Westinghouse Electric Corporation Mansfield Ohio, 1954

[programcomputer]

I was browsing about on e-bay earlier this evening and found this wonderful COLOR snapshot of the Mansfield Ohio Westinghouse Facility from what the auction says is 1954. by studying the cars in the picture, I can really say I do believe what the auction says..... There wasnt a car in sight that was made AFTER 1954.

I know a while back there was a thread on the vintage appliance factories, and all of the former Westinghouse factory seems to be still there and intact. You can see much of it in it's now faded glory on Google Earth. I put in 403 Fourth Street in Google Earth, which is the address on the back of my 1958 Westinghouse Laundromat brochure and it takes you right there. To what I believe are the divisions former offices.

According to what I've read "The Westinghouse" was opened and making appliances until 1990. This shot would have been facing NW and looking at what should be Third Street according to Google Earth. This was clearly their goods outwards area, and what most likely was reffered to as thier "Third St Gate". The water tank you see in the photo can still CLEARLY be seen on the GoEa shot as well.

I can just Imagine the glorious applainces being built inside there. Laundromats, Refridgerators, Vacuums etcetera etcetera......(SIGH)

Well anyway here is the shot I found just a while ago. You can look it up on Ebay if you wan tthe actual photo.

 

[toggleswitch2]

.
I'd love to visit a washer factory. Perhaps a club field-trip is in order over some long weekend. Can you imagine a hotel booked-up in it's entirety with "us"?

WHAT FUN!

Does any manufacturer in this country run tours?

 

[norgeway]

Some vacuum manufacturers do

I have been to the Kirby factory,the vacuum club has been to several others, so I don't know why a major appliance company would'nt, might not be a bad idea to put out some feelers.

 

[westingman123]

Count me in!!

A club field trip would be just the thing! Although, Toggles, I'm not certain ANY hotel could handle a booking of "us". Imagine, would you, the lobby filled with appliance lovers? OY!

 

[supremewhirlpol]

And remember no field trip would be complete without some of us bringing some of our machines.

 

[rp2813]

We used to have a huge Westinghouse sign like that, maybe even larger, in Emeryville. From across the bay in San Francisco the bright yellow lettering was easily visible and legible. My guess is that it's either modern lofts or an Ikea is on that same chunk of property now.

 

[circlew]

Jeff in Mansfield (JEB) should have all the details concerning this place.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Imagine, would you, the lobby filled with appliance lovers? OY!

Lobby, hell, the Laundry.

 

[jeb]

Wesstinghouse plant

The plant is in deed still there. In the middle of the factory there is a ballroom/auditorium with a stage were they use to produce T.V commercials and have dances for employees.After the plant closed they tried to rent this out for bannquets, proms and such. It is still very "art deco ".I was at a wedding reception there and I snoped around as much as I could. The halls, reception room, bathrooms ect... are all decorated with vintage pictures from the plant. They are tring to rent out space in the hugh plant for small factories. JEB

 

[jeb]

Westinghouse auditorium pic

I found this pic of Westinghouse auditorium ( one of my relatives is in there somewhere.)

 

[goatfarmer]

I've been to the Whirlpool plant, in Benton Harbor, near the end of washer production. Also been to the Gibson refrigerator plant in Greenville, MI, when they were still operating.
Both times making deliveries.

 

[peteski50]

Westinghouse!

This is when employees were treated like people, today they treat you like trash in the work place!
Peter

 

[circlew]

The electric range in the background is very similar to mine (a '53), and the Laundromat washer is like the one my Mom got for Christmas when I was a baby. That washer lasted until '65 when it was replaced by another Westinghouse that had lots of troubles including rust. It was tossed out in '73 when they bought the Maytag set. Other Westinghouse products were a '53 fridge, a '63 dryer, and a room AC (late '60's).

 

[xraytech]

I would just love to throw a dinner party in the Westinghouse ballroom.
Just Imagine a beautiful elegant dinner served in that room with the walls lined in Westinghouse products.

 

[programcomputer]

Vintage Westinghouse Interior Photos.

Jeff,

Wow are there more pics you have like that. I'd sure love to see them.

Chad

 

[alr2903]

Jeb thanks for the great picture, of the employee ceremony "after the luncheon" yet. Over the "twins" is that a big poster like a dealer would have in an appliance showroom? What a great picture. alr2903

 

[westingman123]

A dinner party...

Now THAT would be a sight! Particularly if the old photographs remain. The hey-day of appliances; I'd say. I wonder if, in addition to renting the facility, they would allow a tour.

 

[laundromat]

Aldwash/Laundromat

During my successfull runaway back in 1974,after my Mother's suicide,I was with a Christian/Hippy group that took me with them to Mansfield Ohio.while there,I was asked to gather up everyone's laundry.I was sent to go do laundry on the main street and was in complete shock when I realised the Lundromat I went to was directly on and in front of the Westinghouse factory.The manager of the laundromat said that the washers and dryers there were test models that Westinghouse made and they changed them regularly.There were quite a few of the old Aldwash,Aldry and Aldspin units there.The factory was closed but reopened the next day,Monday.

 

[appnut]

Chuck, what were Aldwash, Aldry, and Aldspin units?