Whirlpool / Kenmore Washer Production 1969 - 16mm

[cadman]

It's Wednesday, and you know what that means... This week we take a peek behind the curtain at WP's washing machine production at their original St. Joe, MI plant, circa 1969.

 

[Unimatic1140]

Wow o Wow, I think this film was my favorite so far Cory. It is absolutely fascinating to see the assembly line of Whirlpool in '69. It is strange how they seem to be making one specific model of Whirlpool washer that day, but occasionally you see a lone Kenmore washer also coming down the line. In the middle of the film you see where someone pushes the Whirlpool and Kenmore washers down different paths for boxing up. I wonder if they ever messed up and pushed the wrong brand into the wrong box lol.

Thanks again Cory.

 

[maytag85]

When Whirlpool was Whirlpool, before they started cutting corners in the 1980’s and 1990’s.

 

[vacerator]

About the time every company began cutting corners. Actually about 1977.

 

[combo52]

Whirlpool has been cutting corner since 1926, every American manufacturer that survive learned how to reduce cost and improve quality they wouldn’t survive if they didn’t.

I can make a good argument today that whirlpool is making better appliances than they ever made certainly they’re more reliable and much better built than they ever were quality control is at an all-time high Product failures within warranty at the lowest point ever in whirlpools history since I was born at least.


John L

 

[maytag85]

Whirlpool has been cutting corner since 1926, every American manufacturer that survive learned how to reduce cost and improve quality they wouldn’t survive if they didn’t.

I can make a good argument today that whirlpool is making better appliances than they ever made certainly they’re more reliable and much better built than they ever were quality control is at an all-time high Product failures within warranty at the lowest point ever in whirlpools history since I was born at least.


John L

Built better my butt, newer Whirlpools are having major issues from the get go. As for more reliable, that’s a completely false statement, there’s no way on earth these newer Whirlpools will be running in 20 years time, let alone 5 to 10 years time.

Here we go again by going with opinions and not facts.

In a thread cadman created awhile back on a open house tour back in 1953, you essentially mentioned the same thing on newer appliances be ‘more reliable’, meanwhile Robert witnessed those 1950’s machines were still being used 20 years later in the 1970’s on a regular basis.

 

[peteski50]

Thanks Cory for the great video - when they built quality washers

 

[maytagmike]

Another good one Cory !!! Keep em comin, I really enjoy these.

 

[agiflow]

Thanks again, Cory
That was very enjoyable.

I guess when we talk about quality we have to be specific. The machines made today certainly aren't robust like these were and the fact that these were built with US steel compared to some of the flimsy metal coming from Asia.