Thread Number: 36757
Brastemp Baby Mondial (mini Whirlpool World Washer) 		[Down to Last]

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Post# 546890   10/2/2011 at 09:12 (4,582 days old) by thomasortega (El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles de Porciúncula)        

Gosh, I'm getting even older...

I remember when these machines were launched, exactly 20 years ago. Now, It sounds a little bit strange to me to post about this little "wonder" at the imperial Forum instead of the Deluxe forum, but here we go...

This is the little Brastemp Mondial a friend gave me for free. His mother used this machine every single day since it was purchased 20 years ago, to do the laundry of a family of 5.

It's a little interessing and intriguing how this machine was built. The world washer was a joint venture among Whirlpool, Brastemp and a few other manufacturers around the world and the idea was to create an only machine, suitable to many different countries, that's why it was called "World Washer".

Finally, it was launched simultaneously in Brazil, The U.S., Mexico, India and some other countries. But before launched, Brastemp decided to use some of the technology they didn't share with Whirlpool. While the World washer was a very good machine around the world (except in India where they forgot to match the machine with the local culture and it used to destroy the kind of clothes they use), here in Brazil it was an amazing machine, better than other versions of World Washer, and was the most significant modernization that happened during the last 40 years in our local market.
The machine was much cheaper to built, costed much cheaper to the final consumers, had an impressive and totally new suspension system that's used by most of the manufacturers today, washed really well, rinsed amazingly and the spin speed was a miracle if compared to the previous version. and the machine was really dependable and built to last more than 20 years (while the world washer would last 10 years or less).

In 1991 Brazil had a huge economical crisis. The president at that time (Mr. Fernando Collor de Melo) created an emergency plan, blocking all the bank accounts. Nobody could take their money out of the banks for a few months (to try to reduce inflation) and suddenly, overnight, even the richest people became poor for about 6 months. You can imagine how scary was having the money but be allowed to take only a small part of it every month.

While that, as life doesn't stop, machines continued to die in Brazil and people having to buy new machines. Brastemp Mondial was the best machine we had in Brazil at that time, but it was also very expensive if compared to other models.

In 1991/92 a small local manufacturer called Enxuta, beated the biggest appliances manufacturer. They sold MUCH MORE than Brastemp, and it was a PITA for them. Studying the Enxuta case, they discovered Enxuta could sell all that for two reasons. The enxuta front loader was very small (almost like an european Eudora), so it would fit kitchenettes and small apartments and it was also 60% cheaper than a Brastemp.

Brastemp decided to enter this segment and make a small washing machine. But they didn't have access to the money (blocked in banks) and also had no time to start a new project. The alternative they had was simply put all the projects in a copy machine and press the reduce button. Brastemp Baby Mondial was born. It wasn't a big success because a few months after it was launched, the government plan was cancelled and everybody (now with the money available again) would prefer to buy the standard size Mondial. The Baby mondial stayed on market for one or two years after that, only to match those consumers with low space.

It's an amazing machine. Very cute, specially if installed side by side with a standard Brastemp Mondial. (looks like the younger brother).
To keep price low, it had no water temperature selector, and it was so small that a water level selector was unnecessary.

The transmission and some other vital parts are exactly the same as in the standard machine, so you can guess it was overdesized to that tiny drum. virtually it was impossible to be overloaded as any overload wouldn't fit the drum. these machines tend to last much more than the bigger brother, that was already made to last a lot.

The only cons about this machine is that it's too small and light. Sometimes, depending on the load, it tend to jump. so i can't trust it to be running alone. I'm always in front of it when the spins are about to start. The motor is strong and it accelerates from 0 to 760 RPM in less than 4 seconds, even unbalanced. so you can guess the disaster it could be with an out of balance load. Even being tiny, that machine can easily handle 4 pairs of jeans (fat bear size)

About the size of the drum/load capacity... well, the machine is rated as 4kg capacity (the standard model was 5kg capacity) The drum is much smaller than the standard version, but again, the transmission and the strong motor could deal with it.

Proportionally, the agitator is much bigger than the standard version (comparing drum size vs agitator size), so this little baby has an impressive rollover and it cleans like a beast.

Other differences on the first baby mondial version are the 2 rinses (no spin between wash and 1st rinse) and it also doesn't have the spray rinse. the spin go straight to 760 rpm in only one ramp. (the standard version has the slow ramps to give time to drain the spun water and spin rinses).

the lint filter is a mesh cup in the center of the agitator and it also doesn't have softener dispenser as the machine was made to be as cheap as possible.

A few months later, a second version was launched with only one rinse, longer soak and longer wash to fill the void left by the second rinse on the dial.

As the machine has no dispenser softener and at that time softeners in Brazil were designed to be used after the clothes were rinsed (use only on second rinse), it was even better, as nobody would have to be waiting for the second rinse to add the softener. Just let the machine run the entire cycle and then reset the dial for a second rinse and add softener.

After the Brastemp Mondial and Baby Mondial, Brastemp launched Brastemp Clean. It was a little bit more fragile than the Mondials, but still wonderful dependable machines.
After the Brastemp Clean, Whirlpool corporation bought Brastemp and the disaster begun. Now Brastemp machines are just plain machines, still using the World washer mechanism made to last only a few years, like any other manufacturers. they only think about profit, profit and more profit. Major problems on modern "Braswhirltemp" are bearings, tub seal and electronic board. the same crap as any modern top loader.


Here goes the first video i've made using my cell phone. I'm sorry for making it only in portuguese. I promess the next will be made in english.

The load was:
1 king size sheet
1 queen size sheet
5 big pillowcases
2 standard size pillowcases

The machine was lightly overloaded. maybe one or two pillowcases less would be much better.

Detergent was Cheer Brightclean liquid

I ran the first wash, skip the 20 minute soak, main wash and then skip the first rinse to go straight to the interm. spin.

As soon as I can I'll make another video with the whole cycle removing lid so you can see the wash and the control panel at the same time.

I hope you like it. Enjoy!




CLICK HERE TO GO TO thomasortega's LINK



Post# 546915 , Reply# 1   10/2/2011 at 14:17 (4,582 days old) by bellalaundry (St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada)        
Super cool

 bellalaundry's profile picture
and fun looking! Is it a brown or black\grey machine? Next time you come across one you must let me know so I can have one shipped up here to Canada to play with!

How tall is the machine? How heavy is it?

Lucky you!

Guy

Post# 546916 , Reply# 2   10/2/2011 at 14:50 (4,582 days old) by gorenje (Slovenia)        

gorenje's profile picture
Cute and simple :)

You've added a so tiny amount of detergent. Is that enough?

Ingemar

Post# 546921 , Reply# 3   10/2/2011 at 16:01 (4,582 days old) by Tomturbomatic (Beltsville, MD)        

"But before launched, Brastemp decided to use some of the technology they didn't share with Whirlpool."

What was this technology that made the washer so much better in Brazil?

Thanks.

Post# 546935 , Reply# 4   10/2/2011 at 17:42 (4,582 days old) by thomasortega (El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles de Porciúncula)        
@bellalaundry

 The machine is light brown with dark brown lid/control panel and brown details on the panel

Measures are 50cm x 50 cm (it's a perfect square), 77cm tall on the front and 85cm tall considering the control panel.
There was 3 color options available: White body/lid with white panel and blue detais on the panel, light grey body with dark grey (almost black) lid and panel and mine.
It weights exactly 40kg.

Post# 546936 , Reply# 5   10/2/2011 at 17:49 (4,582 days old) by thomasortega (El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles de Porciúncula)        
@Gorenje

 Those sheets/pillowcases were used for only one night before I got them to be washed. (I was already out of dirty laundry).
As it was the first "official" wash, I decided to use one of the imported detergents, and as I knew I was going to advance the dial to show everything in a short video, i didn't use too much to save my "imported" stuff.

But considering the machine is tiny, I was using very hot water and mechanical action is great, i'd use the same amount even if they were normally dirty (sweat only), but of course i'd let the whole cycle run.

Post# 546941 , Reply# 6   10/2/2011 at 18:05 (4,582 days old) by thomasortega (El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles de Porciúncula)        
@ Tomturbomatic

 Brastemp never used a different "technology". I used the wrong word to describe.

The differences are minimal and could pass unnoticed if someone doesn't pay too much atention.

Examples: The bearings are bigger (bigger surface area = less stress = lasts much more)

The Brastemp Mondial didn't use electronic control panel (only a tiny PCB to control the motor reversion and speed), while the Whirlpool World Washer had a fully electronic board)



always tiny differences, but together, they made a huge difference on dependability. It was easy to see a World Washer with bad bearings after a few years, wasn't it? Of course here we have some Brastemp Mondial with bad bearings, but lots of them (including mine) had perfect bearings after 20 years of heavy use.

Of course now they were replaced, as I replaced all vital parts I could to make this machine last for as many years as I can.
The only bad thing my machine had was a broken wire on the wiring harness (agitate only clockwise), i could have fixed it, but as I found the original replacement part, it was replaced.

Now my machine has new timer (electromechanical), new PCB (electronic (but i kept the original that was in perfect conditions, just in case), new belt, new bearings, new seal, new filter cup, new brake solenoid, new brake, and new fill valve.

The only part not original from early 90's is the water solenoid. but all replacement parts are Brastemp Original spare parts (solenoid is Whirlpool)

also new hoses, of course. Fill hose from Pirelli (also printed Brastemp on it) and drain hose is not original, but looks exactly like the original, as I needed a 4 meters long hose.

Post# 546944 , Reply# 7   10/2/2011 at 18:19 (4,582 days old) by thomasortega (El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles de Porciúncula)        

In other words, my baby looks like brand new.

i forgot to mention, it also has four new suspention tensioners

Post# 546949 , Reply# 8   10/2/2011 at 18:45 (4,582 days old) by arbilab (Ft Worth TX (Ridglea))        

arbilab's profile picture
I'm getting older faster than you are, Thomas. Wink. Very nice overview and always nice to hear from Brasil. Sorry about the Whirlpool invasion. They used to be a conscientious company but this too has passed.

Post# 546959 , Reply# 9   10/2/2011 at 19:09 (4,582 days old) by thomasortega (El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles de Porciúncula)        

You don't need to feel sorry.

I hate people that say "oh, those americans came here and did this mess" That's ridiculous... any kind of generalization is ridiculous.

The same way the "americans" from whirlpool came here and did a disaster with Brastemp, americans from P&G came to our country and launched wonderful products, much better than Unilever's. And Unilever was forced to start making better products as they lost the monopoly, everybody won.

Companies are made do make money to the owners. Some of them do that by respecting the consumers, so they want to buy more and more from them... others try to get easy money, but sell only once. It's not exclusive from americans. The whole world is like that today.

Post# 546966 , Reply# 10   10/2/2011 at 19:49 (4,582 days old) by Tomturbomatic (Beltsville, MD)        

Thank you, Thomas.

Post# 547011 , Reply# 11   10/3/2011 at 02:32 (4,582 days old) by arbilab (Ft Worth TX (Ridglea))        

arbilab's profile picture
Indeed, 'the world is like that today'.

My family has been here (from Britain, Ireland, Scotland) since before the US was a nation. But I make no excuses for what we've propagated upon the world economy since 1980. It has bit us in the butt to the same extent it has bit everyone and everything everywhere.

I don't have to live with the outfall much longer. And I have apologized to my younger friends for not having been a better steward of proper principles. I don't think ANYone voted 'for' what ended up happening.

Post# 547016 , Reply# 12   10/3/2011 at 04:54 (4,582 days old) by gorenje (Slovenia)        

gorenje's profile picture
Thank you Thomas. From what I know you have in Brasil also very soft water right?



Post# 547036 , Reply# 13   10/3/2011 at 09:04 (4,581 days old) by thomasortega (El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles de Porciúncula)        

Yes, our water is among the softest waters in the world.
Wonderful for machines.

Post# 547891 , Reply# 14   10/6/2011 at 22:46 (4,578 days old) by thomasortega (El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles de Porciúncula)        

Made exclusive for my friends here...
Enjoy!




CLICK HERE TO GO TO thomasortega's LINK
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