The Bendix Power Surge Washer

[panthera]

no video with you in it

could ever by boring Robert...
But a real question (for a change). It seems like nearly anything can be machined or somehow replaced...except for massive rubber parts like that sump boot. Just how far can you go in restoring or rejuvinating such things? I know the brake fluid trick and the isopropyl trick...the fleet enema trick...but we are talking about some major polymer trauma here.
It is a question I have been meaning to ask for sometime, but since it usually comes up when someone is stuck for a rubber when they really need one, it just seemed the wrong time to ask.
Thanks again for sharing, this is so fascinating.

 

[agiflow]

Very nice machines Robert and Greg. Hope you two guys get them up and running soon.

 

[mickeyd]

Oh My Gansky and Uni !!!

"Jet stream...Underwater Shower bath....Shower rinses....FLOOD rinses"-- FLOOD RINSES. mmm mmm mmm

Good God, What treasures have you brought us, Gentlemen. Sunday has to have been the most insane and bountiful day on this blessed sight.

 

[Unimatic1140]

Pictures of the Premier Wash

Well this is a very cool washer to say the least. The turnover was not much during the first two minutes of the wash cycle but after that it really started to turn over the clothes. The first was load was a 8lb mixed load of towels and dish towels.

The machine still needs some minor work, but its good enough for a load or two...

http://automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/00ShowCollectionGETD.cgi?photoshow=050@In%20Goes%20the%20New%20Blue%20Cheer.jpg&dir=/COLLECTIONS/_Thor-O-Matic

 

[frontaloadotmy]

Absolutely Positively Vubulatorius

Robert does the triblade turn in one direction while
traveling around the tub at its fixed angle? Kind of like the
"Round Up" carnival ride. Hope that makes sense!!

 

[pdub]

What a cool washer

Thanks for sharing the pictures and getting this up and running so fast. I would say that was record time!

 

[toggleswitch]

Cool that it functions as, and has, both a solid tub and a perforated one.

The gasket at the top of the outer stationary tub reminds me of a vintage GE.

 

[peteski50]

Power Surge

Robert
I realy like this concept without a adjator. I would love to see a video. It probably would have been awsome if someone built a bigger one like this. Best Of Luck with this real gem.
Peter

 

[gansky1]

Super cool - thanks for taking the pics, I can't wait to see it live.

 

[chestermikeuk]

Turbulations!!!

What a fab machine, looks so simple in technology as well, does it use the similar, cant remember the name, balance point mechanism as the philco??

that pump sump looks mega huge, does it pump out really fast??

Cheers, Mike

 

[tlee618]

Such a fun machine Robert. Can't wait to feel that "shock wave" water. Thanks so much for sharing its maiden load with us!! Terry

 

[westyslantfront]

Hi Robert. Thank you for still pictures. I am looking forward to a video. Glad that machine is up and running.

Ross

 

[Unimatic1140]

September 1955

Hi Darrel, yes the Energy Disk moves just like the carnaval ride "Round Up". And Mike, the machine is very similar to my '59 Philco, there are only two major differences, the first is they don't use the "Ball-Point" balance suspension system and the other is there is no clutch so it throws the water out of the tub as fast, if not faster than a Unimatic.

I found a date stamp of September 1955 on the water valve last night.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Going by pictures in old ads for this machine, there were a couple of different energy discs. Whether one replaced the other during production or if one was a design that was not produced, I do not know.

 

[JerseyMike]

Fascinating!

Simply fascinating.

I wonder if loading it in a manner similar to a Frigidaire Three Ring Pulsator would reduce the tangling problems? (I'm sure that Consumer Reports would have had a lot to say about that! Did they ever test the Bendix version of this I wonder?)

That being said, it's an awesome machine and I hope that it stars in a video in the very near future.

I hope you get to enjoy using it for many years to come.

Mike

 

[westytoploader]

The VUBULATOR!

EXCELLENT pics Robert! That Powersurge wash action must be incredible...and what a perfect word to describe it! Your 8 lb. towel load sure filled the tub up but it looks like it handled it perfectly, with easy unloading as well! I wonder if it will make a nice escape rope with sheets? ;-)

What other work needs to be done to the machine? Just curious...

Can't wait for the video, and to someday see this machine in person!!! Greg, I bet you are just itching to get your Powersurge now! ;-)

--Austin

 

[westytoploader]

I saw the picture showing the inner and outer tubs, and the small gap between the two...interesting. When I looked at Greg's machine, I turned the tub slightly and it felt "heavy" like a Unimatic tub, so perhaps the balance ring compensates for that?

 

[Unimatic1140]

Mike Consumer Reports never tested this washer as far as I know.

Austin the machine has two problems left. First the pump is noisy, tonight I'm going to tackle that. I think I have a spare good pump for this washer in my stash-o-parts so I will go hunting for that tonight. The other problem is a bit of water escapes between from bottom boot into the outer tub and drains away during wash. It loses about 2 gallons of water during the 10 minute wash cycle. I'm going to try and seal it better between the boot and the agitator disk, my first attempt will be without any silicone. I'll post pictures of the pump replacement if I can find the spare pump later on tonight.

Oh and the other thing Austin is this machine does not have any balance ring or weight built into the was tub or liner.

 

[westytoploader]

No balance ring? Wow, how strange...from the way that tub felt I never would have thought! How does the machine balance for spin then?

 

[geoffdelp]

Congratulations you two!! What beautiful machines; how fun for your both!!