Secret Life of Washing Machines

[sudsmaster]

Some of you have probably seen this already (and it may have already been posted here as well). This is a video I found on Google of a British documentary on how washing machines work. Interesting historical look, from a British perspective, of the washing machine, with emphasis on front loader technology on the modern side.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-9205952649903947712&q=washing+machine&hl=en

 

[MrX]

It's amazing how the product has developed over the past 50+ years however but really, the basic principle of the European-style front loader has been pretty stable since the 60s. The only changes we've really seen has been the migration to more sophisticated electronic controls that can take more accurately control the wash process.

It's also amazing, given the age of that show, that the same issues about quality and manufacturers cheaping out on components seems to have been going on for quite a long time.

The machines he was using were all at least 10 years old when he made the show too as they were all taken from a junk yard.

I'd say if you looked in your average dump/junk yard today, you'd see much younger machines too. They're quite literally disposable. I mean you can pick up a Hoover front loader here in Ireland with a 1600 rpm spin for under €300. They're so cheap they're hardly worth repairing unless it's a *really* minor problem, at least if you're buying cheap brands all the time.

It's a terrible waste of resources though.

I'd say you'll see a move back towards less disposable more repairable machines as times go on though. Legislation is eventually going to start pushing things back to higher quality again as recycling costs are being levied on the manufacturers.

 

[jasonl]

I'm sure cheap disposable front loaders are going to start coming here in the next few years. I hate to say it but the Frigemores are almost that, except I did like mine, had no trouble with it, and as far as I know, it's still washing away in my former trailer house, which miraculously survived Katrina.

 

[sudsmaster]

A lot of the cost of repairing pre-computerized front loaders is labor. A chap here even replaced the bearings on his Frigmore by looking up the bearing numbers on the internet and buying new ones, and shoehorning the new ones where the old ones once went. All that and a plastic outer tub, too.

The computerized controllers are another matter, though. Mfg's are obviously doing like the hi tech industry and trying to recoup their electrical engineering investment by charging sky-high prices for circuit boards that probably cost 1/10th that to make. It's ridiculous to scrap an entire washer because of a blown circuit board - that might take someone with moderate skill about 30 minutes to replace.

Perhaps it will all change someday with recycling fees etc... but I'm not holding my breath...

Personally I think the washer mfg's, including Miele, have gone over the top, so to speak, with their capacity wars. I get by just fine with the Neptunes 3.2 IEC volume. 3.5 IEC would be more than enough. 4 IEC and 4.5 IEC; then the machines may become too large to fit into standard laundry spaces.

 

[MrX]

The capacity wars in Europe tend to remain within the confines of the standard European "unit" dimentions for integration into kitchen furnature.

So, we're now seeing 8KG (17.63lbs) load capacity machines fitting into standard Euro-sized boxes.

The super-sized machines will always be a niche market in Europe as they don't conform with standard kitchens.

 

[bobbins]

Great video...cool to see the history! I luv watching vintage washing machine videos....