Thread Number: 4012
50s Bendix in Melbourne
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Post# 94386   11/17/2005 at 07:20 (6,706 days old) by gizmo (Victoria, Australia)        

When in Melbourne a couple of days ago I stopped at a demolition yard looking at some building related stuff. To my surprise they had an big old appliance labelled "Old Dryer - $180"

I was looking at it when a worker came over and chatted to me about it. I said "you don't have the matching washer do you, I'm not really interested in dryers."
He said no but said "look at this, its pretty cool how the controls are hidden..."
He then lifted up the flap on top (I had't realized it was an openable panel) to show its controls - hot/warm temp selector, load size selector, timer showing wash, rinse 1,2,3, spin... yes, it IS a washer! A Bendix.

It has unmarked white enamel top and top flap, the front and side panels are painted and badly faded/yellowed, the door boot is hardened and deteriorated but I couldn't see any holes, the top seal around the detergent hole is destroyed. The chrome around the porthole is pitted and the whole machine is filthy. The drum looked fine and turned freely without bearing noise, turning easily one way and some resistance as it it is turning a geared mechanism. Despite having warm/hot fill selector, it had only one inlet valve on the back. It is a washer only, not a duomatic. To open the porthole door you lift the flap on top, press a button underneath whilst simultaneously sliding a trigger to one side.

I'd imagine it is late 50's???

It has a plate attached at the front behind the front lower drop down panel, it says "Made in Sydney by James Kirby P/L under license to Philco USA."

A couple of questions for the experts:
-Are porthole seals and detergent hole seals still available, and what is the approx. cost?
-Does this machine reverse tumble or only tumble one way?
-What is the likely load size? The machine is HUGE but the drum seems pretty small.
- Is this likely to be a bolt down or free standing?

I haven't bought it yet, I am continuing spousal negotiations and the price would have to drop substantially.

Thanks

Chris.






Post# 94401 , Reply# 1   11/17/2005 at 09:42 (6,706 days old) by lightedcontrols ()        
GRAB IT!!!

I have a lot of Bendix parts! I may have just what you need as I know that I have the detergent flume and may have a tub boot too. Don't let this beauty get away! Mark

Post# 94402 , Reply# 2   11/17/2005 at 09:46 (6,706 days old) by unimatic1140 (Minneapolis)        

unimatic1140's profile picture
Hi Chris, this is an exciting find for you. Keep pushing the spouse (its too big to sneak in) :)

A couple of questions for the experts:
-Are porthole seals and detergent hole seals still available, and what is the approx. cost?

Door boots are can still be found, Jon just found a bunch of them from a supplier in England. The soap door boot can easily be retrofitted.

-Does this machine reverse tumble or only tumble one way?
One way tumbling, the only way to wash!

-What is the likely load size? The machine is HUGE but the drum seems pretty small.
Around 10-12lbs.

- Is this likely to be a bolt down or free standing?
It should be a suspension system model that is free standing.

It sounds like it could be a mid 1950's model if the controls are hidden behind a door.


Post# 94427 , Reply# 3   11/17/2005 at 17:15 (6,705 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)        

gansky1's profile picture
It sounds very cool - does it look like this?

Post# 94462 , Reply# 4   11/17/2005 at 20:24 (6,705 days old) by gizmo (Victoria, Australia)        

Yes Greg, that's it. I don't recall it having any instructions under the lid though. Greg's picture doesn't appear to have a second door release button under the top flap. The Melbourne machine has a small round pushbutton under the flap, you have to push that button down simultaneously with sliding the front lever to open the door. Sorta childproof I guess.

So if it's one way tumble, does that mean the spin is selected by the motor reversing? Or is there a solenoid to engage spin?

Can anyone post a pic or diagram of the insides (the mechanism, an exploded diagram would be perfect.)

Thanks everyone

Chris.


Post# 94604 , Reply# 5   11/18/2005 at 19:27 (6,704 days old) by jetcone (Schenectady-Home of Calrods,Monitor Tops,Toroid Transformers)        
GET IT GIZMO!!

jetcone's profile picture
Heres some diagrams for you:

Post# 94605 , Reply# 6   11/18/2005 at 19:28 (6,704 days old) by jetcone (Schenectady-Home of Calrods,Monitor Tops,Toroid Transformers)        
GET IT GIZMO

jetcone's profile picture
Cabinet 2

Post# 94606 , Reply# 7   11/18/2005 at 19:28 (6,704 days old) by jetcone (Schenectady-Home of Calrods,Monitor Tops,Toroid Transformers)        
GET IT GIZMO

jetcone's profile picture
Tranny

Post# 94607 , Reply# 8   11/18/2005 at 19:29 (6,704 days old) by jetcone (Schenectady-Home of Calrods,Monitor Tops,Toroid Transformers)        
GET IT GIZMO

jetcone's profile picture
Sacred Tub Assemby

Post# 94609 , Reply# 9   11/18/2005 at 19:30 (6,704 days old) by jetcone (Schenectady-Home of Calrods,Monitor Tops,Toroid Transformers)        
GET IT GIZMO

jetcone's profile picture
Sacred Wiring Diagram -- which should be very similar to your machine except you will have a 220V motor.

Jet


Post# 94697 , Reply# 10   11/19/2005 at 06:46 (6,704 days old) by gizmo (Victoria, Australia)        

Holy Guacamole!!

A three speed transmission! That's more speeds than a Powerglide.

I think I am hooked...

Will let you know the results of negotiations.....

Thanks Jet the diagrams are fabulous.

Chris.


Post# 94704 , Reply# 11   11/19/2005 at 07:06 (6,704 days old) by jetcone (Schenectady-Home of Calrods,Monitor Tops,Toroid Transformers)        
Hi Chris Exellent Decision

jetcone's profile picture
I have more Doctrine when you need it!!!

I can't wait to see it when I come visit my Cuz and buddies in Oz!



Post# 95174 , Reply# 12   11/22/2005 at 13:04 (6,700 days old) by spee_man ()        
three speed Transmission

I'm wondering how costly your front loaded washers were build! I can't remember any German front load washer with a transmission. Wash and spin action are allways caused by reversing and changing the motor speed. only early semi automatics had a transission, but only to produce a reversing washing action! The problem of reversing the motor, hadn't already solved in the twenties.

One question: doesn't one way tumbleing tangle the clothes way much?
Every german washer that I can remember has a reversing cylinder!


Post# 95191 , Reply# 13   11/22/2005 at 15:01 (6,700 days old) by foraloysius (Leeuwarden, Friesland, the Netherlands)        

foraloysius's profile picture
Hell Spee_man

German washers may never have had a transmission, but German frontloaders always had more motors, which was quite costly too. My mother bought a Bosch in 1966 and that one had three motors. One for washing, one for spinning and a third for the pump. Using a transmission changes that ofcourse.

I guess one way tumbling doesn't have to lead to tangling as long as the drum is big enough and the tumble speed is adequate.


Post# 95192 , Reply# 14   11/22/2005 at 15:02 (6,700 days old) by foraloysius (Leeuwarden, Friesland, the Netherlands)        
oy vey...

foraloysius's profile picture
That first word should be hello ofcourse!! LOL

Post# 95264 , Reply# 15   11/22/2005 at 20:48 (6,700 days old) by jetcone (Schenectady-Home of Calrods,Monitor Tops,Toroid Transformers)        
Hi Spee Man

jetcone's profile picture
One way tumbling was solved by Bendix in 1937. The trick is to have two sets of baffles of different height.
That way they break up the tumble pattern and it prevents balling of the clothes into tangles.
Bendix actually had a patent on this in 1937.
Thor had a reverse tumbling action in the 1920's but I don't know if they ever patented that.

So if you ever get a chance to look closely at a Bendix measure the baffles in the tub.

Cheers
Jet



Post# 95510 , Reply# 16   11/24/2005 at 12:08 (6,699 days old) by spee_man ()        
Thanx for informations!

Hi guys!
I already cant imagine how this drum works! I was searching for a picture of it, but didn't find any! could anybody draw a simple sketch of it?

But after all its very clever to use a single transmission instead of three motors. Why miele doesn't use such a worthy and technical transmission?

bye


Post# 95511 , Reply# 17   11/24/2005 at 12:29 (6,699 days old) by jetcone (Schenectady-Home of Calrods,Monitor Tops,Toroid Transformers)        
Spee Man

jetcone's profile picture
We at holiday right now but I will try to take a picture of the drum for you so you can see it this weekend.
And I'll take a picture of it washing with Persil too!


Post# 95609 , Reply# 18   11/25/2005 at 13:46 (6,697 days old) by spee_man ()        
thx jon

Guten Tag

Persil is the best detergent to use in H- axis washers!
I'd love to send you one box because it smells excelent! I think you only have the american Version, must smell different! By the way my nick includes the name of the GDR Detergent Spee.

finaly i must tell you that I'm crazy about the idea to build a miniature Version of a real working H- axis washer (about 2or one labs capacity)! (crazy, isn't it?)I'm thinking about it for a whole week now.Therefore I need to know how the Bendix Drum works! I dont want to use a reversal relay or so to keep the constuction as easy as possible!

Did anybody you know do something like that before?

happy first advent.



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