The ad speaks about the economy of the gas WP combo, but that came at a price. It did cost less to run and was faster than the standard 30 amp electric drying model which is all that WP offered, but the gas burner not only charred the floor beneath it unless it was stone or cement, but also, over time, subjected the left wall of the sump area of the outer tub to such intense heat that the porcelain failed and the tank rusted out right where it needed to be water-tight. Calling Thomas Andrews, we have a failure in a water-tight area.
POD 3/29/13 WP Gas Combo ad with Jimmy & Gloria Stewart
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oldskool
Well-known member
What size.....
gas burner did this unit have - anyone know? Also curious as to the rpm of the spin cycle? These units are very interesting to me. While I don't have a combo unit in my collection, one day I hope to.
gas burner did this unit have - anyone know? Also curious as to the rpm of the spin cycle? These units are very interesting to me. While I don't have a combo unit in my collection, one day I hope to.
The gas burner was 37,000 BTUs
The electric units had an air heater rated at 5600 watts. That is an equivalent of roughly 20,000 BTUs.
To equal the heat output of a 37,000 BTU gas burner you would need roughly 10,800 watts of heating elements which would draw around 45 amps at 240 volts.
Tumbling speed was 45 rpm
Spin speed was 200 rpm
That insanely slow spin speed was helped A LITTLE by the fact that the inside diameter of the washing cylinder was 29". A simple law of physics is that a larger cyclinder can exert more outward force at a given speed than a smaller cylinder. I would suspect that the WP cylinder spinning at 200 rpm probably did a slightly better job extracting water from clothes than, say the GE combo which spun at 215 rpm but only had a washing cylinder diameter of 25-26"
The electric units had an air heater rated at 5600 watts. That is an equivalent of roughly 20,000 BTUs.
To equal the heat output of a 37,000 BTU gas burner you would need roughly 10,800 watts of heating elements which would draw around 45 amps at 240 volts.
Tumbling speed was 45 rpm
Spin speed was 200 rpm
That insanely slow spin speed was helped A LITTLE by the fact that the inside diameter of the washing cylinder was 29". A simple law of physics is that a larger cyclinder can exert more outward force at a given speed than a smaller cylinder. I would suspect that the WP cylinder spinning at 200 rpm probably did a slightly better job extracting water from clothes than, say the GE combo which spun at 215 rpm but only had a washing cylinder diameter of 25-26"
oldskool
Well-known member
Thanks
Mark -
Thanks for the facts. Based on that info, if one were looking for a combo, would this or a similar Whirlpool be your choice, or another brand, and why? Thanks - John
Mark -
Thanks for the facts. Based on that info, if one were looking for a combo, would this or a similar Whirlpool be your choice, or another brand, and why? Thanks - John
I really only know facts about combos. I have never worked on one. From what I hear second hand, these WP machines are hard to find parts for.
My personal choice would be for a full-sized Bendix DuoMatic from the 1950s. That has as much to do with aesthetics as it does with generally better performance. The later Kenmore 29" combos are also reputed to be quite good performers but are CRAZY complex in their mechanisms. No combo was simple.
Others want to weigh in??
My personal choice would be for a full-sized Bendix DuoMatic from the 1950s. That has as much to do with aesthetics as it does with generally better performance. The later Kenmore 29" combos are also reputed to be quite good performers but are CRAZY complex in their mechanisms. No combo was simple.
Others want to weigh in??
oldskool
Well-known member
Appreciate...
...your facts, input, and knowledge. Saw one of these a few months ago locally, that I should have jumped on. Thanks
...your facts, input, and knowledge. Saw one of these a few months ago locally, that I should have jumped on. Thanks
Actually, you can have any combo as long as you have a regular automatic washer to extract more water than the combo does before drying. Given the age of the machines, they are going to be more like museum pieces than something you will be using on a regular basis. A condenser combo is going to use an additional 30 to 60 gallons of water during the drying and that water has to be cold because warmer ground water in the summer is less effective at condensing the moisture than really cold water. Of course, if you save the water to either use for washing additional loads of laundry or watering plants, it will not be the extravagant use that it would be if you sent it down the drain. Whether you chose an airflow dryer combo or a condenser, if you use the combo for washing, you should at least dry the last load in it to bake the moisture out of the machine to cut the risk of rusting & bearing failure.
oldskool
Well-known member
Quite Interesting
Thanks Tom. Considering your perspective, I'd prefer an air-flow variety - but then as a museum piece - it would seldom be operated - would just like to see one run a few times - then have for the collection.
Thanks Tom. Considering your perspective, I'd prefer an air-flow variety - but then as a museum piece - it would seldom be operated - would just like to see one run a few times - then have for the collection.
