Does anyone remember those top-load clothes washers that used to have a jack-hammer like agitator in them?

Question

They used to have agitators that would go up and down rapidly. What were they called, and how come they don't make them anymore? I think General Motors used to make them.

Answer 1

Yes, they were Frigidaires and they were made by General Motors. The agitator was called the roll-a-matic. They worked well and did a superior job of washing clothes, but they had too many mechanical parts which led to frequent break-downs. They were also famous for tub leaks caused by the vibration from the agitator. The parts were also extraordinarily expensive. They stopped making them when competition from large retail stores like Sears, Home Depot, Lowes, K-mart, etc. started selling large appliances at discounted prices. Frigidaire's profits typically came from selling to independent dealers. They simply couldn't manufacture that line and compete with the likes of Whirlpool, GE, and Speed Queen. So they redesigned their line of washers to more closely reflect the others' designs. Then they started building less-expensive and lower quality machines. The new market was in apartment complexes who bought them by the truck-load about every five years.

Rex

Answer 2

You are right, they were made by GM, and the washer was a Frigidaire Washer. I wasn't too impressed, as I like the agitator better.

Answer 3

It was made by Frigidaire.I had one.I really loved it and boy could it clean. I tried to find one a few years ago and was told they quite making them as they cost too much to make .I was so disappointed.You maybe able to find a used one but they are very hard and expensive to work on and a used one would be quite old.Sorry

Answer 4

I remember , My mum had one , and the thing you are asking about , is the thing you put the clothes through to squeeze the water out?

Answer 5

Unfourtunatly I am old enough to remember those. Have no idea about the rest of your question.