The Designing of the Norge Plus-Capacity Washer...

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I like "AGITATOR has rounded vanes to insure gentle, uniform wash action for any size load and water level. The phenolic molding is 17 in. long."

So that explains what they were trying to accomplish with the rounded tops of the vanes of the first large-capacity Norge agitator. I always thought it was an unusual agitator design. I can't exactly say it was gentle, but maybe this was more gentle than if the the vanes were standard.
 
Capacity...

Was 14 pound the largest capacity of 1963/64? Or were there competitors that were > 14?

Malcolm
 
No, Norge and Wards marketed the very first large capacity washer in '64, I don't believe Whirlpool came out with their large capacity machine until '66 or '67.

I find it interesting that they call it a "14lb" machine, when the same tub was used on 20lb machines of the 70's and 80's. Just advertising jargon I suppose, although the agitator was thinner in the later machines, so maybe that is how they justify the difference.
 
Agitators...

I agree with the capacity bump. Switching to a quad-vane agitator and toning them down a bit may have accounted for the increased usable capacity. Which always seems to be slightly overrated by all manufacturers, IMO.

Malcolm
 
From what I remember these machines held up pretty well in service. Certainly much better than the older style models. It wasn't unusual for them to last 10 years or more and they had the biggest capacity for that time.
 
Robert Thank You!  Interesting information.   These were the machines with the partial neutral drain? Arthur
 
It was interesting to see that that particular machine was designed with a "filter-flo" type of lint filteration system to begin with. I wonder how long it was before they started with the burpalator agi's...

Also, does anyone here happen to have one of those 14# Norge's that was pictured in the blog in their collection? Would be nice to see one of those machines still around and hopefully up and running.
 
The DispensoMat washer that arrived in our house 12/23/1964 was designated as 15 pound capacity.  NORGE15 on the console.  In fact, our washer console was exactly like the product pictured.  BUT ours did not have the agitator mounted filter pan (aka filter-flo).  It had the the rear mounted filter pan.   "Super Wash" was simply the wash cycle being 12 minutes instead of the "normal" 10 minutes for the Whites setting.  And I was extremely guilty of forcing many a spin with a full tub of water.  Yes, water would be flushed over the top and onto the floor.  Eventually the motor would overheat and shut down for about 20 to 25 minutes to cool down and then the machine would start back up.  If the timer was set at any point during a spin cycle with a tub full of water (and meaning me not "messing with the water level slide switch to Reset), then the timer would remain "off" until the water level was "reset" just about the time all the water had been pumped out.  Then the spin would be engaged and the timer would begin it's movement again.  Particularly advantageous with a slow spin speed selected.  Pump out was much slower and drain time was extended after one timer increment until the water level was reset at complete pump out.  Pump out would be one more timer increment before spin began.   Yes, I abused this machine.  I wanted a Lady Kenmore.  And I wanted the better cycle programming of the Lady Kenmore cycle buttons versus this machine. 

 

To address the comment about the "filter-flo" type of filter and how long that design lasted--I suspect GE came after Norge rather quickly.  This new design was released in late 1963 I guess?  Our neighbor (aka my "other Mother") bought a Monkey Wards model just like the Wards 14 pound Imperial model Robert & Fred have sometime late summer/early fall 1964.  As witnessed with Robert & Fred's washer, it had the rear mounted stationary grey filter pan.  As stated above, our Norge arrived 12/23/1964.  So that "filter-flo" design didn't lsst too many months.  There's a POD page out of a brochure which showed the "filter-flo" style filter--the first time I'd ever seen this.  All Norge & Monkey Wards I ever saw had the stationary rear-monted filter pan.  I do remember quite some time ago (in fact years) I believe Hans found a CL ad for this washer I think somewhere in NC.  The filter stream design was such that it indicated it had this uncommon "filter-flo" style because of the hole in the metal cabinet for the filter stream to shoot out. 

 

This was the washer (as well as matching dryer) which were on Ozzie & Harriet. 

[this post was last edited: 8/14/2014-21:48]
 
Filter Flo & "Burpilator"

GE (officially known back then as "General Electric") introduced the "Filter-Flo" system in 1955, and it remained a feature of their washers for roughly the next 40 years. Norge introduced the so-called "Burpilator" filter system circa 1957. Despite the info given on the "new" Norge machines, their lower-end models still used the "Burpilator." I know this for a fact; my grandmother had one, and the reason I remember it this well, was that she bought not long before JFK was assassinated.
 
That is correct, Norge used the "Burpilator" on all of their solid tub machines which was first introduced around 1957-1958 (the filter-agitator that is). When the new large capacity machines were introduced for the 1964 line they continued to produce their solid tub design for another 4 or so years as their lower end models and only those had the "Burpilator" filter.

The filter-pan on the agitator was a short lived filter design, they went right away to the rear mounted filter.
 
Norge longevity

My Norge experience is that they were built to WASH, built to LAST, but NOT built to be re-built 30 years later.

Roller bearings, a 40's 50's type of technology, still being built into late 70's Norges, when most manufacturers had switched to sleeve bearings.

But while they are still running with their first set of bearings, they turn over anything, rinse well, spin fast, etc. Long-lasting but hard to rebuild when eventually they falter.

And they make alot of noise and the burpolating is cool as hell. Every washer hobbyist needs to see a Norge in action for 10 loads of clothes, fun.
 
We Had One

Of course ours was badged Magic Chef. It was a beast. I can still remember how heavy the side opening lid was...

Malcolm
 
I was very surprised to

see a filter pan on top of the Durez agitator ! I have never seen one and bet GE came right after them and thats why we see mostly the pan against tub ring design. 

They would have had to change the pump pressure too so it dribbles into the pan not shoots out to the agitator.

 

Anybody ever see a pan filter on a Norge??

 

 

 

 
 

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