Washer capacity ratings
Rating a washer in terms of how many pounds it can wash is a sound system if you are using similar type clothes loads, usually the standard was mixed cotton towels etc.
But the thing that gets forgotten is that most manufactures never made poundage claims for their washers, yes many salesman made claims but try to find them in print from the manufacturer.
I never saw MT make a 14# or 18# capactity for their washers, can someone here find one.
When WP & KM automatics first appeared they claimed that they would wash 9# loads and later in the early 1960s they stretched the truth and claimed 12#s for the same tub. Again I never saw a 14# or larger for the standard capacity washers in print. When WP introduced their huge 25 gallon+ tubs they would sometimes state in their ads [ up 18#s capacity with a little * and footnote that says WP SELECTED LOAD ] as they were admitting that you could not normally expect to put 18#s of laundry in this washer. Latter in the 1990s on some dual action agitator DD washers they actually printed on the washers console that the machine could wash 20#s of clothing.
WP was able to put this 20# claim on the washer the same way that Norge was able to do this. Norge as many of us know was one of the major companies that constantly did make capacity claims for their washers. Their little solid tub washer went from 8-14#s with the same size tub and the 1963- the end went from 15, 16 18 and finely 20 claims. I both cases the initial claim was probably the most accurate.
I order to actually put a capacity claim in print the washer actually had to make it through the cycle without tripping the motor overload. This is why Norge rated some washers at 20#s and others at 18#s as the 20s had 3/4 HP motors and the 18s had 1/2 HP motors. WP was able to get through the test on the ruggedness of the DD washer and the dual action agitator [ and no this will not break the drive coupling LOL ].
GE did get into the capacity race and we all watched their standard capacity FF washer grow from 12#s to 14# and then 16# without getting a bit bigger and they did make a 18# claim when they brought out their bigger tub washers in the late 1960s.
But you can see why many manufactures tried to stay away from capacity claims. We are seeing the same problems the current claims about cubic foot capacities with both washers and dryers today.
Rating a washer in terms of how many pounds it can wash is a sound system if you are using similar type clothes loads, usually the standard was mixed cotton towels etc.
But the thing that gets forgotten is that most manufactures never made poundage claims for their washers, yes many salesman made claims but try to find them in print from the manufacturer.
I never saw MT make a 14# or 18# capactity for their washers, can someone here find one.
When WP & KM automatics first appeared they claimed that they would wash 9# loads and later in the early 1960s they stretched the truth and claimed 12#s for the same tub. Again I never saw a 14# or larger for the standard capacity washers in print. When WP introduced their huge 25 gallon+ tubs they would sometimes state in their ads [ up 18#s capacity with a little * and footnote that says WP SELECTED LOAD ] as they were admitting that you could not normally expect to put 18#s of laundry in this washer. Latter in the 1990s on some dual action agitator DD washers they actually printed on the washers console that the machine could wash 20#s of clothing.
WP was able to put this 20# claim on the washer the same way that Norge was able to do this. Norge as many of us know was one of the major companies that constantly did make capacity claims for their washers. Their little solid tub washer went from 8-14#s with the same size tub and the 1963- the end went from 15, 16 18 and finely 20 claims. I both cases the initial claim was probably the most accurate.
I order to actually put a capacity claim in print the washer actually had to make it through the cycle without tripping the motor overload. This is why Norge rated some washers at 20#s and others at 18#s as the 20s had 3/4 HP motors and the 18s had 1/2 HP motors. WP was able to get through the test on the ruggedness of the DD washer and the dual action agitator [ and no this will not break the drive coupling LOL ].
GE did get into the capacity race and we all watched their standard capacity FF washer grow from 12#s to 14# and then 16# without getting a bit bigger and they did make a 18# claim when they brought out their bigger tub washers in the late 1960s.
But you can see why many manufactures tried to stay away from capacity claims. We are seeing the same problems the current claims about cubic foot capacities with both washers and dryers today.
