Thread Number: 70535  /  Tag: Vintage Automatic Washers
POD 4/26/2017
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Post# 934613   4/26/2017 at 03:45 (2,528 days old) by brucelucenta ()        

1950's Westinghouse washers were heavy, cumbersome machines that were good at getting sand and sediment out of clothing, but not that terrific at cleaning or extracting water. They had a tendency to tangle everything together in one rope of clothing too. I have certainly used these before in a laundromat, which used to be FULL of them back in the day. If you watch the movie "Midnight Cowboy", you will see them in a laundromat setting.




Post# 934622 , Reply# 1   4/26/2017 at 06:53 (2,528 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)        

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Two rows of those very basic RL-1 washers were in the laundromat in my home town. They wouldn't come close to passing today's standards for safety: The door didn't lock, so you could open it up during the spin--which didn't stop, of course. Water also entered the machine right above the door from an exposed fill tube.

I'd gather some quarters, rags/rugs and bike to the laundromat when I was bored. I'd keep the door open for much of the cycle and sometimes put my thumb on the fill tube and shoot water all over the place. The spin was very slow---300 rpm, maybe. Also loved buying the little boxes of All detergent from the vending machine.

Those were eventually replaced with two rows of an updated model. No exposed fill tube; can't remember if the latched door locked during operation or if the machine stopped when the door was opened. At any rate, they weren't as much fun for a young washerhead.

Aside: There was an old Pepsi vending machine in the laundromat with the vertical row of bottles (which rested horizontally), one of which you'd pull out after dropping a quarter in the slot. I'd bring a big plastic glass and a bottle opener; open the door, pop the top off one of the bottles and let the Pepsi flow into the cup. Yes, I was hood rat as a kid, LOL.


Post# 934639 , Reply# 2   4/26/2017 at 09:20 (2,528 days old) by toploader55 (Massachusetts Sand Bar, Cape Cod)        

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Hey Eugene !!!

T Rex is Back.


Post# 934646 , Reply# 3   4/26/2017 at 10:27 (2,528 days old) by HiLoVane (Columbus OH)        

Not long ago, when the POD featured a '57 GE FF, I posted that an aunt of mine had one at the time I was a little kid, living with my family in an apartment complex, and she'd occasionally invite my mom over to do our laundry.

I had another aunt, who did the same thing; except she had the Westy Twins (Laundromat pictured, and its Clothes Dryer mate). I remember those fondly; especially the dryer, which played "How Dry I am" when it shut off, and the "toaster" like lint filter, that popped up when the door was opened.

I also had a small collection of the Westinghouse Laundry Twins S&P shaker sets. Almost sorry I don''t have them any more.

What is the difference between the L-6 and the LB-6?
I remember the RL-1's being available as commercial washers well into the '70s.


Post# 934647 , Reply# 4   4/26/2017 at 10:35 (2,528 days old) by ea56 (Cotati, Calif.)        

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My favorite aunt also had this same Westy set that matched the POD washer. I loved to watch that machine! She used that set for 10 trouble free years and sold them with the house when they moved. I've said before that in the 50's and early 60's watching these machines was almost as good as watching the limited programming we had on TV then. These machines really spawned my lifelong love for washers.
Eddie



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