The Canadian design looks like the product of the backsplash designs of the late '50's and early '60's Whirlpools. The American design with the thick, upward facing control panels was not only a departure from that but made the brand very distinctive. I wouldn't be surprised if licensing issues influenced it as well.

But Inglis models use the EXACT Whirlpool design...

-- Dave

The reasoning behind Inglis was mostly economic.  Back in the 1950s goods manufactured in the US and imported into Canada were subject to duties and these were reflected in the retail price.  The John Inglis Company had the production capacity to support adding a line of home appliances and they bought the design rights to Whirlpool appliances (laundry equipment at first) around 1950.  As a result, they were able to offer their products at a lower cost.  Until the NAFTA treaty came into existence in the 80s, Inglis products were always at a lower price point than their Whirlpool equivalents.  

Moffat allied with Norge and D&M for laundry equipment and dishwashers in a similar fashion while the 'big three' (Westinghouse, GE, and Frigidaire) opened Canadian factories.  There were a few home-grown manufacturers, too - Beatty (remember that Dominion washer of mine...) and Bélanger for example.   

Pierre, you should have seen the set me and Paul got, along with a used range to give to one of his friends! A top-of-the-line Inglis Royal belt drive washer/dryer set from the late-seventies or early nineties that were advertised for free. 

Quite similar to the set you often post here but with more features! Not exactly in mint condition and almond in color but still working.

I should have taken a picture of them but we were in a hurry to bring them to his friend before the rain would start. In fact, it started to rain as we were getting the washer in and the range and dryer got seriously wet!

And BTW, this is a bit off-topic but I recently got a Eaton Viking washer that is probably from the very late seventies. It's hard to tell with the serial number as a part of it is gone! It's definitely newer than those featured in Paul's last Eaton catalog from 1976. It was advertised along with an older Speed Queen dryer that I really wanted so I got both. I thought it might have a lighted control panel but it's just an aluminum filler... I'm wondering if I could replace that with GE/Hotpoint parts and get some light from there?! 

Back to Inglis and Whirlpool

Pierre, have a look at that, quite close to your dream set! They are even one step above the BOL Liberator, it looks like they're painted in the non-shaded Harvest Gold from the late seventies. My grandparents had a set quite like these but they were the BOL Liberator from 1978.

INGLIS SUPERB! Nothing less!

;-)

One thing I don't understand about the Canadian Inglis, Whirlpool, RCA,  RCA Whirlpool, Admiral and Kenmore washers is why some Inglis branded washers, like this 1974 dryer that I used to have (and the harvest gold set in the following pictures) share the same model names (Inglis Supreme) and cabinets as some US Whirlpool models while most Canadian Whirlpool, RCA, Admiral, Inglis and Kenmore of the time had some distinct features like the 1961 US Whirlpool-style lower front panels.