Thread Number: 81964  /  Tag: Vintage Automatic Washers
Differences Between Westinghouse & White Westinghouse Washtub Capacity
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Post# 1059825   2/6/2020 at 20:33 (1,511 days old) by scrubflex (bronx, new york)        

Does anyone on the site know if the 1968, 1969 and 1970 Westinghouse washtub were bigger than the 1972, 1973 and 1974 tubs. Does anyone have washer literature information?




Post# 1059871 , Reply# 1   2/7/2020 at 11:52 (1,510 days old) by Unimatic1140 (Minneapolis)        

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I don't think the tub size changed at all during the run of the Westinghouse made top loaders with porcelain basket and spiral agitator.

1969 Models/Brochures for Westinghouse Top Loading Washers
1974 Models/Brochures for Westinghouse Top Loading Washers


Post# 1059897 , Reply# 2   2/7/2020 at 17:34 (1,510 days old) by scrubflex (bronx, new york)        

HEYYYYYY!!! Robert how are you...hmm, if that's the case the '68. and '69 pistachio-green double deep-spiral probably washed less than the '72 to '74 blue deep-swirl because the ramps were wider and ramp edges was taller...the 1970 pistachio-green double spiral may have performed a little better because of the added 3 vertical ribs to the ramp edge...the blue swirl ramps were shrunken down and ramp edges ended up too shallow...more than likely allowed extra room for more clothes...thanks Robert I have those 2 Westinghouse brochures/catalogs

Post# 1059916 , Reply# 3   2/7/2020 at 21:51 (1,510 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)        
Real Westinghouse TL Tub Capacity

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Indeed Robert is correct, these machines all had the same capacity till WCI did away with the WH design and went with the Franklin design with a plastic wash tub.

 

As time went on the Franklin machines proved to be more durable than the WH design, neither was a particularly good washer performance wise that's for sure.

 

The best performing ones were the first two years of the WH design when they had the solenoid on the idler pulley so the washer would pump out without spinning, but quality and reliability was so bad on these really models that it would be quite a find if you ever find one that still works.

 

John L.


Post# 1059919 , Reply# 4   2/7/2020 at 22:15 (1,510 days old) by scrubflex (bronx, new york)        

Hmm, a MIRACLE ehh. The first washer I ever seen was my parents 1968 Westinghouse

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Post# 1060134 , Reply# 5   2/10/2020 at 07:43 (1,507 days old) by jons1077 (Vancouver, Washington, USA)        
Figuring out manufacturer date

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Anyone by chance know how to know when a Westinghouse washer/dryer was made? I’ve always assumed mine were from around 1974 but don’t actually know.

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Post# 1060138 , Reply# 6   2/10/2020 at 08:33 (1,507 days old) by steved (Guilderland, New York)        
Advertised

The Sweet's Catalogues I have advertise the Westinghouse Top Load washers from 1968-1970 as having a 16# capacity. I imagine they jumped on the capacity bandwagon because starting in 1971, they were claiming an 18# capacity. (probably using the same tub)

Post# 1060213 , Reply# 7   2/10/2020 at 21:15 (1,507 days old) by scrubflex (bronx, new york)        

Hi Steved, could you post pics of the Westinghouse washers from the catalogs

Post# 1060214 , Reply# 8   2/10/2020 at 21:30 (1,507 days old) by scrubflex (bronx, new york)        

Hi Jon, I can't tell you for sure but, it looks like it could be a '74 but, check out Gsohoover video because he shows the model number...compare it to you washer...see

CLICK HERE TO GO TO scrubflex's LINK


Post# 1060217 , Reply# 9   2/10/2020 at 23:39 (1,507 days old) by scrubflex (bronx, new york)        

Different question, is it possible to REDUCE the 'indexing arc' of the Westinghouse washers? Can something DELAY/SLOW-DOWN the indexing of the tub? Instead of it being a 90 degree rotation arc, drop it down to 45 degrees

Post# 1060236 , Reply# 10   2/11/2020 at 07:47 (1,506 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)        
Reducing The Indexing Rate During Agitation

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You could add a brake that held the tub during agitation.

 

The lack of a tub brake is what made Franklin washers 1960 on , and WH TL washers 1965-1975 such mediocre machines at washing large loads and actually getting them uniformly clean.

 

Its funny that these two indexing washer designs ended up merging together.

 

John L.


Post# 1060246 , Reply# 11   2/11/2020 at 10:40 (1,506 days old) by mrsalvo (New Braunfels Texas)        

I've often wondered why WH developed the indexing tub to begin with. The only thing that makes sense would be a more gentle wash action, not rough on the clothes. I read somewhere a few months ago, think it was in there advertising literature that the lint filter would reduce billowing, as the clothes would just often float around. I agree with Scrubflex that adding the 3 vertical ribs on the agitator may have increased cleaning performance.
Honestly, I think they are fun machines to watch but maybe not all that great on large loads to get "uniformly clean," as Combo52 mentioned. Perhaps someone who owns one could prove me wrong. There's not many of these machines left. Think the front load machines were better.


Post# 1060249 , Reply# 12   2/11/2020 at 11:05 (1,506 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)        
Indexing TL Washer Tubs

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There was one and only ONE reason these were ever built, It was considerably cheaper to build a washer without a brake, Franklin and WH discovered they could cut costs and get away with it so they tried to justify it and call it a feature.

Having the tub move with the agitator in one direction does not improve ANY aspect of the washers performance, the only thing it does is make it kid of fun to watch, but it leaves you wondering after a few minutes why the hell is it doing what its doing,No other serious washer ever did this, LOL

John L.


Post# 1060255 , Reply# 13   2/11/2020 at 12:13 (1,506 days old) by delturner (USA)        

Take a look at an old Norge washer with the rather loud tub lock. The agitation beats clothes to a pulp!!!!

Post# 1060277 , Reply# 14   2/11/2020 at 13:23 (1,506 days old) by cfz2882 (Belle Fourche,SD)        

really cool washers in reply 4 and 5 :)I thought it would be easy to add brake to Franklin washer (the tranny rotates with tub)I know on my 1989 franklin rollover really improves when tub held stationary.If another decently intact Franklin finds me,might modify it with a brake for kicks :)Franklins actually have far better main seal than most any other washer

Post# 1060281 , Reply# 15   2/11/2020 at 15:12 (1,506 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)        

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Indexing tubs: Having owned a couple of Franklin-based washers (an ‘86 Frigidaire and an ‘05 Frigidaire) I noticed that the tub didn’t move randomly during agitation. The agitator makes a clockwise stroke, its arc depending on the weight/drag of the load. The more drag, the shorter the clockwise stroke. As the agitator makes its counter-clockwise stroke, the tub indexes clockwise in exact proportion to the length of the counter-clockwise stroke of the agitator. The shorter the clockwise stroke, the longer the counter-clockwise stroke and tub indexing.

I grabbed the agitator a couple of times so that there was almost no clockwise stroke. The counter-clockwise stroke was very long and the tub spun nearly 360 degrees.

If you grab the tub ring to prevent it from moving, the clockwise and counter-clockwise strokes of the agitator become even, as in most washers.

This leads me to believe there’s something going on in addition to there being no tub brake. Is there some sort of spring mechanism in the transmission? The indexing tub has a very definitely stop and start to it; it isn’t random.

I fully agree that while indexing is fun to watch, it inhibits rollover and cleaning power. It also increases tangling of large articles like bedsheets.




This post was last edited 02/11/2020 at 15:57
Post# 1060422 , Reply# 16   2/13/2020 at 01:15 (1,505 days old) by 70series ( Connecticut.)        
Post # 1059919

The washer in this post just about matches my grandmother's Westinghouse. I was not sure of the year she bought it, but figured it was around 1967/1968. She had it until the winter of 1979 when it quit on her at the worst possible time; my grandfather had just come home to recuperate after a month in the hospital, and a major surgery. Fortunately two things were in my grandmother's favor. 1. She had another washing machine in her basement, a 24 inch 1966 RCA Whirlpool with a partial console that had belonged to extended family, but was moved to my grandparents house in 1974 when these relatives moved to an apartment that had no hookup. 2. A son-in-law (my father) who had some mechanical inclination, and was able to hook up the Whirlpool the same day the Westinghouse bid its adieu. I never saw the Westinghouse in action as my grandmother never did laundry when we were visiting. I did get to see the Whirlpool go through a test run once it was hooked up. It was great to see its Surgilator swishing water around after almost 5 years of sitting mute.


Post# 1060585 , Reply# 17   2/14/2020 at 23:11 (1,503 days old) by scrubflex (bronx, new york)        

The 1968 & '69 Westinghouse Spiral Ramp agitator really was a great agitator and powerful too...it's problem was it often caused loads to "ball-up' creating bad unbalances...the deep ramps and high walls (backstroke) plunged the clothes down forcefully into the tub...but, the tub indexing prevented it from turning the loads over as much as it could...the 1970 version with add 3 vertical ribs stopped the balling and enhanced the turnover circulation strength...

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Post# 1060586 , Reply# 18   2/14/2020 at 23:21 (1,503 days old) by scrubflex (bronx, new york)        

...besides the tub indexing, too bad their tubs weren't big enough to match the large ramps...I notice the 1970's Hoover and 1974 Blackstone washer tubs were the same design as the Westinghouse but, were bigger...the 70's HOOVER

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Post# 1060587 , Reply# 19   2/14/2020 at 23:23 (1,503 days old) by scrubflex (bronx, new york)        

the BLACKSTONE tub

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Post# 1060588 , Reply# 20   2/14/2020 at 23:26 (1,503 days old) by scrubflex (bronx, new york)        

Here's Westinghouse unchanging tub...

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Post# 1060589 , Reply# 21   2/14/2020 at 23:33 (1,503 days old) by scrubflex (bronx, new york)        

On to, so if it's more than a brake needed then what component can keep the washtub stationary eliminating the indexing?

Post# 1060608 , Reply# 22   2/15/2020 at 07:52 (1,502 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)        
Only a Brake Would Be Needed

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GE FF washers will index if the brake fails completely I have seen them do this.

 

The other thing WH TL washers always needed was a better agitator, While Spiral-Ramp agitators were alway great fun to watch they have never been an effective design for turning over and washing large loads, this is why no one has used one in decades.

 

SR agitators made some sense in Wringer washers where you usually did not load that heavily because you were going to wash several batches of laundry in the same tub of water.

 

Ironically WH TL washers were about the only TL washer available from the late 60s on that did not offer a Suds-saver option on their washers, yet they always advertised how thrifty their FL washers were with water, detergent etc.

 

John L.


Post# 1060646 , Reply# 23   2/15/2020 at 13:27 (1,502 days old) by scrubflex (bronx, new york)        

Hmm, how would or (could) the brake package be installed into the Westinghouse? And, not disputing you but, have you seen DanManTN's "WhiteWestingQueen" washer videos of his 2009 Speed Queen - AWN542 washer using the Westinghouse (regular) DEEP Ramp agitator with the 3 vertical ribs...it seems to be doing pretty good...a large load of towels

CLICK HERE TO GO TO scrubflex's LINK


Post# 1060647 , Reply# 24   2/15/2020 at 13:34 (1,502 days old) by scrubflex (bronx, new york)        

here's an extra large load of bath towels

CLICK HERE TO GO TO scrubflex's LINK


Post# 1060656 , Reply# 25   2/15/2020 at 14:23 (1,502 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)        
SQ TL washer With A Ramp agitator

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Yes you can see how much a tub brake helps, now put in a decent agitator and really wash some clothing. neither of the two loads are all that large, lets put in one of my standard test loads of 10 pairs of levy jeans [ W32"X I34" ] and see how the turn over is.

Our SC WP DD washers with a DAA can easily wash and effectively turn over this load of jeans, I do it at least 3 times every month.

John L.


Post# 1060669 , Reply# 26   2/15/2020 at 17:40 (1,502 days old) by scrubflex (bronx, new york)        

Oh yeah, of course...the dual-action agitator is the best (overloaded) laundry... turnover agitator designed...the best is the Kenmore spiral vane that has the 20 degree UNDERCUT...I believe it enabled 33% more laundry that could be washed in their THEN tubs

Post# 1060685 , Reply# 27   2/15/2020 at 21:02 (1,502 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)        

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Reply #17....

the two agitators shown are actually the Handwash(on the left) and Regular(on the right that slides over top)....


Post# 1060714 , Reply# 28   2/16/2020 at 11:35 (1,501 days old) by pierreandreply4 (St-Bruno de montarville (province of quebec) canada)        
question about westinghouse washer dryers

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what is the diffrence between the push button model for wash rinse temp and knob that you turn and what model was it that offered the blue agitator and did it come withe the liquid fabric softner dispenser and whats the advantage of the wash spin speed selector thats on certain model like i said its very longterm planing of course it would have to be harvest gold but find the westingouse washer dryer simple in term of use?

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Post# 1060718 , Reply# 29   2/16/2020 at 13:37 (1,501 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)        

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Temperature selection.  One is buttons, one is a knob.  No other difference.  Both offer the same five choices.

Speed selection.  The machine with separate speed selector allows using any speed with any cycle (longer "Normal" Wash/Soak cycle and shorter Knit Fabrics cycle).  Also provides multiple combinations of agitate and spin, such as Low agitate and High spin for woolens or High agitate and Low spin for permanent press items.

The machine without a speed selector has the speed set into the timer cycles.  Normal Wash cycle is High agitate and High spin.  Gentle Wash cycle is Low agitate and Low spin ... no other choices.











Post# 1060734 , Reply# 30   2/16/2020 at 16:18 (1,501 days old) by pierreandreply4 (St-Bruno de montarville (province of quebec) canada)        

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thank you hope when the time comes that some are still avalable in canada

Post# 1060736 , Reply# 31   2/16/2020 at 16:32 (1,501 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)        

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not sure about all machines....but noticed back then, push button controls cost a bit more than rotary controls...

not a substantial amount, like around 25.00....but as you compared models, the only difference was price and controls used....


Post# 1060786 , Reply# 32   2/17/2020 at 00:54 (1,501 days old) by scrubflex (bronx, new york)        

So then, how can a brake component be installed into the washer?

Post# 1060795 , Reply# 33   2/17/2020 at 07:38 (1,500 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)        
Adding A Brake To A WH TL Washer

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Hi Harry, Thats your job, Of all the hundreds of things I want to do in life trying to fix and redesign the drive-line of a WH TL washer is not one one them.

 

You still end up with an unreliable, hard to service, mediocre performing water hog TL washer. 

 

The best thing about WH washers and dryers from the mid 60s on was their pleasant and attractive styling, that's why we have these WHs in our museum project.

 

John L.


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Post# 1060811 , Reply# 34   2/17/2020 at 12:27 (1,500 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)        

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That is a sharp-looking Westinghouse set, John. My very first front-loader, a WCI Frigidaire-branded rear console machine circa ‘86 had similar dispensers for bleach and fabric softener. I think it was also the last of the non-reversing machines. It started tumbling when you pulled out the cycle control and didn’t stop until the end of the final spin.

There was no sort of load-balancing protocol, either. You’d hear a loud solenoid “bang” and it was off to the races. While out-of-balance loads were not a frequent issue, I did see the machine levitate a bit several times, LOL.


Post# 1060817 , Reply# 35   2/17/2020 at 14:46 (1,500 days old) by scrubflex (bronx, new york)        

LOL!!! I wouldn't know where to start...LGHH!!! John L...the most I'll do is mimic DanManTN if I'd found the 1970 pistachio double agitator or blue DA style...that is a beautiful set

Post# 1060818 , Reply# 36   2/17/2020 at 14:50 (1,500 days old) by scrubflex (bronx, new york)        

Thanks for the pics John L.

Post# 1134309 , Reply# 37   11/23/2021 at 12:35 (855 days old) by Solomon (Utica)        
White Westinghouse LA528AXV1

Anyone know where I can get a lint filter tray for this washer?

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Post# 1134665 , Reply# 38   11/26/2021 at 20:19 (852 days old) by Washerlover (The Big Island, Hawai’i)        

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And since I haven’t seen this thread in a while, I have to say I do not like the washer’s “lock ‘n spin” feature…difficult to disable.


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