Retro automatic washer

[brucelucenta]

I am just waiting for someone to design and manufacture a retro solid tub washer of some type that has all the appeal and style of the ones from the 50's. Perhaps with a washing action like the Apex or Kelvinator. It would seem to me that one like the Apex would be easier to manufacture, since the tub itself is what is used to agitate the clothes. Someone is bound to do it at some point and with the material we now have to use, it would cost less to manufacture and hold up better I think.

 

[norgeway]

The problem is!

They dont WANT anything to last, in the 50s the motto was, Lets build it to be the very best, now its, Lets see how cheap we can get away with building things, lets out sourse them to china and mexico for cheap labor,an example of this is, you can not buy a washer or a range today that has a flourescent light on it, no chrome trim or brightwork of any kind, and most cabinets are just painted steel, ranges too, used to be no one would have considered a range that was not all porcelain..I wish someone would build a solid tub machine, they are more efficent with water, and I think wash better.A Kelvinator would be fantastic!

 

[tolivac]

Remember the TL designs described are now restricted by the water use regulations.If such a machine were made-the tub would only fill with just enough water to dampen the items washed.And the PRICE of such a machine built to the desired standards-would be EXPENSIVE-but very nice.A person wanting a QUALITY machine may be interested-others out there would not.So the best bet on such a washer-try to find a vintage one by hunting the swap shops,thrift places,trade in piles and so on.

 

[tolivac]

New "Retro" washer-the Speed Queen TL ones are the closest things you are going to find to meet your standards.No bouncing drum,but how bout settling for an agitator.

 

[norgeway]

I may be wrong,

But a solid tub would theoretically use less water , especially a tub like in the old Frigidaires.

 

[cornutt]

It's worth reviewing the reasons that manufacturers got away from solid-tub designs:

* Measuring the water level is difficult. Most solid-tubs used timed fill, which causes a variety of problems.

* Spinning a tub full of water puts more of a strain in the motor and the mechanism. There weren't that many large-capacity solid tub machines; most of them had smaller capacities than users are accustomed to today.

* There's the sock-over-the-side problem. Not that perforated tubs are totally immune from this, but it was more of a problem with solid tubs.

* Solid tubs weren't very good at getting rid of insoluable sediments that settle to the bottom of the tub during wash. We all know about the sediment-ejector tubes that always got clogged up.

In addition, there are modern features that I think would be harder to implement on a solid-tub machine, such as automatic load measuring and water heating.

Having said all that, modern technology could probably overcome all of these problems. For instance, optical load measuring and water level sensing, possibly using a sensor built into the cabinet rim. Lots of modern machines have the top of the inner tub sealed to the outer tub; a tub drain could be incorporated into that such that it would be impossible for an item of any size to escape into the outer tub. Large stepper motors, a la the GE Harmony, have gobs of torque and could spin a large tub full of water with no problem, without a clutch. The sediment problem could potentially be solved by magnetically operated sediment drain valves in the bottom of the tub, using modern high-power magnets; that would not require a physical connection between the tub and the stationary mechanism.

It does seem like a solid-tub machine could be a water saver if it was implemented properly with modern technology. Old solid-tub machines often didn't save water because they couldn't control their fill levels. (And because they did overflow rinses...) Obviously, if you don't have to fill the space between the inner and outer tubs, that should save some water, especially with today's large-capacity tubs.

 

[norgeway]

I Would!

Still take a brand new Unimatic over anything built today, about all that ever broke was the torque spring, and that not often, and I never heard of one of those Delco motors going out!LOL

 

[kitty]

Just wondering about Frigidaire Unimatics...

How many horsepower is the motor? it must be really hard to turn the tub with all that water. For a motor, a wide rotor one could also have large amounts of torque...
About Delco motors, is the company still in business or not?

 

[kitty]

Just wondering about Frigidaire Unimatics...

How many horsepower is the motor? it must be really hard to turn the tub with all that water. For a motor, a wide rotor one could also have large amounts of torque...
About Delco motors, is the company still in business or not?
Also, keep in mind that there are like only 2 Apex wash-a-matics still around.

 

[washman]

Yes but............

Norgeway: No one would pay the price for such a good machine. Americans are sheeple by and large and have been inculcated with the erroneous attitude that cheaper is better.

Kitty: No, Delco motors was actually Packard Electric based in Warren OH which GM bought in 1932 and would for the next 47 years provide power to a great multitude of Frigidaire appliances.

 

[kitty]

THX for your reply!

I was wondering about Delco motors. Does anyone know how many HP those are?

 

[swestoyz]

1956 Unimatic motor model tag.  1/3 HP.

 

I agree with the idea that a solid tub wouldn't be practical for most user's expectations of using a washing machine these days.  Honestly, the art of doing laundry has just about died.  Today, most people lead lives that don't leave much time to do honest household chores.  For laundry, it's stuff, fill, wash, and dry. 

 

I've helped many friends fix or diagnosis a broken appliance.  To them, all they want is a machine that cleans clothes.  They don't really care how it is done, just as long as they believe what they pull out is clean.

 

Ben

 

[hippiedoll]

"all they want is a machine that cleans clothes,

They don't really care how it is done. For laundry, it's stuff, fill, wash, and dry":

SO SAD, BUT TRUE!!!
(

 

[cornutt]

"No one would pay the price for such a good machine. "

I wonder about that... it's not like the crummy machines are cheap. These days you can easily pay $2000 for a third-rate set that won't clean well and will be kaput in five years. I'd be curious about how many people are actually shelling out $$$ for "semi-pro" machines like the Miele Little Giants, or even the smaller Wascomats, but the marketing isn't accounting for them because they are buying through non-traditional sources. I've got to believe that as makers continue to crank out machines that don't clean, have mold problems, and break down frequently, eventually there's going to be day of reckoning with the customers. A company that has a traditional-based design, quality built and augmented with modern technology, might find itself way ahead of the game at that point.

 

[norgeway]

Youre correct!

A Unimatic today would cost 5000.00 to build I bet, and I can hear the complaints now.." It tangeles up my clothes!". Its too small...Never mind you can pack it full and it still washes great...it gets out of balance..etc.Same with something like a Kelvinator...it splases water when I open the lid!!!! So I realize im dreaming...of course I also dream of Ike in the white house, a balanced budget,and the US making 2/3 of all goods produced..which we did!!!And I dream of a new DeSoto in my driveway...a 59 Adventurer with a 383 and 2 four barrell carbs..with gas at 27 cents a gallon for 100 octane, who cares if it got 15 miles to the gallon!!! A new Geneva Kitchen, A pink tiled Crane bathroom..A Sylvania Halo Lite tv, a phone where when you wanted to make a long distance call, you diled 0 and a nice lady said, yes sir ,number please!A grocery store with all the old products that are now gone or changed..Golden Fluffo, Spry or Crisco in a metal can, Aunt Jemima pancake mix that had 4 flours in it,Thompsons Fireside corn bread mix...Tide and Cheer and Dash and All that would clean...a new Electrolux model Ae or AF ....ON and on !!!and best of all, everything still done on paper, NO COMPUTER!!!!!!!!

 

[danemodsandy]

Chuckle!

"best of all, everything still done on paper, NO COMPUTER!!!!!!!!"

Hans, I'd be willing to bet that Robert thinks he has enough AW.org problems without having to run the group on postcards.... ;-)

 

[norgeway]

LOL!!! You are right!!

But I do love dealing with our local furniture store, the owner will not allow a computer on the premesis...when you buy something they fill out a card and put it in the filing cabinet...it drives his son NUTS!!LOL

 

[frontloaderfan]

"no computer"

You're both right, but without the computer, we wouldn't know that the rest of us exist. I mean, when I was a kid, I used to be mortified when my mother would tell her friends "he loves washing machines". That was so embarrassing because I thought I was the only one on earth who was into that stuff. Turns out it's not quite as rare as I thought.

 

[countryford]

On a couple other sites that are into "Vintage" and "Retro", it appears that they forget about the washer and dryer. Some have the vintage stove and refrigerator or the new ones that look retro, but the washer and dryer are typically in a seperate room, so they don't focus on them. A vintage set to them would not be effecient and difficult to find parts for. And since they are in a seperate room, they wouldn't want to spend the extra money to keep the retro look in the laundry room.

Just my two cents, and of course doesn't apply to here.