Rescued !! 1938 Bendix

[combo52]

Cool Bendix

I had never seen one of these rare machines, but when you think about it why would you buy a manually controlled washer from the company that brought the world Automatic Washers and the very first Combination Washer-Dryer.

When you think about it having to stand there and turn that knob and fill the machine it is almost as bad as having to transfer the clothing from a washer to the dryer, LOL. But it did eliminate handling sopping wet laundry and you could let it wash long enough that it might actually get something clean, this will be lots of fun for your next wash-in.

 

[philr]

Nice find! I didn't know that a semi-automatic version of the Bendix front-loaders existed! Manual fill and manual drain too?! Maybe it's not even semi-automatic then!

 

[jetcone]

OkaY FOUND DOCTRINE

I thought I had Doctrine on this machine, after some digging Bingo. There were 3 machines offered in 1938, the Deluxe we all know as the little white Box, the Standard which looks like a diving bell and the Utility model, which is the one I found.

The Utility has no water valve, no timer. It had a gooseneck hose and a fill port. The hose was pushed down then turned to jet the water into the tub area. 

Heres the doctrine: 

 

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[tomturbomatic]

The reason for this model was to be able to get the cost as low as possible without the timer, water valve and water level control. Perhaps people would come in and look at this model and see what using it involved and decide to go for the slightly more expensive Standard model, but people who were used to using a wringer washer would still find that this saved them a lot of work and mess and, maybe even more importantly, was much safer than a wringer washer. When this was offered in 1938, the Duomatic was still an undreamt dream, so it has no bearing on the purchasing of any model in the line.

 

[peteski50]

Bendix!

wow I never realized a semi auto FL was ever made. this is real Kool!
Best Of Luck with it.
Peter

 

[Unimatic1140]

Great find Jon!!! I think this is the first and only of this model to be found as of yet. Now you can tumble your towels for over an hour like a modern Front Loader [this post was last edited: 4/2/2014-14:43]

 

[revvinkevin]

.... tumble your towels for over an hour like a modern FL...

 

 

Oh Robert, that is SO funny, but also SO true!   

   LOL  

 

 

 

[perc-o-prince]

Great looking machine!!

Congrats on the super find. I would love to see it in action some day!

Rich

 

[aldspinboy]

Jon when you do it you do it well .

Congrates on the find.

That machine should be alot of fun,

Since I rarely ever leave my washers when washing ever.

 

 From your manual :

Operator to gauge the water temprature quite accuratley by placeing HER hand..

Funny how sexist that was lol.

Enjoy looking forward of hookups.

Darren k

 

[earthling177]

Congratulations, Jon, enjoy it in good health!

 

[jetcone]

Thanks Everybody

and Paul, I'd love to tell you what to DO!!!

 

I hope to reproduce that spigot for the fill.

 

 

 

[foraloysius]

Oooh! Great catch! Looks like a fun machine to play with.

 

[chestermikeuk]

Bendixxii...

Well it all comes to those who wait, and search....congratulations on this find Jon, I`m sure it will be up and running asap complete with fill flume, which would have been a great help with filling etc....When you get time could we have a pic of underneath through the two front inspection hatches!!

 

[jetcone]

Certainly Mike

anything for you dear!! He ran it while I was there and its quiet! Evidently the whole thing was rebuilt before it was stored away and never used again- how do you like them apples!

The tub is bristling porcelain!!

I got ahold of the seller again this week, he is looking in his basement to see if the fill flume is still hanging there!! 

 

fingers crossed- that would be  a FIND!