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Thread Number: 12020
Look at this 1956 Dexter! |
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Post# 212802 5/28/2007 at 16:41 (6,171 days old) by unimatic1140  (Minneapolis) |
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Post# 212811 , Reply# 1 5/28/2007 at 17:15 (6,171 days old) by gyrafoam (Wytheville, VA) |
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The controls and console are almost identical to the Philco of that era. I wonder if it is a Beam? | ||
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Post# 212816 , Reply# 2 5/28/2007 at 17:31 (6,171 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!) |
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Post# 212819 , Reply# 3 5/28/2007 at 17:41 (6,171 days old) by frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie) |
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Great console on that one. What companies used the Beam design besides Philco And while I'm in a question-asking mood: Which brands used the Franklin (indexing tub) transmission? I believe Wizard/Coronado did. Were they in real Westinghouse TL'ers, too? Or did they show up in Westys when WCI took over? | ||
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Post# 212820 , Reply# 4 5/28/2007 at 17:56 (6,171 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!) |
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This '56 Dexter is not a Beam/Franklin design despite the similarity of the agitators. Dexter was aquired by Philco in the mid-50's so this is a Philco-made washer through and through. Franklin aquired the Beam Mfg. Co. in the mid to later 50's Beam was a source for parts and entire machines for many manufacturers and brand names - Coronado, Hotpoint, Western Auto/Wizard, Marquette, CO-OP, AMC, Bradford, Firestone, One Minute, Unico, Zenith and others at one time or another were either completely made by Beam/Franklin or used many parts & designs of the Beam Co. machines. Speed Queen was last surviving Beam-design. | ||
| Post# 212821 , Reply# 5 5/28/2007 at 18:01 (6,171 days old) by sudsman () | ||
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Dexter Dexter is still in business today. But only builds commerical equiptment.. It is one of the very few co. that builds its own bearings.. CLICK HERE TO GO TO sudsman's LINK | ||
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Post# 212883 , Reply# 6 5/28/2007 at 21:21 (6,171 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA) |
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This machine is totally cool Okay - history lesson for those who know jack about Automatic Dexter's/Philco's. Okay, since this is not a Beam/Franklin machine - what is it? Did Philco actually have a facility where they produced automatics before the Bendix purchase in the late 50's - or were these machines actually made in Fairfield? If so - I'm got some doors to go knocking on : Yes, Dexter is an employee owned company, currently with a fully opperational foundry and production facility in Fairfield on Grimes Ave. I remember driving to work and school, seeing the picket lines with foundry workers shouting and screaming at the 'scabs' as they crossed the line to work their corproate jobs at the production facility. Looks like things will never change Ben | ||
| Post# 212915 , Reply# 7 5/28/2007 at 23:15 (6,171 days old) by golittlesport (California) | ||
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Post# 212931 , Reply# 8 5/29/2007 at 01:43 (6,171 days old) by mayfan69 (Brisbane Queensland Australia) |
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Cool looking Washer! | ||
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Post# 212944 , Reply# 9 5/29/2007 at 07:39 (6,170 days old) by jetcone (Schenectady-Home of Calrods,Monitor Tops,Toroid Transformers) |
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OH THATS JUST OVER THE TOP! | ||
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Post# 212946 , Reply# 10 5/29/2007 at 07:43 (6,170 days old) by jetcone (Schenectady-Home of Calrods,Monitor Tops,Toroid Transformers) |
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Robert | ||
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Post# 212952 , Reply# 11 5/29/2007 at 08:10 (6,170 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!) |
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Post# 212953 , Reply# 12 5/29/2007 at 08:11 (6,170 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!) |
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Post# 212954 , Reply# 13 5/29/2007 at 08:19 (6,170 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!) |
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I brought a Philco washer of this vintage home from a junkyard in Western Nebraska back in 2002. It was pretty rough, but I didn't want to come home empty handed. Jimmy (FilterFlo) took it home with him later in the year after getting the matching dryer at the South Dakota farm. He played with the washer in the driveway and actually got it running. I believe he still has the pair, perhaps he'll post some pics of it. Although some of the parts may have been sourced from other companies, it definitely was no Beam design - all Philco The link is to an ebay ad for Philco-Bendix washers & dryers and it shows, though hard to see, the last of the Philco style agitator washers - 1957. CLICK HERE TO GO TO gansky1's LINK on eBay 
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| Post# 212958 , Reply# 14 5/29/2007 at 08:37 (6,170 days old) by peterh770 (Marietta, GA) | ||
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Post# 213043 , Reply# 15 5/29/2007 at 18:57 (6,170 days old) by jetcone (Schenectady-Home of Calrods,Monitor Tops,Toroid Transformers) |
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So BIC made the Philco washers in the 50's?? | ||
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Post# 213045 , Reply# 16 5/29/2007 at 19:12 (6,170 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA) |
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So - we know this is a Philco made washer. pre Bendix, but no Franklin/Beam anywhere to be seen - interesting. Are the mechanicals similar to anything else out there? Any picts Jimmy of your set Jon - I lived in Fairfield from June of 1997 till May of 2002 - and graduated from high school during that time and went to a community college in a neighboring city. Most of the original foundry is still there - all original turn-of-the-century. When you walk by the plant along 9th street up by the main set of tracks, you can look into the basement and see shelves of parts - but I assume these are parts to keep the machinery alive and not Bendix parts. But only if... I'm planning a trip to Fairfield in July for a wedding - I'll have to snap some pics for you guys Ben | ||
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Post# 213064 , Reply# 17 5/29/2007 at 21:01 (6,170 days old) by unimatic1140 (Minneapolis) |
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Ok everyone, what is cool about this machine is it was produced by Philco. There are no Beam or Franklin parts in it (as far as I know). It was produced from 1956 thru 1958 only, then in 1959 Philco decided to go with the new Automagic design and discontinued this, but they perfected the Ball-Point balance system in this design (which is one of the best balance systems I have ever seen) and then they used that same balance system in the Automagic. Here are some shots of the mechanicals...
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Post# 213079 , Reply# 18 5/29/2007 at 21:37 (6,170 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!) |
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Post# 213098 , Reply# 19 5/29/2007 at 22:43 (6,170 days old) by unimatic1140 (Minneapolis) |
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It does look like a Beam pump though ;-) | ||
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Post# 213110 , Reply# 20 5/30/2007 at 00:09 (6,170 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!) |
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Tee Hee--- | ||
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Post# 213385 , Reply# 22 5/31/2007 at 13:36 (6,168 days old) by unimatic1140 (Minneapolis) |
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Since that HUGE rubber outer tub to pump hose is stationary and does not move it would be easy to patch if necessary. Philco used this on all of its washers (Agitator, Power Surge and Automagic) at least through 1960. The big rubber hose acted as a chamber to fill when the wash tub was being filled with water, as the water reached the top of the tub it overflowed and filled this chamber with 1/4 gallon of water. Once filled with 1/4 gallon of water it tripped the pressure switch and started agitation. This chamber system used a lot less water than machines like the GE, Easy or Wizard which had to overflow fill 3 or more gallons into the outer tub in order to trip the pressure switch.
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Post# 213804 , Reply# 23 6/2/2007 at 18:09 (6,166 days old) by abcomatic (Bradford, Illinois) |
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HI Bob, Any more news on the Dexter automatic? I would be interested if there is. Thanks a lot for this wonderful site. ABC o matic. Gary | ||
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Post# 213961 , Reply# 25 6/3/2007 at 10:21 (6,165 days old) by unimatic1140 (Minneapolis) |
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Post# 213963 , Reply# 26 6/3/2007 at 10:22 (6,165 days old) by unimatic1140 (Minneapolis) |
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Post# 215487 , Reply# 28 6/11/2007 at 18:47 (6,157 days old) by gyrafoam (Wytheville, VA) |
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1956 Dexter Photo #1 
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Post# 215488 , Reply# 29 6/11/2007 at 18:49 (6,157 days old) by gyrafoam (Wytheville, VA) |
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1956 Dexter Photo#2 
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Post# 215489 , Reply# 30 6/11/2007 at 18:51 (6,157 days old) by gyrafoam (Wytheville, VA) |
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1956 Dexter Photo#3 
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Post# 215490 , Reply# 31 6/11/2007 at 18:54 (6,157 days old) by gyrafoam (Wytheville, VA) |
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1956 Dexter Photo#4 With rear-panel removed. 
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Post# 215491 , Reply# 32 6/11/2007 at 18:56 (6,157 days old) by gyrafoam (Wytheville, VA) |
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1956 Dexter Photo#5 With front panel removed. 
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Post# 215492 , Reply# 33 6/11/2007 at 18:58 (6,157 days old) by gyrafoam (Wytheville, VA) |
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1956 Dexter Photo#6 Resting in the kitchen waiting to do her first load in years. Got to get that tub to pump hose squared-away first. 
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Post# 215493 , Reply# 34 6/11/2007 at 19:05 (6,157 days old) by gyrafoam (Wytheville, VA) |
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1956 Dexter Photo#7 Oh, and check out the vacuum-breaker on the fill! You are looking up at the right FRONT corner of the machine. Water must shoot about three inches across to get to the fill-flume! If any spills, it drops down into the little metal "bowl" that directs it through a couple of holes into the outer-tub. 
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Post# 215517 , Reply# 36 6/11/2007 at 20:28 (6,157 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!) |
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Post# 215530 , Reply# 37 6/11/2007 at 21:09 (6,157 days old) by unimatic1140 (Minneapolis) |
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| Post# 215541 , Reply# 38 6/11/2007 at 21:36 (6,157 days old) by pturo (Syracuse, New York) | ||
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What a great save and great pictures! You gotta just love that control panel. | ||
| Post# 215548 , Reply# 40 6/11/2007 at 21:50 (6,157 days old) by rickr (.) | ||
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| Post# 215549 , Reply# 41 6/11/2007 at 21:58 (6,157 days old) by tlee618 () | ||
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Steve, I am so happy that you got the Dexter!! I know that it is going to a good home. Please keep us posted. It is going to be so much fun when you do your first load in it. | ||
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Post# 215553 , Reply# 43 6/11/2007 at 22:01 (6,157 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA) |
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Post# 215556 , Reply# 44 6/11/2007 at 22:05 (6,157 days old) by jetcone (Schenectady-Home of Calrods,Monitor Tops,Toroid Transformers) |
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Steve georgeous machine
and a nice SAVE! I wanna see that in person. Can you take a close up of the "Automatic Washer" script on the right? I would like to turn that into Embroidery and I'll send you a shirt! That's too cool. I saw a hose that is for the LG combo that looks alot like your tub to drain hose, I bet you could get that to work there. What were these idiots thinking not molding enough rubber for us?? | ||
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Post# 215571 , Reply# 45 6/11/2007 at 22:50 (6,157 days old) by gyrafoam (Wytheville, VA) |
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Jet------ Thanks for the tip on the tub to pump hose---I'll check that out. Heres your photo--------- 
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| Post# 215578 , Reply# 46 6/11/2007 at 23:47 (6,157 days old) by golittlesport (California) | ||
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Post# 215584 , Reply# 47 6/12/2007 at 00:01 (6,157 days old) by peteski50 (New York) |
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Dexter! | ||
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Post# 215608 , Reply# 48 6/12/2007 at 07:07 (6,156 days old) by gyrafoam (Wytheville, VA) |
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Heres one for you, Ben---------- Photo#9 
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| Post# 215646 , Reply# 49 6/12/2007 at 11:27 (6,156 days old) by roto204 (Tucson, AZ) | ||
WOW!!! | ||
| Post# 215672 , Reply# 50 6/12/2007 at 18:30 (6,156 days old) by mickeyd (Hamburg NY) | ||
Seeing "SPRAY RINSE" on the dial is so rare 
and makes me so happy since I worship spray rinses that I almost got tears in my eyes. How I'd love to see that machine. You know I'm always struck by family resemblances in washing machines, and the second i saw the Dexter Automatic which I did not know existed until that moment, I recognized the controls right away. On the pink double tub wringer, the are two large matching drain controls with a button in the middle-- all highly reminiscent of that gorgeous automatic. I can't wait to see pics or flix of its operation. I bet you're so happy to have it. Dexter Automatics!! Who knew?? | ||
| Post# 215673 , Reply# 51 6/12/2007 at 18:41 (6,156 days old) by northwesty (Renton, WA) | ||
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Hose fixin' It is called Rapid Seal. Says it will hold up to 100 psi. I triple wrapped one hose and haven't had any problems. You remove the white backing as you go, it can be a little tricky. I used tie-downs on the ends to keep it in place too. 
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Post# 215704 , Reply# 52 6/12/2007 at 21:00 (6,156 days old) by gyrafoam (Wytheville, VA) |
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Thanks Brian---- I'm going to get some of that! | ||
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Post# 215708 , Reply# 54 6/12/2007 at 21:10 (6,156 days old) by gyrafoam (Wytheville, VA) |
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I panned back a bit this time to get a better shot. Cycle set at "full" water level setting, and temp. selector on hot. Load of filthy towels, so I dumped in a cup of Viva. 
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Post# 215709 , Reply# 55 6/12/2007 at 21:14 (6,156 days old) by gyrafoam (Wytheville, VA) |
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Filled all the way to the top and over-flowed just a bit before agitation began----a good thing with this low pressure!(Most "time-fill" machines I have need re-setting to get a full tub of water in this house). 
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Post# 215714 , Reply# 57 6/12/2007 at 21:24 (6,156 days old) by gyrafoam (Wytheville, VA) |
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Slowly beginning the spin. 
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Post# 215716 , Reply# 58 6/12/2007 at 21:27 (6,156 days old) by gyrafoam (Wytheville, VA) |
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Suprise! A (warm) "spray-rinse" begins just about the time the tub is clear of the wash water------however machine is still not spinning very fast. I really like that double fan-spray, it lasts for one increment. 
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Post# 215720 , Reply# 60 6/12/2007 at 21:37 (6,156 days old) by gyrafoam (Wytheville, VA) |
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Here's a shot from a lower-level so you can see the top of the tub. 
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Post# 215721 , Reply# 61 6/12/2007 at 21:39 (6,156 days old) by gyrafoam (Wytheville, VA) |
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Final spin begins with a spray-rinse , again for one (60 sec.) increment. 
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Post# 215726 , Reply# 63 6/12/2007 at 21:56 (6,156 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!) |
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Post# 215728 , Reply# 64 6/12/2007 at 22:10 (6,156 days old) by gyrafoam (Wytheville, VA) |
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Here is a sequence of photos with a second load. 
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Post# 215729 , Reply# 65 6/12/2007 at 22:12 (6,156 days old) by gyrafoam (Wytheville, VA) |
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Ready to agitate! 
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Post# 215730 , Reply# 66 6/12/2007 at 22:14 (6,156 days old) by gyrafoam (Wytheville, VA) |
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Washing away! 
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Post# 215731 , Reply# 67 6/12/2007 at 22:16 (6,156 days old) by gyrafoam (Wytheville, VA) |
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Spray rinse! 
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Post# 215732 , Reply# 68 6/12/2007 at 22:17 (6,156 days old) by gyrafoam (Wytheville, VA) |
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Over-flow rinsing. 
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Post# 215733 , Reply# 69 6/12/2007 at 22:18 (6,156 days old) by gyrafoam (Wytheville, VA) |
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Final spin. 
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Post# 215734 , Reply# 70 6/12/2007 at 22:30 (6,156 days old) by gyrafoam (Wytheville, VA) |
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Robert------ Do you suppose it would be possible to switch out this clutch with a vintage Hotpoint clutch, and improve the spin acceleration? | ||
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Post# 215737 , Reply# 71 6/12/2007 at 22:55 (6,156 days old) by unimatic1140 (Minneapolis) |
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Oh Wow, great pictures Steve, gosh that is a beautiful machine. The clutch on this machine was used from 1956 thru 1960 or so. My first Automagic had the same clutch issues, you see the clutch pads have a tendency to wear in this style clutch and after a while you will not get a good spin pick up or full spin speed. So I took the clutch apart and repadded the clutch shoes, that improved the spin pickup from 2.5 minutes to slightly over 1 minute. When I got my 2nd '59 Philco, the machine had very little use and the clutch was still performing at about 1.25 minutes to bring the tub up to full speed. It is not difficult to re-pad the clutch shoes in this style clutch, but before I describe the process to you, how does this machine prevent the tub from turning during agitation? Can you rotate the tub in either direction or does the tub lock when you turn it in the opposite direction of spin?
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Post# 215738 , Reply# 72 6/12/2007 at 23:06 (6,156 days old) by peteski50 (New York) |
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Dexter! | ||
| Post# 215759 , Reply# 73 6/13/2007 at 07:29 (6,155 days old) by westyslantfront () | ||
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Hi Steve. Congratulations on your new acquisition. The pictures look great. Ross | ||
| Post# 215779 , Reply# 74 6/13/2007 at 09:32 (6,155 days old) by jerseymike () | ||
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What a nice looking machine ... It's amazing the she appears to be in very good shape after all these years. Thanks for saving her and thanks for sharing your experience with us. Mike | ||
| Post# 215781 , Reply# 75 6/13/2007 at 09:34 (6,155 days old) by lesto (Atlanta) | ||
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Steve, that machine looks like so much fun. Glad to see something so rare from the 50's finally turned up in Atlanta! Les | ||
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Post# 215794 , Reply# 77 6/13/2007 at 10:34 (6,155 days old) by unimatic1140 (Minneapolis) |
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Hi Steve, yes 3-4 minutes is way too long and something is wrong with the clutch. But before we can fix the clutch I need to know exactly what keeps that tub from turning during agitation. Otherwise you could end up having the tub turning moderately during wash and throwing out half of its water. I'm figuring that this machine is a reversing motor machine, beause you said it paused before spin, but it also has a solenoid engaging agitator clutch jaw. So what is the reason for the motor reversal then? It must be to keep the tub from turning, the question is what device is keeping the tub from turning during wash? | ||
| Post# 215834 , Reply# 78 6/13/2007 at 15:08 (6,155 days old) by lesto (Atlanta) | ||
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Steve, the actual spin speed may be faster, more like a SQ, once you find the problem with the clutch. Keep us posted! | ||
| Post# 215862 , Reply# 80 6/13/2007 at 18:11 (6,155 days old) by mickeyd (Hamburg NY) | ||
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Trick and treats:
that hugely spaced "SPRAY RINSE" marked on the dial is really just the wash spin--oh well just seeing it written out like that on the main dial is really cool and comforting. treats: yes filty towels, but gosh they came out really clean, like a commercial!! : a good pump, sounds fast and strong; the Dexter Wringer pump sucks. : so many wonderful photos--very satisfying, just like you know what. If I smoked, I'd be lighting up right now. Thank You | ||
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Post# 215934 , Reply# 81 6/13/2007 at 22:50 (6,155 days old) by unimatic1140 (Minneapolis) |
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OK Steve, I found out how your clutch works. Unfortunately this design makes it a wee bit more of a challenge to replace the clutch pads (which I've colored in red on the diagram below), but it can be done (that's why I was asking those questions about if you can turn the tub during agitation). Here is an overview of Hook-Shoe style clutch, tomorrow when I'm more awake I will go over the repad process, but for now here is how your clutch works...
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| Post# 215935 , Reply# 82 6/13/2007 at 23:06 (6,155 days old) by mayken4now (Panama City, Florida) | ||
OH, I DONT know about the clutch and all that, but just having such a gem in place makes a perfect species of a machine worth the while in having. I am so proud of you Steve, what a catch!(not what a burger,((a restuarant in the south)) That machine is to die for. Good findings and good luck on her repair if needed. WONDERFUL, could not have gone to a BETTER home! Steve | ||
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Post# 215959 , Reply# 83 6/14/2007 at 06:51 (6,154 days old) by gyrafoam (Wytheville, VA) |
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Thanks Robert---- And a special thanks for that beautiful agitator, and all the helpful information in regards the clutch! | ||
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