Some time back we discussed a possible feature of the suspended mechanism WH washers in that when the tub filled with water it sank lower in the cabinet and tipped back. This was supposed to be beneficial to the wash action, although I don't see why, or a good spin on something over which they had no control. As it drained, the tub straightened a bit to encourage heavier than water soil to drain down through the holes. I guess that the RL-1 could not do that since it was not suspended. One question about the RL-1: since it was not suspended, did it spin as fast as the suspended mechanism machines? Thank you.
POD 11-26-19 WH L-6, LB6 vs RL-1
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jeb
Well-known member
tilt tub
It was suppose to increase washing ability by having the clothes slide over the "scrubber cone" on the back of the tub. I think it was all gimmick- It tilted back naturally as the tub got heavier so the ad boys used it as a selling point. Westinghouse slant fronts were basically one cycle machines and had to have something to compete with more featured automatics. Even my 1958 "custom Imperial" top of the line only has 1 cycle but 5 wash and 2 rinse temp. It has a lighted panel and a rotating laundry guide to show what temp and time to use for every type of fabric but I don't think Mrs. housewife used it after the first few loads.
It was suppose to increase washing ability by having the clothes slide over the "scrubber cone" on the back of the tub. I think it was all gimmick- It tilted back naturally as the tub got heavier so the ad boys used it as a selling point. Westinghouse slant fronts were basically one cycle machines and had to have something to compete with more featured automatics. Even my 1958 "custom Imperial" top of the line only has 1 cycle but 5 wash and 2 rinse temp. It has a lighted panel and a rotating laundry guide to show what temp and time to use for every type of fabric but I don't think Mrs. housewife used it after the first few loads.
arbilab
Well-known member
Not sure about the tilt. Spent a LOT of time watching 2 of those machines, one with boot and one without. Tilt never came to attention, but then I was quite young and not looking for such detail.
'Much' tilt would have been particularly apparent in the double door, where the plane of the inner door would fall out of parallel with the outer if tilted from the position when empty. It didn't. Not memorably anyway.
The main suspension springs were toward the front. In the rear there was a coil spring dead center, and a leaf spring with snubbers L & R. There was another leaf spring on the bottom, snubbed at roughly the basket center. And snubber leaves on both cabinet sides.
'Much' tilt would have been particularly apparent in the double door, where the plane of the inner door would fall out of parallel with the outer if tilted from the position when empty. It didn't. Not memorably anyway.
The main suspension springs were toward the front. In the rear there was a coil spring dead center, and a leaf spring with snubbers L & R. There was another leaf spring on the bottom, snubbed at roughly the basket center. And snubber leaves on both cabinet sides.
syndets2000
Well-known member
Tub tilt, n tub speed...
As I play with my L 102 laundromat, I watch the tub sink below the level of the window...my opinion is the tub tilt decreased...not by alot but it contorted the door boot alot...if I pulled the tub back into it's resting position, the clothes tended to almost ride the back of the wash basket..tho I also think the amount of water in the basket contributed to that too...the early RL units had a slower spin speed transmission...between 350-370 rpms...they may have changed that in later years with the slider pulley, but I guess a higher speed spin in the non suspended units would have made it dance alot or maybe shake it apart lol...
The suspended units were a bit faster, between 460-480 rpms...
I also discovered that the later boot design could be installed front to back...I'm other words, the lip that was usually attached to the front panel, could be reversed and attached to the inner tub lip...it does make it difficult to close the door on the other end, but I've done it (with some leaks ) and o can remove it and use it on another machine...
As I play with my L 102 laundromat, I watch the tub sink below the level of the window...my opinion is the tub tilt decreased...not by alot but it contorted the door boot alot...if I pulled the tub back into it's resting position, the clothes tended to almost ride the back of the wash basket..tho I also think the amount of water in the basket contributed to that too...the early RL units had a slower spin speed transmission...between 350-370 rpms...they may have changed that in later years with the slider pulley, but I guess a higher speed spin in the non suspended units would have made it dance alot or maybe shake it apart lol...
The suspended units were a bit faster, between 460-480 rpms...
I also discovered that the later boot design could be installed front to back...I'm other words, the lip that was usually attached to the front panel, could be reversed and attached to the inner tub lip...it does make it difficult to close the door on the other end, but I've done it (with some leaks ) and o can remove it and use it on another machine...
Thank you so much, Robert. I should have known that you would have the answer. I remember Twyla talking about her early WH. She called it "The Tangler." So the pulling down of the tub is what, over time, distorts the old door boots?
Happy Holidays.
Happy Holidays.
syndets2000
Well-known member
Hi Tom !!
When the tub was full, the weight would pull the tub lower, and it would stretch the boot as it pulled it...when the machine finished the tub would return to it's normal position, as would the door boot...
Miss u guys !
When the tub was full, the weight would pull the tub lower, and it would stretch the boot as it pulled it...when the machine finished the tub would return to it's normal position, as would the door boot...
Miss u guys !
syndets2000
Well-known member
Oh, n yea over time the boot would eventually develop stress and tear some...I know Mom's washer did..
syndets2000
Well-known member
Oh, n yea over time the boot would eventually develop stress and tear some...I know Mom's washer did..
syndets2000
Well-known member
Tom
Happy holidays to u too
Happy holidays to u too
Our UK Hoover Keymatics
Did the tilt too as it had a small rotating disc in the back of the drum which when it tilted with the water in tipped the water over the disc that during cotton cycles the drum rotated the one way and the disc the other causing a back and forth motion it washed well and as it had alternating actions it reduced tangling somewhat.
They too had the slant front and the boot got distorted over time but it was not too difficult then to replace it.
We had one until the cable that held it up snapped and it ran across the floor as the gearbox was trying to dig its way through the tiled kitchen floor it moved forward till the hoses stopped it and I recall it was not repaired but replaced by a crappy Indesit L5.
Austin
Did the tilt too as it had a small rotating disc in the back of the drum which when it tilted with the water in tipped the water over the disc that during cotton cycles the drum rotated the one way and the disc the other causing a back and forth motion it washed well and as it had alternating actions it reduced tangling somewhat.
They too had the slant front and the boot got distorted over time but it was not too difficult then to replace it.
We had one until the cable that held it up snapped and it ran across the floor as the gearbox was trying to dig its way through the tiled kitchen floor it moved forward till the hoses stopped it and I recall it was not repaired but replaced by a crappy Indesit L5.
Austin
