The Bendix Combos were the original and the best of them. When Consumer Reports tested washers and dryers in 1954, I believe, they tested the Duomatic in with the mix. As a washer, they rated the Duomatic just behind the Whirlpool, something like 4th from the top and as a condenser dryer, it rated with the Maytag and Hotpoint condenser dryers. Unlike other combos which did not extract as much water from the fabrics before drying, the Duomatic kept drying temperatures at a safe 160F so even years before wash and wear and Permanent Press, the Duomatic dried at a safe temperature for synthetics and at the magic temperature at which Permanent Press fabrics relaxed wrinkles and the proper creases were reset into the fabrics. I used to do the uniforms for a nurse in my Duomatic and she said they looked better, both from a standpoint of cleanliness and wrinkle free finish than when they were done in the separate washer and dryer.

There were actually 8 color-checked models, then the Frigidaire then the Whirlpool. They said that the WP had average washing ability, but the washing ability was somewhat lessened with partial loads. I find it hard to believe that the AMP would wash the same size load as well as the WP, but CU had a thing for Maytags that started back in the wringer washer days.

I can tell you that friends bought the ABC-O-MATIC on the basis of the rating and had nothing but trouble followed by the machine's early death. After that, they dropped their subscription to Consumer Reports. It was wonderful back in those days for a wee washer lad because they had pictures of the machines.