The Kennith O. Sisson Letter

[vacbear58]

Mallory

As I understand it the first timer mechanism for automatic washers was based on a mechanism used for juke boxes - not Wurlitzer I think but maybe Seeberg

Al

 

[frontloaderfan]

They don't teach kids cursive handwriting in school anymore? Are you kidding me? How do they learn to write then?

 

[DADoES]

 
<blockquote>How do they learn to write then?</blockquote> Probably by texting, ha!

 

[supersuds]

The handwriting seemed pretty easy to read to me, but then I spent a lot of time reading doctors' handwriting....

One thing about the letter that didn't get transcribed was the indented paragraphs. That's something you don't see too much any more.

It's a shame "Mr. Brucken" didn't want to cooperate!

 

[philr]

Thanks for sharing this letter! It's very interesting!

 

[a440]

Thanks Alistair!
That makes a lot of sense!
Have a great weekend.

 

[jetcone]

I read in my research

that Mr Bassett and Mr Chamberlain had a connection with the Navy somehow. Mallory, and Singer built the first timers for WWI for use in torpedoes. And after they had geared up for production when the War was over they had scads of timers lying around. So Mr.B & McC. saw an opportunity and a new way to free up women from having to stand over a machine.

Since you could automate the actions of a torpedo you should be able to automate the actions of a clothes washer.

 

 

 

 

 

[a440]

Jon,
So interesting! I had no idea that torpedo strikes were automatic!
These guys were brilliant.
Thanks for the information.
B

 

[gizmo]

Thanks everyone involved for posting this fascinating bit of history.

 

[bigalsf]

Thank you Robert & Jon for sharing this. Very interesting to read how the ideas were arrived at. Jon, how did you track down Mr. Sisson?

 

[combo52]

Fascinating Appliance research and design

Yes thanks for showing everyone this letter Robert, I remember when Jon got this letter around 1997 and sent me a copy, I have always loved all the research Jon did on tracking down the inventors of these cool appliances that we all admire today.

Jon and Robert maybe it is time to share the story of the development of the ABC-Kelvinator orbital action AW with all the folks on AW for those that don't know the cool history behind this unique washer.

John L.

 

[jetcone]

good idea John

I'll start digging again.

 

Brent, in 1914 torpedoes were automated by timing the strike but by WWII i think they had infant electronics on board with magnetic sensors that set them off.