|
Thread Number: 63401
/ Tag: Vintage Automatic Washers
Traveling back to OHIO |
[Down to Last] |  |
| Post# 859803 1/3/2016 at 13:23 (3,035 days old) by alr2903 (TN) | ||
|
| ||
|
| Post# 859804 , Reply# 1 1/3/2016 at 13:25 (3,035 days old) by alr2903 (TN) | ||
|
After all these years...
| ||
| Post# 859805 , Reply# 2 1/3/2016 at 13:27 (3,035 days old) by alr2903 (TN) | ||
|
It was a pleasure meeting Dave and Erica, Arthur | ||
| Post# 859813 , Reply# 3 1/3/2016 at 14:27 (3,035 days old) by toploader55 (Massachusetts Sand Bar, Cape Cod) | ||
 | ||
Post# 859855 , Reply# 4 1/3/2016 at 18:11 (3,035 days old) by Volvoguy87  (Cincinnati, OH) |
||
We made it! | ||
|
Post# 859857 , Reply# 5 1/3/2016 at 18:13 (3,035 days old) by Volvoguy87 (Cincinnati, OH) |
||
|
You can bend the laws of physics with a Honda Elenent!
Here they are loaded back to back.
View Full Size
| ||
| Post# 859887 , Reply# 6 1/3/2016 at 21:03 (3,035 days old) by arris (Rochester New York) | ||
Glad to hear your trip went well, I had to laugh at your thread about finding someone who knows how to drive a stick. as I read it I wondered how many drivers remember the 3 on the column... my father had a 67 Chevy pkup that I learned to drive on, I was only 13 at the time but loved driving that old truck.. it had the Choke knob you had to pull out... Ha Ha.. talk about ancient......
| ||
| Post# 859907 , Reply# 7 1/4/2016 at 01:12 (3,035 days old) by Stan (Napa CA) | ||
You  | ||
|
Post# 859993 , Reply# 8 1/4/2016 at 13:38 (3,034 days old) by moparwash (Pittsburgh,PA ) |
||
 | ||
|
Post# 860007 , Reply# 9 1/4/2016 at 14:28 (3,034 days old) by Volvoguy87 (Cincinnati, OH) |
||
|
Up & Running?
Are you KIDDING me?
These will be a long time in the works. I am wrapping up a major home renovation right now, then I must get a Maytag A702 put back together for Classiccaprice. At some point along the way, I need to put together my workshop and finish my kitchen too. I have no experience with Westinghouses, so I will proceed at glacial speed. I'll likely get the dryer up and running first. Before trying it out, I'd like to take it apart and thoroughly clean & lubricate everything. The washer will require some serious looking over. I'll be in need of a new door boot for certain. If there is still talk of a reproduction run of boots, count me in for one, plus a spare or two. No, I'm not overwhelmed at all... Dave | ||
| Post# 860041 , Reply# 10 1/4/2016 at 16:49 (3,034 days old) by christfr (st louis mo) | ||
 | ||
|
Post# 860043 , Reply# 11 1/4/2016 at 16:59 (3,034 days old) by Volvoguy87 (Cincinnati, OH) |
||
|
I've never used a Westinghouse.
How do the Slant Fronts perform? I know of few machines with a tilted drum. Only the Maytag Neptunes and Hoover UK Keymatics come to mind. I guess a Westinghouse slant front isn't truly an H-Axis machine, since the tub is closer to 45 degrees (far steeper than a Neptune too).
I'm curious as to the whole history of Westinghouse laundry equipment since this is all new to me. Who can tell me how the Westinghouse front loader washers and dryers evolved over time? I know mine aren't the 1st generation, but maybe they are the second? When might my machines have been in production? Were they popular or well regarded at the time? Were they cheap machines, expensive, or middle? Were there any advantages of their redesign from the tilted tub to the truly horizontal tub in the early 60s? So much to learn, Dave | ||
|
Post# 860188 , Reply# 12 1/5/2016 at 06:35 (3,033 days old) by turquoisedude (.) |
||
Congratulations!! I'd guess these are 1950 or 1951 models - these were probably the TOL for Westinghouse at the time (and I am basing that solely on the washer's water-level control - that was an industry first!).
Westinghouse had developed an automatic front-loading washer just about the time World War II broke out so they didn't really mass-market them until after the war was over. Jeff (jeffadelphi) here on the board has what has to be the first Westy Laundromat! These machines did not have the infamous door boot - there were two clothes loading doors - on the inner tub and on the outer cabinet.
Mechanically, these machines are not that difficult to work on but parts can be troublesome... You may run into trouble with the thermostatic water valve and the drain pump. The good news is that you can substitute a 'modern' water valve and the last time I checked, Modern Parts in Parma had a bunch of NOS aftermarket Laundromat pumps.
As for the boots, if the possibility of getting them made again ever comes up, I'd be happy to order a couple myself. However, while poking around the washers in UK stores, I think you'd probably be able to sub one from a UK machine.
Sorry to ramble... All the best with your project and if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to let me know ! | ||
| Post# 860213 , Reply# 13 1/5/2016 at 10:30 (3,033 days old) by alr2903 (TN) | ||
|
Here ya go Dave, original seller linked this | ||
| Post# 860271 , Reply# 14 1/5/2016 at 17:00 (3,033 days old) by Classiccaprice (Hampton, Virginia) | ||
 | ||
|
Post# 860299 , Reply# 15 1/5/2016 at 19:03 (3,033 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md) |
||
Early To Mid 50s Westinghouse Washers Were actually one of the most reliable automatic washers made in the US, and for that matter in the world.
But unfortunately they were only fair to poor in cleaning and they tangled as badly as the Frigidaire Unimatic washers and their water extraction was no where near as good, yes they were as good [ or even better ] at flushing away sand and grit as the early Whirlpool built top loading washers.
Overall early WH Slant Front washers are really fun collectibles, every serious collector should have one or at least experience one.
John L. | ||
| Post# 860312 , Reply# 16 1/5/2016 at 20:08 (3,033 days old) by bendixmark (Winchester Mass) | ||
|
washer That is the washer my mother had when I was 4.It was my favorite thing. | ||
|
Post# 864891 , Reply# 17 1/31/2016 at 09:23 (3,007 days old) by jetcone (Schenectady-Home of Calrods,Monitor Tops,Toroid Transformers) |
||
You can be sure | ||
| Post# 864913 , Reply# 18 1/31/2016 at 11:20 (3,007 days old) by golittlesport (California) | ||
Nice save, Dave!
Gotta love vintage pairs. The Westy slant front twins are certainly iconic, and as John mentioned, worthy of a place in a collection.
Growing up in the 50s on the east coast, and moving almost every year for the first eight years of my life, I saw many Westinghouse washers everywhere we went. (And I made it a point to know what kind of washer everyone had!) They were very common, especially the design you have which I believe was produced from about 1948 through 1952. Westinghouse was the first to introduce a suspended tub to the market so the machine did not need to be bolted down and the first water level control. They say washing performance was average and that was probably due to the detergents available at the time. (Detergents were just being formulated and introduced at the time, and most produced "mountains of suds" -- not good for tumble washing.) Extraction was average -- about 500 rpm, on par with Bendix and Whirlpool/Kenmore. I think rising was very good, with a long spray rinse and two deep rinses. Westinghouse always produced at least two models, the BOL being a bolt-down model similar to what was found in the multitude of "Laundromat" coin-op facilities in the day. They did tangle quite a bit, but had that nice drop down door to sit the tangled load on and untie it. That's what my mom did. She had a 57 MOL and loved her Westy slant front. Coming from using a wringer washer with six kids, the Westy was a big step forward in convenience and function and could do no wrong in her eyes. I liked it too -- with a window at my eye level to watch all the action. I've heard said the change from tilted tub to horizontal in the late 50s improved washing performance and reduced tangling. Good luck on the restore when you get to it! | ||
|
Post# 865068 , Reply# 19 2/1/2016 at 11:48 (3,006 days old) by Volvoguy87 (Cincinnati, OH) |
||
|
Thank you!
They are safe in my basement now. I bought some casters with brakes to replace the feet, which are missing their pads. Until I can get some serious work done on these machines, I hope the casters will make them more convenient to roll around the workshop. I assume the washer will not tolerate casters when in use. I saw casters under a dryer at Moparwash's Pittsburgh Wash-In and thought it was a neat idea.
I just need more time to work on everything... Dave | ||
| Forum Index: |
| Other Forums: |
|
|
|
|
|
Comes to the Rescue!
