Vintage toy "Structo" washing machine - top loader style

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bradross

bradross

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 21, 2008
Messages
734
Location
New Westminster, BC., Canada
Hello everybody...for those interested in toy washers, I recently aquired the most amazing addition to my collection. I've posted a pic of it here, but will add more later of the inside tub.

The toy operates on 4 "D" batteries and is about 10 inches high. The amazing part, is it actually operates like a real machine - the gear mechanism is complex and allows the tub to spin separately from the agitator, unlike a Suzy Homemaker toy which has the agitator an integral part of the spin basket.
The timer on the front works, or you can set it to a "free" setting that runs indefinitely. At the top, the sliding control lever switches from OFF to WASH or SPIN.

I'll have to do some research on the manufacturer - never heard of "Structo" and I never saw this as a child. It's very sturdily made of tin, with metal gears. The inner tub, spin basket and agitator are plastic.

bradross++9-21-2009-14-50-1.jpg
 
Brad,

Structo made an entire series of machines in this scale: Washer, dishwasher, refrigerator, stove and even some counter pieces so that you can put together a very cute kitchen. I have the washer and recently, thanks to Perc-o-Prince (Rich), now have the refrigerator.

Rich has the entire set. I'm sure with a little prodding, he'll post a picture of it.

Also, I was able to find the same Structo washer but instead of pink, it's in aqua blue.

Ron
 
Structo

If I remember right,the structo company was the introducer of the Erector set.Nonetheless,at one point,I had 7 of the GE toy washers by Structo and all but one of the worked. They were among my favorites in the toy washers I had aquired after finding ebay by accident while surfing on line one day. I went apeshit when I saw so many toy appliances on line for sale.I also had the Wolverine toy FRIGIDAIRE Imperial Three Ring agitator washer that I found along with the matching sink and frig.at a local antique store in B'more for $25!!!The washer actualy had the up and down agitation , a big 5 pound cap.tub and would spin about 600RPM if you realy cranked it!I lost all of it(the FRIGIDAIRES) just before leaving B'more.I still have one of the Structo/GEs.They also made a sink,dishwasher,wall oven cooktop and cabinets. All in pink and they all either lit up and/or realy worked.
 
Wow, I had no idea the company made such an extensive line of toy appliances! What era are we talking - 50s? I would love to see the others in the line - hopefully Rich Perco-Prince will post them !!!
 
Amazingly realistic for a toy-fully functional but on a minature scale-looks like it could really do the job.Since it uses 4 D batteries-bet it could be wired to run "indefinitely" from a 120Vac to6VDC adaptor.Looks like a really neat toy machine-the toys from that era were realistic and even functional.Wonder if it could do Barbie and other doll clothes?Really like how the agitate function works separate from the spin function-truely like a real full size machine.REALLY COOL!
 
They don't make toys like this anymore...WHY?.....best you can find in Kmart is a stacked FL kenmore made of particle board....a cabinet with shelves good for storage....we want actual running machines...with tdays technology..again WHY NOT?
 
thank you Mr.Ralph Nador.

Yes,the danger of someone,like a child getting hurt by one of these sharp edged,tin toys is the main reason Ralpf had them all removed from toy store shelves.
 
Love this set!!!

As you can see there are 9 pieces to the kitchen. Going from the left there is a cabinet unit that does nothing but provide storage. Next is the refrigerator with the swing out shelves(second picture) then the corner units which both have wood chopping blocks and lazy susan shelves then on to the double oven which lights up and the rotisserie/turkey spins. Next is the stove which lights up and the burners glow. After the other corner unit is the functioning sink which has a pump and reserve basin which recirculates the water through the faucet. Lastly is the functioning dishwasher that sprays the dishes with water that is recirculated. The brown pans as well as the white countertop appliances are original to the set. The appliances plug into holes in the countertop. They don't do anything but it looks good!! I love this set and have enjoyed collecting toys as much as the real things.

Enjoy your washer and I hope that you find other pieces to compliment it.

Rich
 
Amazing set!

Wow, Rich, what an amazing collection! There is no kitchen set then or since that comes close to the authenticity (and operational fun!) of that Structo set. Would love to see the dishwasher in action!

As much as I like the Suzy Homemaker group of toy appliances, I always thought with the washer and dishwasher they could have gone the "extra step" and made them slightly more functional. For example, in reference to the washer, having the agitator separate from the spin basket would have been better. And for the dishwasher, having the tub a little lower than the door sill so it would actually hold a decent amount of water. However, having said that, they are still pretty amazing toys compared to today's boring facsimiles.

I've included a YouTube link of a vintage 60s Suzy Homemaker TV ad. Amazing how "sexist" it seems now.



bradross++9-22-2009-23-31-34.jpg
 
What a neat group, Bob!!

I like the pink slant front. What is it? How does it work?

Brad...Thanks! I was lucky to have found the whole set at a flea market. It wasn't a steal but I think it was worth it. They are rather well made but were prone to rust :-( I have seen a few that were just rusted beyond saving. Thanks for posting the ads for Suzy Homemaker. I have a few of them and I remember growing up with them Great nostalgia :-)

Rich
 
Wolverine Washers

Two of my older cousins had Pink Wolvarine washers. One was a wringer having a three vane metal agitator. She never put water in it and did have a rubber drain hose. The other was a pink automatic and was part a kitchen set having a matching refrigerator and stove having plastic food and pots and pans as accessories. The washer had a hand crank on the right side. There was a dial to choose wash or spin. It too had a rubber drain hose The washer also had a clear plastic lid to watch the action created by while turning the crank. Its agitator was plastic and the spin "basket" had a lattice work design. The girls pretended to wash their doll clothes in their washers.
 
I think collecting toy/miniature appliances is more my speed. I'll have to keep an eye out for these going forward.

Ralph
 

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