Today's POD WW Front Loader

[imperial70]

In hindsite... if the white-westinghouse (carryover from Westinghouse) Front loader had some of the motor and controller technology that today's front loaders have, they probably would have been more popular.

 

I remember that ad as a kid. I always wondered the target market that ad was addressing.  Any ideas?

 

[tomturbomatic]

Actually, it was not motor controller technology that was lacking. They performed on par with the rest of the stuff produced at the time. They easily washed as much as Maytag's standard tub, maybe even as much as the tall tub. Some machines extracted more water, but the WH left clothes about as well extracted as regular BD WP-made machines, which sold a lot. It was largely prejudice from the two testing magazines which never emphasized their economy and said they did not wash as well, but I never saw dirty clothes on people who owned either Bendix or WH machines. In fairness, at the time, Americans were not concerned with saving water or detergent, except maybe for some with electric water heaters. American buyers were used to agitator washers from the days of wringers so when top loading automatics appeared, they attracted more acceptance. For many years, after the 60s, even in the energy crisis, the two consumer magazines did not test the WH FL until people wrote in and asked CU if tumbler washers were even still manufactured. Fewer stores carried the WH line than some other major brands so finding them was not easy and seeing one when shopping rarely happened. Because of the unique patent laws, nobody else in the US could make a FL and after years of declining sales, the field of low sudsing detergents dwindled to a few so there was not any competition to improve low sudsing detergents although when a major reformulation for condensed formulas to reduce packaging and shipping costs resulted in major brands being low sudsing, the less educated users complained when there were not mountains of suds so low sudsers were once again off the shelves. The WH washer was little changed from 1964 until the design was modified by the addition of Italian components in the late 80s or early 90s, I think. After Pearl's campaign, the ads for them went away and the main market was for apartments and condos. If it were not for the replacement market, they might have been taken out of production. All the hype was on huge top loaders.

For many years in that period I had FL machines and found that they cleaned my clothes very well with the detergents available so it was not performance that kept them from being popular. Believe me, if Sears sold a FL, they would have been in many homes. There were just not that many people selling them. I did not know of anyone who went from a top loader to a front loader who regretted it.

 

[tomturbomatic]

As for the market, I think she was just one in a line of celebrities paid to endorse an appliance or brand, much like Jane Wyatt, Harriett Nelson, Pauline Trigere, Bing Crosby, Fred MacMurray, Jimmy Stewart, even Bette Davis. Hollywood personalities were often enlisted to lend their glamour to products. Kitty Carlisle (Mrs. Moss Hart) advertised Sangamo Power Steering for General Motors. Kate Smith hawked Jello products, although that seemed a little cruel when I looked at the 1940s campaign in the 1970s, but she had star power with her radio show, recordings and movie appearances. Her version of G-d Bless America was so popular that a movement was started to make it our national anthem. The vicious attacks on Irving Berlin's Jewishness caused her to stop singing it for a long time to calm the hatred. Electric range manufacturers developed a campaign to show stars and their spouses at their electric ranges in the early 50s. I don't read many magazines today so I don't know if current stars are enlisted to sell appliances, but most of them don't seem the type.

 

[stainfighter]

Electrolux...Kelly Rippa

Don't know if there has been "print" ads but Kelly Rippa was spokesperson in commercials for a while...with the TV Bewitched theme as the background music touting their super fast cycle in their FL

 

[golittlesport]

I think Tom hit the nail on the head

People were used to agitators and six inches of foam in their wringer washers and didn't believe their clothes would be clean without those things. (Just like today some don't believe their clothes will be clean if not completely submerged in water.)

The most popular detergents -- Tide, Cheer, Rinso, Oxydol, Fab, etc. -- could not easily be used in a front loader. The foam they created would retard and cushion the washing action of the tumbling drum. There were few low-suds detergents and their formulas were not continuously improved like the top-selling sudsy brands.

My family had a 1957 Westy front loader that replaced a Dexter wringer washer. My mom used Dash and later Salvo in the Westy and loved that machine. She thought agitators were "old-fashioned." I liked it because it had a window to watch the action.

 

[wireman]

In the mid-90's, I rented a house on Beaver Island, MI that had WW front loader and matching dryer. They were obv. meant to be stacked, as they had no tops and the controls were on the front. A piece of plywood was across the top of both of them side-by-side. It was the home of an old heiress who had gone to assisted living. The house had been built in the mid-70's, and I assume the white laundry pair was of that vintage. She probably only had her help do a few loads a week. Pretty modest house, just 3 small beds and a bath and a half.

I'd had NO experience with a front loader, and had my doubts about the cleaning ability. Because I heated with wood, and am an electrician, I sometimes I really had some filthy work clothes. I recall being surprised that it cleaned them pretty well. I just used whatever detergent was cheap and used about 1/3 of what was called for in a top loader. In the 3 years I lived there, they worked fine. Did notice some rust beginning to form under the opening, so suspect the boot may have been wearing out. Do recall that when it went into spin, you KNEW it no matter where in the house you were. Prob. didn't help that they were in the middle of the house in a closet under the stairs. Went back a few years ago, and they'd been replaced by they generic top load washer with dryer above combo.

I'd learned my lesson by using Palmolive DISH soap in the dishwasher at the college apartment... NEVER have you seen so many suds oozing out of a machine, except perhaps an old comedy movie. SO, I' d learned to be careful to follow instructions with detergents and never had over-sudsing with the washer!

Amazed the design lasted so long, and that more front loaders weren't available. Always found them interesting as they were so rare. Worked in a few houses on the island that had WW front loaders of the same era. Some were summer homes, so didn't see much use, and thus had longer lives.

Seems like there was some prejudice against FLs in the 60's, 70's 80's; folks felt they were more complex, not as durable, didn't cleanas well, etc.

Duane

 

[twintubdexter]

aside from the washing machine...

...I always like seeing this ad pop up in a POD to remind the limited audience here of the late, wonderful Pearl Bailey. As a young person I was a big fan of Merv Griffin's afternoon TV show and Miss Bailey was a frequent guest. There's a segment or two of her on the Griffin TV Boxed DVD Set. I kind of think people have pretty much forgotten about the very talented and "high-personality" Pearly Mae. Thanks for posting

 

[jaxsunst]

I had a aunt that had that model WW. She absolutely hated it. It had a problem of leaking around the door. After two years, and five door seals, she put it on the curb and got a Filter Flo. I think she is still using it.

 

[tomturbomatic]

We have the recording of the all Black cast of Hello Dolly. She's a stitch as Dolly. I remember her singing "That's Life" and at the line "I'm gonna roll my self up in a big old ball" she would interject, and if it's me you know it's gonna be a great big ol' ball (or something close to that).

 

[hydralique]

When I was young I saw Miss Bailey in a live production of "Hello Dolly". It was an experience I've never forgotten - she was not so much an actress but rather a true entertainer.

 

[superwash]

I owned this same WW FL'r for about 12 years, and never had any issues with it. It cleaned very well, and the only time you hear any noise was when the clutch kicked it into spin with a loud clank. Finally the tub bearings seized, and foolishly I replaced it with a KM Direct Drive TL'r. Sears came out to fix THAT machine many times. After just two years, the transmission died, and I bought the Frigidaire Gallery FL. I would still have it, had I not wanted to replace it for stackables. I own LG's now, and I'm still not sure that using LESS water is the way to go for clean clothes. I miss the White Westinghouse.

 

[Soap-n-Suds]

I purchased a used stackable set in 1988, but the stupid belt on the washer kept coming off. The first time it happened I watched the repair man and after that I just did it myself. They were in a small closet so every time it happened it was major effort to get them out and get in back. finally sold them in 89. I bought a brand new stackable set in 1991. White, but no scale and I loved them. Whis I had them still. But my true dream was a set like on the POD. My next-door neighbor growing up had that set. I've wantted one ever since then.That's a 40 year wait. lol I'm still hoping and wishing.
laurent

 

[tomturbomatic]

Correction

It was Saginaw power steering that was a division of GM amd was used in GM cars. The ad was early in the 50s when cars still had those BIG steering wheels. Sorry.