Picture of the day 10/11/15 . . .

[easyspindry]

I wonder if the Speed Queen combo was made by Bendix.

Reading the specifications, I notice that the spin speed is something like 550 rpm. I was thinking that Bendix was the only combo that would spin this fast.

The specifications also noted that shock absorbers helped to absorb the vibration. And I've always heard that Bendix held a patent on using shock absorbers to aid in the vibration from the faster spin.

Anybody know?

Jerry Gay

 

[tomturbomatic]

Good Question

It was not made by Bendix. Some who have studied the design intricacies have hypothesized that it is a slimmed down version of the Hotpoint combo, but it seems to be Speed Queen-built. You are right to wonder about the mention of shock absorbers. It does spin twice; I think before the last rinse and then after the last rinse, but they are very brief spins, nothing like the Duomatic's spins after each rinse including the long final spin.

 

[combo52]

The SQ Combo

Was an interesting machine. SQ was the last US appliance maker to introduce a Combination washer-dryer to the market place in 1961, I am not sure how long they made and sold this machine, maybe only a few years.

 

We have a 61-62 machine in our collection, to my knowledge it is the only one know to exist, although there was one out at SQs headquarters in Wisconsin some years ago, we hope they still have it.

 

It was the smallest of the US combos, measuring only 25 5/8" wide, it was differently built by SQ, but borrowed the plans from the very short lived larger 1957 Hotpoint Combo, { the HP Combo is now the only Combo that Tom and I have yet to find ]

 

The SQ was built only in an electric condensing drying machine like GE and Hotpoint.

 

The SQ was the second fastest spinning machine next to the Bendix machines built in the US.

 

Combo production started in late 1952 by Bendix and culminated with GEs last Combos in early 1973, just over 20 years of real [ full sized-full powered ] Combos were ever built in the world.

 

John L.

 

[easyspindry]

Thanks for your . . .

. . . input. I'd love to see one of these babes in operation.

You guys are truly a wealth of knowledge.

Thanks again.

Jerry Gay

 

[tomturbomatic]

One thing about this combo: while it was narrow, it was deeper than the average laundry appliance so they got use of that dimension. They needed it for the extra plate in the outer tub at the rear which served as the condensing plate. The cold water spray during dry was directed at this plate to help condense the hot, humid air in the drying chamber.

There is a benefit to the deeper and narrower tubs like the Speed Queen combo has as I have found with my Creda and Mieles; it makes it easier to balance loads when there is less periphery against which the load has to be distributed.

 

[easyspindry]

Hey Tom . . .

. . . that is very interesting about the depth of the SQ Combo. Thanks for adding to this thread.

Jerry Gay