Westinghouse Laundromat
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phmorrow
Well-known member
Thinking about purchasing
Are these machines any good??
Are these machines any good??
They're not fantastic performers, but they are fun machines. Any washer with a window is a bonus in my opinion... LOL
If you do decide to get it, be sure to secure the tub for transport. There should be threads in the archives about how to do this (ideally, the original shipping braces are still with the machine).
Good luck!
If you do decide to get it, be sure to secure the tub for transport. There should be threads in the archives about how to do this (ideally, the original shipping braces are still with the machine).
Good luck!
I agree that they're fun machines. If it's in working order as stated by the seller, just be sure the door boot is in decent shape. These old Laundromats aren't fussy like modern day front-load machines. They are no nonsense and get the job done a whole lot faster.
Tubs on these are small, but I presume you wouldn't be purchasing this machine to be your daily driver.
$75 is a very good price.
Tubs on these are small, but I presume you wouldn't be purchasing this machine to be your daily driver.
$75 is a very good price.
twintubdexter
Well-known member
This gives you a reasonable idea of the wash basket size. But remember, a former Powers Model, Miss Furness was very petit.
norgeway
Well-known member
The BEST!
Front load washer ever!! How many new LGs and Duets do you think will still be running at 60 years old!..If This was closer I would sure buy it!!!
Front load washer ever!! How many new LGs and Duets do you think will still be running at 60 years old!..If This was closer I would sure buy it!!!
DO NOT PASS
this one up!!! These are really wonderful machines, and the fact that the original owners were still using it until recently is a testament to their quality. They may not spin at as high an RPM as a new FL, but they are fast, dependable and do a great job washing. BTW, one of my Aunt's had one just like this that she bought new in 1955. Watching that machine in action is one of the primary reasons for my life long interest in washing machines.
this one up!!! These are really wonderful machines, and the fact that the original owners were still using it until recently is a testament to their quality. They may not spin at as high an RPM as a new FL, but they are fast, dependable and do a great job washing. BTW, one of my Aunt's had one just like this that she bought new in 1955. Watching that machine in action is one of the primary reasons for my life long interest in washing machines.
phmorrow
Well-known member
I think I'm going to pick it up.
If it doesn't work like the owner says, is there parts still out there for these things??
If it doesn't work like the owner says, is there parts still out there for these things??
Hardly learge enough for her brassieres
Then again, lady, the tub is way larger than any cup you'll ever need.
Then again, lady, the tub is way larger than any cup you'll ever need.
Your best resource for parts would be this site.
If the seller is on the level, you might be getting yourself a plug & play machine BUT -- the seller doesn't state how long ago the machine was purchased from the elderly couple. A few months ago? Thirty years ago?
Ask questions. It sounds like the seller never used the machine. Ask for a demo if there's a water hook-up (a garden hose will do -- attach it to the "HOT" water port) and power available. Try to determine why they're selling it.
Just because it was still working at some indefinite point in the past doesn't necessarily mean it didn't have issues, like perhaps a leak was accommodated by a pan placed under the machine, or the timer knob had to be advanced manually. Perhaps the previous user loved the machine but couldn't find anyone to repair it, so worked around any problems it may have developed. The slant-front I got for free back around 1970 had a stuck hot water solenoid because it had been sitting for so long. With some tweaking and regular use, it started working (shutting off) again.
Regardless, $75 is still a fair price for what could be a working and serviceable machine.
If the seller is on the level, you might be getting yourself a plug & play machine BUT -- the seller doesn't state how long ago the machine was purchased from the elderly couple. A few months ago? Thirty years ago?
Ask questions. It sounds like the seller never used the machine. Ask for a demo if there's a water hook-up (a garden hose will do -- attach it to the "HOT" water port) and power available. Try to determine why they're selling it.
Just because it was still working at some indefinite point in the past doesn't necessarily mean it didn't have issues, like perhaps a leak was accommodated by a pan placed under the machine, or the timer knob had to be advanced manually. Perhaps the previous user loved the machine but couldn't find anyone to repair it, so worked around any problems it may have developed. The slant-front I got for free back around 1970 had a stuck hot water solenoid because it had been sitting for so long. With some tweaking and regular use, it started working (shutting off) again.
Regardless, $75 is still a fair price for what could be a working and serviceable machine.
arbilab
Well-known member
So straightforward a child can fix it. If he can get parts. I rebuilt the pump and spin clutch in ours in 1961 which would make me 14. Without instructions. It's that obvious how it works/goes together. We paid a guy to replace the boot.
It's not "working" if the boot is shredded. A plan to fabricate replacement boots arose here not long ago, but seems to have evaporated.
There are no impossible-to-substitute hydraulic dampers in the suspension. Only 3 coil springs and 4 leaf springs with snubbers. Any H-W-C valve assembly can substitute, with possible mounting modifications.
Spin is around 250rpm so drying time will be extended. Supervision is advisable for spins of bulky items, there is no OOB sense/shutoff. Extreme OOB conditions require resetting the upper leaf snubbers. I left the top-lid screws out to make that simpler.
Use only controlled-suds (HE) detergents.
It's not "working" if the boot is shredded. A plan to fabricate replacement boots arose here not long ago, but seems to have evaporated.
There are no impossible-to-substitute hydraulic dampers in the suspension. Only 3 coil springs and 4 leaf springs with snubbers. Any H-W-C valve assembly can substitute, with possible mounting modifications.
Spin is around 250rpm so drying time will be extended. Supervision is advisable for spins of bulky items, there is no OOB sense/shutoff. Extreme OOB conditions require resetting the upper leaf snubbers. I left the top-lid screws out to make that simpler.
Use only controlled-suds (HE) detergents.
To make it easier to move...pop the top and remove the tub weights...there are 3 bolts for each of them....just make sure to put them back before use!
Fantastic machine
I am not quite sure if these were available in Germany, too, because we have/had many big makers of appliances in the 1960s around here, e.g. Míele, AEG, BOSCH, Siemens, Bauknecht, Zanker, Candy to name a few.
I might have heard that Westinghouse had a joint-venture with Siemens...
I am not quite sure if these were available in Germany, too, because we have/had many big makers of appliances in the 1960s around here, e.g. Míele, AEG, BOSCH, Siemens, Bauknecht, Zanker, Candy to name a few.
I might have heard that Westinghouse had a joint-venture with Siemens...
golittlesport
Well-known member
Check the boot
This would be a fun machine to own. My family had one when I was a boy. The boot would probably be the most difficult item to replace, but not impossible. Some on this site have retrofitted a later str8-front model Laundromat boot into these slant fronts. Spin speed is about 500 rpm, average for its day. It would probably do a great cleaning job with today's advanced HE detergents.
This would be a fun machine to own. My family had one when I was a boy. The boot would probably be the most difficult item to replace, but not impossible. Some on this site have retrofitted a later str8-front model Laundromat boot into these slant fronts. Spin speed is about 500 rpm, average for its day. It would probably do a great cleaning job with today's advanced HE detergents.
Wow, the sales slip...
...shows it was purchased from Castner-Knott, one of the great old Nashville department stores. They had a nice store on Church Street, as did their competitors Cain-Sloan and Harvey's.
I forget if Castner became Macy or Dillard's, but it was a fine store even in the Eighties.
...shows it was purchased from Castner-Knott, one of the great old Nashville department stores. They had a nice store on Church Street, as did their competitors Cain-Sloan and Harvey's.
I forget if Castner became Macy or Dillard's, but it was a fine store even in the Eighties.
Castner-Knott
became Dillards
became Dillards
Early Westinghouse Slant Front Washer
These were fairly reliable and easy to work on washers in their day, overall washing performance was an entirely different matter, they left many owners wishing for their old wringer washers back, LOL.
Differently check the condition of the door boot, without a good door boot the machine is pretty useless, and you should open the door and roll the boot off the cabinet front before even trying to move the machine unless you do manage to find and completely install the orignal shipping braces, otherwise even a perfect boot may get torn in moving the machine. Also keep these washers sitting upright when moving if they do not have all the shipping braces in place.
Good Luck let use know how it works out.
John L.
These were fairly reliable and easy to work on washers in their day, overall washing performance was an entirely different matter, they left many owners wishing for their old wringer washers back, LOL.
Differently check the condition of the door boot, without a good door boot the machine is pretty useless, and you should open the door and roll the boot off the cabinet front before even trying to move the machine unless you do manage to find and completely install the orignal shipping braces, otherwise even a perfect boot may get torn in moving the machine. Also keep these washers sitting upright when moving if they do not have all the shipping braces in place.
Good Luck let use know how it works out.
John L.
phmorrow
Well-known member
torn boot
If the boot is torn, should I purchase the machine anyways? I don't know if it is, but I don't think I want it if I cant fix/use it.
If the boot is torn, should I purchase the machine anyways? I don't know if it is, but I don't think I want it if I cant fix/use it.
The boot is the hardest part to replace, alas... BUT it is possible to substitute the original boot with a more 'modern' one. If the machine is in good working condition, don't let this be an obstacle.
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