POD 8-11-10 WP 18 lb washer

[tomturbomatic]

Well, it's not as sappy as most of the Maytag ads. I wonder what is under the white cover with the fleur-de-lis; a broiler of some sort, maybe? I do find it hard to understand how she can do just one load a day, even without them wearing pajamas when you consider bedding, towels, clothing, bowling shirts etc. Maybe they don't use clean towels each day or wear clean clothes each day?

It is a very old-world ethic that the children would buy a washer for their mom. My mother is the oldest of 9 and when the older kids were earning a living, probably just before WWII, they bought their mom a beautiful gleaming white Maytag Master. A lady whose daughters were in school with mom had a son who, when he returned from Korea, bought his mom a Maytag automatic. In gratitude, she then did all of the linens and vestments for her parish.

 

[alr2903]

Are all the guy's son's? Is the dad in the pic? very confusing. Tom I noticed the Fleur de lis too. Saints Fans? I bought my late Mom her first Kenmore dishwasher, best money I ever spent in my entire life. arthur

 

[autowasherfreak]

The guy on the far left has a slight resemblance to a young Dennis Quaid.

 

[markk290]

It looks like dad is standing by the door.

 

[lesto]

If they didn't want to change their underwear everyday I wonder if that means they didn't bath or shower either? EEK!

Mom's crack about wishing they'd wear pajamas is too funny. Imagine those 7 hearty boys running around with no jammies.

 

[autowasherfreak]

Imagine those 7 hearty boys running around with no jammies.

Yes, I can and I would have to change more than just my underwear, LOL.

 

[polkanut]

My uncle (Mom's brother) bought my Grandma her first electric dryer, a new 1956 Westinghouse with one of his first paychecks.

 

[laundromat]

Are these guys in pain???

I notice not one of them is smiling. Maybe she needs to get some Staypuff.

 

[lebron]

Saints Fans?

Ewwww, I hope not; that would be a tragedy! What year are these models btw?

 

[mrsalvo]

Too, too, funny. My how the world has changed. I don't know if any kids I know today would be considerate enough to buy their mom anything, much less a washing machine.

 

[gansky1]

Some of the nicest collectible automatic washers, dryers and especially dishwashers found have been gifts to uninterested recipients! I've found a couple of these washers, covered in dust and cobwebs with a well-used wringer washer very nearby.

 

[spiceman1957]

I like this ad

A mother worries that her hunky boys won't have clean underwear every day. But why is she so concerned that her boys wears PJs versus sleeping nude.
John

 

[appnut]

No PJs

Men after my own heart!! I'll do PJ patrol for the two stocky ones!!

 

[peterh770]

They look more like a family of convicts. Mom starting by saying "My boys are good boys, every one of them" is what all mother of convicts say about their sons.

 

[appnut]

You're right Peter, I knew it had a familiar ring to it but I couldn't quite place the phraseiology.

 

[appnut]

Mama has that I'm beat, bushed, and exhausted smile/expression on her face. Dad appears to be the only one truely smiling in this picture. What's up with that? It's a shame none of the boys are smiling either. Too bad this isn't another Norge14/15 underwear washer commercial, DARN!!

 

[mickeyd]

Another take, respecting all others

Under the fleur-de-lis may be an electric cooker, forget what they're called, but dutch oven comes to mind, a huge, stainless steel- lidded, rectangular, white, ceramic or porcelain pot for stews and more to feed a large brood. My Aunt Marge had one.

The text refers only to sons, suggesting a fatherless household, a casualty of the Korean war, perhaps. The failure to mention a dad, and the way the sons are worried about their mom, and the fact that they, the sons, made the major purchase, rather than their father suggests that their dad has passed away. Conspicuously missing is any reference to her husband.

The son on the far right in the new, classy white Keds shares the barest of smiles with his mom. He is the gay son. They both know the secret, like the Mona Lisa.

A grim looking team of bowlers, indeed, who probably wore their underwear to bed. Sleeping buck might have been a bit much back then, and way too gay. Many boys in large families wore their "shorts" to bed. The whole mood suggests a film noir of the 40's &5O's, also the aura of Elvis and West Side Story, even though the washer dates from the early 70's.

An amazing artful ad, one of the most striking and pregnant with meaning I've seen, especially for a washing machine which takes a most unusual and disappointing back seat in this rich family drama.

I love this pictue and this thread. Used to do this for a living....interpret stuff. What fun to hear so many views. We might say this this is an example of advertising rising to the level of art.[this post was last edited: 8/11/2010-23:28]

 

[mickeyd]

PS:

And thanks so much for the chance to go back.

 

[appnut]

Fleu-de-lis--could it be a roaster oven? I thought Whirlpool fist came out with their 18 pounder in the late 1960s? I thought that was probably when this ad was first out? I thought the Kenmore version was from like 1966 or 1968 at the latest too. Hmm, so that's not the dad with the spiffy white Keds. He definitely has the aura of quite a bit of maturity, being the oldest I spoze.