Thread Number: 48211
POD 8/25/13 PHILCO AUTOMAGIC WASHER |
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Post# 698763 , Reply# 1   8/25/2013 at 08:22 (3,868 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)   |   | |
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The only Philco Automagic washer I've ever seen in action belonged to my godparents. We lived in Watertown, SD, at the time, and were at their house quite often. I'd wander out to the mudroom/laundry room and gaze into their TOL machine, wondering how the heck it worked.
One day (I was probably about 6 years old, making it 1965) we happened to be there when Dorothy was doing laundry. She and my mom went out to see the flower garden and I, of course, immediately went for the washer. It really did seem to have a magical washing action. Funny, the things we remember from the dim, distant past. I'd be hard pressed to remember much from last month, but can still recite the litany of washers owned by every friend/neighbor/relative when I was a kid. |
Post# 698764 , Reply# 2   8/25/2013 at 08:46 (3,868 days old) by brucelucenta ()   |   | |
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That is hysterical! Sounds exactly like myself. Especially on what laundry machines all the neighbors had! I can remember when anyone got a new one too and what they got. |
Post# 698824 , Reply# 5   8/25/2013 at 13:42 (3,868 days old) by twintubdexter (Palm Springs)   |   | |
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I remember the first Automagics I saw out in the yard at WA. I thought "how did that bottom impeller/agitator ring get all warped like that?" "Maybe the water was too hot," after all, all of the Frigidaires had perfectly round bottom rings. I did see a few old Unimatics that had split bottom rings, probably from machine washing all those steel bras that Jane Russell made popular. After the first 3 or 4 Philcos I decided that's the way they were made.
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Post# 698948 , Reply# 7   8/26/2013 at 04:55 (3,868 days old) by brucelucenta ()   |   | |
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I do vaguely remember when Philco quit making automatic washers and dryers. It was sometime in the early 70's I think. I know that Kelvinator had already quit making Leonard for Otasco. |
Post# 698949 , Reply# 8   8/26/2013 at 04:56 (3,868 days old) by brucelucenta ()   |   | |
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Actually it could have been in the late 60's. Been a long time ago. |
Post# 698956 , Reply# 9   8/26/2013 at 05:55 (3,868 days old) by norgeway (mocksville n c )   |   | |
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Were last AMC made in 67, Im not sure about Ford Philco. |
Post# 698957 , Reply# 10   8/26/2013 at 06:04 (3,868 days old) by Tomturbomatic (Beltsville, MD)   |   | |
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For Philco, it was 1969. |
Post# 699249 , Reply# 13   8/27/2013 at 13:09 (3,866 days old) by mickeyd (Hamburg NY)   |   | |
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Will never forget seeing Robert's Philco in the video where he kept adding yet another item to the already full machine, and the invisible force kept sucking it straight in like some sci-fi vortex. Had never seen one work before. Could not believe such turnover existed. (I'll find it later and link it).
Then, at Jimmy's in Canton was lucky enough to see one work in the flesh, and became mesmerized, abandoning the party and parking in front of the Philco for too long a time. The movement and shape of the complex fin - over- fin structure so reminded me of a Manta Ray that I ran around telling people. Few other machines in the universe have had such fascination for me. Just like a Manta's, the fins actually undulate, making the clothes move in a feeding frenzy. And if I ever get to Mark's to see the Juke Box Philco, I will probably need oxygen tanks to breathe. Behold the Manty Ray doing its spin-drain, spray rinse, undulation--all three moves at the same time. Amazing--a manuver so unusual Robert thought the machine was malfunctioning till Jimmy told us, no that's the way it operates. You really have to see this happening to believe it, and only certain models work this magic. |
Post# 699256 , Reply# 14   8/27/2013 at 13:53 (3,866 days old) by franksdad (Greenville, South Carolina)   |   | |
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Post# 699296 , Reply# 15   8/27/2013 at 15:53 (3,866 days old) by beekeyknee (Columbia, MO)   |   | |
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My Mom had a Philco washer in the mid '60's. My Uncle's name was Phil so I never had a problem with the name. I remember putting my hand in the washer while it was running and feeling the rubber beat against my fingers.
We also had a Philco b/w TV. The tuning knob had two black buttons under it. One button turned the knob forward and the other turned it backward. My parents just grabbed the knob to change channels. I think I was the only one who used the buttons. I'm surprised I didn't get electrocuted when I was a child. I was always digging inside of machines when I shouldn't have been. |
Post# 699298 , Reply# 16   8/27/2013 at 16:05 (3,866 days old) by Supersuds (Knoxville, Tenn.)   |   | |
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Philco TVs ended up being made by North American Philips, which marketed them as a value line. Magnavox was the top of their line, until it was changed to Philips Magnavox, and Sylvania was the MOL. The assembly plant was in Greeneville, Tennessee (originally opened by the old Magnavox Company in 1953.) Assembly was moved to Mexico in the early Nineties, and I recall Philips "rationalized" their brands about then, deciding to transition to the Philips name. Of course, Sylvania is now available again at Target, at least. Who makes it I don't know.
Philcos were still commonly available around here in the 1980s. This Philco sign advertising TVs and VCRs was put up just before the World's Fair in 1982. CLICK HERE TO GO TO Supersuds's LINK |
Post# 699375 , Reply# 17   8/27/2013 at 22:41 (3,866 days old) by mickeyd (Hamburg NY)   |   | |
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Put a ton of stuff into this cool-looking Philco.
OOPS: The link only takes you to the "See it Wash" page, so just scroll down to Philco Loading and Washing. The Philco flix are second in line after the Almighty Frigidaire's. New Members, these short movies are fabulous and not to be missed. CLICK HERE TO GO TO mickeyd's LINK This post was last edited 08/27/2013 at 23:20 |
Post# 699376 , Reply# 18   8/27/2013 at 22:43 (3,866 days old) by mickeyd (Hamburg NY)   |   | |
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Keep adding more and more as the Manta eats them right up.
CLICK HERE TO GO TO mickeyd's LINK This post was last edited 08/27/2013 at 23:10 |
Post# 699377 , Reply# 19   8/27/2013 at 22:53 (3,866 days old) by mickeyd (Hamburg NY)   |   | |
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He threw in another plaid shirt. UMMM.... NOT !!!(laughing)
It was another whole big terry cloth full bath towel. Almost uncomfortable to watch, and the Philco took it without a blink, like a mixer creaming eggs and butter. Contemplate, if you will, the size of that load. See it to believe it. Funny when you think of it: All three of the biggees--Ford, General Motors and America Motors-- created very unusual, highly individualistic, unique agitators. The GM Frigidaire Pulsator, the AMC Kelvinator Concentric, and the Ford's Philco High Frequency. |
Post# 699388 , Reply# 20   8/27/2013 at 23:36 (3,866 days old) by beekeyknee (Columbia, MO)   |   | |
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Post# 699486 , Reply# 21   8/28/2013 at 11:56 (3,865 days old) by mickeyd (Hamburg NY)   |   | |
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Blue Monday, Blue Moon, I'm Mister Blue, Blue on Blue.....hmmmm.......What else ?
Be that as it may, did you see the first one where he operates the Undulator at a low water level, and the water chaos truly resembles a sea level feeding frenzy. Amazing. I won't say what fish lest I leave anyone with a disturbing image, but for the curious, regardless, it rhymes with Nirvana. |