RCA TL washer

[huebschman]

My Mom had an RCA (yes... as in the TV, sterio etc...) washer that lasted 20 years (1969-1989). I don't remember she ever had it repaired. Was this a brand of Whirlpool? Does anyone have any history on this brand?

If anyone has any pics, please post them... I'd like to go down memory lane.

 

[cfz2882]

RCA

yes,the '60s era ones were whirlpool,sometime later GE built"RCA"appliances came
out as i recently saw an early '90s era "filter flo"type GE washer branded"RCA"..

 

[70series]

I don't know about later RCA washers. The RCA Whirlpools were last manufactured in 1967. Whirlpools thereafter did not have RCA as part of their brand name. Being that Whirlpools were sold in general appliance stores big and small it is quite possible there may have been an RCA model in stock even two years later.

Have a good one,
James

 

[alr2903]

Everyone i think is right there were RCA Whirlpools, then Whirlpools, Sometime in the late 1980's  IIRC somehow GE acquired RCA  it was a big stink for people that wanted RCA televisions. (That should tell you how long ago it was, console TV's were still assembled in the USA).  There were then GE/Hotpoint appliances labeled as RCA's, and i think they went after alot of the contractors for new homes and lots of apartment buildings.  The last generation of RCA kitchen appliance was probably more corporate merger of GE and RCA around the early 1990'The RCA washers in there latest or last incarnation were definately GE with the hex shaped lids. alr  

 

[jamiel]

OP is talking about Canada, where there always were some extra brand names around. Several months ago there was a "Victor" dryer from Canada discussed from the mid 60s...wouldn't be out of the range of possibility that there might have been an RCA branding as well (particularly after "Victor" ceased to be used.

 

[drewz]

Whirlpool did use the "Victor" of RCA Victor name for a limited time in Canada. I believe they were test marketing the brand but dropped it and then there was just Inglis.

Once GE aquired RCA in a buyout (1986) mostly to get control of Defense Contracts and NBC, GE did divide up RCA and sold electronics to Thomason (French) and RCA records to BMG and so forth.

In the late 1980's & early 1990's GE appliance division was looking to re-invent their product line, so they introduce the RCA name into their appliance division with very little fanfare, and I believe there may have been some questionable marketing used, like remember your grandmothers RCA appliance's you can get that same great dependability today! Not sure if Whirlpool ever did anything about that since RCA only made Estate stoves and a/c's in the orginial RCA Victor Appliance Division, and this was the resaon that Whirlpool purchased the appliance division and went into a 10 marketing agreement with RCA to blend the two product lines together. However from the very begining Whirlpool had total control and they produced all the products, RCA just let them use their name and names ie "Victor" in Canada and that is how Whirlpool ended up with the "Estate" name, the only original thing kept from RCA Victor Appliance Division.

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

I remember seeing a big 40" Electric Stove boasting the name: "RCA ESTATE"...

Could have been from the 1950's...

-- Dave

 

[rp2813]

Patience Is Key

Sooner or later a picture will surface here.  Either via POD, a brochure, or from a link to a CL ad.

 

[peteski50]

RCA Whirlpool!

Here is a great picture!

 

[peteski50]

RCA Whirlpool

I think this is the matching

 

[peteski50]

RCA Whirlpool

Someone was nice enough to post this

 

[peteski50]

RCA Whirlpool

control

 

[combo52]

1967 WHIRLPOOL MARK-12 WASHER

I have this exact washer which is under going a conversion to saffire blue.

 

[huebschman]

RCA Whirlpool

Wow! Thanks for the info and the pics. Same exact dials (water level/cicle) as my Mom's old RCA (but LESS buttons). If I remember corectly, the dial of the RCA was backlit and there was a neon light in the space between the console and the top of washer (or mabe it was only on the dryer... the dryer had one for sure).

The cycle dial sure brought back memories.

Thanks.

 

[ingliscanada]

WCI RCA

Many years ago, I saw a late 60s-early 70s RCA in a scrap pile, and it was actually a Westy top loader under the badge.

Gary

 

[philr]

I know I just updated another old thread with the same pictures but I think some might be interested in that!  Now, this is on my wish list!!

 

[philr]

Later models were still Whirlpool clones until they became Westinghouse-based around 1975.

 

Here's the 1975 RCA brochure that I recently sent to Robert:

 

Home Appliance Information Library at Automatic Ephemera

 

In the pictures below are among the last of the previous models that were still Whirlpool-based. 

 

[combo52]

Cool Belt Drive Whirlpools

Oh Phil now you have been bitten by the WP bug, your collection will really get big now, LOL. Whirlpools are irresistible.

 

[philr]

John, 

 

The machines above aren't mine! I was tempted to buy the RCA set above at $40 but I didn't!