POD 6/30/2021 "Watch Westinghouse - Wash 'N Dry Laundromat"

[spiralator60]

Does anyone know how long a single wash/dry cycle was or could be programmed for on this machine?

The ad copy states that a load could done in a continuous operation, though no time frame is given, unlike the later Philco Duomatic ads which claimed that a full wash/dry cycle could be completed in less than 60 minutes.

Thanks!

 

[tomturbomatic]

Darryl, Bendix (and later Philco) was the only combo manufacturer that bragged about cycle times because they were the only combos with the suspended mechanism which allowed for water extraction that was on a par with a separate washer. If there is no report on combos in the ephemera Library, I will have to check with the Stiyer Library when I get home and see what the report from the testing magazines says about a cycle time.

 

[combo52]

Speed Of US Combination Washer-Dryers in 1960

Taken from CRs extensive test of US combinations W-Ds in 1960 the Westinghouse should wash&dry a load 10 pounds of cotton clothing in 1hr and 44 minutes.

 

In this test the fastest machines were the Lady Kenmore electric or gas combinations and the Whirlpool gas model that did this same load in 1 hour and 15 minutes.

 

The slowest machine in this test was the fast spinning Philco Bendix model CE704 that took one minute shy of 2 hours to do the same loads that the other machines in the test that only spun around 200 RPMs.

 

John L.

 

[jamiel]

I think that Bendix ad was a strictly synthetic load which probably COULD be done in 1 hour...

 

[tomturbomatic]

Philco made two types of electric combinations: one that they called hi-speeed which had a blower in the condenser circuit and one that used a passive condenser with a water spray on a metal plate. That was the slow model.

 

[swestoyz]

Philco made [many] types of electric combinations...

Tom, this is partially correct. Focusing on the 27" platform, Philco-Bendix had three drying systems for their electric Duomatics:

1959 - 1966: cold water condensing, no blower, dubbed "air re-circulation"
1961 - 1966: "one pass system", forced air, via blower and exhaust, dubbed "Hi-Speed", CFU output ranging from 165-180 depending on model year
1967 only (H line): cold water condensing with blower, no exhaust, dubbed "Hi-Speed"

Between '59 and '66 the air-recirculated condensing system remained relatively the same, with the last gasp for the Duo in '67 being a full departure for Ford, going back to the Duomatic roots of the 36" models with the blower circulating air throughout the condensing process. I imagine the cry from dealers and consumers forced the hand at Philco to introduce the blower/exhaust Hi-Speed version of the Duo in '61 (CE-716 and CE-714). I'd love to try one of these out at some point.

Of the dozen or so loads I've dried in the '67 Duo, my experience would say that the blower system on the condensing platform didn't make a huge difference as a load of towels would easily take over an hour to dry, and well over 30 gallons of water consumed.

The '59 through '67 gas Duomatics used the same principle as the one pass blower set-up as their electric cousins, with the blower arrangement changing upon each major revision (59-60, 61-63, 65-67).

Ben

 

[arbilab]

Hmmm.  With our 'cold' water being 80F almost half the year, the lowest the recirc air dewpoint could get would be..... more than that.

 

You don't suppose the salesman would tell you that, do you?

 

[tomturbomatic]

Thank you, Ben. We had the CE-714 and it was not terribly slow for a condensing combo, but our tap cold was cold all year around. I forgot about the direct vent electric. Those had a different tub with a lot of rear perforations, at least according to the pictures in the brochure.

 

[spiralator60]

Great Information!

Thanks everyone for your responses!

I was curious about this, as we have an LG WD3274RHD combination unit in our collection. There are different cycle times for the wash/dry programs, ranging between 3.5 to 5 hours. Things like the spin speed selected (between 400 rpm and 1400 rpm), as well as the size and weight of the load itself, affect the drying operation.

In my case, the machine has a water-cooled condenser and no vented exhaust, so it is especially helpful and interesting to know the information about the other combination brand models.

Thanks again!

 

[combo52]

Water Condensing Combinations

Most os these early US combinations that were water condensing used anywhere from 1/2 gallon per minute to Maytag's more thrifty 1/3 GPM, because the steamy conditions durning the dry cycle and temperatures from 200-280F it made almost no difference whether the condensing water was 45 F or 80 F  because there was such a big temperature differential. 

 

John L.

 

[neptune1]

Washer-Dryer Combo

I have had experience with a Lady Kenmore washer-dryer combo from the 60s. It was a gas model, exhaust to the outside (not a condenser dryer). Machine did a great job of washing and drying.

I currently have a Neptune washer and dryer from 1999. Both machines are still washing and drying as they did when purchased new. Both machines had minor repairs.