I had no idea these ever existed, it appears these early 1970s top-loaders were made by Blackstone! I just accidently ran across these two images on Pinterest.
Philco-Bendix Coin Operated Top Loaders made by Blackstone!
- Thread starter Unimatic1140
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Love that Display
Ill take one of each
Ill take one of each
Great find Robert. We ran across Blackstone coin op washers in a Miami laundry in 1957 or 58. I could not see as much of the operation as I wanted because my parents were sitting close to the machines reading the Sunday Miami Herald. This looks to be a newer design, by about 10 years, than the solid tub Blackstones where the agitator lifted to drain the water. I wonder if these had neutral drain. Maybe member Blackstone can enlighten us.
The sad thing about our washing experience was that our landlord told us to go to this fabulous grocery store called the Little Farmers' Market to do the laundry as well as get groceries. Well, we got there after the clothes were done. The laundry was a dream with an air conditioned waiting lounge with television and Frigidaire washers with the Three Ring Agitators, one of which had the round window in the lid. Just before my parents came to get me after grocery shopping, a man came in and started to load that special machine, but the pleas of a 7 year old went unheeded and we had to leave. It was years before I got to see the agitator action.
The sad thing about our washing experience was that our landlord told us to go to this fabulous grocery store called the Little Farmers' Market to do the laundry as well as get groceries. Well, we got there after the clothes were done. The laundry was a dream with an air conditioned waiting lounge with television and Frigidaire washers with the Three Ring Agitators, one of which had the round window in the lid. Just before my parents came to get me after grocery shopping, a man came in and started to load that special machine, but the pleas of a 7 year old went unheeded and we had to leave. It was years before I got to see the agitator action.
blackstone
Well-known member
Personally, I had never seen a Philco-branded Blackstone; but that machine is definitely a late-model Blackstone (perforated tub). My father bought one for the store, just to have it on display. Eventually sold it to a personal friend, who needed a supply of quarters on hand to do the laundry.
As I recall, on coin-op machines, the user could not make too many selections for cycles. Long time ago--1970s.
I'll have to check tomorrow if I had saved the sell sheet for these.
As I recall, on coin-op machines, the user could not make too many selections for cycles. Long time ago--1970s.
I'll have to check tomorrow if I had saved the sell sheet for these.
Couldn't your father's friend just open the access to the timer and start it that way or failing that, just keep using the same quarter? Don't tell me your father sold the machine without a key to the coinbox.
One supposes after Philco's Flex-A-Wash and previous to that their solid tub washer they couldn't be bothered building another top loader. Sensible thing then would be get them from someone else.
blackstone
Well-known member
Coinbox
Tom,
My father drilled a hole in the top the coinbox, and put knob onto the timer shaft, so the washer could be easily started. Would have been more fun to just use quarters, however!
Tom,
My father drilled a hole in the top the coinbox, and put knob onto the timer shaft, so the washer could be easily started. Would have been more fun to just use quarters, however!
blackstone
Well-known member
Coin-op Washer:
Sell sheet for washer.
Sell sheet for washer.
blackstone
Well-known member
Coin-op Dryer:
Sell sheet for dryer.
Sell sheet for dryer.
Reply #7
Thanks Fred for the scan, it is super cool to see that coin-op Blackstone washer again. That is the exact model I remember in that one coin laundromat that had Blackstone washers. When I was in high school in 1978-1981 I used to save a large basket of all of my old clothes that I had grown out of and would take that load of clothes around to all the laundromats I could find in and around Fort Lauderdale. I remember using those Blackstones many times as they were an unusual find at the time. They reminded a bit like Westinghouse top loaders of the time but were a little different and sounded different.
There were lots of great laundromats in south Florida back then that I could take those old clothes to just to use the machines with Frigidaire, Speed Queen, General Electric, Westinghouse, Maytag, etc. A little earlier around 1974 I even saw one laundromat with solid tub Hotpoint washers with Fountain filter pans on the spiral filter pump agaitors!
Thanks Fred for the scan, it is super cool to see that coin-op Blackstone washer again. That is the exact model I remember in that one coin laundromat that had Blackstone washers. When I was in high school in 1978-1981 I used to save a large basket of all of my old clothes that I had grown out of and would take that load of clothes around to all the laundromats I could find in and around Fort Lauderdale. I remember using those Blackstones many times as they were an unusual find at the time. They reminded a bit like Westinghouse top loaders of the time but were a little different and sounded different.
There were lots of great laundromats in south Florida back then that I could take those old clothes to just to use the machines with Frigidaire, Speed Queen, General Electric, Westinghouse, Maytag, etc. A little earlier around 1974 I even saw one laundromat with solid tub Hotpoint washers with Fountain filter pans on the spiral filter pump agaitors!
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