Yes, and if built that way today
would be worth every dollar.
Production of civilian consumer goods was nill during WW 2, so re tooling from military back to durable white goods also was expensive, and automatic washers were even quite new, so the engineering for them was costly.
I was impressed by yesterdays pic of the Easy side mounted motor direct drive gear case.
In using less raw materials, and simpler designs, todays top loaders at least are less expensive. No clutches, or heavy cast aluminum gear case. Stamped light steel, aluminum, light weight stainless, and plastics.
Here is my own definition for what Energy Star menas; Ecologically shreddable.
When a modern machine wears out, the retailer which delivers your new ones, will send the old ones to be recycled if they are not repairable for Habitat for Humanity, etc.
