I can only speak to the ones I or my family have owned.  All of them over the years changed, with nothing unique to any of them.  One factor for sure is the machines like the GE you described that clunks when it drains these were also machines that ran the motor continuously during the cycle with different sounds as the correct amount of water ran in.  One of the quietest 70's era machines was a GE with the plastic tank and door liner.  There could be surprises, Mom had a mid 70's D&M Kenmore, all D&M thin porcelain on the inside, it was quieter than its replacement a early 1980's machine with porcelain tank and a plastic door liner.  IDK anything about the Westinghouses no one in our family had one that I can remember.  I think all of them sound pretty much the same with a different decibel level when spraying, after the fill is complete. All seem quieter to me when fully loaded.  The main difference is probably if it  pauses to fill completely. Hope this helps. Someone here probably has a Westinghouse.

Yep, Wards Signature extended into appliances, cookware, water heaters, central heat, room heat and every small kitchen counter top appliance known to man.