White Westinghouse washer

[kermit]

Was wondering about this, does it have the more older style of agitation, like the filter flos, because I found several good washers in about the same distance, like both a whirlpool BD, and a kenmore BD which I posted earlier on the forum, a GE filter Flo with matching dryer, and the Westinghouse. If it does have the agitation that I like, then I will highly consider it since I have always taken a liking to those vintage Westinghouse washers

 

[Unimatic1140]

Yes that washer has vintage agitation, although the turnover is reduced a bit by the indexing wash tub with each backstroke, it still is a good overall washer. Here is the style washer operating:

 

[agiflow]

It is something when you look at the GE's large capacity tub today...it is so small in comparison to the lost in a canyon sized capacities being pushed now. At least with these classics you can utilize the whole tub. So actually they are more efficient.

 

[lotsosudz]

Never understood indexing tubs.

Westinghouse could have had a great washer, with the ramped agi, and the two minute spray rinse, if they only ditched the indexing tubs. It really affected what could have been great turn over. The other thing they didn't have was an affective lint filter. The amount of lint collected out of 9 towels, compared to what GE would have collected, is pathetic. I liked the idea of the Hand wash agitator, but their engineering on their top loaders, was marginal. Just my opinion. Loved, and owned an 1984 front loader, that was the bomb.
Hugs,
David

 

[kenmoreguy89]

Me neither understand indexing tubs.

They said it was to improve wash (even though it did the exact opposite) and I think the reality was the cost cutting.

After all it was a feature in cheap machines such as Franklin Western aauto etc...

And Westinghouse always cared more about front loaders, they started making toploaders when the market required toploaders .

Top of the line models were front loaders, TL's were the cheaper Westinghouse offerings.

Westinghouse eventually kept being cheap machines ended the FL's and IIRC was the first one or one of the first ones with  stuff such as plastic inner tubs with not much surprise.

[this post was last edited: 5/27/2021-11:23]

 

[agiflow]

Had an early to mid 70s lightly used Westy top loader back in 1983. It must have been top of the line. It had a panel light with vertical push buttons for speed and end of cycle buzzer and a row of pushbuttons for temperature and a button for the panel light.

I agree about the indexing tub though.Just being cheap and hampering the performance of an otherwise decent agitator. Ours also had the hand wash agitator.

Next to the alliance Speed Queen that I had it was the best washer I remember for vibration control also.

 

[gizmo]

I  don't understand why is is believed that indexing does anything to reduce wash performance. The video shows perfectly good agitation.

I don't know what agitator was used in them in the USA, but Australian ones had the spiral ramp agitator which does move the clothes differently in one direction compared to the other, but that is agitator design not a result of indexing. It is a very good agitator design, also used in the Australian Hoovers based on the US Blackstone washers.

The Fisher and Paykel Gentle Annie washer had a fully floating wash basket - it was never braked, it was free to swing either way during agitation, and was a great washer and very advanced for its time.  

Video from ChestermikeUK.

[this post was last edited: 5/28/2021-07:06]

 

[agiflow]

Mine had the blue ramped agitator. It did ok with turnover but these would have done much better with a brake. I think when WCI took over the tubs seemed to index even more.

It's like the Amana I have has no tub brake but it washes very well and there is good turnover but the tub oscillates in both directions and not by very much with that splutch design.