Thread Number: 30584
BROCKE-Washer
[Down to Last]

automaticwasher.org's exclusive eBay Watch:
scroll >>> for more items --- [As an eBay Partner, eBay may compensate automaticwasher.org if you make a purchase using any link to eBay on this page]
Post# 462520   9/10/2010 at 01:28 (4,949 days old) by aldspinboy (Philadelphia, Pa)        

aldspinboy's profile picture
I never heard of this brand before but thought what a beautiful front load washer, for sure it is european does anyone no of this brand and the history.
Reminds me a little of Asko styling but more elegant in the looks department of the time.
Just look at those mirror fineshed doors, and control panel.


Darren k.


CLICK HERE TO GO TO aldspinboy's LINK





Post# 462523 , Reply# 1   9/10/2010 at 01:52 (4,949 days old) by ronhic (Canberra, Australia)        
it has...

ronhic's profile picture
....to be related to ASEA/Asko....no door bellows

Post# 462524 , Reply# 2   9/10/2010 at 02:05 (4,949 days old) by aldspinboy (Philadelphia, Pa)        

aldspinboy's profile picture
Chris...I'm not sure but it seems that the back of the drum is not an Asko-Asia for what the designs i have saw.
Puzzled ?





Darren k.


Post# 462531 , Reply# 3   9/10/2010 at 05:05 (4,948 days old) by foraloysius (Leeuwarden, Friesland, the Netherlands)        

foraloysius's profile picture
It's a German machine IIRC. A while ago there was a thread about this machine, but unfortunately the forum doesn't exist anymore. There is no connection with Asko.

Here's a video





type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385">




Post# 462532 , Reply# 4   9/10/2010 at 05:07 (4,948 days old) by aussie-plugs (Melbourne, Australia)        
I don't think it's Asko

Whilst I agree the concept of no bellows and a door is usually associated with Asko/ASEA, as Darren pointed out, the drum looks different. It also seems to tumble much more intensely early in the cycle than an Asko (mine, at least). It also goes straight into spin, rather than a quick spin to get most of the water away, then tumble to distribute the load, before truly starting the spin time.

Perhaps it's a German brand that's never been sold in the English-speaking world.

The next video shows it when it's heated the water to 100 degrees. I love the way the camera operator pans around the laundry room and shows us how everybody else's machines are doing. The first machine he shows is a different version [perhaps older?] of the Brocke.

The room layout is typical of some of the German apartment buildings I've known. There's a shared laundry in the basement where every apartment has a place to install their own washing machine. The heating furnace is often in this area too, so in small buildings (say four to eight apartments), the washing can be hung on lines rather than being machine dried in winter, while still being safe and out of sight.


Post# 462533 , Reply# 5   9/10/2010 at 05:13 (4,948 days old) by foraloysius (Leeuwarden, Friesland, the Netherlands)        

foraloysius's profile picture
There are more videos. From these I learned that it is a real boil washer, it does a real 212*F/100*C boil wash.

Post# 462534 , Reply# 6   9/10/2010 at 05:16 (4,948 days old) by foraloysius (Leeuwarden, Friesland, the Netherlands)        

foraloysius's profile picture
The first machine he shows is an AEG, no relation with Brocke I think. The Asko like door set up was used by more brands, especially in the sixties, seventies and early eighties.

Post# 462541 , Reply# 7   9/10/2010 at 07:05 (4,948 days old) by foraloysius (Leeuwarden, Friesland, the Netherlands)        

foraloysius's profile picture
I see there was a video of a spinning Küppersbusch/AEG. The AEG I mentioned was apparently a Küppersbusch made by AEG. Those machines were also sold under the labels Zanker and Vorwerk. IIRC AEG also made the same machines for Elektrohelios.


Post# 462570 , Reply# 8   9/10/2010 at 10:28 (4,948 days old) by aldspinboy (Philadelphia, Pa)        

aldspinboy's profile picture
Thank you Nick & Louis i never would have thought that there where a true 212f tempreture in front loaders that's fascinating.
Louis do you have any idea of the spin speeds and the reliabilty on the washer ?
Still is a beautiful machine.
That guy has alot of interesting clothes washers.


Darren k.


Post# 462578 , Reply# 9   9/10/2010 at 12:00 (4,948 days old) by foraloysius (Leeuwarden, Friesland, the Netherlands)        

foraloysius's profile picture
Darren,

I have no idea about the spinspeed. A wild guess would be around 800rpm. Don't know anything about the built quality, but the machine looks very solid.

Constructa had the patent for boil washes, they were the market leader in boil wash machines I think. Bauknecht (who builds the Whirlpool/Kenmore biggest frontloaders in Germany) also had boil wash machines, but IIRC they payed for Constructa for using the patent.


Post# 462605 , Reply# 10   9/10/2010 at 15:32 (4,948 days old) by whirlpolf ()        
Brocke

I know about this machine, as I was the one to inform my friend about this ebay auction and I was more than happy that he could really get it.

Brocke was one of the many manufacturers in the Westfalen part of Germany (where so many metal companies are, think of the Zwilling knives in Solingen or of WMF stainless steel tableware)
(Miele in Gütersloh is the only one remaining of the washer trade).

Brocke and Cordes are companies of their own (they have long gone), EBD (Erwin Bonn in Duisburg) is still around but they are now part of the "Foron" corporation cluster (formerly Foron was the East German "VEB Schwarzenberg" company, which produced the notorious WM 66 impeller machine, a landmark of GDR back then. People would even simmer sausages in it at garden parties).

Today those Westfalen-brands like EBD and "Frauenlob" (literally: "Ladies' approval") are all melted down into the huge "Foron" pot, when communist washer manufacture turned to western capitalism.
Cordes and Brocke didn't make it and are extinct (so the machines are very rare and a goodie for any collector). Although similar in design, they have no connection to Asko. The Bauknecht machines of that age looked almost like Askos as well, even here: no connection.
Admitted: AEG Lavamat double-door machines were the ones to promote this double-door scheme to the widest extent (probably because THEIR inner door was TV tube shaped, just a guess, and AEG had the most aggressive marketing in the 50s and 60s (look at my profile pic, the drove those VW vans all over the country to live-demo the fully automatics in any village. Once bought and delivered, an AEG service guy would come to the owner and "wash it in" = give a short lesson about all cycles and congratulate the housewife, not forgetting to check correct installation).

I remember a grand-aunt having a 1955 Brocke impeller machine with a hydraulic wringer press: In the 50s, many customers were afraid of accidents with wringer rollers (the yellow press adding well to that fear).

So Brocke came out with this "presser bag unit":
You hang sort of a vessel up into slots of the main machine unit.
Inside is a sturdy rubber bag. You lift the washed clothes from the machine tub in the bag, lock the lid in clockwise direction (very much like on a pressure cooker).
Then fresh water from the mains line is fed in under the rubber bag until all wash items get squeezed upwards against the lid. Through the grooves on the edge and a funnel ring, the soapy suds flow back in the wash tub.

Once you have the feeling, not much more will come out, you turn the water valve at the bottom 90° and the water pressure is released, off and out into some floor drain.

At the same time this valve could be turned in the third way, then acting as a Venturi-type jet pump, sucking the suds out of the washing machine.

(You couldn't pay for any of this today, comparing nowaday's water prices).

This old Brocke machine was a beauty: Chromed all over the place, this typical Jukebox/fridge-type lettering "Brocke" on it, huge red glowing lightbulbs just as an indicator and lovely bakelite impeller. Pure FUN!

Other brands had similar presser pots, some using a floating bottom plate with a gasket instead of this rubber bag.

That is all I know, all persons I know to know more about Brocke, are unfortunately no longer on this planet.



Post# 462606 , Reply# 11   9/10/2010 at 15:45 (4,948 days old) by whirlpolf ()        
Constructa boil wash patent

Right, Louis, the infamous 100°C patent (bubbling boil wash you can see through the porthole).

Absolutely correct.
That is why back then in the late 50s and early 60s all other companies were running huge campaigns in magazines, on the radio and on black&white TV that 95°C (almost boiling hot, but no more bubbles) is "absolutely perfect as well" to whiten, to bleach and to kill germs.

There is still this one song in my ear: "Kochen Sie, aber für die Hälfte!"
(Boil all, but for half the price)

Meaning: Pay SOOOO much less on electic bills but be still as hygienic as your neighbor... *ggg*

A school mate's mom, she didn't trust that song and kept her wash boiling pot in the kitchen (never really used it on the kitchen stove, but kept it "just in case")

Goodness! I was so small, but I see it all in detail again! Thanks ;-)
Joe



Post# 462615 , Reply# 12   9/10/2010 at 16:53 (4,948 days old) by whirlpolf ()        
1956 Constructa ad (only in the movies at first)

Here is a transcript:

Youtube headline:
When women still had laundy day - Constructa 1956

Film title:
Women to be envied - A Fisherkoesen film

Salon scene:
Red haired: - too bad about that nice hairdo! Tomorrow I have my laundry day!
Blonde: - Laundry? pfft, laundry day? Me too.
Red haired: - what do you mean "me too"?
Blonde: - Just now, while I am sitting here!
Red haired: - Wow, you must have a really great laundress!
Blonde: - Infact, I do! Absolutely(!) reliable!
Red haired: - Don't say! And how much do you pay her?
Blonde: - oh well, really not to mention.....
Red haired: - oh I see. She must really be of yesterday.
Blonde: - absolutely not!
She is indeed someone of today!
Come on and have a look!
Red haired: - I will, I must see her in person!

Laundry room scene:
Blonde: - This is my laundress, my Constructa!
Here we go: Pure and clean as a blossom and line dry!
Red haired: - yes but.....
Blonde: - no buts! Let's go on and do the colors right now.
Here, you will see.
(filling the drum)
Blonde: - look how much fits in there!
well now?
just turn it on
choose cycle
add detergent
and now look at this:
prewash, main wash, hot rinse, warm rinse, cold rinse, final rinse
and in between you have several spin periods.
And after the final spin my Constructa turns off by itself.
The whole affair takes just a bit more than one hour.

Red haired: - And you don't even have to stay around?

Blonde: - No way! Just a minute ago I've been at the hairdresser's, too!

Kids: - Look, Ma, what we have built here!

Blonde: - Come on out, everything is running on its own here:
FULLY AUTOMATIC!

Red haired: - Most unbelievable.....



Laundress in porthole:
- Well yes, my Lady. My times are over. But my proven classical method of washing will live on in the Constructa, only that Constucta can do it even more thoroughly, way more careful and remarkably faster than I could ever have done it.

Banner: Good that there's Constucta around!

Off voice: Counselling and demonstration at all specialized dealers.






CLICK HERE TO GO TO whirlpolf's LINK


Post# 464657 , Reply# 13   9/21/2010 at 17:05 (4,937 days old) by aldspinboy (Philadelphia, Pa)        

aldspinboy's profile picture
Sorry for being sooo late on this thread...
I have lost an animal and just going through emotional stuff.
So i want to think you Joe & Louis, Nick for the information on the Brocke washer.

Joe that was a great story on the machine, the pressure bag unit was simular on a machine that Lee maxwell has on Oldwash.com in his collection it was a clamshell type of vessell over a wringer washer i am not sure about how the pressure was applied i think it was air not sure but had the same effect on removing water how cool.

For sure this machine does look great and a beauty i just love the way the controls are on the panel it looks like a old style reciver knobs, and such a positive feel to them as well i like the clicking sound of the cycle progression.

It also reminds me of one of the best dishwasher i ever had
the way the cycle progressed, it was a GAGGENAU 215 Machine cold water feed dishwasher loved it.

Thanks Joe for the writing the commercial and the compliment on my picture the best to you.

Louis Kuppersbusch has landed here in the US about four or five years ago they have a very beautiful octagon shape smooth top burners where you can set them in a counter top anyway you want them pretty interesting.
But there dishwashers are made by Bosch it seems.

Darren k.



Forum Index:       Other Forums:                      



Comes to the Rescue!

The Discuss-o-Mat has stopped, buzzer is sounding!!!
If you would like to reply to this thread please log-in...

Discuss-O-MAT Log-In



New Members
Click Here To Sign Up.



                     


automaticwasher.org home
Discuss-o-Mat Forums
Vintage Brochures, Service and Owners Manuals
Fun Vintage Washer Ephemera
See It Wash!
Video Downloads
Audio Downloads
Picture of the Day
Patent of the Day
Photos of our Collections
The Old Aberdeen Farm
Vintage Service Manuals
Vintage washer/dryer/dishwasher to sell?
Technical/service questions?
Looking for Parts?
Website related questions?
Digital Millennium Copyright Act Policy
Our Privacy Policy