POD 9/17/13 RCA WP 33" COMBO

[foraloysius]

I know what we're talking about. You were like there? You're from 1946, right? I don't get your point! Apparently you're not impressed. If not, don't spoil the fun for other's who are.

 

[tomturbomatic]

It matters not what Westinghouse suspended in their Laundromat. The patent was on a suspended mechanism in the washer-dryer combination. No one else could do that, period and that is how Bendix poisoned the well for the combos. As the reputations of all other brands of combos went to hell, it affected the sales of Duomatics also.

Heating the rinse water was a stupid, energy-wasting idea that did not last more than a year or two for Whirlool and no other manufacturer offered it because it was unnecessary. Whirlpool did it because they could. I cannot remember Sears offering it on the LK combo and Sears not only hyped features more than Whirlpool, but also had them first.

 

[arbilab]

Already said "doesn't affect collectability". Or fun.

As stated I do have an agenda WRT application patents. They don't represent genuine invention, just a rearrangement of existing elements. And tend to be detrimental to the industry and their customers overall. That is only a VIEWPOINT on legal shenanigans. Has no bearing on the joy of discovery, restoration, owning or showing working classic machines. Not sure why one would think it did.

Trying to backfill the LEGAL relationships among stuff made when I was 10yo, because it wouldn't have come to mind then and there was no internet to look it up on if it had. Thanks to those contributing insights.

 

[jeb]

Westinghouse patent

" In the early to mid 1930's Rex Earl Bassett Jr., and his attorney, John Chamberlain were issued a patent for an automatic washing machine. Bendix Corp. acquired the rights to use this patent to produce machines with less than 4 cubic feet of tub volume. Westinghouse executed a licensing agreement with Bendix. Some of the provisions of this agreement included a payment of five cents royalty to Bendix for every machine produced, and the cross licensing of all other pertinent patents, royalty free. It covered existing and future patents.". This was taken from a book published in 1990, written by the Westinghouse history committee. Jeff

 

[arbilab]

From Mansfield, can't get much closer to the source than that. Thanks Jeff. Can you point me at the book?

I'd gladly pay for a DVD of Westinghouse (apparatus) sales films I watched as a kid if such thing existed. One was CSP for Me, animated short, maybe 8 minutes. The other was closer to 30min, tour of factory and testing. They're not found in the public archives.