Thread Number: 91075  /  Tag: Vintage Automatic Washers
1948 Bendix washer restoration.
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Post# 1155819   8/2/2022 at 21:03 (632 days old) by gyromatic (St. Paul MN.)        

I haven't posted for years. I thought it's about time to post one of my restorations. This is another complete Bendix restoration. This is a 1948 Bendix washer with optional automatic soap injector. What a great find this was! This machine was still bolted to the cement block in the basement. The owner was in her upper 90s and had passed away. Her niece sold it to me and had mentioned that her aunt had her laundry moved upstairs with a new washer and dryer many many years ago leaving the Bendix behind in the dark dingy basement where it has remained and been forgotten about bolted to its cement block for 74 years. This machine came from a small town in Illinois population 447 people. I think this machine survived because the owner lived in the house for so long and the population was so low and also because she had moved her laundry to the main floor. 1948 was a very transitional year for Bendix washers it was the first year the gyromatic was introduced. The first freestanding model. And of course the bolt down model was still available. The changes were a higher spin speed. The earlier models had a spin speed of 333 RPMs. And the 1948 models had a higher spin speed of 402 RPMs. The optional automatic soap injector was another great new feature. It's a very complex system. Also the cylinder was completely redesigned. And this cylinder design remained until the last Bendix washer was produced. It was a huge project to get this done, but it was well worth the effort. It's a fantastic machine! Hope you like the photographs and videos.

  Photos...       <              >      Photo 1 of 20         View Full Size



Post# 1155830 , Reply# 1   8/2/2022 at 21:38 (632 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)        
1948 Bendix

combo52's profile picture

Wow it looks even better in large pictures on the large desk-top Mac.

 

This model must have been the last hurrah for the millions of bolt-down Bendix machines that they had already built, it is really neat that you finally found one and likely the only one that exists today.

 

John L.


Post# 1155842 , Reply# 2   8/3/2022 at 01:07 (632 days old) by Slowspin66 (lincoln uk)        
Bolt down Bendix

slowspin66's profile picture
Well John that is one fantastic restoration . The quality of the rebuild Is phenomenal . It’s now better than new !!!I like the way you’ve done the before and after photos to show the story of the restoration . It shows your ability as a restorer and your commitment to do a really top notch job . A very very unique find that’s clearly found it’s way home !! Well done and thanks for posting . Darren

Post# 1155844 , Reply# 3   8/3/2022 at 01:55 (632 days old) by foraloysius (Leeuwarden, Friesland, the Netherlands)        

foraloysius's profile picture
Absolutely amazing job you did there. You’re a master in restoration! Hats off! And thank you for sharing this with us.

Post# 1155847 , Reply# 4   8/3/2022 at 05:55 (631 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)        
Job *VERY* Well Done!

launderess's profile picture
Just totally stunning and amazing!

A++++

Enjoy your new appliance in best of health.


Post# 1155849 , Reply# 5   8/3/2022 at 07:11 (631 days old) by vacbear58 (Sutton In Ashfield, East Midlands, UK)        
More pictures here

vacbear58's profile picture
Post# 1155852 , Reply# 6   8/3/2022 at 08:15 (631 days old) by turbokinetic (Northport, Alabama USA)        

Hi John.  I really enjoyed seeing those pictures! You have made every part of that machine look like new. I can see how much time went into this restoration.  It never ceases to amaze me how intricate and complex these earlier washers are. An incredible amount of engineering went into this machine. Thanks for restoring it and sharing your journey with us here. 

 

I hope you are able to get the videos uploaded to a site such as YouTube for us to see.

Sincerely,
David


Post# 1155865 , Reply# 7   8/3/2022 at 10:33 (631 days old) by peteski50 (New York)        
Bendix!

peteski50's profile picture
Hi John what a beautiful restoration!


Post# 1155872 , Reply# 8   8/3/2022 at 12:15 (631 days old) by appnut (TX)        

appnut's profile picture
John, your restoration work is beyond words of description.

It's really super to see one with the soap injector. It's a shame there wasn't a way to allow automatic soak-to-wash feature. I don't see how that could be accomplished. that had always been in the back of my mind once I learned of the soap injector through one of the POD advertisements.


Post# 1155878 , Reply# 9   8/3/2022 at 14:03 (631 days old) by gyromatic (St. Paul MN.)        
Reply soak to wash

Thank you. And that would have been nice to have that feature... Soak to wash

Post# 1155894 , Reply# 10   8/3/2022 at 19:12 (631 days old) by mielerod69 (Australia)        
Video link

mielerod69's profile picture
Hi gyromatic. Could you please post the video link? Amazing restoration!
Thanks


Post# 1155899 , Reply# 11   8/3/2022 at 19:34 (631 days old) by gizmo (Victoria, Australia)        

Wow. That is stunning.

What is the pulley at the top of the drum? Soap dispenser?


Post# 1155904 , Reply# 12   8/3/2022 at 20:37 (631 days old) by gyromatic (St. Paul MN.)        
Pulley

The pulley at the top is for the soap injector

Post# 1155905 , Reply# 13   8/3/2022 at 20:44 (631 days old) by gyromatic (St. Paul MN.)        
Video link

Unfortunately I will not be posting videos on the website. There are many videos of it on the vintage appliances electronics and lighting website. Due to the lack of ease I'm not able to post videos at this time.

Post# 1155907 , Reply# 14   8/3/2022 at 21:22 (631 days old) by Unimatic1140 (Minneapolis)        

unimatic1140's profile picture
Wow John your work as always is just stunning! That machine looks like it is right out of its original crate. Congratulations.

Post# 1155926 , Reply# 15   8/4/2022 at 07:10 (630 days old) by neptunebob (Pittsburgh, PA)        
What do you use to clean the electrical parts?

neptunebob's profile picture

It seems like you could not use water, but how else would you get it so clean?


Post# 1155937 , Reply# 16   8/4/2022 at 11:25 (630 days old) by gyromatic (St. Paul MN.)        
Cleaning parts

I go through a lot of q-tips, rubbing alcohol, and hot sudsy Dawn water.


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