Thread Number: 32470
P.O.D. 01.18.11 A rare treat!
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Post# 489824   1/18/2011 at 09:22 (4,846 days old) by bajaespuma (Connecticut)        

bajaespuma's profile picture

Wow!

Where did this come from? A Blackstone brochure in all its glory! Unique machines although a far cry from the iconic "Tin Men" that have come to mean "Blackstone" to a lot of us. Loving this. And check out her hair-don't. Cool machines and by the hair, I'm guessing these were among the last of their kind. The last CU washer ratings I remember with a Blackstone was in a 1969 issue.

 

Does anyone remember how well these worked?





Post# 489841 , Reply# 1   1/18/2011 at 11:50 (4,846 days old) by frontaloadotmy (the cool gay realm)        
They look kind of

"GE" ish.... Big old cabinet doors on the dryers.


Post# 489845 , Reply# 2   1/18/2011 at 12:00 (4,846 days old) by joe_in_philly (Philadelphia, PA, USA)        

joe_in_philly's profile picture
What is behind the huge dryer door? I have never seen such a door on a dryer. I certainly am intrigued!

Joe


Post# 489878 , Reply# 3   1/18/2011 at 15:46 (4,845 days old) by miele_ge (Danbury, Connecticut)        
The BOL washer with the plastic control panel/backsplash

miele_ge's profile picture

looks a lot like a BOL Kenmore we had in the 70's.  I HATED that washer, but my dad wanted to save money so he talked mom into that one.  Was so happy when it finally died in the 1980's and we replaced it with a MOL GE Filter Flo which mom had until a couple of years ago.

 

 


Post# 489889 , Reply# 4   1/18/2011 at 16:21 (4,845 days old) by Blackstone (Springfield, Massachusetts)        

blackstone's profile picture
What's behind the dryer door? Behind the bottom part of the door was a removeable panel, almost as wide as the door. This opening allowed access to light the pilot, or to reach in to tension the belt, or to insert the vacuum hose for cleaning lint. The panel just slid into place, without screws. There was also a small hole in this panel, so you could see if the pilot was on.


Post# 489892 , Reply# 5   1/18/2011 at 16:59 (4,845 days old) by mayfan69 (Brisbane Queensland Australia)        
Hoover's in Australia were based on Blackstone's

mayfan69's profile picture
Great pic of the day.

Hoover in Australia introduced their top loaders in 1969, which were based on these Blackstone designs.

We actually had two of them. Hoover dominated the Australian market for many years with this design, which were eventually phased out in about 1990.

Here's two pics: control panel and money shot: will post an interior shot of the mechanicals later today.

Cheers
Leon


Post# 489893 , Reply# 6   1/18/2011 at 17:01 (4,845 days old) by mayfan69 (Brisbane Queensland Australia)        
Money shot

mayfan69's profile picture
Money shot: showing the spiral agitator and recirculating lint filter.

Post# 489916 , Reply# 7   1/18/2011 at 18:04 (4,845 days old) by appnut (TX)        
Triple Fabric Care Filter

appnut's profile picture

IS someone able to explain how pouring liquid bleach into the filer pan (before you started the waher) still allowed the bleach to be dillueted and mixed with water without damaging fabrics in the wash tub?  (that's the impression I got for the intended purpose of this). 


Post# 489934 , Reply# 8   1/18/2011 at 19:06 (4,845 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)        

dadoes's profile picture
 
The lower section of the filter pan to contain bleach appears to not be perforated, so the LCB remains there until recirculation begins to dilute and flush it through.  I suppose when agitation/recirculation is paused or ends before spin, water remains in the lower part of the filter until spin throws it out.

BTW, I had this full brochure for some years back in the 1970s.  The local butane/propane service company sold Blackstone.  There was a display of them at the county fair one year (1973 or 1974?).  I convinced my dad to take me by the gas service to see the machines, and got the brochure there.


Post# 489935 , Reply# 9   1/18/2011 at 19:08 (4,845 days old) by steved (Guilderland, New York)        
Blackstone brochure

I got this when I sent away for a gyroscope packed in a miniture cardboard Blackstone washer. Both long gone....

Post# 489944 , Reply# 10   1/18/2011 at 20:01 (4,845 days old) by Unimatic1140 (Minneapolis)        

unimatic1140's profile picture

That's a cool brochure Steve, I love the shiny new porcelain basket pictured.

 

Speaking of the "big door" dryer ...


Post# 489949 , Reply# 11   1/18/2011 at 20:14 (4,845 days old) by stainfighter (Columbia, SC)        
re: POD, down under aka Hoover....

stainfighter's profile picture
there is one quite similar to this Hoover that shows up on another POD...

Post# 489952 , Reply# 12   1/18/2011 at 20:23 (4,845 days old) by Blackstone (Springfield, Massachusetts)        
Gyroscope

blackstone's profile picture
I still have some of those gyroscopes, packaged in miniature washing machine boxes. I'll have to post a picture tomorrow.


Post# 489959 , Reply# 13   1/18/2011 at 20:46 (4,845 days old) by jetcone (Schenectady-Home of Calrods,Monitor Tops,Toroid Transformers)        
Fred

jetcone's profile picture

Cool picture of outside your store! What models were those they were unloading?


Post# 489960 , Reply# 14   1/18/2011 at 20:48 (4,845 days old) by jetcone (Schenectady-Home of Calrods,Monitor Tops,Toroid Transformers)        
That sure looks like a GE agitator

jetcone's profile picture

Who built these? Hamilton? That looks like a Hamilton tub.


Post# 489999 , Reply# 15   1/19/2011 at 00:04 (4,845 days old) by mayfan69 (Brisbane Queensland Australia)        
Hoover mechanicals

mayfan69's profile picture
Here's my Hoover 565 with the panel removed

Post# 490041 , Reply# 16   1/19/2011 at 07:45 (4,845 days old) by Combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)        
BLACKSTONE WASHERS

combo52's profile picture
Jon Hamilton never made automatic washers them selves we might have to bring back the Slap LOL.

Post# 490042 , Reply# 17   1/19/2011 at 07:53 (4,845 days old) by macboy91si (Frankfort, KY)        
Blackstone Dryer

macboy91si's profile picture

Where was the electric heating element in the dryer? I'm curious because I am trying to make a relation to something else, which is becoming more confirmed with time.

 

-Tim


Post# 490058 , Reply# 18   1/19/2011 at 08:56 (4,845 days old) by joe_in_philly (Philadelphia, PA, USA)        

joe_in_philly's profile picture
The removable panel sounds like a great idea to help keep the dryer lint free as well as an easy way to check and light the pilot light.

Growing up, I remember one time my aunt, who used a shared washer and dryer in the apartment building basement where she lived, opened up the dryer and it was full of cold, wet clothes. She explained that the pilot light of the dryer was out. That was my first experience with a gas dryer.


Post# 490076 , Reply# 19   1/19/2011 at 09:51 (4,845 days old) by Blackstone (Springfield, Massachusetts)        
Responses...

blackstone's profile picture
Jon: The picture shows us unloading Blackstones delivered from the factory, sometime in the 1960s. It was definitely before 1969, since the flow of traffic on the one-way street was at that time reversed, due to nearby highway construction. Not sure of the particular models, but it was later than the 350s.

Leon (mayfan69): I noted a few differences between your Hoover and the Blackstones I know. Blackstones did not have the sliding motor mount; did not have the selenoid on the left; had a different agitator cap; and I had never seen a white plastic pump, only black.

I've been following the floods on the Courier Mail website. Hope you made it through OK.

Tim (macboy91si): The Blackstone heating elements (gas or electric) were on the right side. The red button that you had to press in to light the pilot was on the front of the valve, squeezed in between the valve and the inside front cabinet. Hopefully, the pilot remained lit before the pain in your thumb became too extreme.


Post# 490167 , Reply# 20   1/19/2011 at 15:19 (4,844 days old) by macboy91si (Frankfort, KY)        
Fred

macboy91si's profile picture

What was your favorite thing about the Blackstone's?

 

-Tim


Post# 490175 , Reply# 21   1/19/2011 at 15:52 (4,844 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)        

gansky1's profile picture

Here is the Hoover washer we brought back from a dealer's stash in Iowa back in '04.


Post# 490176 , Reply# 22   1/19/2011 at 15:52 (4,844 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)        

gansky1's profile picture

Money shot of Hoover washer

 


Post# 490177 , Reply# 23   1/19/2011 at 15:53 (4,844 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)        

gansky1's profile picture

Hoover Dryer

 


Post# 490179 , Reply# 24   1/19/2011 at 15:54 (4,844 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)        

gansky1's profile picture

Dryers can have money-shots too...

 


Post# 490180 , Reply# 25   1/19/2011 at 15:54 (4,844 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)        

gansky1's profile picture

Looking into the Hoover - right before he broke it. :-)

 


Post# 490206 , Reply# 26   1/19/2011 at 17:38 (4,844 days old) by mayfan69 (Brisbane Queensland Australia)        
Broken??

mayfan69's profile picture
May i ask how it was broken??

Leon


Post# 490307 , Reply# 27   1/20/2011 at 07:17 (4,844 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)        

gansky1's profile picture

Well, he didn't break it actually :-)


The mechanism on this machine was seized up tight and trying to get it free, we broke a key on the drive pulley.  The washer was really pretty far gone when we pulled it out of that warehouse.   The pair was later traded to John L (combo52) in Maryland.


Post# 490316 , Reply# 28   1/20/2011 at 08:14 (4,844 days old) by bajaespuma (Connecticut)        
What John said! Hear hear! LOL!

bajaespuma's profile picture

Those Hoover control panels alone deserve an award for design in and of themselves. I've always thought that Hoover's emblems and the industrial design of their early products were wonderfully designed both with the color palette they used and overall simplicity. The innards of those machines obviously belong to Blackstone or to whoever owned the Blackstone design.

 

In what year did Blackstone fold?


Post# 490359 , Reply# 29   1/20/2011 at 12:28 (4,844 days old) by Blackstone (Springfield, Massachusetts)        

blackstone's profile picture
I seem to recall that Blackstone stopped manufacturing appliances around 1975. We received them directly from the factory to our store. There might have been a few leftovers after that time. The company itself remained in business, making ultrasonic cleaners, etc.


Post# 490375 , Reply# 30   1/20/2011 at 13:55 (4,844 days old) by macboy91si (Frankfort, KY)        
KEN!

macboy91si's profile picture

Jesus man are you trying to induce a heart attack!

 

That last photo was almost too much!

 

Thanks for posting that!

 

-Tim


Post# 490376 , Reply# 31   1/20/2011 at 13:59 (4,844 days old) by macboy91si (Frankfort, KY)        
Hoover Set

macboy91si's profile picture

I wonder what happened to it after John Lefever ended up with it.

 

-Tim


Post# 490378 , Reply# 32   1/20/2011 at 14:08 (4,843 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)        
Never Thought I'd See One

launderess's profile picture
Though my Hoover service/parts manual covers those rebadged automatic washers and dryers, hadn't seen what they look like until now. Well outside of diagrams, and so forth. Thanks.

L.


Post# 491102 , Reply# 33   1/23/2011 at 20:06 (4,840 days old) by Supersuds (Knoxville, Tenn.)        
"The company itself remained in business, making ultraso

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Post# 491128 , Reply# 34   1/23/2011 at 21:50 (4,840 days old) by Blackstone (Springfield, Massachusetts)        

blackstone's profile picture
Must be--still in Jamestown, NY, and the map shows them located right next to Allen St., which is their street address that I remember.

Post# 491292 , Reply# 35   1/24/2011 at 20:13 (4,839 days old) by Jetcone (Schenectady-Home of Calrods,Monitor Tops,Toroid Transformers)        
wow last time I talked with someone

jetcone's profile picture

at the Factory circa 198- they told me they were making truck radiators. Hmm


Post# 491311 , Reply# 36   1/24/2011 at 21:44 (4,839 days old) by Supersuds (Knoxville, Tenn.)        
On further review

supersuds's profile picture
The person you talked to was telling the truth, Jon! Here is the local paper giving a history of "TitanX Engine Cooling." Highlights:

1934: Purchased stock and interest of Blackstone Manufacturing Company; began production of washing machines.

1962: O’Connor Machine Company of Sheffield, Pennsylvania was purchased; became Ultrasonic Division and moved to Jamestown

1970: Truck radiator production began

1977: Appliance Division sold

1989: Sale of Blackstone to Valeo/Named changed to Valeo Engine Cooling

1991: Split of Valeo Jamestown into Automotive and Truck Divisions - Machine shop sold/Press room shut down and sold to Stolle - Ultrasonics Division sold to Blackstone Ultrasonics of Sweden

2008: Valeo sells U.S. Truck Division in Jamestown and Mjallby and Linkoping, Sweden plants to EQT

On the previous newspaper page, the article explains that:

"TitanX Engine Cooling Inc. is comprised of three manufacturing sites, including the Jamestown location, and two others in Mjallby and Linkoping, Sweden. Overall, the division employs around 900 people, with 352 of them in Jamestown.

It supplies engine-cooling modules and other powertrain cooling components to leading manufacturers of large trucks, buses, off-highway equipment and industrial diesel engines. According to a statement released by EQT, the division generated sales of $274 million in 2007."



CLICK HERE TO GO TO Supersuds's LINK


Post# 491313 , Reply# 37   1/24/2011 at 21:48 (4,839 days old) by Supersuds (Knoxville, Tenn.)        
The plot thickens!

supersuds's profile picture
But then there's another company, Blackstone-Ney Ultrasonics.

"From small beginnings in the early 1950’s as Murdock Laboratories, we have pioneered the development of practical applications for ultrasonic technology. In 1958, the Blackstone Corporation purchased Murdock Laboratories, and attempted to use ultrasonic technology in its high quality laundry equipment. Although ultrasonic technology did not revolutionize the laundry industry, ultrasonic techniques were refined for use in industrial, medical and other applications. Blackstone’s credits include the development and patenting of the first rugged, highly efficient piezoelectric transducers; ultrasonic devices for use in urology and cardiology; the first large scale ultrasonic solder pot; and auto-tuned, solid state ultrasonic generators.

Blackstone-NEY Ultrasonics, located in Jamestown, NY, is a recognized leader in ultrasonic generator technology. Starting with the introduction of sweeping frequency in 1988, there has been a continuous stream of development and patents covering new ultrasonic generator and transducer technology from Blackstone-NEY Ultrasonics. Entire families of generators meeting the specific needs of a growing list of applications are now available."


CLICK HERE TO GO TO Supersuds's LINK


Post# 491317 , Reply# 38   1/24/2011 at 21:52 (4,839 days old) by Supersuds (Knoxville, Tenn.)        

supersuds's profile picture
So where "Blackstone Business Enterprises, Inc.," the sheet metal fabricator, fits into all this I don't know, but I bet there IS some relationship to the old washing machine company!

Post# 491352 , Reply# 39   1/25/2011 at 01:07 (4,839 days old) by alr2903 (TN)        
hinged on the left

Hi, all there machines pictured have doors and lids hinged on the left side. Where they reversible? Thanks arthur 

 


Post# 491381 , Reply# 40   1/25/2011 at 08:24 (4,839 days old) by Blackstone (Springfield, Massachusetts)        

blackstone's profile picture
No, all the later Blackstone models had hinges on the left, and were not designed to be reversed. 250s and 350s had lid hinges in the back.

Hey, "door hinge" rhymes with "orange."



Post# 491386 , Reply# 41   1/25/2011 at 09:09 (4,839 days old) by alr2903 (TN)        

Blackstone, thanks for your reply.  I saw a real Blackstone only 1 coinop in a row of whirlpool coin ops, long ago in New Orleans. It was indeed avocado, and it was washing away. I dont know if the others failed or maybe the owner bought 1 to try them out. At the time i had only heard of the Blackstone brand, in one of the tide commercials in a magazine.  But i still remember seeing it.  door hinge does rhyme with orange quick call "Eminem", LOL,  Thanks again for the info.  Arthur


Post# 491418 , Reply# 42   1/25/2011 at 12:53 (4,839 days old) by limitededition ()        
who purchashed the laundry division

I have been following this for quite awhile and who purchased the laundry division? i remember seeing in the late seventies or early eighties a new laundromat and it had Blackstone washers and if I remember correctly they were rebaged GE's. I hope someone can answer this.


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