POD 10/19/2017

[brucelucenta]

Another plenty cool automatic washer from Bendix. This one I have never actually seen other than youtube videos of it washing. It looks very unique in how it washes. Somewhat like a Philco/Kelvinator/Frigidaire combination. It seems to wash like the videos of the "Thor/Healing" Australian washing machine. This obviously was probably the mid 50's before Bendix threw in the towel.

 

[gyrafoam]

Too bad this machine wasn't marketed in a more conventional appearing cabinet. I saw one at a wash in in Tucson years ago. It was really impressive. Really moved the clothes. Good rinsing. Good spin.
Also, I think the rubber-tub models took a toll on the reputation of Bendix washers.I never knew of anyone who "loved" their rubber-tub.

 

[gansky1]

It would have been curious to see what Bendix would have done with this mechanism and agitator if they hadn't sold their appliance division to Philco in '57. Philco took the foundation of this offset-shaft/eccentric agitator action, added a few more rubber boots and a few more seals and introduced their Automagic (flapping) agitator which carried in a couple of forms until Ford sold the appliance division, banishing it to overseas markets.

While one of the coolest of the 50's carnival of washers, it had a few disadvantages. The agitation action is quite harsh, capacity is rather small and the spin performance is pretty dismal with the smaller tub.

 

[brucelucenta]

Well, that explains the agitation action. It is more like a Philco than anything else.