POD 10/15/2016

[brucelucenta]

Looks like the most basic model I have ever seen. One cycle. Was there a way of controlling the water temp other than turning the hot and cold faucets on and off? I suppose it WAS a big step up from using a wringer washer.

 

[frigilux]

I generally fall for heavily-featured, bells-and-whistles machines regardless of vintage, but there is something to be said for the simplicity (and price point) of very basic washers. It would appear the user selects water temps at the faucets. I'll bet lot of 'warm wash/warm rinse' loads were washed in these machines, LOL.

 

[gyrafoam]

Philco's "One-Dial-Wonder"

may have been very basic, yet, it pretty much did everything their TOL machine did except have the fancy back-lit console and offer a separate control for wash-water temp.

The agitator was very SQish with smaller fins. Not as aggressive as the SQ.
The tub was tall and narrow for the day, more Hotpointish. The difference was that the rather large drain holes were far enough down from the top of the tub that water tended to get splashed overboard easily, thereby reducing the ability to wash a large load as well as a small one IMO.
The overflow rinsing was very effective.

Philco also built the (nearly identical) Dexter machines. I remember those Philco's well, however, since I have a ('56) Dexter I tend to use it as a comparison. IIRC the Philco did not have the (very effective) split water nozzle going into the tub the Dexter has.
These machines are VERY quiet during operation.

 

[yogitunes]

my mothers filter flo only had two wash temps, all warm rinses....if you wanted cold, you had to turn the hot faucet off.....

BOL of the line was one thing, but for that time frame, many people were switching from wringers, where a warm rinse was the norm, not so much for the clothing, but for plunging your hands into the rinse tub, warmer temps were preferred...

cold was probably more effective or energy savings, but theres a certain feel to clothing after a warm rinse.....also added softness to the clothing if hung on a line....

water levels were not a big concern then either, just like a wringer, if your going to go through the trouble of washing, you were doing full loads....but things changed as time went on and a new generation came in, automatics that you could wash and dry, any day or night, and at your convenience....it was all about flexability.....

so much has been lost from times past.....especially long, slow, simmered meals prepared on the stove...the smell of detergents while washing clothes, open windows for fresh Springtime air.....well, at least we still keep it alive