POD 3/10/11

[yogitunes]

Westinghouse seemed to be the first with the 2-in-1 agitator...regular and handwash underneath.......Westinghouse went to WCI.......and then Hotpoint under GE's badge had the same concept, with a handwash agitator underneath the regular ramped unit......

was this a copy right?......or a shared design.....only these 2 manufacturers ever had it that I know of....was it a stolen idea?....just thats its from 2 different companies.....any info guys?....just a little puzzled

 

[tomturbomatic]

While it was not stored within the regular agitator, Norge, in the 50s, introduced a very smooth agitator called the "Ripplet" which they recommended for washing blankets and other delicate items. Compared to the regular agitator, it gave much more room in the tub and provided much less agitation. I do not know if it was introduced when the machines were still single speed only, but it was for the small tub washers and probably continued to be offered for single speed machines after the introduction of two speed machines. I don't know if it was an extra cost accessory available from your Norge dealer or if it came with any models. I only read about it in a Norge publication titled "Let's Cook Up a Washday."

 

[mtn1584]

General Electric and Westinghouse Electric

It seems to me that there were alot of similarites between GE and Westinghouse.....similar styled lighted consles, ramped agitators, handwash agitators, flow thru lint filters, i dunno, what do you guys think?
Mike
PS Either way, I like em both!

 

[pierreandreply4]

lint filters

if i compare the ge filter flo and the filter of the westinghouse washer in the pod of the day the advantage is easy to clean filter if for any reason i had to go vintage thats somthing that i would consider

 

[amyswasher]

I think it looks way too much like a Hotpoint. The height of the back-splash and the 2in1 agitator.

 

[laundromat]

The Westinghouse top loading washers in no way were identical to the Hotpoints other than their spiral agitators.First of all, the Westinghouse washers had the indexing in their tubs. The Hotpoints would go clockwise and lock the tub in place once their agitator began oscillating.Because of having no break,the Westinghouse washers had a lid lock to keep anyone from getting harmed during their spin.The Hotpoints had a tub break.The Hotpoints had a shorter agitator oscillation too.Both would spin while draining the water out and both spun counter clockwise.Also,because of their design, the Hotpoints,like the GEs,had a concrete block to balance the transmission. The Westinghouses were centered and didn't need them at all.Between them,I liked the Westinghoses pre WCI.They weren't at all my favorite top loaders but,the ones I had found and repaired were an easy fix and lasted quite a while before I sold them off. My second cousin, Tom,still has his and has used it since he got it from me way back in '83.It had the Weigh to save lid and the Hand Wash agitator.I think it was a 1971 or 1972 model!!

 

[cfz2882]

earliest westy T/Ls

IIRC, i heard on here that westinghouse farmed out their earliest top loads
to Easy before they came up with their design around '65 or '66.