Retro Catalog Look Back For Today

[combo52]

Thanks For Posting These Cool Catalogs Laundress

The List prices shown in the first catalog are what manufactures wanted dealers to charge the consumer, and even back in 1958 few consumers paid this much for new appliances,

 

But dealers got significant discounts off the prices in this catalog, these catalogs were designed so the dealer could show the catalog to customers and they would not see what the dealer was paying for the appliance.

 

John L.

 

[launderess]

Never knew that

Was taught in accounting/businessmen classes in college that list price was basically wholesale. Had no idea, sorry for putting out incorrect information.

 

[launderess]

@ozzie908

IIRC Easy made a BOL model twin tub without "suds saver", meaning no faucets or connections to return water from spinner to wash tub. You drained water to sink via pump hose. You can see one such model way back in display seen here: https://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?65346

Of course one could simply just move drain hose over to wash tub I suppose and get same suds saving.

 

[reactor]

1958 prices.

I use 1960 as my basic reference, as the inflation factor from 1960 to present is approximately 10X. So a 389.00 retail priced washer back would be to the consumer similar to what a 4000.00 washer would be to us today. How many of use would be willing to pay 4000 bucks for a washer??

Consumers had little choice back then. That was just the way of life back then appliances too a much greater percentage of the consumers income then than they do today. People didn't throw away their machines back then when they needed a repair, you called a repairman and kept it going as long as you could.

Appliances, especially non-necessary ones like dishwashers, were a premium item and made big bucks for the appliance manufacturers. That's why Ford (Philco), GM (Frigidaire), Borg-Warner (Norge), and Nash/Hudson/AMC (Kelvinator) owned or had controlling interest in appliance companies.

Wow, I didn't know Westinghouse made a slant front combination washer/dryer!! Anyone of our members have one???

Great fun to look through the catalog, Laundress. Thanks for posting!!

 

[ozzie908]

@launderess

Thank you for explaining that to me I have always moved the drain hose to the tub and spin the suds back to the wash tub It must be rather an unnecessary mechanism required to do it ??

 

[launderess]

Just looked at my copy of Easy Spindrier owners manual/use care guide.

The BOL model was SSK-1 which had a drain hose. Two other MOL and TOL models had the familiar faucets on top of units we are used to seeing.

The BOL unit operated pretty much like older Hoover and other twin tubs; everything was manual (you filled tubs with a hose).

Manual states that drain hose on SSK-1 was used to drain water from wash or extract tubs. But since controls are same on all models don't see why drain hose couldn't be moved over wash tub to return water from extractor, again just like some Hoover TTs.

 

[mrsalvo]

Laundress, thank-you for posting this. Like you, and others, I would be like a kid in a candy store. Honestly, I don't know which of those fabulous machines I'd order.

I remember as a young kid there would be a few dept. stores that would have quite a few brands to choose from. As time went by there seemed to be fewer brands.

Did Macy's ever sell appliances? What brands did they favor?

Barry

 

[launderess]

Ohhh yes!

Macy's at one time had pharmaceuticals, major appliances, sporting goods, and toys among other departments. They got the push by Federated in 1970's because they couldn't be sold at prices that competed with other places, and as such Macy's didn't move enough stock.

Though think things varied by location; don't see laundry equipment of any sort listed in link below for flagship Hearld Square store.

http://www.thedepartmentstoremuseum.org/2010/05/r-h-macy-co-new-york-city-new-york.html