Thread Number: 2173
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Post# 67627   5/21/2005 at 15:34 (6,908 days old) by Mrsalvo (New Braunfels Texas)        

Hey Guys,
Can anyone tell me how the old Blackstone washer worked?
When I see pictures of the machine I see something like
strips of cloth of something on the sides of the tub, I don't
understand their purpose. Was it somewhat of a traditional
loader with an agitator?
I would appreciate it if someone could explain this to me.
Thanks,
Barry




Post# 67667 , Reply# 1   5/22/2005 at 00:19 (6,908 days old) by alr2903 (TN)        
Hiya Mr Salvo

I also got the impression of some kind of cloth on some pictures posted somewhere around here. the inside is kinda corrugated" like with XXXXXXX's, you are so right it looked like cloth to me too, at first. Must be some optical illusion from the camera flash. I will leave the mechanicals to the experts. alr2903

Post# 67669 , Reply# 2   5/22/2005 at 00:31 (6,908 days old) by frontaloadotmy (the cool gay realm)        
The Blackstone

 Barry,
I am not a Blackstone expert; though I have operated one before. Jetcone is probably the resident expert as I believe he is one of two members that has one. The one I operated as a teenager appeared to be of the same vintage as Jetcones.
Though my interest in automatic laundry appliances began while I was snatching crumbs, my engineer/design/mechanic
genes never fully developed! The Blackstone has your basic
agitator design; I can't recall if it has three blades or four. The center post is rather substantial; 3 to 4 inches in diameter, and the typical length. The inner wash basket is, I believe, stainless steel, not a real heavy gauge. ( I could be all wrong, some one will correct me if I am!) So the wash basket is a sheet of stainless steel.( I'm talking about just the sides, not the bottom) So I think in the course of manufacture this sheet of stainless steel is ( the sheet is sized so that if you bent the ends of least length to meet each other they would form a cylinder, [think of a coffee can opened on both ends], so this sheet of light gauge steel is
actually greater in length than the diameter of the wash basket) ok, when they set about to creat the basket of the Blackstone, this sheet of stainless is put throuh a Brake,
or perhaps it's called a press, or maybe it's a little bit of both. The sheet of steel is pleated, if you will. Really it's
kind of double pleated, except that every other two creases, or folds in the steel is two separate but uniform lengths.
Am I making any sense? I should probably say widths, not lengths. This is what creates the appearance of strips of cloth. They are indeed strips, but not of cloth, but of pleated stainless steel. It has been close to forty years since I used the Blackstone that I mentioned. There may be a slight variation in the pleat narrative,the smaller sections
may uniformally vary in their widths from the top of the basket to the bottom, in which case those two variations would be staggered. In my callow youth, I was not aware that in order to facilitate the neutral drain feature of this par-
ticular model, a certain eletromechanical operation slightly raises the agitator , kind of like pushing the drain rod down
on your more fancy bathroom lavatories! If you are lucky enough to be attending the convention, maybe Jetcone will bring his, or maybe Gansky has one. imho the Blackstone is
one of the most asthetically appealing of the vintage automatic washing machines. This took me much longer than it should have; I hope it makes sense and no one else has slipped in a more conscise explanation! I forgot to mention; the agitators, I think, were made of "pot metal"

Post# 67670 , Reply# 3   5/22/2005 at 00:35 (6,908 days old) by frontaloadotmy (the cool gay realm)        
What a bonehead I am!

 Corrugated, perfect! Custom corrugated!!

Post# 67731 , Reply# 4   5/22/2005 at 17:24 (6,907 days old) by Mrsalvo (New Braunfels Texas)        

It made perfect sense. Strange design though. I wonder when
they quit making those, I am 46 and have never seen one, even
with all the relatives and friends my parents knew. It would
be cool to get a video posted on this web page.
Wished I could go to the convention, but alas I must work the
summer months.
I'm a theatre general manager and right now Star Wars is
kicking my butt. Hope and pray for my sanity!!
Barry

Post# 67737 , Reply# 5   5/22/2005 at 18:59 (6,907 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)        

dadoes's profile picture
Hey, Barry!

I've been with the local theater here for 21 years. It's a different kind of life(style) for sure. Was manager/co-manager for about 15 years, until November 1998, now I just do all the bookkeeping . . and troubleshoot what the 'doofuses' left behind can't figure out, LOL. One of 'em came after me a few days ago, "Can you take a look at Screen #1, it seems to be running hot."

Took me 10 seconds to find that the external exhaust apparently had gone dead.

Post# 67742 , Reply# 6   5/22/2005 at 20:30 (6,907 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)        
Owner's Manual

 launderess's profile picture
For the Blackstone washer is readily at hand in the "Owner's Manual" section. This manual gives very detailed directions including basic service.

Launderess

Post# 67745 , Reply# 7   5/22/2005 at 21:05 (6,907 days old) by mrsalvo (New Braunfels Texas)        

Hello DADoES,
I started in this business when the orginal Star Wars came out,
that was "a long, long time ago in a far, far, away galaxy."
Or so it seems. I'm proud that you can relate to my situation.
When I can get a day off at the end of this month, boy oh boy,
is laundry day going to be big. I started in the old drive-in
circuit, making cotton candy, hot dogs, burritos etc. in the
concession stand. Still selling $20.00 buckets of popcorn,
nothings changed. "The more things change, the more they stay
the same."
Yeah, I can relate about the problems that arises. One day
about 10 years ago the "lady" walked up to the concession
stand and ordered a large drink. I filled the order, she paid,
took a drink, sat it down and said "the ice is too cold."
"Yes Maam, let me get you some different ice." LOL. Oh the
stories I could tell you.

What were we talking about...oh yeah Blackstone washers.
Barry

Post# 67752 , Reply# 8   5/22/2005 at 22:19 (6,907 days old) by fixerman ()        

Mrsalvo, I am 54 and have been in the budiness since 1966 and I don't recall ever seeing one either, though I may have and just don't remember. They were considered an off brand in my early appliance rebuilding days. We usually stuck with Kenmore Whirlpool as they were the easiest to rebuild and resell for a profit. WP/KN also had good name recognition and reputation so they were the most popular for buyers.

Post# 67753 , Reply# 9   5/22/2005 at 22:21 (6,907 days old) by fixerman ()        

business not budiness. Don't know what a budiness is even.

Post# 67757 , Reply# 10   5/22/2005 at 22:54 (6,907 days old) by appnut (TX)        

appnut's profile picture
Maybe you were subconsciously trying to be a Texan. After all, we say bidnez all the time LOL, just like on "Dallas".

Post# 67759 , Reply# 11   5/22/2005 at 23:44 (6,907 days old) by frontaloadotmy (the cool gay realm)        
Sith, Sith, and Double Sith!!!!!

 I ain't seen many Blackstones myself, just the two that are in this club, the one of Marnie Sanfords that I used to operate and at the Sanfords Squirrel Creek Ranch one of the tenants in one of the other houses had a slightly newer generation Blackstone. She may still have it for all I know; I don't think I ever worked up the courage to peek under the lid. It was a conventional sized cabinet with a backsplash/
console; it sported only one of the Big Dial/Knob, most likely
that was the timer, the other controls were small and most likely were at least temp and water level controls. I do remember a kind of hole in the wall appliance store here in Grass Valley that had a Blackstone Poster/Sign in the window.
I suppose like many lesser brand names they went by the wayside by the early sixties.

Post# 67760 , Reply# 12   5/22/2005 at 23:58 (6,907 days old) by mrsalvo (New Braunfels Texas)        

Frontaloadotmy,
Thank-you for that post, it was lengthy but educational and I
do certainly appreciate your effort.
Barry

Post# 67781 , Reply# 13   5/23/2005 at 07:33 (6,907 days old) by Gyrafoam (Wytheville, VA)        

I seem to remember Blackstone's had an unusual way of draining the tub. The agitator would come up a few inches and unplug a seal and the water would run out the bottom of the tub. Perhaps someone with a better memory than mine can elaborate.

I only had limited exposure to these when I was a kid, but I do remember they were much more popular up north than here in Atlanta.

Post# 67792 , Reply# 14   5/23/2005 at 09:44 (6,907 days old) by agiflow ()        

I believe Blackstone went out of business just after their 100th anniversary around 1974.

Post# 67798 , Reply# 15   5/23/2005 at 10:48 (6,907 days old) by jasonl (Cookeville, TN)        
Neutral drain with a 'tude

 yup, the agitator lifts up and the water goes out instantly. I'm hopeing Jetcone will let me come over one day and let me watch it in person. Next washin, maybe.


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