the fairest answer is," largely a gimmick". AFAIK, the motor was controlled by a governor so there was a so-called infinite range between a slow activation speed and the normal one; same for the spin. So you could choose an "infinite" number of agitation speeds between 100 opm and 60 opm and an "infinite" number of spin speeds between 400 rpm and 600 rpm. Big whoop. Their "infinite" water level was more of a joke: the difference between extra-large and small was about 3 inches of water. I thought these machines were so cool when they were being offered, but I think in retrospect, the 3 and 4 speed models, which were always one rung down, were more interesting and those, we're told, were repair nightmares.

Hotpoint first offered one of these in 1967 (a gorgeous if flawed machine and one that I covet)then it disappeared. It reappeared as a GE Filter-Flo in 1969 and then hung around for a couple of years where it morphed into one of their new "HEAVY DUTY 18" models (also laughable because the difference between the old 12 lb tub and the new fangled 18 lb. tub was barely a couple of inches).

I'm a Filter-Flo fan as most of you know, but these machines were disappointments. Especially when you compare them to my LG front loader which offers a range of spin speeds from NO spin to 1200 rpm, and washing intervals that mean something.

I agree that the comment from the Black woman was stereotyped, but a bunch of women lusting for a washing machine was a stereotype in itself. I remember in 1969 the world, thankfully was changing. Suddenly there were Black actors on TV who weren't maids or stevedores. In one year, we had Flip Wilson, Diahann Carroll, Chelsea Brown; all young, hip and not wearing uniforms( well, Diahann was a nurse on her show).

My Mother was in the advertising business and finally Black people were being recognized, by an exclusively white business, as a powerful customer base worth soliciting. A lot of businesses, artists, copywriters and art directors frantically crash-coursed themselves in "Blackness".  I remember my Mother suddenly drawing Black models for her Simplicity sewing pattern ladies because they had been, pretty much, all white up to the late Sixties. That Pattern Company caught on a little ahead of schedule.  A lot of mistakes, both ignorant and innocent, were made but the force of humble home economics marked a significant and substantial win for civil rights. As George Jefferson once said, the most important color bigots respond to is "green".