SEARS HYDRO-SWRIL SEMI AUTOMATIC WASHER

[66kenmore]

I have a washer manual for this sears semiautomatic washer
it washed, drained, and spun,automaticly. But you had to fill it with a hose,for both wash and rinse. WHAT WAS THE POINT OF THAT?????? it looks to be from the fifties. THANKS

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[alr2903]

not much $

The generation of kenmore portable, like the one in Jasonl's collection had a manual fill machine like you are describing, it was BOL. and marketed with a slogan something like Good bye coin op, hello kenmore portable. I had one in the late seventies and it truly was better than a coin op for daily work clothes. They definately went after the young first time buyer. It was a pretty good washer for the $.

 

[westytoploader]

Hydro-Swirl? Haven't heard of this name before...

 

[scott55405]

Yes, I've seen that manual too, they were made in the mid 50s. I think you had to run a wash, then run a spin, then run another agitate cycle for the rinse, followed by another spin, filling manually as necessary, hence the semi-automatic moniker.

This design I expect would be somewhat less complicated than a fully automatic unit, thus offering a lower price point at a time when automatic washers were very expensive. Yet, you had the advantage of getting everything done in that single tub, as opposed to wringing and going through the set tubs to rinse, or spinning in a separate tub like with an Easy.

 

[DADoES]

I vaguely recall seeing a picture of this machine. Either a POD, or a catalog scan somebody shared. Something like that. I'm sure I have it saved, somewhere.

 

[golittlesport]

Norge also produced a semi-automatic...no timer, just a dial to switch between agitate and spin. Like Thor's Automagic. Besides the obvious cost advantage of such a machine, it probably appealed to many women of the wringer washer era that wanted to watch and control all aspects of the cycle. They still had the manual control but didn't have to lift steaming hot and wet clothes out of the machine to wring or spin in a separate tub.

 

[peterh770]

Yes, but think about it for a minute: the only thing different between these semi-automatics and an automatic is a timer. It couldn't have been that much of a cost savings on the manufacturing end. I guess you pay for convenience.

 

[mrcleanjeans]

there'd be more than a timer, there would also be a dual set of fill-drain hoses a fill valve,multiple wires and cycle buttons, and usually the auto's had square cabinitry which was larger than the circular semi-auto's had.

 

[DADoES]

A lot of it is marketing. Look at any manufacturer's model line-up. An extra cycle, five temp selections instead of four, variable water level instead of four discrete levels, yada yada. Consider the multiple incarnations of Hetties and Duets and Neptunes -- slightly higher spin speed, addition of a water heater or a different electronic panel. Does that really justify several hundred dollars higher cost? There can't be that much cost difference between the components. Don't some of the front-loaders use the exact same motor, with the maximum spin speed simply being limited by the controller board? Of course, one has to procure the various timers and switches or controller boards, design control panels for them, set up assembly lines for the various models, and so forth. One would think it's more cost-effective to carry a single full-featured model . . but the consumer wants a choice, both in product features and in price points.

 

[gansky1]

Most all manufacturers had the BOL machines, some fully automatic, some not. ABC, WP/KM, Norge, Bendix Dialamatic (rubber tub) and even Frigidaire had a BOL machine with only one water valve. You used a "Y" hose or one hose to the sink faucet. For a couple month's payments, some of the extra attention at the machine was necessary on a tight budget - those eleven kids needed shoes!

 

[westytoploader]

I downloaded the 1957 Frigidaire manual and the Super Pulsamatic model WS-57 had the "Y" connector. I also read somewhere where someone grew up with this model and their mom had it on wheels! Can you imagine wheeling a Frigidaire Control Tower up to the sink?? Amazing...

 

[brisnat81]

Semi Auto's

Hi Guys,

Semi Auto machines were big in australia for a long time. Michael's mother bought her Semi Auto Whirlpool in 1979 when they moved to Queensland. It replaced her mother in laws Auto whirlpool.

On most of the semi auto's I've seen in AU you have a dryer timer (IE Spring Loaded), and a switch which either reverses the motor or actuates a solenoid. Quite often you got a heating element as well. The whirlpool manual I have, claims that it takes 65 minutes to heat a full load of water to 70deg.

So there is no fill valve, pressure switch, temp controls, cycle controls etc. Her machine still had a bed of nails filter.

They have the catalog from 1979 and the price difference between the semi auto, and the BOL Auto (Two Speed, 3 Cycles, Fixed Water level, non adjustable temps, was about $60.

She hung onto that machine for as long as possible because she never trusted an Auto to do the job properly. When it failed in 1999 it was pried cold and dead from her hands with her wailing all the way. Her 1999 whirlpool I think will soon be dead, the transmission noise is slowly turning more and more into a rough growl. At that stage, I'm going to try and talk her into a frontloader, although I cant see that happening.

My maternal grandmother had a Semi Auto FL machine from the early 60's, it was even more basic. I'm not sure of the brand, but it had a red top, and a red lid which was at the top of an angled chute at the front.

You turned the taps on to fill, and then turned the powerpoint on to start it. When you were ready to drain you just dropped the hose down below machine level, the water ran out, and your washing came out pretty much dripping from a 150rpm spin. She never had a dryer until the late 70's so the wetness was never a problem because it was so much easier than using the copper and a hand wringer.