Solid Tub Designs

[qualin]

I'd like to know a few things, just out of curiosity. I apologize if some of these questions sound stupid...

When did Speed Queen abandon and GE abandon their Solid tub designs?

As well, why was the Solid tub abandoned for the perforated tub? Why do some people still swear on solid tub designs?

I can see that there is most likely better water drainage and better soil evacuation, but maybe I'm not seeing it?

It always mystified me as to how solid tub machines could even drain growing up. I know that the drain is under the agitator, but when the tub spins, isn't it angled so that the water flows up and over the rim of the tub when it spins?

Thanks everyone.

 

[brucelucenta]

GE quit making solid tub machines after 1960. Speed Queen did not stop making them till around 1979 or 1980. The way water escapes solid tub models is by spinning the water up and over holes in the top of the tub. There is a clothes guard of some type to keep the clothes from going over with the water. Solid tub machines could not remove things such as sand or mud well from clothing. There was not really any place for large quantities of it to go. If you watch the old video on the site that Westinghouse made you will see what I am talking about.

 

[DADoES]

 
<blockquote>It always mystified me as to how solid tub machines could even drain growing up. I know that the drain is under the agitator, ...</blockquote> The only solid-tub machine that had the primary drain under the agitator, far as I'm aware, is the Blackstone.  The tub literally lifted upwards slightly to open the outlet for a neutral drain period, then water extracted from the clothes during spin exited over the top of the tub as per the usual.

Some solid-tub designs had a heavy-soil ejector, a pipe mounted to the hub of the tub which curved up around the bowl above the water level.  It operated on the theory that sand and dirt would collect in the hub under the agitator and then flow out of the pipe with a bit of the water via centrifugal force during spin.  My understanding that is it often clogged over time and ended up ineffective.

 

[turquoisedude]

The early GE Filter-Flo washers also had a sediment ejector, which I guess was intended to keep sand or other heavy soil from getting recirculated. At least that's what it says in the owner's booklet for my 57! I'll let you know how well it works when I get that baby back into service... LOL

 

[bajaespuma]

We had a solid tub GE at the beach and I never saw any sand in the finished loads or in the bottom of the empty tub.

 

[blackstone]

Blackstone 350 tub

Since the subject of Blackstone came up, here's a picture of the inside of the tub. Drain holes at the bottom. "Washboard" design provided channels for water to climb over the side of the tub during spin; leaving space underneath clothes.

 

[blackstone]

Blackstone 350 tub

The drain holes in the bottom of the tub.

 

[yogitunes]

didn't GE solid tubs have a port under the agitator to let water, as well as sand escape to the outer tub?....

my solidtub Speed Queens sediment ejectors are both sealed shut, and yet never have an issue with sand building up under the agitator....I pull the agitator on ocassion just to check and clean if needed....

 

[Unimatic1140]

I know that the drain is under the agitator, but when the tub spins, isn't it angled so that the water flows up and over the rim of the tub when it spins?
No with the exception of the Blackstone, solid tub washers spin the water over the top of the tub via centrifugal force, there is no drain at the bottom, it is completely sealed.

Solid tubs were abandoned mainly because they do not accommodate large capacity designs very well and the design has trouble removing sand. But solid tub washers do have a major advantage as they rinse better than any other washer design as well as handle suds removal better than any other washer design ever created as of yet. They rinse better because once dirty/soil laden water and suds are thrown into the outer tub there is not way for any residual water or suds to come in contact with the clothes again during the rinse cycle.

I mainly use solid tub washers, I find their performance is best for rinsing. We do not have a problem with sand removal as we are two grown adults and have very little reason to have much sand in our wash loads.

 

[mayfan69]

Solid tub machines in Australia

Simpson sold their solid tub 'Fluid Drive' models from 1958 to about 1975, when they were phased out in favour of a larger capacity perforated tub design.

The only reason they were phased out was just as Robert described was due to its smaller capacity but also the fact that Simpson fluid drives didn't have tub brakes and new laws around this time stated all machines on the Australian market had to brake within 12 seconds when the lid was opened.

To achieve a cleaner wash with the solid bowl design, Simpson introduced the 'flexible channel tub' (the plastic liner) in 1966. The idea being that heavier soil would drain 'behind' the plastic liner during spin. I always thought this was marketing hype until i took apart a plastic liner to clean and saw the dirt attached to the outside of the liner.

If you watch my video, you should see the water drain 'down' and then out behind the liner. I think i have a video of the machine draining without clothes in it, but have to upload it.

Cheers
Leon

New Video: The 1971 Simpson fully programmed Fluid Drive - Full cycle

Hi guys Thought i'd share a video of one of the Aussie Simpson Fluid Drives i've been working on. It's a 1971 fully programmed model with the plastic liner in the solid tub. There's an introduction from myself on camera and i'm explaining aspects of the machine throughout the video. Please be...

www.automaticwasher.org