POD 11-30-11 Westy

[wireman]

Does anyone have a late 50's -early 60's front load Westy? Sure seemed like they were cool, esp. the "Program Computer" ones. I assume all those pushbuttons made for a less than reliable machine. Seems like more of the earlier Westys turn up; wonder if they were more reliable, or were more made? I know that top loaders became the choice in the 60's so more of them would be around; still, you'd think some of these would've somehow survived, unless they were not very reliable or popular..

Thanks!
Duane

 

[arbilab]

Seems I've read, here and elsewhere, that the 'program computer' model came out coincident with a general recession and slowdown in appliance sales. It would have been TOL so the slowest seller. I've also seen photos of it here, whether native to the site or linked. Sorry, I can't point you to them but search or another member with better memory might.

Pushbuttons on GE/Hotpoint ranges switched much higher currents and I don't recall those as troublesome so I wouldn't think the buttons themselves as a liability. The mechanism was largely unchanged, as it remained for years with minor exceptions like the pump facing rear and the 'potato' pulley.

 

[wireman]

Thanks! Yeah, growing up we had a turquoise GE 40" range with the pushbuttons in AZ. My folks ALMOST brought it with us to MI, but the truck was full... Learned to bake on the that oven; hope I can find one again someday!

 

[arbilab]

Here's an ad spread for that model:

The shape od Tomorrow!!! The 1958 Westinghouse "Two Cycle Laundromat", and Clothes Dryer....

Okay I could NO longer wait for the ability to scan these. So i did my best with my digital camera. These brochures are just amazing. Enjoy!!

www.automaticwasher.org

 

[arbilab]

And very clear closeups of the dryer panel showing the cycles:

The 8 Cycles of the W 'Program Computer' Dryer!

Here they are, Appnut..if anyone can share the ones for the matching Laundromat!!

www.automaticwasher.org

 

[wireman]

Thanks!

VERY COOL! I had front load White/Westies in a house I rented in the mid-90's Think they were from the early 80's, late 70's when the house was built. They were meant to be stacked, but were side-by-side in the master bed closet. Seemed like they washed OK, but were not nearly as stylin' as the earlier ones... Pretty basic, just dials for everything. Recall it could make the house shake when it went into spin (not a terribly well built house though, either!)

Really appreciate your efforts at steering me to relevant threads! Amazed that the washers/ dryers were restyled about every year back then... That sure ended once the 70's rolled around, eh?

Duane

 

[arbilab]

Chore sorting through the archives. Only unfortunate characteristic of the site, that once it slides off the main page it's buried in an entire year of records. But I knew it was there.

I can think of no other time Westinghouse tech-styled their laundry twins to the extent of the Program Computer. We were a Westy family but dad could be counted on to buy the BOL even though he got the employee discount. I'd never seen one until here. It deserved a better reception than it got.

Come to think of it, most everyone had a tech-style design at one point and nobody really stuck with it.