packardmanken
Well-known member
This looks very interesting. Thor Automagic washer or dishwasher? or both?
What do you know about it?
What do you know about it?
Thor Automagic in Dorchester MA
- Thread starter packardmanken
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How Wonderfully Cool! I Want It!
Thor "Automagic" was both a washing machine and dishwasher. IIRC our Fearless Leader or maybe it is another member has or had one.
The Hurley corporation already busy coming up with designs for cramped pre and post WWII living such as the fold down for storage Thor "GladIron"; decided a combination dishwasher and washing machine would be just what housewives wanted.
Sadly for the Hurley company many housewives upon hearing of a machine that washed dishes and laundry (including infant's diapers) in the same machine gave a collective "ewwwwwwwwwwwwww", that is nasty", and sales never really took off.
https://www.google.com/search?q=Thor+Automatic+washer+site:www.automaticwasher.org&biw=853&bih=561
Units were sold in the UK and Oz for certain, with perhaps other places under license as well.
If one was not pushed space wise would be sorely tempted!
en.wikipedia.org
Thor "Automagic" was both a washing machine and dishwasher. IIRC our Fearless Leader or maybe it is another member has or had one.
The Hurley corporation already busy coming up with designs for cramped pre and post WWII living such as the fold down for storage Thor "GladIron"; decided a combination dishwasher and washing machine would be just what housewives wanted.
Sadly for the Hurley company many housewives upon hearing of a machine that washed dishes and laundry (including infant's diapers) in the same machine gave a collective "ewwwwwwwwwwwwww", that is nasty", and sales never really took off.
https://www.google.com/search?q=Thor+Automatic+washer+site:www.automaticwasher.org&biw=853&bih=561
Units were sold in the UK and Oz for certain, with perhaps other places under license as well.
If one was not pushed space wise would be sorely tempted!
Thor washing machine - Wikipedia
Here is a thread from 2013 showing a group of the lads working on a Thor "Automagic" unit on their side of the pond.
http://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?24482
www.automaticwasher.org
http://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?24482
Thor Automagic Washing Machine & Dishwasher (1955)
I had a call last year from a gentleman in the midlands who had this Thor Automagic washing machine, it had been in his family since new and he remembered it when visiting his gran, at christmas it was his job as a child with his dad to lift out the washtub and drop in the dishwasher attachment...
www.automaticwasher.org
packardmanken
Well-known member
Automagic
Thank you Laundress! That was a lot of info and I appreciate the time it took. What a cool machine. But imagine how small the "Johnny come home from the war" boxes were (we had one I know) and to have that in the kitchen, have to dismantle the tub (where did it go? hopefully there was a service porch?) and re-assemble it. Not every housewives dream, right? But then, it was after the war and you could sell ANYTHING I hear!
If nothing else, hopefully it was a good washer?
The glass window on top is my favorite part!
Packardmanken
Thank you Laundress! That was a lot of info and I appreciate the time it took. What a cool machine. But imagine how small the "Johnny come home from the war" boxes were (we had one I know) and to have that in the kitchen, have to dismantle the tub (where did it go? hopefully there was a service porch?) and re-assemble it. Not every housewives dream, right? But then, it was after the war and you could sell ANYTHING I hear!
If nothing else, hopefully it was a good washer?
The glass window on top is my favorite part!
Packardmanken
There are plenty of links both in the group and on the Internet that speak to this machine.
Have an owner's manual for Thor Gladiron (after owning two units that have both long since bit the dust), and IIRC the dishwasher rack lifts out as does the tub that hold laundry. You simply swap between one or the other. Hurley makes it clear in their advertising and owner's manuals that at no time does water from laundry come into contact with dishes, and vice versa. Being as that may consumers still wouldn't touch the thing with a barge pole and production didn't last very long.
Have an owner's manual for Thor Gladiron (after owning two units that have both long since bit the dust), and IIRC the dishwasher rack lifts out as does the tub that hold laundry. You simply swap between one or the other. Hurley makes it clear in their advertising and owner's manuals that at no time does water from laundry come into contact with dishes, and vice versa. Being as that may consumers still wouldn't touch the thing with a barge pole and production didn't last very long.
packardmanken
Well-known member
Thor Gladiron?
You had a Gladiron? I still have one! I would love to have the snap-in shelves for mine. Works fine as is though. It was my first mangle. Beats dragging around the Ironrite #95!!
You had a Gladiron? I still have one! I would love to have the snap-in shelves for mine. Works fine as is though. It was my first mangle. Beats dragging around the Ironrite #95!!
Do Youse Mean Those Metal Shelves (Wings)?
Oh I saved those, am not *THAT* stupid! *LOL*
Have both sets from each of my Thor GladIrons, as one figured sooner or later would purchase a third. But then the only person one knows who worked on the things, Mike Arnold in upstate NY passed, and figured that was that.
IIRC have one or two of the printed card board roller covers as well.
Oh I saved those, am not *THAT* stupid! *LOL*
Have both sets from each of my Thor GladIrons, as one figured sooner or later would purchase a third. But then the only person one knows who worked on the things, Mike Arnold in upstate NY passed, and figured that was that.
IIRC have one or two of the printed card board roller covers as well.
packardmanken
Well-known member
Metal Wings or Shelves
Ok. It sounds like we need to introduce all these parts and pieces to one another. Do you need a Thor ironer to go with your wings? with the cardboard cover on it? OR would you like to sell a set of your wings for MY ironer??? LOL!!
Seriously, I understand holding on to them, they are so rare. Since you know what they are, would you keep a look out for a set for me?
Thanks
Ok. It sounds like we need to introduce all these parts and pieces to one another. Do you need a Thor ironer to go with your wings? with the cardboard cover on it? OR would you like to sell a set of your wings for MY ironer??? LOL!!
Seriously, I understand holding on to them, they are so rare. Since you know what they are, would you keep a look out for a set for me?
Thanks
I picked up the Thor yesterday in Dorchester. It was on third floor. Not an easy retrieval!
More details to follow.
Ron
Kenmore58
More details to follow.
Ron
Kenmore58
Thor GladIron Wings
You got me wrong, have *two* sets (four) of those side wings.
No, don't think I need another ironer around here (have three already), but am open to do a deal to sell on one of the Gladiron shelf sets. If interested drop me message via the group.
You got me wrong, have *two* sets (four) of those side wings.
No, don't think I need another ironer around here (have three already), but am open to do a deal to sell on one of the Gladiron shelf sets. If interested drop me message via the group.
Oh, c'mon, Laundress, you can never have enough! Hell, this is my third Thor Automagic -- yeah, time to sell one or two.
Ron
Kenmore58
Ron
Kenmore58
From the pictures seeing the state of that apartment
You are more dedicated to collecting than I to fetch the thing much less get it down three flights of stairs. I'd want danger money and probably have had a tetanus shot first. *LOL*
Thor Gladirons do not ship well if not properly crated/packed. The base is cast iron and will snap apart especially at the area surrounding the huge spring. Know this from experience as it happened to both units I owned at one time or another.
First arrived damaged (via UPS) but managed to find a local welder to make the repair. That unit died and like a fool purchased another that also soon died but found Mike Arnold in upstate NY to make the repair. Unit shipped to him fine and but upon the trip downstate (via UPS again both ways) it also was damaged. UPS covered the damage and *think* either Mr. Arnold had another base and swapped, or had it welded. Either way that unit soon died and that was it for me as far as Gladirons are concerned.
You are more dedicated to collecting than I to fetch the thing much less get it down three flights of stairs. I'd want danger money and probably have had a tetanus shot first. *LOL*
Thor Gladirons do not ship well if not properly crated/packed. The base is cast iron and will snap apart especially at the area surrounding the huge spring. Know this from experience as it happened to both units I owned at one time or another.
First arrived damaged (via UPS) but managed to find a local welder to make the repair. That unit died and like a fool purchased another that also soon died but found Mike Arnold in upstate NY to make the repair. Unit shipped to him fine and but upon the trip downstate (via UPS again both ways) it also was damaged. UPS covered the damage and *think* either Mr. Arnold had another base and swapped, or had it welded. Either way that unit soon died and that was it for me as far as Gladirons are concerned.
Oh ROn
did it have both tubs when you picked it up?
did it have both tubs when you picked it up?
packardmanken
Well-known member
I was on my way to get the Thor...
But since you got it, I dont have to make the drive! Just kidding. Seriously, glad you got it. I would have been killed if I brought it home. Please keep us updated on how is works, if it works etc etc.
Glad I could find it a forever home.
Packardmanken
But since you got it, I dont have to make the drive! Just kidding. Seriously, glad you got it. I would have been killed if I brought it home. Please keep us updated on how is works, if it works etc etc.
Glad I could find it a forever home.
Packardmanken
Jon: Unfortunately, no dishwasher attachment -- but I was hoping. Someday I will find it!
The house was definitely a trip! It wasn't filthy, just very old. The kitchen that the Thor was located in had the really old fashioned cast iron stove. In addition there was a great '50's refrigerator there, too.
The woman that I dealt with on the machine told me pretty much everything that was left in the house was for sale. I was able to get an aluminum Christmas tree and some vintage ornaments. There was also a great Kenmore Wringer washer in the house, too, that she wanted to sell me, but I just didn't have room in my Jeep for both the Thor and the wringer.
The Thor, itself, was, of course, dirty, but is cleaning up nicely. It spins, but doesn't agitate. I have a feeling something is stuck. Need to consult my service manuals. Not even sure I'm going to keep it.
Will try to post some pictures soon.
Ron
The house was definitely a trip! It wasn't filthy, just very old. The kitchen that the Thor was located in had the really old fashioned cast iron stove. In addition there was a great '50's refrigerator there, too.
The woman that I dealt with on the machine told me pretty much everything that was left in the house was for sale. I was able to get an aluminum Christmas tree and some vintage ornaments. There was also a great Kenmore Wringer washer in the house, too, that she wanted to sell me, but I just didn't have room in my Jeep for both the Thor and the wringer.
The Thor, itself, was, of course, dirty, but is cleaning up nicely. It spins, but doesn't agitate. I have a feeling something is stuck. Need to consult my service manuals. Not even sure I'm going to keep it.
Will try to post some pictures soon.
Ron
Cast Iron Range In Kitchen
You mean like the one shown here?
You mean like the one shown here?
packardmanken
Well-known member
Contact Laundress
Laundress…How do I contact you thru the "group"?
Thx Packardmanken
Laundress…How do I contact you thru the "group"?
Thx Packardmanken
There should be an "E" next to one's name.
