POD, the Blackstone AD with many different models

Automatic Washer - The world's coolest Washing Machines, Dryers and Dishwashers

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alr2903

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The pictured machines are very nice.  The "fringe type" splash guard made me wonder if these were rebadged as Gamble's Coronado machines during the early 1970's ?  They appear well featured with a no nonsense approach.  The BOL model had no "Filter flo-esque" filter.  Long ago I encountered a coip op blackstone ( the only one in the laundromat).

The rest were Speed Queens. I had not noticed this POD before. Very nice machines. Lately i have been on a kick to truly appreciate BOL machines.  So much less to go wrong. alr2903
 
 

 

Interesting machines!

 

I would like to know more about the:

 

1. "Multi-action agitation" (even on the single speed, BOL machine)

 

2. "Magik-balance" (is this like the machines of the 50's where the tub pivot point is under top of the agitator?)

 

3.  What the agitator looks like... and...

 

4.  What is behind that HUGE door on the dryer!
 
These were nice and I'm not sure what the facts are but the Hoover automatics looked very similar to theBlackstones.What the story is on their downfall is something I never looked into.Aunt Kerry had their wringer washer at my great grandmothers farm in Pennsylvania.The factory,now a drug plant,was in Jamestown,NY.

http://history of Blackstone is probably interesting enough but,I never looked any farther then inside their tubs.
 
1974 Blackstone

 
I had a hands-on experience with a couple of these models at a local propane/butane service's showroom back at that time (1974/1975-ish).  Of course at that age I was in no position to buy a set, unfortunately.  I thought they were handsome machines, very different than the Whirlys and Kenmores of familiarity.  Had a copy of the POD brochure and obsessed over it for several years.
 
Blackstones

Kevin:

"Multi-action agitation" and "Magik-balance" are just advertising terms. We never used those when selling these machines. The later-model Blackstones had a transmission set lower in the cabinet, lessening the chance of off-balance spins. They almost never banged against the inside of the cabinet. Models prior to those in this brochure had the transmission about midway up the center post. They had a trip wire between the outer tub and the cabinet, with a tiny reset button under the console. Ingenious, but annoying.

I don't have a picture of an agitator, but they were plastic with a helical design, to circulate the water up-and-down. The problem with these agitators, however, was the plastic spline that fit onto the post. Plastic wore out, killing the agitation.

Behind the dryer door is, other than the opening to the drum, was a panel to allow access to the gas burner. Had a little porthole in it, too, so you could see if the gas flame was on.

These machines were all the same inside, just different cycles on different models. Choice of colors mentions avocado and white, but there was also harvest gold (unless this color did not appear until the next model line).
 
I am pretty sure that Blackstone made the short lived Hoover full sized line of washers and dryers. I also only recall Consumer Reports rating Hoover once, in the 1969-70 period. Never rated them after that and also didn't see much Blackstone either. Not sure why, but they were just not found much around here. Kind of like Philco - only places I saw Philco washers or dryers was in the homes of friends and relatives of those friends whose fathers currently or previously worked at Firestone, the premier Philco dealers in our area.
 
Thanks Leon for the Pictures

The picture with the front panel removed shows the transmission on the center post. Later models had the transmission much lower, near the base.

I don't recall ever seeing a Blackstone with electrical connections on the outer tub like that. The water pressure connection was there, with a plastic tube leading up the console, where the electrical pressure switch was located. Other than that, it looks exactly the same inside.

Inside the tub looks the same, too, except for a taller agitator cap.

If you ever remove the outer tub, remember that there are rubber or fiber washers between the tub and the 3 support posts. Difficult to get them to stay in place when reassembling, unless you glue them to the tub first. When on a service call, you don't have time for the glue to dry, however, making the job sometimes frustrating.
 
Wow, 90 minutes to heat the whole tub. What wattage is is heating element? I imagine that would be pretty costly at today's Australian electric rates, or our rates for that matter.

I'd also love to see a video if you get a chance.
 
Wattage

I'm not sure of the specs of the heater, will have to check again.

These models do a spin-drain, all successive models after this had a neutral drain.

The Hoover 500-900 series were very popular on the Australian market, mainly for their large capacity wash tub.

Cheers
Leon
 

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