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Thread Number: 57349
/ Tag: Vintage Automatic Washers
First Westinghouse Laundromat |
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Post# 796809 12/1/2014 at 12:03 (3,426 days old) by jeff_adelphi  (Adelphi, Maryland, USA) |
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Thanks to Jerry Gay for finding and delivering this Westinghouse washer for our collection. It must be the very first model they made. We have not found a date on it yet, but it must be from around 1940. It is very different from the 1947 model L2 that I have.
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Post# 796810 , Reply# 1 12/1/2014 at 12:06 (3,426 days old) by jeff_adelphi (Adelphi, Maryland, USA) |
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It has a pump protector much like a Bendix, and a drain valve.
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Post# 796811 , Reply# 2 12/1/2014 at 12:08 (3,426 days old) by jeff_adelphi (Adelphi, Maryland, USA) |
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It has white plastic dials that are lighted from behind. My 1947 L2 has black dials and no lights.
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Post# 796812 , Reply# 3 12/1/2014 at 12:12 (3,426 days old) by jeff_adelphi (Adelphi, Maryland, USA) |
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But the part that's most different is the drive system and transmission. It has a single drive belt, and the transmission is attached to the back of the outer tub.
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Post# 796813 , Reply# 4 12/1/2014 at 12:16 (3,426 days old) by Unimatic1140 (Minneapolis) |
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Post# 796814 , Reply# 5 12/1/2014 at 12:17 (3,426 days old) by jeff_adelphi (Adelphi, Maryland, USA) |
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The drain pump is driven by the single belt, and is controlled by a solenoid that moves a roller to push the belt into contact with the pump pulley.
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Post# 796815 , Reply# 6 12/1/2014 at 12:24 (3,426 days old) by jeff_adelphi (Adelphi, Maryland, USA) |
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The washer is in great shape for it's age, so I think we will be able to make it run again! We can't find a model number tag on it and wonder if it could be an L1. John and I have never seen anything like it!
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Post# 796817 , Reply# 7 12/1/2014 at 12:36 (3,426 days old) by appnut (TX) |
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Post# 796819 , Reply# 8 12/1/2014 at 12:45 (3,426 days old) by jeff_adelphi (Adelphi, Maryland, USA) |
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Reset, | ||
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Post# 796826 , Reply# 9 12/1/2014 at 13:45 (3,426 days old) by turquoisedude (.) |
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Post# 796828 , Reply# 10 12/1/2014 at 13:52 (3,426 days old) by revvinkevin (Tinseltown - Shakey Town - La-La Land) |
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Post# 796837 , Reply# 11 12/1/2014 at 15:31 (3,426 days old) by syndets2000 (Nanjemoy, MD) |
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pre war jeff, that is such a neat find, I cannot wait to see it....makes me wonder how soon they started manufactoring laundromats after the war...I also recall seeing some early patents here that look alot like this.... | ||
| Post# 796845 , Reply# 12 12/1/2014 at 17:18 (3,426 days old) by christfr (st louis mo) | ||
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Post# 796853 , Reply# 13 12/1/2014 at 19:58 (3,426 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md) |
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L or L-1 Westinghouse Laundermat Washer
This is indeed a very cool washer, Jerry Gay and Bob Orear delivered and donated it to the Warehouse-Museum about a mouth ago, Many Many Thanks.
According to patent records that Jon Charles found it spins 1,500 revolutions in three minutes, Look Out Unimatics, LOL. It looks like Jeff may get it going soon, Keep posted for more news. John L. This post was last edited 12/01/2014 at 21:32 | ||
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Post# 796855 , Reply# 14 12/1/2014 at 20:00 (3,426 days old) by appnut (TX) |
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Post# 796858 , Reply# 15 12/1/2014 at 20:09 (3,426 days old) by Gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!) |
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| Post# 796865 , Reply# 16 12/1/2014 at 20:19 (3,426 days old) by golittlesport (California) | ||
Prototype?
With no model number plate, I'm wondering if this might have been a prototype that was put in some homes to test before mass manufacturing. It is very cool. Beautiful machine and lighted dials to boot! Can't wait to see if the cycle sequence is the same as later models. Does the basket look the same? How many vanes? 1500 rpms? Are you serious? So many questions!
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Post# 796869 , Reply# 18 12/1/2014 at 20:59 (3,426 days old) by jetcone (Schenectady-Home of Calrods,Monitor Tops,Toroid Transformers) |
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Here is the design patent 
October 10 , 1940
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Post# 796870 , Reply# 19 12/1/2014 at 21:01 (3,426 days old) by jetcone (Schenectady-Home of Calrods,Monitor Tops,Toroid Transformers) |
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F W Perl
designed the post war machine
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Post# 796871 , Reply# 20 12/1/2014 at 21:03 (3,426 days old) by jetcone (Schenectady-Home of Calrods,Monitor Tops,Toroid Transformers) |
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And the
Streamliner
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Post# 796872 , Reply# 21 12/1/2014 at 21:05 (3,426 days old) by jetcone (Schenectady-Home of Calrods,Monitor Tops,Toroid Transformers) |
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Here is a
press photo from the 1948 appliance show in Los Angeles
Dated 7/20/48
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Post# 796873 , Reply# 22 12/1/2014 at 21:07 (3,426 days old) by jetcone (Schenectady-Home of Calrods,Monitor Tops,Toroid Transformers) |
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Jeff that is STUNNING !
Rich might have a point this could be a prototype. Westinghouse paid Bendix the sum of $125,000 in 1938 to get use of the rinse/drain feature Bendix had patented. So in 1938 they were still developing the machine. If this is a 1940 that is only two years later to be building a full commercial model and then the war broke out. | ||
| Post# 796876 , Reply# 23 12/1/2014 at 21:16 (3,426 days old) by danemodsandy (The Bramford, Apt. 7-E) | ||
Super Interesting!
It's not every day you see something this history-packed.
I'm very taken with the detail on the load door handle - that looks like a chrome-plated die casting with paint fill in the lettering. Grey or light grey-blue for the "Westinghouse" and dark red for the "Laundromat." Today's bean-counters would have a hemorrhage over that. | ||
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Post# 796879 , Reply# 24 12/1/2014 at 21:27 (3,426 days old) by jeff_adelphi (Adelphi, Maryland, USA) |
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Spin speed,
The article that Tom S. found said it spun 1500 times in 3 min, = 500 RPM's.
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Post# 796880 , Reply# 25 12/1/2014 at 21:30 (3,426 days old) by appnut (TX) |
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LA 1948 appliance show | ||
| Post# 796881 , Reply# 26 12/1/2014 at 21:36 (3,426 days old) by Northwesty (Renton, WA) | ||
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I am glad someone got one of these Here is a picture of one that was for sale in Glendale, CA years ago on craigslist. I tried real hard to get this but never got a response from the seller.
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| Post# 796882 , Reply# 27 12/1/2014 at 21:38 (3,426 days old) by Northwesty (Renton, WA) | ||
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Here is another shot Always wondered what happened to this one...
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Post# 796883 , Reply# 28 12/1/2014 at 21:38 (3,426 days old) by jeff_adelphi (Adelphi, Maryland, USA) |
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Testing so far-
Motor won't run and smokes, taken out for repair and testing. The transmission was stuck in spin mode. I took the rear cover off the trans. and found almost no trace of oil inside. With a little oil got the shifter freed up. Will make a new cover gasket and replace the rear shaft seal, then refill with proper oil. Overall the insides of the trans. look good, no sign of moisture or worn parts.
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| Post# 796887 , Reply# 29 12/1/2014 at 22:06 (3,426 days old) by alr2903 (TN) | ||
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Jeff Thank You! for an interesting thread. Both examples pictured in this thread show very little rust. The inner door had to be superior and more expensive to manufacture that the later machines with the rubber boot? | ||
| Post# 796901 , Reply# 30 12/2/2014 at 00:19 (3,426 days old) by A440 () | ||
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So awesome! I know if John and Jeff have not seen this model it is very rare! It looks cosmetically to be in great shape.
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| Post# 796907 , Reply# 31 12/2/2014 at 00:59 (3,426 days old) by hippiedoll ( arizona ) | ||
VERY COOL!!!
i'm not too hip to westinghouse washers, but this one is definitely a GREAT find loaded with american history. reading about this front loader is very interesting. i'll keep checking this thread to see your progress and hopefully soon, we'll get to see some washing videos!!!
GOOD LUCK with the restoration. i hope it's not too difficult for you!!! keeping my fingers crossed for you........ ;o) | ||
| Post# 796919 , Reply# 32 12/2/2014 at 05:11 (3,426 days old) by arbilab (Ft Worth TX (Ridglea)) | ||
Ours (my first) was barely postwar, most closely resembling the 1948 'show' pic. No pump filter, no pump belt, wheel-to-wheel drive solenoid engaged, entire lower skirt came off. Suspension was L&R + rear coil, top/side/bottom leaf snubber. Water metering was off the bottom leaf-- weight. Single dial set wash duration and temp H/W/C. Rinse was W. Spray rinse during both wash and rinse spins. Yeh, 500RPM sounds right, definitely not 1500.
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Post# 796924 , Reply# 33 12/2/2014 at 05:54 (3,426 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie) |
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| Post# 796932 , Reply# 34 12/2/2014 at 06:15 (3,426 days old) by norgeway (mocksville n c ) | ||
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And I can testify! It weighs a TON!! I found it on Craigslist, it came from MtAiry NC, Andy Griffiths hometown. | ||
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Post# 796950 , Reply# 35 12/2/2014 at 08:25 (3,425 days old) by jeff_adelphi (Adelphi, Maryland, USA) |
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Patent drawing,
Here's a patent drawing that Jon C. found showing a section thru the transmission. The tub support bearings are part of the trans. and are lubricated by the oil inside.
CLICK HERE TO GO TO jeff_adelphi's LINK | ||
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Post# 796960 , Reply# 37 12/2/2014 at 09:47 (3,425 days old) by jeff_adelphi (Adelphi, Maryland, USA) |
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Post# 796964 , Reply# 38 12/2/2014 at 10:05 (3,425 days old) by kb0nes (Burnsville, MN) |
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Post# 796981 , Reply# 39 12/2/2014 at 11:52 (3,425 days old) by jetcone (Schenectady-Home of Calrods,Monitor Tops,Toroid Transformers) |
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so Cool!! | ||
| Post# 799408 , Reply# 40 12/16/2014 at 13:05 (3,411 days old) by westyslantfront () | ||
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One of my aunts had that machine except there was a detergent shoot in the glass door. One day it broke and my aunt replaced it with a Norge Timeline. Ross | ||
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Post# 799456 , Reply# 42 12/16/2014 at 18:58 (3,411 days old) by CircleW (NE Cincinnati OH area) |
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Interesting machine, and glad it looks to be repairable. We had one of its descendants, the '55 DeLuxe for about 9 years. | ||
| Post# 802053 , Reply# 43 1/2/2015 at 22:35 (3,394 days old) by in2itdood () | ||
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WOW .... Now that is super duper cool! =) | ||
| Post# 816494 , Reply# 44 3/29/2015 at 22:13 (3,308 days old) by bvf () | ||
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what ever happened to baby jane whats up with this great machine,,,,update please……….would love one for my collection CLICK HERE TO GO TO bvf's LINK | ||
| Post# 816619 , Reply# 45 3/30/2015 at 19:27 (3,307 days old) by Stricklybojack (South Hams Devon UK) | ||
The machine that ended.. | ||
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Post# 816629 , Reply# 46 3/30/2015 at 20:24 (3,307 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA) |
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Post# 816682 , Reply# 47 3/31/2015 at 10:20 (3,306 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md) |
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The Test That Proved The Best Type Of Washer This was really a very fair test, yes most people would never have that much dirt and sand in one load, but it proves how much better a well designed machine can be.
Of course they left out the best selling Automatic Washers of the day { and today Whirlpool built machines ] in this test. Had they included a 57 KM and WP washer the results likely would have matched the WHs performance. The WP designed Neutral Drain and perforated wash basket was superior in performance to any solid tub washer in this type of test and is the reason that EVERY top load washer maker today makes neutral drain machines with perforated wash baskets. | ||
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Post# 816705 , Reply# 49 3/31/2015 at 12:28 (3,306 days old) by RevvinKevin (Tinseltown - Shakey Town - La-La Land) |
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Did this one play the tune...? | ||
| Post# 816823 , Reply# 50 4/1/2015 at 03:22 (3,306 days old) by bvf () | ||
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music box aug 1952 to aug 1953….only the v shaped machines 1954 had chime | ||
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Post# 816906 , Reply# 52 4/1/2015 at 12:57 (3,305 days old) by ea56 (Cotati, Calif.) |
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My Aunt Imogene had a 1953 Westy slant front set just like the pair at the beginning of this post. I don't recall that her dryer played "How Dry I Am" when the load was dry. But I do recall how mesmerized I was by being able to watch the clothes tumble through the windows. It was almost as good as TV. These machines were part of my beginning journey of my love for appliances, washers in particular. Her dryer was electric, but ran on 120V, not 220V. I remember that Grandpa was always after her to hook it up to 220V, but she preferred the more gentle heat that she got from 120V. She used to say that it didn't shrink the clothes as much.
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