Thread Number: 48211
POD 8/25/13 PHILCO AUTOMAGIC WASHER
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Post# 698760   8/25/2013 at 08:02 (3,868 days old) by Tomturbomatic (Beltsville, MD)        

I remember a television ad for this machine. We had gone to Milwaukee at Thanksgiving in 1958. The TV was on one morning and an ad for this machine came on. They showed the old Philco washer with the metal agitator washing a load of sheets, probably 7 since that seemed to be Philco's amazing, if uneven, number for measuring capacity and it was overloaded with no turnover. Then they showed this machine washing a load of sheets (they said) with everything turning over and a sheet that was partially in the washer with most of it hanging down over the front of the machine. The washer pulled the sheet in like a kid sucking in a strand of spaghetti. I never saw another television ad for this machine, but then, when I was at home, I was in school in the morning so if that was when this ad ran on some network program, I was not watching TV. I do remember Philco ads in magazines.

In the Atlanta area, it was Firestone Tire Stores that sold Philco so I don't remember seeing the brand in department stores, just like B.F. Goodrich Tire Stores sold Kelvinator. There was a BFG store near Goldman Taber Pontiac where Daddy had bought the 1957 Pontiac. It had B.F. Goodrich Tires and when we took the car there for tire service, I remember playing with the Kelvinator washers in the sales room. They had one of the TOL machines with the lever to change the cycles. Tire stores were great because none of the salesmen would bother a kid looking at the washers. Daddy was not happy with B.F. Goodrich Tires and said he would never again have them on a car so that was the last I saw of Kelvinator washers until a coin laundry opened in the early 60s with Kelvinator washers. There was a coupon in the paper for free loads during the grand opening so we took the throw rugs there once or twice. The agitators had the red agitator cap with those 4 little fins on top. The lids had the round window. Once again, I do not remember any television ads for Kelvinator, but I do remember magazine ads.

The other interesting thing I remember about that BFG tire store was this one thin, young guy in his clean white uniform shirt who took two apples and put them under it to look like he had breasts. He walked to the other service bays to show off his bust line to a lot of whistling. At 8 years of age, I thought it funny and sort of remarkable that he could look like that, but did not understand why he did it.





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 ()        

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# 698765 , Reply# 3   8/25/2013 at 08:49 (3,868 days old) by brucelucenta ()        

I live in Tulsa, Oklahoma and here we used to have a store called Otasco. That was short for Oklahoma Tire and Supply Company. They sold Philco, a brand named Leonard which was made by Kelvinator and a brand named Tempmaster which was made by Norge. There used to be tons of them all here, but no more.

Post# 698776 , Reply# 4   8/25/2013 at 10:07 (3,868 days old) by Tomturbomatic (Beltsville, MD)        

At some point, OTASCO bought or merged or something with Economy Auto Stores. A few years before they went out of business, the store ads featured OTASCO before the words Economy Auto. Our Economy Auto store disappeared when our shopping center expanded in the early 60s, but I saw the Automagics there as well. Early automatics used rubber inside and the fragrance was delightful. Now that you mention it, during the 50s, Ecomony Auto sold Philco. They also sold Maytag for a few years. I remember the metal agitator Philcos in our Economy Auto Store and how easily the Ball Point Suspension made moving the tub back and forth. I also remember how good the Philco-Bendix front loaders smelled inside when I opened the door. Likewise, I remember the fragrance of the Plastisol inside the new GE Mobile Maid dishwashers which was renewed during each dry cycle when the heat brought out that fragrance again. Sometimes during the dry cycle, I can still detect a bit of that fragrance from the rack coating in my Ultra-Wash dishwasher.

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.

Post# 698826 , Reply# 6   8/25/2013 at 13:43 (3,868 days old) by whirlcool (Just North Of Houston, Texas)        

Likewise, I remember the fragrance of the Plastisol inside the new GE Mobile Maid dishwashers which was renewed during each dry cycle when the heat brought out that fragrance again. Sometimes during the dry cycle, I can still detect a bit of that fragrance from the rack coating in my Ultra-Wash dishwasher.

My parents had a GE Mobilmaid as their first DW around 1961 or so. I know exactly the smell you are talking about. I always thought it was the smell of the dishwasher detergent. I also associate this smell with the hissing sound of water droplets left over from the wash hitting the heating element at the bottom of the machine. It was still hot from the drying cycle.


Post# 698948 , Reply# 7   8/26/2013 at 04:55 (3,868 days old) by brucelucenta ()        

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 ()        

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 )        
Kelvinator/Leonard

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)        

For Philco, it was 1969.

Post# 699120 , Reply# 11   8/26/2013 at 19:57 (3,867 days old) by angus (Fairfield, CT.)        

Yes, it was around 1969 for Philco. And what Tom mentioned earlier was true. There were incredibly few Philco dealers - in the Connecticut area it was only Firestone which also sold Speed Queen for some reason. And the only Philcos I ever saw were in the homes of two different friends whose fathers worked for the local Firestone in Fairfield. Even at local independents - but then in the 1960's there were a lot of those (no Home Depot, Loews or PC Richard at least in this area) each had a flagship brand that they pushed. Marsillio's was GE, Cellar's was all Maytag, Bonney Electric and Aitoro's were GE/Frigidaire/Maytag, Zemel Bros. was Frigidaire/Maytag and Whirlpool, Friendly Frost was Whirlpool, Hotpoint and Kelvinator and Mudrick's was Whirlpool, Maytag and Norge

No wonder Philcos were so scarce around here. And even rarer would be a color - in the early 60's I recall Consumer Reports noting which brands were offered in colors and 1962/63 Philcos were offered in pink, aqua and copper. Can you imagine ever finding one of those??


Post# 699227 , Reply# 12   8/27/2013 at 08:42 (3,866 days old) by Tomturbomatic (Beltsville, MD)        

Does anyone remember when Philco TVs left the scene? Life Magazine used to have lots of ads for Philco TVs and air conditioners. Philco was an old name in both radio and refrigeration. We had a Philco table radio on the counter in the kitchen. I think it was just AM and was sent to my father's office in the basement when the folks bought a GE AM-FM. The radio was on all the time when I was young. I remember seeing AFC on the radio at a friend's house. The husband said it stood for Another Fat Cow--a real radio expert that one was.

I have to thank Philco for my first phonics lesson. I knew the name was pronounced "filco" but could not figure out why the word began with a PH so I asked my parents and had that explained to me at 6 years of age. If only algebra and geometry could have had appliance related points of interest.


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)        
but can still recite the litany of washers owned by every fr

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Same here!  I never knew there was anyone else out there like me! 


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)        
Watch Robert

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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)        
And Now watch him

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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)        
In my memory,

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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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Michael- Don't get too excited. You're beginning to sound like you're reviewing a blue movie. LOL.

Post# 699486 , Reply# 21   8/28/2013 at 11:56 (3,865 days old) by mickeyd (Hamburg NY)        
LOL

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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.



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