue especially funding for R&D into the rapidly growing and changing fields of electronics. Enter Ford who purchased Philco in 1961. By 1966 Philco-Ford became a wholly owned subsidiary of Ford Motor Company.
The Philco-Ford appliance line-up was not very extensive. Just refrigerators/freezers, washers and dryers, ranges and air conditioners.
Of the state of USA economy during the 1970's less said the better. However like GM, Ford needed to offset high costs (union labor)and affects of a sluggish economy. Appliance sales were slowing and those divisions were draining cash. Ford sold Philco to WCI around 1972 IIRC. That company would get Frigidaire in 1979 when Ford sold it off.
Before Ford sold off Philco a group of investors (and IIRC employees) got together to buy out Dexter laundry equipment and keep it in Fairfield, Iowa. They are still there, now 100% employee owned (again IIRC), and still turning out laundry equipment if only on the commercial side.
http://www.oldradio.com/archives/hardware/philco.htm
http://www.philco-intl.com/company-history
Look at this 1956 Dexter!
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...
www.automaticwasher.org
mickeyd
Well-known member
Okay Dear, let me get started here. First off, my Dexter came from Lackawanna, a small city between Buffalo and Hamburg; it was the home of Bethlehem Steel, now-defunct but whose massive structures are still extant, like stuffed dinosaurs taking up all of the real estate on US 5 or Lakeshore Road. This is famous because on the morning after the election, the former Bethlehem Steel plant was on fire. In truth, I don't know if it made national news but that portion of Route 5 was closed for days, the cover story being "A fire" when in all actuality, ground was being cleared to make way for the first of the conversion camps. Now, why they would begin to erect the first conversion camp just a few miles from my home remains a mystery ha ha, but I digress.
I bought the Dexter from a home in Lackawanna for $25 bucks around 1990 and then took it out to the Fleckenstein where I lived for a few years. The machine was pink, and in reasonably good condition, except for the valve handles, which as far as I can tell is the weak spot in what has come to be the only true de facto twin tub in existence, where tub A is identical to tub B; thus and hence, a literal twin. First off, there is no off on switch as on your new Maytag; however and worth mentioning, I have purchased for you a switch that will allow you to power up your Maytag without the danger and the sheer idiocy of a live plug. Alas, I have lost your address and have not been able to send it to you. Kindly, E-mail me your address. One promises not to stalk. Secondly there is no timer, and thus no automatic shut off, always a disadvantage to us latter day saints so used to some smidgen of automasticity in our washers, regardless of vintage. Thirdly, and now we're back to the valves: They slip and they slide making draining sometimes so laborious that you wonder why you're even bothering, and not gravity draining instead.
An interesting aside, you may have noticed that there is no hose visible in the photographs from the seller. Regarding that, I e-mailed the seller inquiring as to the hose event, and he said it was missing, chopped or cut off, but that everything else, the agitators the wringer and the pump itself work just fine. As for the tub drain valves, he admitted that he didn't quite get what I was talking about and was not familiar with the machine but that he purchased it from a Farm where it seems to have had little use. (The center switch is for the pump, and the two "dials" below are for the valves for tub A and tub B.. You can drain separately or simultaneously).
Over the years I have seen a few Philcos and Dexters offered for sale here and I'm not sure if any have looked as good as this one which is why I'm genuinely interested. As you may have guessed, I used one tub for washing and one for rinsing and had a ball with my pink Dexter. And yet, in my early childhood A neighbor on the street one over from mine had a Dexter and she used both tubs for washing then rinsed in her stationary tubs behind the machine and could crank out laundry at lightning speed. You know yourself how quickly manual Rinsing goes, more a matter of dilution rather than of agitation, with the only real time spent wringing the clothes from the rinse water.
What I would love to have this dexter for is as a double rinser, no timers, no shut offs, just lickety-split rinsing out on the deck from one of the other conventional Machines or even from one of the automatics. It would be heaven. So fast, so easy, rinsing at its best. But I am reluctant to purchase because of the valve issue. I'm going to get in touch with the magnificent dishwasher crazy Mike who has a really nice-looking Philco; it may be nicer than this one-- I just can't remember-- to inquire further into the valve issue. He was in DC at the convention and he was wonderful. You would love him; he is so over the top detail oriented, you'd have surely found your match.
I will take a picture of the switch and post it what here tomorrow, awaiting your address. One cannot have you shocking yourself, can one!?
Loving you more than one's luggage, I am
Yours truly,
Mickey
PS: And to Thomas Turbomatic, please check consumer's reports at work on Monday at the Library of Congress because if I recall correctly they rated Dexter's washing ability at only average or maybe even below, I'm not sure, which is all poppycock because all those three vane agitators did just fine, as did Dexter's as you surmised. Watching them both hurling in dueling agiatation tandem is pure Philco/Dexter bliss, both mesmerizing, and not to mention, orgasmic. And if I get this machine I'll show you.
I bought the Dexter from a home in Lackawanna for $25 bucks around 1990 and then took it out to the Fleckenstein where I lived for a few years. The machine was pink, and in reasonably good condition, except for the valve handles, which as far as I can tell is the weak spot in what has come to be the only true de facto twin tub in existence, where tub A is identical to tub B; thus and hence, a literal twin. First off, there is no off on switch as on your new Maytag; however and worth mentioning, I have purchased for you a switch that will allow you to power up your Maytag without the danger and the sheer idiocy of a live plug. Alas, I have lost your address and have not been able to send it to you. Kindly, E-mail me your address. One promises not to stalk. Secondly there is no timer, and thus no automatic shut off, always a disadvantage to us latter day saints so used to some smidgen of automasticity in our washers, regardless of vintage. Thirdly, and now we're back to the valves: They slip and they slide making draining sometimes so laborious that you wonder why you're even bothering, and not gravity draining instead.
An interesting aside, you may have noticed that there is no hose visible in the photographs from the seller. Regarding that, I e-mailed the seller inquiring as to the hose event, and he said it was missing, chopped or cut off, but that everything else, the agitators the wringer and the pump itself work just fine. As for the tub drain valves, he admitted that he didn't quite get what I was talking about and was not familiar with the machine but that he purchased it from a Farm where it seems to have had little use. (The center switch is for the pump, and the two "dials" below are for the valves for tub A and tub B.. You can drain separately or simultaneously).
Over the years I have seen a few Philcos and Dexters offered for sale here and I'm not sure if any have looked as good as this one which is why I'm genuinely interested. As you may have guessed, I used one tub for washing and one for rinsing and had a ball with my pink Dexter. And yet, in my early childhood A neighbor on the street one over from mine had a Dexter and she used both tubs for washing then rinsed in her stationary tubs behind the machine and could crank out laundry at lightning speed. You know yourself how quickly manual Rinsing goes, more a matter of dilution rather than of agitation, with the only real time spent wringing the clothes from the rinse water.
What I would love to have this dexter for is as a double rinser, no timers, no shut offs, just lickety-split rinsing out on the deck from one of the other conventional Machines or even from one of the automatics. It would be heaven. So fast, so easy, rinsing at its best. But I am reluctant to purchase because of the valve issue. I'm going to get in touch with the magnificent dishwasher crazy Mike who has a really nice-looking Philco; it may be nicer than this one-- I just can't remember-- to inquire further into the valve issue. He was in DC at the convention and he was wonderful. You would love him; he is so over the top detail oriented, you'd have surely found your match.
I will take a picture of the switch and post it what here tomorrow, awaiting your address. One cannot have you shocking yourself, can one!?
Loving you more than one's luggage, I am
Yours truly,
Mickey
PS: And to Thomas Turbomatic, please check consumer's reports at work on Monday at the Library of Congress because if I recall correctly they rated Dexter's washing ability at only average or maybe even below, I'm not sure, which is all poppycock because all those three vane agitators did just fine, as did Dexter's as you surmised. Watching them both hurling in dueling agiatation tandem is pure Philco/Dexter bliss, both mesmerizing, and not to mention, orgasmic. And if I get this machine I'll show you.
bobbi
Well-known member
Wow...that is the nicest specimen of these I have ever seen. I don't have the room for it, but if I did...
stricklybojack
Well-known member
