LK POD 06-15-11

Whirlpool is not the mother ship...they were simply the vendor that produced the machines. Back then there may have been an inspiring business relationship between Whirlpool and Sears, but Sears' sales output and thus production orders to Whirlpool helped put the company where they were back then, and today as well (to a lesser extent today). Whirlpool competed against Sears, and Sears competed against Whirlpool, business was business for sure. For Whirlpool, it was almost a win - win, as if WP lost a sale to Sears for a competitive reason, etc. they still built the machine, just at less unit profit.

As to the Surgilator outcleaning a DA - no way in heck. None. The surgilator being used in the large capacity machines was the same as that in a standard capacity. Standard capacity agitators are essentially not capable enough to use in a large cap model, which is why we never saw a standard Roto-Swirl in a big-tub Kenmore. The standard Surgilator is smaller in diameter, it lacked flexible vanes, and (like all the rest of the one-piece agitators in WP BD machines of the time) it lacked anything to help move clothes from the top of the basket downward other than momentum. In a nutshell, the DA was designed for that machine, the SS was not.

Sears had the patent on the DA and wasn't going to let anyone have their advantage, and it was indeed an advantage (which is why everyone else went to it as soon as they were legally able). Whirlpool within a couple years did come up with the winged Surgilator, which is far better in a large capacity application. The lower wings help to thrust water and clothes upward to boost roll-over momentum. The three fins are taller than the previous Surgilator's, and the new version has some fins at the top that provide a little bit of cleaning action and movement for clothes that previously wasn't there. I think this development for WP was a huge improvement to counter the DA until such time that WP could have their own version.

Gordon


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Post# 524664 6/15/2011 at 14:17 (4,695 days old) by washerlover (The Big Island, Hawai’i)
Checkrate/Likes I've seen this advertisement many times and still can't identify the machine on the far right. The other mystery machines appear to be a Whirlpool and a GE?

Post# 524670 , Reply# 1 6/15/2011 at 14:42 (4,695 days old) by roto204 (Tucson, AZ)
Checkrate/Likes *Maytag* It appears to be a Maytag.

Post# 524671 , Reply# 2 6/15/2011 at 14:50 (4,695 days old) by KenmoreGuy64 (Charlotte, NC)
Checkrate/Likes The machine on the far right is a Maytag, I'm pretty sure. You're correct about the others - WP on the left, then the mystery machine in the middle is a GE. It looks like it has a Dispensall lid. Gordon

Post# 524735 , Reply# 3 6/15/2011 at 20:26 (4,695 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)
Checkrate/Likes *BD DA AGITATOR KM WASHERS* I always wondered what would have happened if they had also compared it the the 4th best selling machine at the time, the Frigidare 1-18. Yes the best selling machine was KM then WP, GE and then MT. I dough that MT ever did any better than 4th best selling washer.

Post# 524767 , Reply# 4 6/15/2011 at 23:45 (4,695 days old) by mixfinder ()
Checkrate/Likes 3 *Straight Ramp* The Kenmore, of course, with 14 weeks of laundry packed in one load cleaned every bib spotlessly in warm water. I have a bridge for sale if any one is interested. The poor Whirlpool did the worst job of all which surprised me thinking a large tub Surgilator would be a formidable opponent. The piece of crap Maytag that only a moron would own managed to clean 2 bibs but it doesn't matter since no one ever buys one. Now, the amazing thing is the showing from the GE with the straight vane, beat the clothes on a rock, agitator that made the best showing against the only clear choice, the God inspired Kenmore. I am a fan of the Activator with the ramped agitator and would have guessed the straight vane would have struggled more. I also find it a bit odd that Kenmore would make such a stong attempt to kill the parent company's machine. Perhaps Whirlpool couldn't give a flying cuckoo as long as they cranked out machines, their own or the Giant among Giants, Choice of Champians and Intellectual Winner, Kenmore. So here I sit with this God awful washer that has hobbled my attempts at laundry for 39 years and with my luck it will never quit and I'll die and be buried in grey and streaked underwear.

Post# 524863 , Reply# 5 6/16/2011 at 13:03 (4,694 days old) by washerlover (The Big Island, Hawai’i)
Checkrate/Likes I wondered the same thing why Sears would compare their Kenmore to the mother ship's machine. I, too, find it hard to believe that the dual-action agitator would outclean a Surgilator or Activator.

Post# 524874 , Reply# 6 6/16/2011 at 13:33 (4,694 days old) by KenmoreGuy64 (Charlotte, NC)
Checkrate/Likes 2 *I wondered the same thing why Sears would compare their Kenm* Whirlpool is not the mother ship...they were simply the vendor that produced the machines. Back then there may have been an inspiring business relationship between Whirlpool and Sears, but Sears' sales output and thus production orders to Whirlpool helped put the company where they were back then, and today as well (to a lesser extent today). Whirlpool competed against Sears, and Sears competed against Whirlpool, business was business for sure. For Whirlpool, it was almost a win - win, as if WP lost a sale to Sears for a competitive reason, etc. they still built the machine, just at less unit profit. As to the Surgilator outcleaning a DA - no way in heck. None. The surgilator being used in the large capacity machines was the same as that in a standard capacity. Standard capacity agitators are essentially not capable enough to use in a large cap model, which is why we never saw a standard Roto-Swirl in a big-tub Kenmore. The standard Surgilator is smaller in diameter, it lacked flexible vanes, and (like all the rest of the one-piece agitators in WP BD machines of the time) it lacked anything to help move clothes from the top of the basket downward other than momentum. In a nutshell, the DA was designed for that machine, the SS was not. Sears had the patent on the DA and wasn't going to let anyone have their advantage, and it was indeed an advantage (which is why everyone else went to it as soon as they were legally able). Whirlpool within a couple years did come up with the winged Surgilator, which is far better in a large capacity application. The lower wings help to thrust water and clothes upward to boost roll-over momentum. The three fins are taller than the previous Surgilator's, and the new version has some fins at the top that provide a little bit of cleaning action and movement for clothes that previously wasn't there. I think this development for WP was a huge improvement to counter the DA until such time that WP could have their own version. Gordon

Post# 525017 , Reply# 7 6/17/2011 at 02:56 (4,694 days old) by mixfinder ()
Checkrate/Likes *Winged Wonder* I used Greg's Platinum digital Whirlpool with the winged agitator. It looks rather odd and I like the splashy sound the upper undulations make hitting the water. The whole tub wiggles back and forth on the snubber with the force of agitation. I would rather cut off my arm than over load a washer and some of what Sears advertises then and now looks like a clear cut case of Robert Loading (serious bob load). The second factor is an over loaded washer makes an overloaded dryer which makes an overwrinkled load which takes twice as long to stand and fold all those clothes. I am happy as a clam with my puny old Maytag and love to watch the wild action when the water hits the sides of the tub and it acts like it's about to throw water over the edge and then it settles back to it's sewing machine hum.

Post# 525101 , Reply# 8 6/17/2011 at 12:54 (4,693 days old) by LordKenmore (The Laundry Room)
Checkrate/Likes *I wondered the same thing why Sears would compare their Kenm* One issue is simply that a lot of people wouldn't have a clue what machines were being compared. Many people couldn't identify a washer brand by the style of lid, for example. For that matter, some people can't tell the difference between Maytag and Whirlpool even with the name visible. (Think of those Craigslist ads for a "Whirlpool" washer that's really a Maytag.)