Review 1969 Philco Ford Washer - a Wiggler

[freewestinghous]

I took an avacado green 1969 Philco Ford washer in trade at my used appliance store back in 1989. It was in like new condition and was a fancy looking washer with a fake wood grain console. As I recall it was not a stripper model and had many features and wash cycles. It did not have a regulator agitating action, just an off center action wiggling agitator. It had no problems and worked as it should. I ran almost a dozen loads of laundry with it and concluded it was one of the worst washing machines ever made. It barely cleaned anything and was a great disappointment. My shop towels were almost as dirty as they were when put in after a long wash cycle.
I was selling used washing machines for $79 to $199 and had to price the Philco Ford washer at $35 because I was so gulity about selling it since its performance was so terrible. I ended up selling it to a lady and when I delivered it, I saw she had a pile of dirty laundry that was as big as a utility trailer. Must have been 40+ loads waithing to be washed ! I never heard from her so she must have thought the machine was acceptable [ and I gave a 3 month warranty ].
It would be quite an interesting machine to own today as it was really attractive and I am sure few Philco Ford machines are still around. A novelty and fun now - but as a viable washing machine in it's time - it was not.

Randy in PDX

 

[tomturbomatic]

We thought the same thing about the one we found and sorta felt guilty about donating it to a thrift store.

 

[jetcone]

Very collectible

very ineffective, although Robert says his Philco works on dirt and I have seen it roll a load over at least once in 10 years.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Do you mean that it took 10 years to turn over a load?!?

 

[Unimatic1140]

There is a huge difference between my 1959 Philco and a 1969 Philco. The earlier solid-tub versions had a smaller tub and were much better at turning the load over. Consumer reports rating the design very high when it first came out in '59. As they increased the size of the tub, the effectiveness of the washing action was diminished.

 

[tomturbomatic]

They probably needed a bigger flapper for the larger tub or a Dual Action Flapper with auger. Philco should have called in Tim "the Tool Man" Taylor to give it more power. He would have had it throwing the load against the lid during flappulation, like carp jumping out of the river. It would be the only top loader that needed to latch the lid during wash and rinse.

 

[hydralique]

Robert, I just love your Philco set! So pretty, one can almost imagine Miss America slouching against them. Good juxtaposition too with the Whirlpool combo to the left as the console designs are complementary.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Miss America never slouched. There have been troubles over the years, but slouching was never one of them. She might have stood with her hard, girdled ass against it, but her weight would have been supported on her own high heels, not the machine.

 

[arbilab]

The Wobbulator? Never saw one in person but vaguely remember a commercial for them.

 

[norgeway]

I know one thing!

The OLDER ones would roll clothes so much that it will tie them in knots like a Frigidaire will if not loaded properly..

 

[joelippard]

Yes

Mine will wash the heck out of some clothes, rolls them very nicely.  It's rated at 12 lbs but can wash almost as much as my 1-18

 

[jetcone]

Even with

flappulation on full with the wobbulator I don't see how it could ever tangle, photographic evidence puhleese!

 

 

[peterh770]

The early models did roll effectively.  The later design would knead the load into a fabric doughnut at the bottom of the tub.  I blame the exaggerated folds in the later flapalator for this.

 

[jetcone]

well

"fabric doughnut" now there's a new one!

 

[peterh770]

You know it's true.

 

[mickeyd]

The doughnut being kneaded

`

 

[mickeyd]

And the doughnut is ready

-

 

[mickeyd]

Mixing the water with the ingredients for the doughnuts

'

 

[mickeyd]

These later Flappers are pure washer joy because

the extraction cycle combines agitation, spinning, draining, and spray rinsing--ALL AT THE SAME TIME. Hence, the doughnut.

It is something to behold. Here he is, head erect and still, greedily awaiting.

 

[mickeyd]

Close-up of the extraction

which pauses twice during the insane procedure.

Notice the glaze is now being applied to the doughnut. Mmmmmmm. Wish I had one now at bedtime, but a Creamsickle will have to suffice.

 

[ozzie908]

Fascinating machine

I saw a video of something like this on youtube and I have to ask if you could explain how it works please?
Does anyone have any videos of one of these machines working with explanations its almost like its ultrasonic the speed of turnover.

Austin

 

[tolivac]

Could that washer double as a blender?Dennis the Menance could make his "Washer Milkshake" in that one!

 

[peterh770]

If you look at the flapilator, you see that the flap is highly undulated.  There are three, small, nipple-like folds that force water out horizontally, but conversely there are three large fold pointed to the bottom of the tub.  So there isn't enough force generated to push the load up and plenty of force down to roll the load into one big...doughnut!  At first I was amazed at the amount of clothing I could continually feed into the machine when it was washing, but then I found the entire load hugging the bottom of the tub in one massive, dense...doughnut around the agitator.

 

[macboy91si]

Contourfill

My favorite thing about these washers, which has nothing to do with the actual washing ability, is the lovely turquoise color of the tub and the design of the agitator. That is my favorite color, and something about them just looks neat. I've never seen one actually work though of the later style. Also, maybe it's the opening of the tub, but the capacity looks huge in these things.

-Tim

 

[jetcone]

Gorgeous green tub Mikey!

Flapulation is worth the visit just for the green tub!

 

 

[mickeyd]

Manta Ray undulation

Have loved Mantas all my life. Hope one day to catch a ride on the wavy black fin. Saw that once in a film. When I first saw a Philco flapper working I was in Manta Ray Heaven.

 

Alas, dear Jon, this beauty does not reside here; it is Jimmy Flterflo's machine. Was treated to its wonders a few summers ago at a Canton Wash-in.

 

There was a video of Robert feeding an already fully loaded Philco with more pieces, one at a time, and the machine just kept swallowing them up without a blink, and the load continued to move with just as much speed no matter how many things he kept adding. Checked See it Wash, etc, and could not find it. It will make you want a Philco NOW. If one of our club members finds it, please link it.

 

The white pants in the load were soiled, but came out sparkling. Gain detergent, a light load though, with the medium-high water level you see in the pic.

[this post was last edited: 8/24/2011-11:12]

 

[tolivac]

Would be interesting to see the mechanism for this washer-how it "flapulates" the agitator base.

 

[alr2903]

MickeyD,  it's still in the "see it wash" section.   I like all the TM things the philco has "flex-a-wash",  "contour fill".  alr

http://www.automaticwasher.org/see_it_wash.htm

 

[arbilab]

I knew about "see it wash" YEARS before I knew there was a forum.

The action looks pretty effective and stuff keeps rising to the surface. Not what you'd expect to see in the 'donut' scenario.

 

[peterh770]

No doughnut in those earlier models.