Hey Guys,

Here is another machine i got a call about. It's a 1950's Kelvinator Orbital Semi Automatic. The owner is a lovely old dear who responed to my wanted advert and said it's mine to have if i want it and for no money. I defintely do want it and am going to offer her a few dollars for it, after all, she did take the pictures on a disposable camera i sent her and she also sent me a nice xmas card too!

She was still using it up till a few years ago. Now, the owner is certain the hose going through the lid was for filling manually, which i find a little strange. I won't know till i eventually get the machine to my home. The left dial is the timer and the right dial controls the wash and spin.

With a little TLC she is going to come up sparkling!

Cheers
Leon

Long shot: the rusty cabinet will be attended too

Closer pic of the control panel and hose

With lid up

closer interior pic

Interior pic again: note perforated inner bowl!

Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That's nice machine!
How does it agitate? Oscillating or excentric circulating?

Ralf

What a great washer! Looks like December 2007 has been Kelvinator month........

Interesting machine! Australia seems to have had a lot of semi-automatics in the past. I hope you get this one!

Wow! A great find. Given the old Kelvey's penchant for high water usage the hole in the lid is not such a surprise---just stick a hose through it and comeback in twenty minutes or so for that extra effective rinse!

Congratulations!

Excellent find, I love that she's standing with the machine - makes the story so much more fun.

That perforated liner in the tub is so cool - did Kelvinator advertise that as adding to the washing action? More "action jets" for better cleaning?

Congrats on another great find!

Wow that is very cool, the agitator and cap is from the mid 60's (at least here in the US), but the rest of the machine screams 50's! Love the hose through the lid, be sure to get some plexiglas cut to drop over the tub opening, otherwise you will get a bath! :) You're going to love this machine!

This is a very cool machine - cannot believe it! I'm with Steve - since it is a semi-auto, let the water loose on that last rinse for itchy free clothes. What a great story - thanks for sharing ~

Ben

Here is how the hole in the lid works, ingenious really. It is for a manual suds return since this machine is semi-automatic. First you spin out the wash water, this machine is like the old Frigidaire models where the pump is always running. You would need a double laundry tray so if you continued with the rinse and final spin of the first load you had somewhere to dispose of the rinse and spin water. Time to "save suds". Put operation knob in spin and start machine briefly with timer. The pump would spit out any residual water in the bellows and when you shut off the timer a syphon occurs that puts the wash water back into the outer tub. Once all the water is in the outer tub you take the drain hose and put it through the hole in the top of the lid, set the selector to wash, set the timer and the machine will pump the water in the outer tub to the wash tub. The process eliminates the laundry room cleanup if you left the lid up through the process. Much the same as Frigidaire suds saver we remember with the the spring loaded ball at the end of the drain hose.

It's that Kelvinator agitator action that gives you greater washing satisfaction, Kelvinator washes cleanest, washes cleanest........

the second I saw that hose I JUST KNEW it was for suds-saving. I just wrote about it in the other thread, and was going to ask my brothers down under about Aussie suds-banks and such because you such unusual machines down there, just like your flora and fauna. I wondered if any of your machines actually kept used water on board. I only ask because many times over the 2 years I've been in the club , you guys have often talked about suds-returns; in fact is was one of you who first introduced the term,"suds-bank" (I think) Do any of you know of a machine the kept the suds water on board during the rinse cycle. Sounds impossible, I know, but hey it's Australia and you have the coolest things down there.

It's really Christmas time with all these shared treasures.

For the record, I WOULD DIE to have that machine .

thank you for the wonderful treat-- too perfect for words-- A Kelvinator, a Semi, and a Suds-return. For me, that is a washer made in heaven--go check the Vovoguy Thesis thread. Unbelievable, but it happened.

mickeyd

I would love to know the exact year of this machine. We had the matching Kelvinator electric dryer with those same knobs in the early '60's. (I'm looking, if anyone has a lead.)