Thread Number: 36143
Review 1969 Philco Ford Washer - a Wiggler
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Post# 538675   8/22/2011 at 03:12 (4,602 days old) by freewestinghous ()        

I took an avacado green 1969 Philco Ford washer in trade at my used appliance store back in 1989. It was in like new condition and was a fancy looking washer with a fake wood grain console. As I recall it was not a stripper model and had many features and wash cycles. It did not have a regulator agitating action, just an off center action wiggling agitator. It had no problems and worked as it should. I ran almost a dozen loads of laundry with it and concluded it was one of the worst washing machines ever made. It barely cleaned anything and was a great disappointment. My shop towels were almost as dirty as they were when put in after a long wash cycle.
I was selling used washing machines for $79 to $199 and had to price the Philco Ford washer at $35 because I was so gulity about selling it since its performance was so terrible. I ended up selling it to a lady and when I delivered it, I saw she had a pile of dirty laundry that was as big as a utility trailer. Must have been 40+ loads waithing to be washed ! I never heard from her so she must have thought the machine was acceptable [ and I gave a 3 month warranty ].
It would be quite an interesting machine to own today as it was really attractive and I am sure few Philco Ford machines are still around. A novelty and fun now - but as a viable washing machine in it's time - it was not.

Randy in PDX





Post# 538684 , Reply# 1   8/22/2011 at 05:45 (4,602 days old) by Tomturbomatic (Beltsville, MD)        

We thought the same thing about the one we found and sorta felt guilty about donating it to a thrift store.

Post# 538694 , Reply# 2   8/22/2011 at 08:10 (4,601 days old) by JETCONE (Schenectady-Home of Calrods,Monitor Tops,Toroid Transformers)        
Very collectible

jetcone's profile picture

very ineffective, although Robert says his Philco works on dirt and I have seen it roll a load over at least once in 10 years.


Post# 538705 , Reply# 3   8/22/2011 at 08:59 (4,601 days old) by Tomturbomatic (Beltsville, MD)        

Do you mean that it took 10 years to turn over a load?!?

Post# 538723 , Reply# 4   8/22/2011 at 09:39 (4,601 days old) by Unimatic1140 (Minneapolis)        

unimatic1140's profile picture
There is a huge difference between my 1959 Philco and a 1969 Philco. The earlier solid-tub versions had a smaller tub and were much better at turning the load over. Consumer reports rating the design very high when it first came out in '59. As they increased the size of the tub, the effectiveness of the washing action was diminished.



Post# 538726 , Reply# 5   8/22/2011 at 09:52 (4,601 days old) by Tomturbomatic (Beltsville, MD)        

They probably needed a bigger flapper for the larger tub or a Dual Action Flapper with auger. Philco should have called in Tim "the Tool Man" Taylor to give it more power. He would have had it throwing the load against the lid during flappulation, like carp jumping out of the river. It would be the only top loader that needed to latch the lid during wash and rinse.

Post# 538767 , Reply# 6   8/22/2011 at 12:15 (4,601 days old) by hydralique (Los Angeles)        

Robert, I just love your Philco set! So pretty, one can almost imagine Miss America slouching against them. Good juxtaposition too with the Whirlpool combo to the left as the console designs are complementary.

Post# 538787 , Reply# 7   8/22/2011 at 13:32 (4,601 days old) by Tomturbomatic (Beltsville, MD)        

Miss America never slouched. There have been troubles over the years, but slouching was never one of them. She might have stood with her hard, girdled ass against it, but her weight would have been supported on her own high heels, not the machine.

Post# 538805 , Reply# 8   8/22/2011 at 14:43 (4,601 days old) by arbilab (Ft Worth TX (Ridglea))        

arbilab's profile picture
The Wobbulator? Never saw one in person but vaguely remember a commercial for them.

Post# 538814 , Reply# 9   8/22/2011 at 15:19 (4,601 days old) by norgeway (mocksville n c )        
I know one thing!

The OLDER ones would roll clothes so much that it will tie them in knots like a Frigidaire will if not loaded properly..

Post# 538818 , Reply# 10   8/22/2011 at 15:34 (4,601 days old) by joelippard (Hickory)        
Yes

joelippard's profile picture

Mine will wash the heck out of some clothes, rolls them very nicely.  It's rated at 12 lbs but can wash almost as much as my 1-18


Post# 538874 , Reply# 11   8/22/2011 at 21:00 (4,601 days old) by JETCONE (Schenectady-Home of Calrods,Monitor Tops,Toroid Transformers)        
Even with

jetcone's profile picture

flappulation on full with the wobbulator I don't see how it could ever tangle, photographic evidence puhleese!

 


Post# 538893 , Reply# 12   8/22/2011 at 21:51 (4,601 days old) by PeterH770 (Marietta, GA)        

peterh770's profile picture

The early models did roll effectively.  The later design would knead the load into a fabric doughnut at the bottom of the tub.  I blame the exaggerated folds in the later flapalator for this.


Post# 539094 , Reply# 13   8/23/2011 at 19:08 (4,600 days old) by JETCONE (Schenectady-Home of Calrods,Monitor Tops,Toroid Transformers)        
well

jetcone's profile picture

"fabric doughnut" now there's a new one!


Post# 539122 , Reply# 14   8/23/2011 at 22:36 (4,600 days old) by PeterH770 (Marietta, GA)        

peterh770's profile picture

You know it's true.


Post# 539125 , Reply# 15   8/23/2011 at 23:26 (4,600 days old) by mickeyd (Hamburg NY)        
The doughnut being kneaded

mickeyd's profile picture
`

Post# 539126 , Reply# 16   8/23/2011 at 23:29 (4,600 days old) by mickeyd (Hamburg NY)        
And the doughnut is ready

mickeyd's profile picture
-

Post# 539128 , Reply# 17   8/23/2011 at 23:36 (4,600 days old) by mickeyd (Hamburg NY)        
Mixing the water with the ingredients for the doughnuts

mickeyd's profile picture
'

Post# 539132 , Reply# 18   8/23/2011 at 23:52 (4,600 days old) by mickeyd (Hamburg NY)        
These later Flappers are pure washer joy because

mickeyd's profile picture
the extraction cycle combines agitation, spinning, draining, and spray rinsing--ALL AT THE SAME TIME. Hence, the doughnut.

It is something to behold. Here he is, head erect and still, greedily awaiting.


Post# 539133 , Reply# 19   8/23/2011 at 23:59 (4,600 days old) by mickeyd (Hamburg NY)        
Close-up of the extraction

mickeyd's profile picture
which pauses twice during the insane procedure.

Notice the glaze is now being applied to the doughnut. Mmmmmmm. Wish I had one now at bedtime, but a Creamsickle will have to suffice.


Post# 539153 , Reply# 20   8/24/2011 at 03:57 (4,600 days old) by ozzie908 (Lincoln UK)        
Fascinating machine

ozzie908's profile picture
I saw a video of something like this on youtube and I have to ask if you could explain how it works please?
Does anyone have any videos of one of these machines working with explanations its almost like its ultrasonic the speed of turnover.

Austin


Post# 539160 , Reply# 21   8/24/2011 at 05:16 (4,600 days old) by tolivac (greenville nc)        

Could that washer double as a blender?Dennis the Menance could make his "Washer Milkshake" in that one!

Post# 539176 , Reply# 22   8/24/2011 at 08:21 (4,599 days old) by PeterH770 (Marietta, GA)        

peterh770's profile picture

If you look at the flapilator, you see that the flap is highly undulated.  There are three, small, nipple-like folds that force water out horizontally, but conversely there are three large fold pointed to the bottom of the tub.  So there isn't enough force generated to push the load up and plenty of force down to roll the load into one big...doughnut!  At first I was amazed at the amount of clothing I could continually feed into the machine when it was washing, but then I found the entire load hugging the bottom of the tub in one massive, dense...doughnut around the agitator.


Post# 539180 , Reply# 23   8/24/2011 at 08:56 (4,599 days old) by macboy91si (Frankfort, KY)        
Contourfill

macboy91si's profile picture
My favorite thing about these washers, which has nothing to do with the actual washing ability, is the lovely turquoise color of the tub and the design of the agitator. That is my favorite color, and something about them just looks neat. I've never seen one actually work though of the later style. Also, maybe it's the opening of the tub, but the capacity looks huge in these things.

-Tim


Post# 539183 , Reply# 24   8/24/2011 at 09:00 (4,599 days old) by Jetcone (Schenectady-Home of Calrods,Monitor Tops,Toroid Transformers)        
Gorgeous green tub Mikey!

jetcone's profile picture

Flapulation is worth the visit just for the green tub!

 


Post# 539195 , Reply# 25   8/24/2011 at 10:56 (4,599 days old) by mickeyd (Hamburg NY)        
Manta Ray undulation

mickeyd's profile picture

Have loved Mantas all my life. Hope one day to catch a ride on the wavy black fin. Saw that once in a film. When I first saw a Philco flapper working I was in Manta Ray Heaven.

 

Alas, dear Jon, this beauty does not reside here; it is Jimmy Flterflo's machine. Was treated to its wonders a few summers ago at a Canton Wash-in.

 

There was a video of Robert feeding an already fully loaded Philco with more pieces, one at a time, and the machine just kept swallowing them up without a blink, and the load continued to move with just as much speed no matter how many things he kept adding. Checked See it Wash, etc, and could not find it. It will make you want a Philco NOW. If one of our club members finds it, please link it.

 

The white pants in the load were soiled, but came out sparkling. Gain detergent, a light load though, with the medium-high water level you see in the pic.




This post was last edited 08/24/2011 at 11:12
Post# 539362 , Reply# 26   8/25/2011 at 00:05 (4,599 days old) by tolivac (greenville nc)        

Would be interesting to see the mechanism for this washer-how it "flapulates" the agitator base.

Post# 539645 , Reply# 27   8/25/2011 at 23:50 (4,598 days old) by alr2903 (TN)        

MickeyD,  it's still in the "see it wash" section.   I like all the TM things the philco has "flex-a-wash",  "contour fill".  alr



CLICK HERE TO GO TO alr2903's LINK

Post# 539651 , Reply# 28   8/26/2011 at 00:31 (4,598 days old) by arbilab (Ft Worth TX (Ridglea))        

arbilab's profile picture
I knew about "see it wash" YEARS before I knew there was a forum.

The action looks pretty effective and stuff keeps rising to the surface. Not what you'd expect to see in the 'donut' scenario.


Post# 539700 , Reply# 29   8/26/2011 at 08:41 (4,597 days old) by PeterH770 (Marietta, GA)        

peterh770's profile picture

No doughnut in those earlier models.


Post# 539735 , Reply# 30   8/26/2011 at 11:36 (4,597 days old) by mickeyd (Hamburg NY)        
Thanks Art

mickeyd's profile picture

I must have had a brain fart.

 

These three vids are wonderful. I really love the width and trajectory of the fill flume.

 

Fun to see Robert packin' that thing. Wondering how much more it would take to slow the flapper down.

 

Thanks again. Was really befuddled about not being able to find them.




This post was last edited 08/26/2011 at 13:35
Post# 539772 , Reply# 31   8/26/2011 at 15:14 (4,597 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)        

gansky1's profile picture
 
 
 
This is the (in)famous flapulator from 1966



Post# 539773 , Reply# 32   8/26/2011 at 15:16 (4,597 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)        

gansky1's profile picture

Another shorty:




Post# 539779 , Reply# 33   8/26/2011 at 16:37 (4,597 days old) by ozzie908 (Lincoln UK)        
Don't understand...!

ozzie908's profile picture
Ok I know I am english and have never seen one of those before but I still do not understand how it works?

I have watched the videos including the slow motion one and all I see is a disc going round at the bottom of the machine.

Can someone please explain the mechanics of how it works to a dim but intrigued person...!

Austin


Post# 539785 , Reply# 34   8/26/2011 at 17:00 (4,597 days old) by chestermikeuk (Rainhill *Home of the RailwayTrials* Merseyside,UK)        
Flap Magic

chestermikeuk's profile picture
Hi Austin, Im sure someone will come along & explain the workings as far as I understand it uses an up and down motion at 575 strokes and converts that to the agi making it oscillate up down and around?? with the rubber discs and moulding on the agi it creates currents in the water which is how you see th clothes rolling over!! It doesnt use a gearbox as we know it like the hotpoint and has a ball point balance system that sounded like the Philips twinny when it was explained!!

Im sure there is a video of Robert with a mechanism out the cabinet and showing us how it works but cant find it!! heres a thread about the clutch, the trouble is theres sooo muchgood info on these threads but sometimes it takes a lot of searching for!!

Hope this helps until the teccys come along!!



CLICK HERE TO GO TO chestermikeuk's LINK


Post# 539786 , Reply# 35   8/26/2011 at 17:01 (4,597 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)        

dadoes's profile picture
 
It wobbles somewhat akin to a Calypso. There's a u-joint sort of mechanism by which the lower disc wobbles, covered by a rubber boot when everything is assembled.

This video was done by Robert during a bearing repair of his 1959 Automagic in January 2001. He posted a photo-essay of the repair but the searchable site archives don't go back far enough to include it. I do have the pics saved.



1959 Philco mechanism flapping without tub

Note that the lower flapper/disc part of the agitator wobbles but it does not rotate.


Post# 539799 , Reply# 36   8/26/2011 at 17:37 (4,597 days old) by chestermikeuk (Rainhill *Home of the RailwayTrials* Merseyside,UK)        
Philco

chestermikeuk's profile picture
Hi Glen, many thanks for the video link and explainations, nowthen you posting was very ironic....Austin - this is Glen (DAEDOES) I was telling you about with the F & P dishdraws that you where wanting explainations about....so now you can start conversing...LOl

Post# 539817 , Reply# 37   8/26/2011 at 18:29 (4,597 days old) by Jetcone (Schenectady-Home of Calrods,Monitor Tops,Toroid Transformers)        
Think of it as a

jetcone's profile picture

HULA, its Hula Action!

 


Post# 539820 , Reply# 38   8/26/2011 at 18:35 (4,597 days old) by cfz2882 (Belle Fourche,SD)        

would love to find one of those-so pretty and interesting!Actually found one at the
dump in 1983,i took the motor-had a black bakelite turbine pump on one end-pump
was much like the drain section of a T/L westy 4 port pump though the philco
had a cast-aluminum impeller that was quite corroded.On the other end of the motor
was a pulley with kind of a concentric spring vibration damper like thing.


Post# 539848 , Reply# 39   8/26/2011 at 20:09 (4,597 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)        
PHILCO WASHER

combo52's profile picture

There is no U joint in the Philco unlike the Calypso which has one big enough for a cement mixer and the Calypso is a much better design for washing clothing and actually turning them over without tangling.


Post# 539856 , Reply# 40   8/26/2011 at 20:33 (4,597 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)        

dadoes's profile picture
 
Here are three of the 56 pictures I saved from Robert's repair pictorial.

The agitator shaft is formed with a slight bend.


Post# 539857 , Reply# 41   8/26/2011 at 20:33 (4,597 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)        

dadoes's profile picture
 


Post# 539858 , Reply# 42   8/26/2011 at 20:34 (4,597 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)        

dadoes's profile picture
 


Post# 539909 , Reply# 43   8/27/2011 at 04:06 (4,597 days old) by Jetcone (Schenectady-Home of Calrods,Monitor Tops,Toroid Transformers)        
That sure looks like a U joint to me

jetcone's profile picture

does it smell like a U joint?

 

does it sound like  a U joint?

 

any takers?

 


Post# 539918 , Reply# 44   8/27/2011 at 06:12 (4,596 days old) by ozzie908 (Lincoln UK)        
Now I understand..

ozzie908's profile picture
I would like to say Thank you to all contributors you have been excellant informers....!

Austin


Post# 539930 , Reply# 45   8/27/2011 at 09:17 (4,596 days old) by Unimatic1140 (Minneapolis)        
Tangling? Huh?

unimatic1140's profile picture
One thing that apparently needs to be cleared up about the early Philco design is in my experience I have never seen it tangle clothes and I've washed many loads in that machine of all sorts. It doesn't even tangle sheets. I'm not sure about the later design because I've never had one of those in my collection, but I can certainly speak for the early 12lb machine. Also I never use any special loading technique in that machine and still no tangling.

My only beef with that machine is it spins way too slow, 550rpm.


Post# 539938 , Reply# 46   8/27/2011 at 10:47 (4,596 days old) by joelippard (Hickory)        


joelippard's profile picture

I agree Robert.  I think mine would be close to one of my favorites if the spin speed were doubled.


Post# 540015 , Reply# 47   8/27/2011 at 18:58 (4,596 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)        
PHILCO WASHER U JOINT

combo52's profile picture

I am afraid that I looked too quickly at an exploded view of the washer when I said it does not have a U joint and and didn't see the little U joint, but it differently has a U joint. This may be the first time I was ever wrong LOL.


Post# 540023 , Reply# 48   8/27/2011 at 20:44 (4,596 days old) by hydralique (Los Angeles)        
Well . . .

If only they had put a man-sized (or maybe Calypso-sized) U-joint in the Philco then maybe they could have ramped up the spin speed!

What was the last year for the Philco flapulator wobble-drive design? After it was discontinued did they make conventional washer clones or just stop making washers altogether?


Post# 540036 , Reply# 49   8/27/2011 at 21:46 (4,596 days old) by angus (Fairfield, CT.)        

I think 1969 was the last year for Philco laundry. I still have the 1970 annual Consumer Reports buying guide and Philco was not one of the washer brands rated that year. However they did rate the 1969 model Philco dryers. After that, they just didn't produce laundry equipment anymore for home use. I think the Philco name in the US was sold to White Consolidated in the mid 70's. I remember one local appliance store had in the window what was clearly a Westinghouse front loader, but labeled as Bendix.

Post# 540049 , Reply# 50   8/27/2011 at 23:57 (4,596 days old) by arbilab (Ft Worth TX (Ridglea))        

arbilab's profile picture
Little-beknownst to the bulk buying public, no corporate name has meant anything for over 10 years, and some a good deal longer than that.

Maypool. Whirltag. Electrofrigiwhite. Norgana. And those are only the US brands.



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