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Automatic Washer - The world's coolest Washing Machines, Dryers and Dishwashers

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brucelucenta

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When I was in grade school I remember a friend's family had one like this machine. Interesting looking, with the tall back panel. Never thought they were all that great at washing the dishes though. But better than doing it by hand.
 
I grew up with a later model, but believe me, we thought it was the greatest thing since sliced bread when we got it!

 

This looks like the model that had a tendency to cause fires....  

 

 

 

 
 
In the early 50s, Westinghouse dishwashers has the temp boost that could lengthen the wash portion of the cycle to an hour because there was no prerinse before the main wash to help heat up the dishes. It was very necessary, but the long wash did not make for excellent cleaning because of the Bakelite impeller and they could not dispose of the heavy food soil the the GE models could with the powerful GE pump. The WH dws just had a small self-powered drain pump with a little strainer to catch chunks. I am not certain if the 1954 machine like Robert had with the metal impeller had the temp boost hold built into the timer like the earlier models when the timer was at the bottom of the front panel, but it washed better than the Bakelite impeller machines. In the late 50s/early 60s impeller machines, it became an option on the TOL models. I think that once they finally figured out how to build a detergent dispenser and could have a prerinse or prewash, they eliminated the heating delay in the wash cycle.  My flat front roll out with the small dial had a detergent dispenser with compartments for one or two washes and was the last of the impeller machines after the wash arm machines were introduced.

 

I remember that we looked at this model when we were looking at dishwashers and only this TOL model had the flammable console and the wash water temp booster switch.  Once my parents found out that it did not have a prewash, they lost all interest and left Davison's (The Davison-Paxon Company for Atlanta old timers).
 
Interesting!  I recall that the Viking (Westinghouse-built) 60s version we had definitely had the two slot detergent dispenser (it even said "Deluxe Dual-Wash" on the control panel). BUT there was also a "Hot Water Booster" Cycle that extended the main wash time by about 10 minutes.  The Westinghouse pre-rinse system was different - the timer dial mechanism moved the water inlet nozzle over the detergent cups to let input water flow over it.  So if a prewash was wanted, you filled both cups; otherwise it was pre-rinse I guess.   I remember the separate drain pump (that's what ultimately led to the death of that dishwasher) and strainer.  

 

Closest I've ever gotten to one is this 1962ish Monkey Ward's Signature machine that I found at Hansens once upon a time... 

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last of the Westinghouse pull-outs

My flat front roll out with the small dial had a detergent dispenser with compartments for one or two washes and was the last of the impeller machines after the wash arm machines were introduced.
I think that model was from 1966, much after GE discontinued their pull out DW.
I'm obsessed with that dishwasher, Tom. Would love to find one but Westinghouse wasn't common in upstate NY in the 60's.
 
I have one. It may very well have been Tom's machine.
It is pristine and works perfectly thanks to Jason who gave it a good going-over a few years ago. I love to use it. The sound reminds me of when all the machines were impeller type.
 
Of course, there used to be a whole lot of them around. Builders used to put them in the new houses they were building, depending on the builder and was an apartment complex here a few years back that still had a whole bunch of them.
 
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