The years of washers

[brucelucenta]

I am curious to know a few things. One is the actually year that hotpoint, Kelvinator and speed queen quit making the solid tub machines. The other is when Kenmore/Whirlpool started making most of their machines the large capacity. I know that Whirlpool/Kenmore had large capacity machine for a while before that, but they only had one or possibly two models of it in the beginning.

 

[combo52]

The Demise Of The Solid Tub Washers

I don't know the exact years but the Kelvinator was the first of the ones you listed to go around 1967, then the Hotpoint around 1972 and the Speed Queen and the Frigidaire skinny-mini around 1979-80.

 

Ironically they were a little more energy efficient in hot water usage, but unfortunately they left far too much sand, grit and lint and used way too much water to rinse clothing with the silly and wasteful overflow rinsing.

 

[norgeway]

Kelvinators Last

Real washer was 67 , WCI ruined them the next year,Speed Queen went to a perf tub in the late 70s or very early 80s I think, Hotpoint was the early 70s.

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Your second question...

Kenmore had a major model line re-do in 1974, including the introduction of five large capacity models which all had matching dryers. There had been a grand total of six large cap models prior to this, '67, a '68 (these two were the famous 518s), two '72s and two '73s. None of these had matching dryers, and sold in the specialty section of the catalog and stores with the 24-inch machines and the portables. The 1974s all had matching dryers with the new 6.9 cu ft drums, and these dominated the catalog and sales floor presentations.

There were some new 1974 standard capacity machines as well, and some models that were carry-overs from 1972 and 1973 which remained in production in '74 but very quickly the large machines caught on. From there the standard machines became and remained side models that never sold as well as the large tub versions.

The next major model line re-do was in 1976. There was four or so standard tub models, but at least 10 large tub models. In just two short years the large capacity machines had re-defined manufacturer's model offerings.

Gordon

 

[bajaespuma]

Did Whirlpool/Kenmore EVER have solid tubs? Hotpoint had solid tubs as long as it was truly Hotpoint; when GE assimilated the line, they eliminated almost all traces of Taylor Avenue manufacture. Frigidaire had glorious little solid tubs until they shifted to the 1-18 models and I believe that happened between 1970 and 71, another complete overhaul of the entire design. I think, even with the overflow rinses, the GM solid-tub Frigidaires must have been very energy-efficient machines.

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Solid tub Kenmores / Whirlpools

I am not aware of these companies ever having WP built solid tub models. There may have been an odd-ball model or two, especially at Sears, but I've never heard of one.

Gordon

 

[appnut]

Other than wringer washers, I don't think Whirlpool ever offered solid tub washers.  The major players of Frigidaire, GE, Hotpoint, Blackstone, & Speed Queen were all solid tubs.  Maytag's was kind of a hybrid as far as I see it as the wash basket was perforated but the solid outer tub and inner basket were hjoined together and when the washer spun out the water, both the perforated basket and outer solid tub spun together if I remember correctly.  WP's outer tub remained stationary while the inner perforated wash basket spun. 

 

[launderess]

Only benefit one can see from a solid tub automatic is when using soap all those overflow rinses sent scum/suds over the top; rather than have them drain (and strain) through the wash. Thus you could have some of the effect when using a wringer washer, that is lifting clothing out of dirty soapy water rather than have it strain through.

Well built detergents do not have the same issues as soap so perhaps the benefit was lost.

 

[washerlover]

And I believe Norge hung in there with solid tub washers until about 1964...

 

[toploadloyalist]

Kenmore washer feature debut timeline

1955 - 2-speed washers with Delicate cycle (then named "Modern Fabrics").

1957 - Cold water rinse and washer-dryer combo machine.

1958 - Wash 'n' Wear cycle with first version of cool-down sequence (alternating high speed draining and cold water filling on first timer notch and pausing on second notch).

1960 - Multi-fabric cycle selections, "alphabet" cycle settings, Pre-Wash cycle, and automatic dispensers (detergent, bleach, softener).

1964 - 3-speed washers with Extra-Slow Speed, second version of cool-down sequence (low-speed draining followed by simultaneous filling and agitating on first notch; as timer moves to the next notch, agitation stops and filling continues before resuming low agitation when full; process repeats at next two notches).

1965 - Roto-Flex agitator.

1968 - Vari-Flex agitator.

1969 - Soak cycle (As "Enzyme Soak"; 30 minutes maximum).

1971 - "Knit" cycle (What differences did it have with "Delicate"?). "Enzyme Soak" renamed "Pre-Soak".

1974 - Penta-Swirl and Penta-Vane agitators replace the Roto-Flex and Vari-Flex. Extra timer notch for drain phase, reducing the Pre-Soak cycle to 22 minutes.

1976 - Black panels with wood grain top, Dual-Action Agitator, and third version of cool-down sequence (First notch with 45-second high-speed draining followed by pausing; second notch with cold water filling and resuming high-speed agitation). 8 minutes on Delicate cycle is named the Knit cycle (6 minutes or less was Delicate).

1978 - LED electronic button panel.

1981 - Panel font modified; Normal cycle renamed "Cotton/Sturdy".

1986 - Rubber control knobs and Belt-Drivens give way to Direct-Drivens. (Was that when they first did the 'chugga-chugga' agitation?)

Your comments, additions, and corrections are appreciated!

[this post was last edited: 5/9/2016-05:13]

 

[launderess]

All this being said

You can substantially cut back on water use for top loaders by decreasing the space between the tubs. That or going with a solid tub for a start I shouldn't wonder.

IIRC GE Filter Flow washers had huge gaps between the wash and outer tub, and all that space had to be filled with water.

 

[brucelucenta]

So I guess about 1980 was the very last of the solid tub washers, being the speed queen. I do remember that speed queen still made the solid tub commercial models with the solenoids and one direction motor till 1979. Then even the commercial machines went to perforated tubs. I was just trying to get the exact year, but I think with everyone's help that's about right. It does seem like the Frigidaire sell out to WCI was about the same time too. I remember in the commercial laundry trade magazines they advertised the close out of the Frigidaire GM made solid tub coin op machines. Did anyone know that Frigidaire actually made a top loading unimatic dry cleaning machine with a dryer/reclaimer unit in the 60's? They were rather popular here and I have seen several of them in the past.