Thread Number: 1212
H-axis toploaders |
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Post# 56282   2/7/2005 at 15:09 (7,010 days old) by foraloysius (Leeuwarden, Friesland, the Netherlands)   |   | |
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Post# 56403 , Reply# 2   2/8/2005 at 08:02 (7,009 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)   |   | |
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Interesting thread, Louis, did you read that DOE report that was posted on the Super forum? I was amazed at how quickly they discounted several designs and washing methods upon manufacturer's balking that 'they can't be done' or it 'won't work' whining... The bending and stooping thing was top of the list for both the front-loading and top-loading h-axis sections. I guess things change and since 1996, Americans have been slowly growing back-bones and muscles so at least we're getting better...a little more physical therapy and we might be able to do away with a top-loading Electrolux "Frigidaire" altogether! I too think this top-loading h-axis would work, there certainly must be a way to overcome the obstacles - the european markets have made them work quite well. The only one we have here, so far, is the Staber which is one of the most clumsy and primitive machines I've ever used, and loud! Unbelieveable when that thing goes into spin, you certainly wouldn't need an end-of-cycle signal on that! Designed well, these could have a larger capacity, clean and rinse as well or better than the current market offerings. Time will tell, I'll bet we're not done seeing some new innovations to the American markets just yet... |
Post# 56862 , Reply# 6   2/11/2005 at 06:26 (7,006 days old) by foraloysius (Leeuwarden, Friesland, the Netherlands)   |   | |
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I guess the problem with wheelchair accessability is the same with the traditional V-axis toploaders. Fortunately there are indeed frontloaders available. But for a lot of (tall) people, stooping to load a frontloader is also a problem. When I bought my first H-axis toploader I was used to stooping for loading my mother's frontloader. But soon I appreciated the convenience of a toploader like still a lot of Americans appreciate the convenience of their traditional washer. I just read that DOE report, it's indeed interesting to see how easily they discount several designs. From that report: "Top-loading horizontal style horizontal axis washers have an“unfriendly” spring-loaded trap door. In addition, excessive reach is required to retrievegarments at bottom of cylinder on top loading style horizontal axis machine." Perhaps the trap door of the drum looks a bit unfriendly, but the modern ones have a single button. If you press the button the two halfs of the trap door open up slowly. Very clever design. Only closing could be a bit troublesome for some people, but if you buy one of these you can try it in the store and most people know how to do it without any problem. I don't understand the remark about the excessive reach, my H-axis toploader was less deep than most American V-axis toploaders. Unfortunately a window is very difficult to realize with these machines. Unlike a frontloader these machines have an axis on both sides of the drum, which make these machines more stable than frontloaders. The only odd one out is Miele that has an axis on only one side of the drum. I never understood why they changed to that design, I think a machine with a drum that is hung up on both sides deals very well with vibrations, better than most frontloaders. Ofcourse there is still a vertical movement, so these machines also need a solid floor to stand on. Staber: Yes, it is a clumsy and primitive machine. The capacity could be much bigger in such a big cabinet. The spinspeeds should be higher and more cycles and a heating element should be added. However, on the Laundry Room Forum on Thathomesite somebody writes about a Staber he just bought and he seems quite happy with it (after 9 loads). I just had to attach a picture of my first washer, a Philips H-axis toploader. It's from 1982 and I had it for 11 years. I should have kept it!!!! |
Post# 60306 , Reply# 8   3/17/2005 at 17:46 (6,972 days old) by foraloysius (Leeuwarden, Friesland, the Netherlands)   |   | |
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Post# 60307 , Reply# 9   3/17/2005 at 17:47 (6,972 days old) by foraloysius (Leeuwarden, Friesland, the Netherlands)   |   | |
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Post# 62419 , Reply# 10   4/7/2005 at 01:10 (6,951 days old) by Shanonabc ()   |   | |
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There are Horizontal Axis Machines on the American market. Visit the web link CLICK HERE TO GO TO Shanonabc's LINK |
Post# 62420 , Reply# 11   4/7/2005 at 01:17 (6,951 days old) by arrrooohhh (Sydney Australia)   |   | |
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Hi Shanon. These Staber machines are available in America, but they are somewhat obscure and not available through the usual channels that most Americans purchase appliances. What part of Australia are you from? There are a few Aussies on board here. |
Post# 63731 , Reply# 12   4/20/2005 at 00:00 (6,938 days old) by shanonabc ()   |   | |
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Hey Harry, I am in Wellington NSW. Near Wellington. I have added you to MSN Messenger. CYA When I CYA |
Post# 63732 , Reply# 13   4/20/2005 at 00:00 (6,938 days old) by shanonabc ()   |   | |
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Near Orange sorry, Not Wellington |