Why not start your wash day with this 1981 White Westinghouse!
You can be sure!
- Thread starter peteski50
- Start date
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That looks like the model WW front loader I purchased in 1982.
It worked well and I liked it very much. However, it did have a few downsides:
sometimes it did tangle clothes, as the tub never reversed direction.
it tended to get out-of-balance, sometimes, during spin
Had the most unimaginabley loud spin solenoid. When somone was standing next to the machine when the spin solenoid engaged, they usually visibly jumped (including me)! This feature actually caused more fun than annoyance, if you could get an unsuspecting observing to stand next to the machine right before the spin cycle. Hehe
Advantages:
Was a cool looking machine
Washed well (sping dry was only so so though)
Had a remarkably simple tumble/spin mechanism. One motor, two pulleys, two belts and a spin solenoid Eassy to undestand and repair--couldn't have been more simple than if a six year old had designed it.
The wash pulley was not round, but oval shaped, which gave it a variable rotational (tumble)speed so light fabrics did not ride all the way around the tub, and heavy fabrics would not roll at the bottom. In other words, the theory was that the slow/fast/slow/fast tumble speed would pick up all fabrics, regardless of weight, and drop them in the water from the top of the tub as the tub rotated.
Cool, huh
I orderded a repair manual from WW when I owned it, and they sent me one which had actually been published by Westinghouse before White Consolidated Industries bought the Westinghouse Appliance Division.
If I recall, only the cover of the manual was modified to indicate White-WEstinghouse. Apparently, virtually nothing had been changed in the design since the 1960's, except for the cosmetics.
If you can find one of these machines, I recommend you buy it!!
It worked well and I liked it very much. However, it did have a few downsides:
sometimes it did tangle clothes, as the tub never reversed direction.
it tended to get out-of-balance, sometimes, during spin
Had the most unimaginabley loud spin solenoid. When somone was standing next to the machine when the spin solenoid engaged, they usually visibly jumped (including me)! This feature actually caused more fun than annoyance, if you could get an unsuspecting observing to stand next to the machine right before the spin cycle. Hehe
Advantages:
Was a cool looking machine
Washed well (sping dry was only so so though)
Had a remarkably simple tumble/spin mechanism. One motor, two pulleys, two belts and a spin solenoid Eassy to undestand and repair--couldn't have been more simple than if a six year old had designed it.
The wash pulley was not round, but oval shaped, which gave it a variable rotational (tumble)speed so light fabrics did not ride all the way around the tub, and heavy fabrics would not roll at the bottom. In other words, the theory was that the slow/fast/slow/fast tumble speed would pick up all fabrics, regardless of weight, and drop them in the water from the top of the tub as the tub rotated.
Cool, huh
I orderded a repair manual from WW when I owned it, and they sent me one which had actually been published by Westinghouse before White Consolidated Industries bought the Westinghouse Appliance Division.
If I recall, only the cover of the manual was modified to indicate White-WEstinghouse. Apparently, virtually nothing had been changed in the design since the 1960's, except for the cosmetics.
If you can find one of these machines, I recommend you buy it!!
Startling spin solenoid is right...
I have my Grandmother's late '70's "New Generation Washer", the front-load Spacemates design...
I still jump when that thing snaps into spin...
Another advantage...
With the Water Saver selector, I can adjust the intensity of the wash action..."Min" for maximum lift and drop, to "Large" for a more delicate tumble...
I wish these were still available...
George
I have my Grandmother's late '70's "New Generation Washer", the front-load Spacemates design...
I still jump when that thing snaps into spin...
Another advantage...
With the Water Saver selector, I can adjust the intensity of the wash action..."Min" for maximum lift and drop, to "Large" for a more delicate tumble...
I wish these were still available...
George
I always found the water level to be set at the midway point was perfect for almost all loads.....seemed to self-adjust to each load washed.....
I had the stacked pair, great set......loved them......washers like these FL are great if you have a septic system....minimal water going in for several loads.....not to mention 3 rinses, you couldn't get that out of a TLer
I had the stacked pair, great set......loved them......washers like these FL are great if you have a septic system....minimal water going in for several loads.....not to mention 3 rinses, you couldn't get that out of a TLer
arbilab
Well-known member
The coil on that solenoid was the size of an adult male fist. Not exactly Energy Star.
The only "mechanism" in these is a one-way clutch between the pulleys. The spin pulley when driven overran the tumble pulley.
The only "mechanism" in these is a one-way clutch between the pulleys. The spin pulley when driven overran the tumble pulley.
Yes, that is beauty of theses machines. As I said previously, the "mechanism" is super simple. A motor, a clutch, two drive belts and two pulleys on the inner tub shaft.
Interesting how Westinghouse damped the tub oscillations during spin. There were two tensioned round rubber devices (looked like large suction cups) with a metal plate between. One of these on the left lower side and one on the right lower side. They were connected to the outer tub by an arm. When the tub began oscillating, the friction of the rubber against the plating damped the movements. It worked, maybe not as efficiently as todays shock absorber type dampers, but they did work. When a severe imbalance did occur, you knew it, as well as everyone else in the house!
Overall, I think that number of years that Westinghouse Laundromat basic mechanism design existed, is a testimony to the engineers and their use of the "KISS" principle.
Anyone with even a spattering of handiwork ability could make repairs to the Westinghouse's electrical or mechanical components.
Interesting how Westinghouse damped the tub oscillations during spin. There were two tensioned round rubber devices (looked like large suction cups) with a metal plate between. One of these on the left lower side and one on the right lower side. They were connected to the outer tub by an arm. When the tub began oscillating, the friction of the rubber against the plating damped the movements. It worked, maybe not as efficiently as todays shock absorber type dampers, but they did work. When a severe imbalance did occur, you knew it, as well as everyone else in the house!
Overall, I think that number of years that Westinghouse Laundromat basic mechanism design existed, is a testimony to the engineers and their use of the "KISS" principle.
Anyone with even a spattering of handiwork ability could make repairs to the Westinghouse's electrical or mechanical components.
wireman
Well-known member
I rented a house on Beaver Island, MI that had the stackable set from somewhere in the early 80's. They were placed side by side though in the master bedroom closet. I lived in the house for 3 years in the mid-nineties. An old widow owned the house, and I rented from executor of her estate after she went to a very nice nursing home on the mainland.
When did it become White/ Westinghouse? Thinking those were the W/W brand. Don't recall a scale on the door. I'd never had a front loader before, and was impressed that they seemed to work well, even on my filthy work clothes. They could be rather noisy. Don't think they'd seen much use when the widow lived there. The washer was showing a bit of rust in places; perhaps the boot wasn't sealing well. Did Westinghouse abandon the slant front just to make their machines look more modern? Seems like they would've been easier to load/ unload; it was bit of a chore to unload the wet clothes in the 80's model. Were these as dependable over time as most top loaders?
Was in the house a few years ago and was sad to see that they'd been replaced by an more standard stack unit.
Duane
When did it become White/ Westinghouse? Thinking those were the W/W brand. Don't recall a scale on the door. I'd never had a front loader before, and was impressed that they seemed to work well, even on my filthy work clothes. They could be rather noisy. Don't think they'd seen much use when the widow lived there. The washer was showing a bit of rust in places; perhaps the boot wasn't sealing well. Did Westinghouse abandon the slant front just to make their machines look more modern? Seems like they would've been easier to load/ unload; it was bit of a chore to unload the wet clothes in the 80's model. Were these as dependable over time as most top loaders?
Was in the house a few years ago and was sad to see that they'd been replaced by an more standard stack unit.
Duane
arbilab
Well-known member
Not forgetting that the moveable spin sheave formed the simplest of CVT, continuously variable transmission. Under startup load the sheave was kept from closing by belt torque fighting the solenoid spring, making the diameter smaller. As the drum came to speed the sheave closed where the belt ran around its full diameter to full speed. I know of no other design so simply elegant. And the sheave could be replaced by a 12yo (me).
