POD 8/14/2017

[brucelucenta]

I really have no knowledge of the power surge automatic washer other than one video I have seen of it and the videos of an Australian "Healing/Thor" machine which seems to be similar to it. It looks like it was an interesting machine that probably washed fairly well. The Bendix dryer looks to be the same as any other Bendix dryer. It has been so long ago that I actually messed with one, I have forgotten much about them. Anyone who has any memories or hands on knowledge on either machine? Your wisdom would be appreciated!

 

[toploader55]

From Ben...

 

[toploader55]

From gansky1

 

[gyrafoam]

Only one I remember seeing in action was the one at a wash-in a member had out in Tucson, Arizona years ago. A real nice guy with an interesting collection. I thought after my memories of the "squeezers" this machine was a great improvement.

 

[frigilux]

Bendix didn't row their boat down the middle of the stream when it came to top-loaders, did they? Both this and the rubber-tubbed, squeezed-not-spun Economat machines are certainly unique. It reminds me of the wash action in a Kenmore/Whirlpool Calypso.

Solid tub with perforated liner: Does this mean it had the same difficulty disposing of sand as the early Maytags?

Ben and gansky1's videos: Talk about rapid rollover! Did the Bendix have tangling issues similar to early Frigidaires?

Thanks for embedding the videos, Eddie.[this post was last edited: 8/14/2017-10:47]

 

[tomturbomatic]

That Bendix dryer was quite an improvement over the earlier ones where both the heater box and the exhaust/lint trap were on the front of the drum so the air flow pattern just short-circuited across the front of the drum instead of giving a whole drum airflow from back to front like this model.

 

Excellent turnover in the washer. That is a solid tub with a perforated liner. The spin-out drain looks to be about as fast as a Unimatic which is saying a lot.  What a shame that this was just about the time that Bendix got out of the laundry line. The first year of the Philco Automagic washers used the perforated liner in a solid tub and it had great turnover, but when they went to a perforated basket in an outer tub, the turnover became anemic.

 

[peteski50]

Bendix!

Its ashame they didn't keep this design - the turnover is great and even it could have been made with a bigger tub like a 1/18 - I think it still would have been a great machine!

 

[cuffs054]

It's depressing to view that video after just fighting with my Maytag HE TL just to get the clothes wet!

 

[gansky1]

That was my machine in Tucson and the videos, found in an old store/warehouse in Phoenix. Ben and I were able to get it running, but not well and not for long. As luck would have it, Robert found one about the same time, branded Thor in remarkable condition. Amazing that we found two as it was only produced for about one year or so. Robert eventually gave me his Thor version and it now happily resides here, washing away.

It's a decent performing machine, with some qualification. Capacity is small, but it really is more of compact machine compared with other brands. Tangling can be an issue, it's fairly aggressive agitation can cause excess wear, especially if overloaded. I think if this agitator were in a larger tub, some of those problems could have been minimized or eliminated.

 

[wft2800]

Was there ever a front-loading washing machine to go with the dryer? Or did you just have to buy the Duomatic?

I posted a thread on the subject of the 30" Bendixes, asking for info, but nobody replied.

 

[gansky1]

Atoms for Laundry

Sorry, must have missed your question on Bendix f/l washers - yes, there were matching washers to the POD Super-Fast dryer. I don't have any pictures at hand myself, but there is a brochure in the Ephemera library for the 1956 Gyromatic. This was the washer that Bendix engineers tested with a small amount of nuclear material to prove how well the Bendix cleaned. Atomic Proof!

Washes Three Ways Better Than Ever Before

Washes Three Ways Better Than Ever Before

www.automatice.org