Philco Australian Style!

[Unimatic1140]

I had no idea that Philco Automagic Washers were made in Australia in the early/mid 1960s. The machines shown are very similar to the 1963 line of Philco automatic washers. I just ran across these brochures! Apparently the Healing/Thor company somehow must have partnered up with Philco to produce these machines!

Have any of you guys Down Under ever found one of these super cool automatics?

 

[simpsomatic]

Healing Thor

The Goddess machine was the successor to the Healing Thor Trimatic. The Trimatic was a solid bowl with surgent wash plate and no center post. The Trimatic used excessive amounts of water for a 10 minute overflow rinse. Popularity of other washing machine makers of the time all with center post agitators (Simpson, Malleys, Frigidaire, Westinghouse) lead to the lagging sales of the Trimatic. Healing Thor resurrected its image and sales with the addition of a center post on a reshaped washplate with same surgent action as the Trimatic and called it an undertow agitator and also added a perforated tub which eliminated the overflow rinse. The similarities with the Philco Automagic washers and the Healing Thor Goddess washers for the time were the same yet miles apart. Thanks for the brochures,many memories. Check with Brisnat81, I am not positive but I think he may have a "Goddess" in his collection.

 

[mayfan69]

Actually..I had one

Hi Robert,

I actually managed to pick one up many years ago, but unfortunately it was in very poor condition and too much work would have been done to get it working again.

I have kept a couple of parts from it but the rest went to scrap.

It's unlikely many others survived.

Cheers
Leon

 

[gizmo]

The Bendix agent (distributor and spare parts sales) in Melbourne for many years was Healco in the suburb of Brunswick.

Seems obvious that Healco was derived from Healing.

Healing made TVs, too.

I bought some Bendix spare parts from Healco in the 1990s. It was a fascinating place, seemed to be lingering remnants of a previously larger business. There were lots of Bendix washers partially dismantled, as if they were cannibalizing unsold washers or warranty returns for spare parts. There was also a display or mini-museum with several very old Bendix washers on display, in lovely condition.

 

Look what I found online.....

But I have never seen one of these beauties.

Help needed with a 1964 Philco top loader AKA (Aussie badged Healing / Thor "Goddess")

Hi Guys, I need help with this Aussie made Healing / Thor "Goddess", otherwise known as your Philco. These were made here in Australia under licence to Philco. The machine came from a farm and as you can see, has been neglected for some years!! Yes, its quite filthy inside, but i'm sure it can...

www.automaticwasher.org

 

[Unimatic1140]

Wow I don't remember that thread but it was from nearly 15 years ago now. Very cool, I can see what you mean Leon by too much work with the agitator boot needing to be replaced and nothing having one.

The similarities with the Philco Automagic washers and the Healing Thor Goddess washers for the time were the same yet miles apart.
I'm curious about the difference you are talking about Simpsomatic? The only major difference I see is the Australian machines came with a water heater for cold water intake only. Otherwise they look identical to me besides the obvious control panel styling differences.

 

[simpsomatic]

Yet miles apart...

....meant only as a figure of speech. Great to see Mayfan69"s post