Solid Tub Washers

[launderess]

@R14

IIRC there was supposed to be a new top loader with something like solid tub design a while back, don't know what happened.

new line of kenmor topload washer (2014)

Hello to all aw as anyone seen the new 2014 model line for the kenmore topload washer and what is the diffrence with the 2013 line and they seem whirlpool made as well all info welcome http://www.sears.ca/product/kenmore-md-42-cu-ft-top-load-washer/626-000858811-2620112K

www.automaticwasher.org

 

[bajaespuma]

Solid tubs go to the beach

When we lived in a beach community, almost all of the families purchased second-hand washing machines and, because this was during the early Sixties, that meant that all of them happened to be solid tub machines. Being interested in washers I was aware of who had what and how they differed. We had, of course, a Filter-Flo, our next-door neighbor, Mrs. Petruzelo,  had many machines because her son had many rental properties and machines for his mother, appeared as needed. The one they had the longest was a beautiful turquoise Rollermatic and it fascinated me with that "Jet-Action"  pulsator in that bluish solid tub with the ridges. My Mom's best friend Connie, who lived further down the street had an old Hotpoint with the solid tub and the long-necked agitator. Pretty much all the machines were from the lower end of the model lines. I don't remember anybody complaining about sand left in the clothes. Nobody had a dryer, everybody line-dried their laundry in the sweet and salty shore breeze. Even the oversized beach towels left no trace in the tub.

 

I remember towards the end of our time there, Consumer Reports did a very thorough review of washers and did cite machines that were rated Poor at "sand disposal" and I do remember that those were solid tub machines that somehow made it to 1969. Never gave it a thought before that.

 

My Mother's only complaint with the Solid-Tub Filter-Flo was the lame recirculation that didn't work with a partial fill (she thought the whole lint-filter thing was an inconvenience and because it was a 1960 model where they switched out the metal filter pan with the plastic one {which was difficult to remove from the Activator post}) she didn't bother with any of it.

 

Mrs. Petruzelo was very satisfied with her Frigidaire; we know this because if there had been ANY issue, everyone on the street would have known about it.

 

[angus]

Interesting observation. When we were growing up in Brooklyn, we went to the beach every Tuesday - Thursday during the summer- a two hour bus trip but that's another story for another day. That meant beach towels and bathing suits were washed every day after returning home. We had a 1958 Lady Kenmore which of course had a perforated tub. However Aunt Jennie, who lived three blocks away had a solid tub 1955 Norge TimeLine and I don't ever recall her complaining about sand disposal issues. But then she was so meticulous in her housekeeping that she wiped out the tub with a dry towel after every washday, left the lid up to completely dry out the tub and also wiped down all her kitchen appliances several times per week, then hit them with a coat of Jubilee wax. Where am I going here? Good question. I think part of the reason for the lack of sand disposal issues, perhaps a major reason, was that part of the towel laundering routine was shaking out all the towels and other beach clothes before laundering. I can clearly remember both my mother and aunt shaking clothes out of the kitchen window after the beach and before washing. Maybe those living in beach communities understood that also. Just my guess.

 

[launderess]

You Can Be Sure If It's Westinghouse.

Ms. Betty Furness in all her high heels and girdle glory giving low down on sand/dirt and washing machines.

 

[launderess]

In comments section of above YT videos our own Agiflow says:

"The only reason the Westinghouse did better with sand removal is the perforated tub which the three top loaders didn't have. They were solid tub washers.

Of course Westinghouse didnt test against Whirlpool/Kenmore. Those two had perforated wash baskets since the beginning of the automatic washer boom after WW2."

 

[48bencix]

Yes sand can stay

Thank goodness the lady next door had a Frigidaire washer. She would let me watch it. Also where we stayed in Santa Cruz, a few times, had a Frigidaire washer. I was maybe 10 at the time and did a load of sheets. Not only did they tangle, because I did not load in 4 quarters, the sand from the beach stayed in there. None of this would deter me from owning a Frigidaire because I enjoyed the action of the agitator and the acceleration into the spin, no other washer has that acceleration. My mom had the '44 Bendix which I watched on a daily basis, but I still liked watching top loaders.

I think another problem area for Frigidaire was the two bellows seals. It was OK if the owner repaired them, and in those days people would have their appliances serviced, but if not disaster would follow. Leaks or oil in the clothes.

I also used a Frigidaire Coin Op model in 1966 in Berkeley, the one that did a complete cycle in 18 minutes. Compare that with todays hour long loads.

By the way, a new Speed Queen TL can produce a pretty good tangle, yes, you need to load in the 4 quarters, especially with sheets.

 

[gyrafoam]

Oh yeah, the SQ TL's of today-------

will make a mess out of a load of sheets no matter how you load them. (Except, of course, the TL series that don't move anything around enough to tangle them).
The ones we have at the office wash mostly towels and sheets, so I have plenty of experience with them.

Funny thing about Betty Furness, she never mentions the propensity of those old slant-fronts for tangling (and sudz lock). They were as bad or worse as any of the usual suspects amongst the TL's of that era.

 

[angus]

Well, regarding dear old Betty and the Westinghouse test - would the fact that the top loaders used had timed fill and possibly a single water supply for the three other machines filling at the same time have made an impact on the results? If true, that may not have had much, if any effect at all, but I don't recall anyone in my youth with a solid tub machine adding half cup of sand to the wash.... and even with a perforated tub top loading SQ, I still shake out all my beach things before washing. Some habits die hard.

 

[rpms]

High heels and girdle glory. Love that quote.

 

[launderess]

IIRC those Westinghouse front load washers with tilted tubs were nicknamed "rope makers". This was due to tendency of wash coming out in a tangled long mess.

As for suds locking between high foaming detergents (Tide) or use of soap what chance did any front loader back then have?

When Maytag brought out their Neptune line of H-axis washers some said it was deja-vu all over again since those tubs were also slanted.

 

[launderess]

Old thread about that infamous Westinghouse washer advert:

https://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?66068

Previous threads on solid tub washers:

https://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?48992

https://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?37100[this post was last edited: 5/6/2023-06:36]

 

[rpms]

Would a wringer washer as a solid tub work better?
My Admiral wringer has a filter under the agitator.
If you were lifting the clothes up from the sandy water it would have to have preformed better than an automatic.

 

[launderess]

Maytag wringer washers featured a "sediment zone" under agitator. Maytag claimed muck and dirt would be contained there thus keeping wash water cleaner. This one supposes was a benefit for those who used wash water more than once.

 

[paulwash]

Solid Tub Washers

I have to jump in on this subject first off 1988 my Father and I picked up an early 1970 SPEED QUEEN solid tub washer on the side of the road. It came from an older woman home clean she said it needs work. $41 needed a belt pushed the reliable 1966 whirlpool RCA we had been using that my mom purchased at a yard sale for $25 dollars it still worked fine but I had to have that speed queen anyhow we had it for less than a year the pump went small capacity solid tub that washer was on constantly strong fast agitation splashy with overflow wash and rinse loud spin! I distinctly remember sediment at the bottom of the tub after washing my fathers work clothes. I know i would rinse the tub out with water turn the dial to spin and get out the sediment. So that being said YES my solid tub sometimes in my opinion had the sediment problem that speed Queen just could Not keep up with a busy family of four people the capacity was too small. I did love using it with solo detergent and tide and snuggle. Once it stopped on us the RCA Whirlpool went back to work for a long time my question is how reliable were those speed Queen washers in the homes with big families. I remember Also my speed Queen would overheat stop during the spin cycle cool off then kick back in.

 

[DADoES]

 
My aunt with the 1969 Speed Queen, her husband's family (his parents, two sons, and their kids) had a dairy and agriculture operation.  His parents had Speed Queen laundry in their separate wash-house and presumably also the other son.  It was never directly discussed with auntie but she never mentioned a problem with sediment and I didn't notice any when examining her machine during visits and occasionally being treated to running a load.  Auntie's SQ set ran into the late 70s or early 80s, replaced with a WP belt-drive (still the SQ dryer).  I have no details on any SQ repairs or what led to its replacement but uncle once mentioned he replaced the belt on the WP and it was quite a chore, LOL.  The WP washer and SQ dryer were replaced with a 2002 Maytag PAV/PYE pair, which then were replaced with a 2012 Duet pair when the 'tag washer caught a bad pump (which I repaired and sold the 'tags for them).

 

[Chetlaham]

Ive been thinking. Could the switch have been that as inner tubs got larger, outer tubs could only get smaller? And thus less space to hold all that water?