Thread Number: 93247
/ Tag: Vintage Automatic Washers
Solid Tub Washers |
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Post# 1178926   4/24/2023 at 04:55 (376 days old) by chetlaham (United States)   |   | |
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Post# 1178927 , Reply# 1   4/24/2023 at 05:03 (376 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)   |   | |
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Were discontinued because they left too much sand and grit in clothing, and no matter how they try they never could get rid of lint as well either.
Solid tub machines often got pretty smelly because you had it top that was more sealed to the outer tub and you got a lot of buildup in the outer tubs in many cases. It is ironic that they were more water efficient or at least could be. But the way they were used with waste full overflow, rinsing, etc. to try to get rid of lint and scum. They ended up using just as much water anyway but that could’ve been more efficient. When GE redesigned their solid tub machine went to the Filter Flow V 12 machine. They made a drastic increase in reliability machines lasted about 50% longer immediately . John. |
Post# 1178931 , Reply# 2   4/24/2023 at 07:48 (376 days old) by chetlaham (United States)   |   | |
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Post# 1179122 , Reply# 3   4/26/2023 at 09:46 (373 days old) by Unimatic1140 (Minneapolis)   |   | |
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I love you John but I have to step in here and put in my 2 cents as I disagree with some of those assumptions. I use solid tub washers for 99% of my weekly wash and never do I have any issues with lint or grit. I could see if I worked in farm fields full of ground soil a front-loader or perforated tub washer would perform mostly better but that isn't the case the for those of us in urban populations. I have never had any disagreeable odor coming out of my machines nor do I remember my grandmother's Frigidaire Pulsamatic as a child ever having any scent besides the clean smell of 1960s/1970s detergent. I also have found a ton of old solid-tub washers over the past 28 years and I do not remember any of them having any bad smell. Solid tub machines are superior in their ability to rinse out clothes which can clearly be seen in using a belt drive Whirlpool/Kenmore washer vs any solid tub machine. This is the reason I never use my belt-drive Kenmore washer to ever wash towels as that design was very prone to suds-locking where most solid tub machines rarely suds lock, even when I use vintage detergent with lots of suds in the wash.
As for water consumption, while some brands of solid tub washers used an unnecessary amounts of water (Hotpoint's early design was just ridiculous) the majority used less water than perforated tub washers. Let's look at the total cycle water consumption numbers that Consumer Reports reported for both 1954 and 1960 models. It is also interesting to note that the front loaders of the 1950s used almost as much water as the solid-tub machines. |
Post# 1179129 , Reply# 4   4/26/2023 at 14:52 (373 days old) by qsd-dan (West)   |   | |
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I remember many years ago seeing a picture here of a solid tub Frigidaire out of the machine and it was massively plugged with lint....I think in the upper portion of the tub if my memory sticks aren't failing me.
When I had my WCI-63, it was "ok" at floating some of the dog hair out but not nearly as well as the Maytag and I didn't like the idea of sending it all down the drain even though I was on a public sewer system at the time. I was most likely plugging up those upper holes in the tub, too, I'm sure. I didn't use the washer very much nor tested it out with dirt/sand, so no comment there.
Now that I'm on 3.3 acres and spend a lot of time gardening/mowing/weeding/ every inch of it, there's no way a solid tub, front loader, and even a neutral draining perforated tub could handle the mess I throw in there. Even with a pre wash, main wash, 1.5 minute spray rinse and 3 minute deep rinse (we're talking over 65+ gallons of water), I occasionally have a little grit at the bottom corners of the tub with my dirtiest loads. |
Post# 1179158 , Reply# 5   4/26/2023 at 18:34 (373 days old) by norgeway (mocksville n c )   |   | |
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They dont do better is sand disposal, they wash better because the action does not bleed out thru the holes, they use less water and as a rule they spin out more water. |
Post# 1179229 , Reply# 8   4/27/2023 at 15:48 (372 days old) by Repairguy (Danbury, Texas)   |   | |
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Post# 1179249 , Reply# 9   4/27/2023 at 18:05 (372 days old) by chetlaham (United States)   |   | |
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Post# 1179278 , Reply# 11   4/28/2023 at 08:51 (371 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA)   |   | |
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Hum, I'm not so sure it was "Government" influence but rather that SQ recycled timer interval sequences / interval durations / water valve GPM output between the standard capacity and large capacity solid tub washers.
SQ used the same 3-1 sequence for the 70's large capacity rinse portion of the cycle that was being used with the 60's machines, and having the same interval duration and GPM. 3 intervals of fill and 1 interval of fill during the first interval of agitation, during rinse. If I had to guess, it wasn't the Feds chasing the brass in Rippon but rather the bean counters in Rippon not wanting to fork more money for a higher GPM water valve for the large capacity machines. They were already toggling between the 3.5 on the standard capacity and the 3.8 on the large during this time, both recycled from the 60's. The 3.5 was reserved for the standard capacity/timed fill, with the 3.8 being used on the pressure fill and large capacity machines. I can't imagine these were cheap machines to build by the late 70's and they were looking to cut costs anywhere they could. Adding a third valve to the mix wouldn't make sense, plus the clothes were still getting clean. Ben |
Post# 1179503 , Reply# 13   4/30/2023 at 22:19 (369 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)   |   | |
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Energy guides were required by 1980 on washing machines so I’m sure Speed Queen was concerned about sales and we’re making minor changes to reduce water usage and give the machine a more attractive energy guide.
Like it or not the majority of Americans want lower utility bills and want to save water and energy. Substantial majority of Americans are voting for energy, saving measures, which will hopefully lessen the climate crisis. John |
Post# 1179676 , Reply# 15   5/3/2023 at 08:13 (366 days old) by Washerlover (The Big Island, Hawai’i)   |   | |
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Post# 1179679 , Reply# 16   5/3/2023 at 09:52 (366 days old) by Maytag85 (Sean A806)   |   | |
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Sorry to take this off the tracks, but If people want lower energy costs and bills, then we need to build more nuclear power plants which produce clean and abundant electricity. Once nuclear fusion is figured out, then we’ll have an unlimited supply of energy.
People who are against nuclear energy simply fall for propaganda and false information that’s put out there by the oil companies along with the bureaucrats who know nothing about energy production and such. |
Post# 1179680 , Reply# 17   5/3/2023 at 10:01 (366 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)   |   | |
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Post# 1179687 , Reply# 18   5/3/2023 at 11:34 (366 days old) by Maytag85 (Sean A806)   |   | |
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Post# 1179802 , Reply# 19   5/4/2023 at 12:06 (365 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)   |   | |
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@R14
IIRC there was supposed to be a new top loader with something like solid tub design a while back, don't know what happened. www.automaticwasher.org/c... |
Post# 1179822 , Reply# 20   5/4/2023 at 18:21 (365 days old) by bajaespuma (Connecticut)   |   | |
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When we lived in a beach community, almost all of the families purchased second-hand washing machines and, because this was during the early Sixties, that meant that all of them happened to be solid tub machines. Being interested in washers I was aware of who had what and how they differed. We had, of course, a Filter-Flo, our next-door neighbor, Mrs. Petruzelo, had many machines because her son had many rental properties and machines for his mother, appeared as needed. The one they had the longest was a beautiful turquoise Rollermatic and it fascinated me with that "Jet-Action" pulsator in that bluish solid tub with the ridges. My Mom's best friend Connie, who lived further down the street had an old Hotpoint with the solid tub and the long-necked agitator. Pretty much all the machines were from the lower end of the model lines. I don't remember anybody complaining about sand left in the clothes. Nobody had a dryer, everybody line-dried their laundry in the sweet and salty shore breeze. Even the oversized beach towels left no trace in the tub.
I remember towards the end of our time there, Consumer Reports did a very thorough review of washers and did cite machines that were rated Poor at "sand disposal" and I do remember that those were solid tub machines that somehow made it to 1969. Never gave it a thought before that.
My Mother's only complaint with the Solid-Tub Filter-Flo was the lame recirculation that didn't work with a partial fill (she thought the whole lint-filter thing was an inconvenience and because it was a 1960 model where they switched out the metal filter pan with the plastic one {which was difficult to remove from the Activator post}) she didn't bother with any of it.
Mrs. Petruzelo was very satisfied with her Frigidaire; we know this because if there had been ANY issue, everyone on the street would have known about it. |
Post# 1179890 , Reply# 22   5/5/2023 at 06:41 (365 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)   |   | |
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Post# 1179891 , Reply# 23   5/5/2023 at 06:44 (365 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)   |   | |
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In comments section of above YT videos our own Agiflow says:
"The only reason the Westinghouse did better with sand removal is the perforated tub which the three top loaders didn't have. They were solid tub washers. Of course Westinghouse didnt test against Whirlpool/Kenmore. Those two had perforated wash baskets since the beginning of the automatic washer boom after WW2." |
Post# 1179930 , Reply# 27   5/5/2023 at 21:08 (364 days old) by rpms (ontario canada)   |   | |
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Post# 1179940 , Reply# 28   5/6/2023 at 01:07 (364 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)   |   | |
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IIRC those Westinghouse front load washers with tilted tubs were nicknamed "rope makers". This was due to tendency of wash coming out in a tangled long mess.
As for suds locking between high foaming detergents (Tide) or use of soap what chance did any front loader back then have? When Maytag brought out their Neptune line of H-axis washers some said it was deja-vu all over again since those tubs were also slanted. |
Post# 1179946 , Reply# 29   5/6/2023 at 06:17 (364 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)   |   | |
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Old thread about that infamous Westinghouse washer advert:
www.automaticwasher.org/c... Previous threads on solid tub washers: www.automaticwasher.org/c... www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/... |
Post# 1179958 , Reply# 30   5/6/2023 at 13:34 (363 days old) by rpms (ontario canada)   |   | |
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Post# 1179960 , Reply# 31   5/6/2023 at 13:47 (363 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)   |   | |
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Post# 1180021 , Reply# 32   5/7/2023 at 08:57 (362 days old) by Paulwash (Niagara Falls New York)   |   | |
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I have to jump in on this subject first off 1988 my Father and I picked up an early 1970 SPEED QUEEN solid tub washer on the side of the road. It came from an older woman home clean she said it needs work. $41 needed a belt pushed the reliable 1966 whirlpool RCA we had been using that my mom purchased at a yard sale for $25 dollars it still worked fine but I had to have that speed queen anyhow we had it for less than a year the pump went small capacity solid tub that washer was on constantly strong fast agitation splashy with overflow wash and rinse loud spin! I distinctly remember sediment at the bottom of the tub after washing my fathers work clothes. I know i would rinse the tub out with water turn the dial to spin and get out the sediment. So that being said YES my solid tub sometimes in my opinion had the sediment problem that speed Queen just could Not keep up with a busy family of four people the capacity was too small. I did love using it with solo detergent and tide and snuggle. Once it stopped on us the RCA Whirlpool went back to work for a long time my question is how reliable were those speed Queen washers in the homes with big families. I remember Also my speed Queen would overheat stop during the spin cycle cool off then kick back in.
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Post# 1180026 , Reply# 33   5/7/2023 at 10:00 (362 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)   |   | |
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My aunt with the 1969 Speed Queen, her husband's family (his parents, two sons, and their kids) had a dairy and agriculture operation. His parents had Speed Queen laundry in their separate wash-house and presumably also the other son. It was never directly discussed with auntie but she never mentioned a problem with sediment and I didn't notice any when examining her machine during visits and occasionally being treated to running a load. Auntie's SQ set ran into the late 70s or early 80s, replaced with a WP belt-drive (still the SQ dryer). I have no details on any SQ repairs or what led to its replacement but uncle once mentioned he replaced the belt on the WP and it was quite a chore, LOL. The WP washer and SQ dryer were replaced with a 2002 Maytag PAV/PYE pair, which then were replaced with a 2012 Duet pair when the 'tag washer caught a bad pump (which I repaired and sold the 'tags for them). |
Post# 1180335 , Reply# 34   5/11/2023 at 07:49 (359 days old) by chetlaham (United States)   |   | |
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