These were the cycles and lights I mentioned when we were discussing the cycles on the timer dial of the Hotpoint LW8  a week or so ago. The small load/Delicate cycle automatically provides the lower water level.

Yes, in the early days of inventing new appliances, with many small manufacturers approaching design  ideas from many different angles, you got many different and interesting approaches which is what makes vintage appliances so interesting.

It's funny how hard the industry fought the tumble-action washer  design until economy and the fascination with all things European brought them to the forefront of the industry.

Even in today's world, the old Hamilton dryers dry a load faster with less electricity than my modern electric dryers due to their design and the particular air flow patterns in their dryers.

Dishwashers were another place where many different designs were presented, tried and either adopted or laid aside as designs were standardized.

While not a separate cycle, if you set an older Frigidaire washer for a small load, it shortened the cycle as could be easily seen on the inner ring  of marking of the timer in the WI57 and the WCI58.