POD

[retromom]

Who was Thor, and whatever happened to them? Were these washers sold all over the U.S., or just regionally?

 

[westyslantfront]

Thor was made by the Hurley Company in Chicago but they have long been out of business. It seems that Thor has been resurrected in Australia and now makes front load washer/dryer combos.
I did not know that the original Thor company in the US came out with an automatic washer. Sure wish I could see picture of the tub and agitator.

 

[gyrafoam]

I have not see a Thor since I was very young. The only ones I remember must have been older than the one pictured as they did not have a console. The one in the POD reminds me of a '55 Frigidaire because of the look of the console. I don't think they were common here in the Atlanta area back in the day. I wish I could remember more about them. I do remember when watching one in use, the wash cycle would be set and the machine turned on and the agitation began immediatly as the water entered the tub! Must not have been too good on either the clothes or the tranny!

 

[veg-o-matic]

Only thing I know about Thor is that they had a machine with interchangeable tubs; clothes washer or dishwasher. Take yer pick.

veg

 

[retromom]

Clothes washer or dishwasher?

Veg:

Are you serious? You could change out the tubs on these Thor washers and wash your dishes? Talk about unsanitary! Don't think I'd want last night's dinner in my dainties ;-)

Venus

 

[pulsator-power]

Thor

Yes, gross, but someone thought it was a good idea at the time. I think Robert (Unimatic) picked one up in ome of his last big appliance hauls & got the Wizard (pig) machine at the same time. The automatic looks interesting. Anyone know what the inside looks like- color & agitator?
Jerry

 

[gansky1]

I tried to find some pics from the trip that Scott and I took to Pioneer Village in Minden, NE a few years back but couldn't locate them. The museum we visited had one of these in beautiful condition on display that we could (discreetly) touch. There are usually many ads for these AutomaGic (not automatic as many ads will be listed) washer/dishwasher combo's on ebay though - see link.

Thor semi-automatic washers were convertible to a dishwasher when you removed the washer agitator, tub and balance plate and replaced them with an entirely different tub, water slinger and racks. The bottom portion of the tub held the water as the agitator shaft driving the water slinger moved back and forth water was sprayed up into the dish racks. It probably wasn't as unsanitary as it sounds, especially with the harsh chlorine detergents used back then.

The Thor automaTic washer was introduced in 53-54, there were only a few models made - the POD model and another with the controls on the top. It really was just adding a timer and shifting mechanism to the standard Thor washer design. By the end of the 50's, the Thor brand was no more but the name has been used by an Italian appliance maker along with Bendix and Philco names as well.

I have a beautiful store display book for the Thor semi-auto washer/dishwasher that we'll have out in June for everyone to see. Robert brought home a Thor semi from Tulsa last summer, so in time we'll get to actually see one runnning.

Pardon Our Interruption...

 

[peterh770]

Did we find that Thor may have sourced Beam for their automatics?

 

[westytoploader]

Hey, I'll volunteer too! *SLAP*

GOOD LUCK ROBERT!!! I've got my fingers crossed! Whatever it is, get it...even if it is late 60's!

--Austin