Vintage RCA/Whirlpool "Super Wash" Washer & Westinghouse Dryer
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launderess
Well-known member
RCA/Whirlpool came out with two speed washers early as 1956..
Even by early 1960's it seems RCA/Whirlpool was giving people more for their money by offering two speeds even with MOL and BOL offerings.
OTOH IIRC Whirlpool's arch rival, Maytag, didn't offer two speeds until comparatively late.
Even by early 1960's it seems RCA/Whirlpool was giving people more for their money by offering two speeds even with MOL and BOL offerings.
OTOH IIRC Whirlpool's arch rival, Maytag, didn't offer two speeds until comparatively late.
launderess
Well-known member
Super Wash
Was offered by WP until rather recently or still for all one knows.
Had a vintage WP compact "Portable/Convertible" washer in lovely Harvest Gold that had super wash cycle.
WP offered (or still offers) Super Wash on both one and two speed washers.
https://www.whirlpool.com/content/dam/global/documents/200207/owners-manual-3953955-RevA.pdf
Was offered by WP until rather recently or still for all one knows.
Had a vintage WP compact "Portable/Convertible" washer in lovely Harvest Gold that had super wash cycle.
WP offered (or still offers) Super Wash on both one and two speed washers.
https://www.whirlpool.com/content/dam/global/documents/200207/owners-manual-3953955-RevA.pdf
Whirlpool may have given people more for their money, however certain components were under-built on purpose such as the timer cam assembly, outer tub which would rust through causing a leak, pumps that would go out every 10 years (though some can be oiled to prevent that), plungers on the wig wag which would either to cause it to not engage or would stay engaged and wouldn’t disengage, bearings that would wear out since they didn’t invest a few more dollars in using needle bearings which would have lasted significantly longer, last but not least is the center post seals that would fail on the short center post on the 1978 to 1986 belt drive machines.
On the other hand, a transmission on a Whirlpool could be removed easily for a tear down for either an oil change or replacing the shift fork assembly or springs inside the transmission. The whole machine could be easily disassembled for repairs or a rebuild so I guess there’s that.
On the other hand, a transmission on a Whirlpool could be removed easily for a tear down for either an oil change or replacing the shift fork assembly or springs inside the transmission. The whole machine could be easily disassembled for repairs or a rebuild so I guess there’s that.
Had that same washer in white. Went to Alabama I believe.
It may be 1967-ish. Identical styling to a slightly more-featured machine a friend recently refurbed. His is four-cycle (has W-n-W/Perm Press), five temp choices, self-clean filter, although still two fill levels (which he changed to variable, swiped from a direct-drive).
I know Maytag had 2 speed motors by at least 1957, I don't believe any of the AMP's had 2 speed motors. Wouldn't be surprised if GE and Whirlpool/Kenmore had them several years earlier.
Nice thing about Maytag is the compatibility of motors during the entire 50 year helical design. I found an early 60's Frigidaire 2 speed motor made for early Maytag washers mounted on a late 1980's A712. Their 1 and 2 speed motors are swappable from the 50's until 2006 and everywhere in between.
Nice thing about Maytag is the compatibility of motors during the entire 50 year helical design. I found an early 60's Frigidaire 2 speed motor made for early Maytag washers mounted on a late 1980's A712. Their 1 and 2 speed motors are swappable from the 50's until 2006 and everywhere in between.
launderess
Well-known member
Going by posts in forum archives Maytag seemed to be all over the place with regards to two speed motors.
Their most common ploy (which really was a shame as it reeked of cheaping out) was to advertise several cycles but washer only had a motor with one speed. Thus say "delicates" was really nothing more than regular agitation with periods of pauses.
https://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?6633
https://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?90005
Their most common ploy (which really was a shame as it reeked of cheaping out) was to advertise several cycles but washer only had a motor with one speed. Thus say "delicates" was really nothing more than regular agitation with periods of pauses.
https://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?6633
https://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?90005
Thus say "delicates" was really nothing more than regular agitation with periods of pauses.
Those were the Fabrimatic washers. It does work, but a 2 speed motor is a better overall deal.
Whirlpool probably had more 2 speed washers than anymore out there. Maytag was kind of skimpy on those but even the lowly 200 series had a 2 speed motor. GE had a few more 2 speed options but nothing close to Whirlpool/Kenmore.
Those were the Fabrimatic washers. It does work, but a 2 speed motor is a better overall deal.
Whirlpool probably had more 2 speed washers than anymore out there. Maytag was kind of skimpy on those but even the lowly 200 series had a 2 speed motor. GE had a few more 2 speed options but nothing close to Whirlpool/Kenmore.
repairguy
Well-known member
This washer really only has two cycles: normal and delicate. They labeled the super wash portion of the normal cycle as the 3rd cycle.
Two speed automatic washers
Whirlpool in Kenmore both had two speed washers by 1955, Maytag also had a two speed washer in the AMP machine actually had a couple of them the model A102P was a two speed motor as was the A140 AMP style mechanism,
Whirlpool made even more basic two speed washers than the one posted by laundress for sale, whirlpool, often put a two speed motor on a very basic model to draw people into the store used call this a bait and switch we used to call that machine and nail down because the salesman was not supposed to sell it. It was supposed to stay on the sales floor lol [ see the picture of the day, 9-9-23 ]
Hi Sean,in your reply number four, almost nothing in your first paragraph is correct whirlpool used the same type of timers that Maytag and everybody else did except GE and did not have trouble with cams.
Needle bearings were not used by anybody and would not of lasted as long as sleeve bearings. When whirlpool went to the lower center post in 1978 bearing problems completely disappeared because they added a second seal. On the older machines with one top seal the bearings would often last barely 8 years before the bearings were toast and the machine needed to be replaced or totally rebuilt.
There were very few problems with the plungers and wigwag mechanism, except for an occasional coil failure
John
[this post was last edited: 9/9/2023-13:58]
Whirlpool in Kenmore both had two speed washers by 1955, Maytag also had a two speed washer in the AMP machine actually had a couple of them the model A102P was a two speed motor as was the A140 AMP style mechanism,
Whirlpool made even more basic two speed washers than the one posted by laundress for sale, whirlpool, often put a two speed motor on a very basic model to draw people into the store used call this a bait and switch we used to call that machine and nail down because the salesman was not supposed to sell it. It was supposed to stay on the sales floor lol [ see the picture of the day, 9-9-23 ]
Hi Sean,in your reply number four, almost nothing in your first paragraph is correct whirlpool used the same type of timers that Maytag and everybody else did except GE and did not have trouble with cams.
Needle bearings were not used by anybody and would not of lasted as long as sleeve bearings. When whirlpool went to the lower center post in 1978 bearing problems completely disappeared because they added a second seal. On the older machines with one top seal the bearings would often last barely 8 years before the bearings were toast and the machine needed to be replaced or totally rebuilt.
There were very few problems with the plungers and wigwag mechanism, except for an occasional coil failure
John
[this post was last edited: 9/9/2023-13:58]
launderess
Well-known member
GE offered two speed washers at least by 1957.
A good era for Whirlpool style. Chrome, angled panel with strong horizontal lines. Lots of sparkle for the money.
I brought home a WP washer and WH dryer set this last spring. Have done little with the washer but have spent a day or so working on the dryer. It's a (s)low-airflow, fluffy soft dryer.
Original Post pics
Film at 11.
Film at 11.
I wwasn't aware WP offered a model with speed control knob outside of the Mark 12 with the separate wash and spin speed buttons.
Bob, those were in the line for a short time in the mid/late 1960s. There's a PotD of a multi-model brochure of the LSA (1968) series with an Imperial 90 thusly featured. Greg's model is probably 1967?
The later direct-drive models with Super Wash on the timer don't all have the true Super Wash sequence of brief soak, partial drain, and refill. I have a 2002/2003 that labels Super Wash at the maximum 16-mins time with nothing otherwise different. It has a separate Soak/Prewash cycle.
Whirlpool!
Greg thats a beautiful Whirlpool washer I saw a similar model in a 1969 brochure but was slightly different I think the model was 8900. This was just below the TOL model
Best of Luck with them
Greg thats a beautiful Whirlpool washer I saw a similar model in a 1969 brochure but was slightly different I think the model was 8900. This was just below the TOL model
Best of Luck with them
repairguy
Well-known member
Greg that is a nice copper tone set.
I like the Coppertone set too--the washer and dryer combo I'd get if I were of appliance buying age then...
And why didn't Whirlpool keep the separate wash/spin speeds not to mention the console light and dial light as well?
Surely I'd get that Benton Harbour plant making mostly the Whirlpool-branded machines!
Back to the advertised set, that nice washer seems to boast all but the Magic Clean filter... And not a true two-speed either...
-- Dave
And why didn't Whirlpool keep the separate wash/spin speeds not to mention the console light and dial light as well?
Surely I'd get that Benton Harbour plant making mostly the Whirlpool-branded machines!
Back to the advertised set, that nice washer seems to boast all but the Magic Clean filter... And not a true two-speed either...
-- Dave
Dave, the washer of the sale linked in the opening post, photos of which Greg captured in Reply 14, absolutely is a true 2-speed. [Super Wash] Normal and Gentle cycles.
Two more photos I saved from the sale.
This is my friend's sibling model (LRA-6700).
re: True Two Speed Whirlpool
re: DaDoES, yes you're right, something here confused me about intermittent delicate action, referring to another machine a model or two or so down...</p>
- Dave[this post was last edited: 9/11/2023-10:00]
re: DaDoES, yes you're right, something here confused me about intermittent delicate action, referring to another machine a model or two or so down...</p>
- Dave[this post was last edited: 9/11/2023-10:00]
