I've always loved this ad, so stylish and yet typical of industrial ads of the '50s. One thing I've wondered about is the term "surgomatic" for the Whirlpool agitator; as with most of us I'm familiar with Whirlpool's use of "surgilator" and "super surgilator" but not surgomatic. Does anyone know the year of this ad?
POD 6-26-11
- Thread starter hydralique
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It's now July,
so it's the POD for 7-26-11, not 6-26-11.
Don't feel bad, I still have to sing the alphabet song to get to the right letter in the phone book.
so it's the POD for 7-26-11, not 6-26-11.
Don't feel bad, I still have to sing the alphabet song to get to the right letter in the phone book.
also
my 60 Whirlpool has this exact same agitator, and the cap on top calls it a Surgilator.
my 60 Whirlpool has this exact same agitator, and the cap on top calls it a Surgilator.
I suspect confusion on the PRP ad copywriter's part as to what the correct term for the agitator should have been.
SURGEOMATIC
WP used this name on some wringer washers, they also used these wavy agitators in some WWs, but most likely it was a mistake by the ad copy writer.
WP used this name on some wringer washers, they also used these wavy agitators in some WWs, but most likely it was a mistake by the ad copy writer.
Well, I'll be damned...
I had no idea! Thanks, John!
I had no idea! Thanks, John!
mickeyd
Well-known member
Eye candy
Opening the thread, I was about to say that Surgomatic is the Whirpool equivalent of the Kenmore Visimatic, but you're already there, Nate. Because of the styling of the full skirt with no break in the line, this gem is said to look enormous in the flesh, esp, with the giant chrome band around the bottom. Can not explain why this machine is so rare while the Visimatic is not--we see them regularly, but hardly ever a Surgomatic. John, do you know why?
As far as I know, no one in the group has one of these beautiful machines. A few months ago, one was offered for sale; it may not have been as TOL as the one pictured. Let's find the thread and see what happened.
Opening the thread, I was about to say that Surgomatic is the Whirpool equivalent of the Kenmore Visimatic, but you're already there, Nate. Because of the styling of the full skirt with no break in the line, this gem is said to look enormous in the flesh, esp, with the giant chrome band around the bottom. Can not explain why this machine is so rare while the Visimatic is not--we see them regularly, but hardly ever a Surgomatic. John, do you know why?
As far as I know, no one in the group has one of these beautiful machines. A few months ago, one was offered for sale; it may not have been as TOL as the one pictured. Let's find the thread and see what happened.
polkanut
Well-known member
Does anyone here have any idea what year the ad above is from? I'm going to look at a Whirlpool machine tomorrow morning that has the closed top wringer.
vacuumguy99
Well-known member
I believe..
Kenmore had a visimatic with touch controls from 58-59 and then they went back to manual lever controls. This was probably made during the same period since Kenmore used Whirlpool washers.
Kenmore had a visimatic with touch controls from 58-59 and then they went back to manual lever controls. This was probably made during the same period since Kenmore used Whirlpool washers.
This just popped up on Craigslist and I recognized the shape... So here are some real-world pictures of the "Surgomatic" label if anyone was curious.
"1950's Whirlpool wringer washer in working condition. Great shape. Just missing the knob. Used by my grandmother until her death. Been in storage for the last 10 yrs. Open to offers." ($100)
"1950's Whirlpool wringer washer in working condition. Great shape. Just missing the knob. Used by my grandmother until her death. Been in storage for the last 10 yrs. Open to offers." ($100)
