p-icture of the day 04/20/2009

[laundromat]

I remember this test and questioned why they didn't use one of the FRIGIDAIRE Jet-Action 1-18 units to compare with the Dual action Kenmore washers. I akm sure that the FRIGIDAIRE'S would have outscored the Kenmores 4 TO 1.Better turn over,cleaner clothes,more thorough rinse,larger capacity, and twice the amount of water spun out of the clothes.

 

[tristarcxl]

I always wondered in the GE shown had the straight vane or the ramped agitator in it. Had it been the ramped agitator it would have surely given that Kenmore a run for it's money...

 

[volvoguy87]

GE Activators.

I have my grandmother's GE Filter Flo with the straight vane activator. First, I would like to know what the marketing department was smoking when they designated the washer an 18 pound capacity? It might be 16 pounds, but not if you're washing jeans or large heavy towels. Also, the straight vane activator is quite rough on the clothes. I would gladly take a ramp activator any day. It is listed as being of a smaller capacity I think, but I think their functional limits are about the same (dry clothing weight-wise). The ramp activator also seems to be more gentile, and yet, is also quite vigorous.

Also, what agitator would have been in the Whirlpool machine? Could it have been the clover base super duty Surgilator? I just got a Solid State Lady Kenmore Belt Drive set which I hope to restore over the next couple of months and I am toying with the idea of getting that kind of Surgilator so I can swap them from time to time and see which one performs better.

What are your thoughts?
Dave

 

[kenmoreguy64]

I can't see the ad to look for a calendar date on it, but I think this was soon after the debut of the DA agitator. So, that being 1976, I'd say the Whirlpool did NOT have the wings on the agitator, based on other machines I've seen from that vintage. If the ad is from later 1977 or 1978, it may have. I am not exactly sure when the winged Surgilator was introduced. The GEs if I understand correctly would have had a straight-vane if an "18 lb." machine was used, is this right?.

Check out the contents of the load they washed though - it's NUTS! Way too overloaded if you ask me....

Oh yeah - Dave, you CAN put a winged surgilator in the Kenmore - it should be an exact fit. I don't believe however that the Surg. will deliver better performance. Based on the fact that all or nearly every machine manufacturer rushed an auger agitator to market in their machines when the patent ran out, I'd have to conclude that they're overall better for large capacity machines.