WA61
The fully automatic washing machine WA61 is a washing machine that was produced in the GDR at VEB washing equipment factory in Schwarzenberg from 1961 to 1973. The total number of WA61s produced is approx. 37,900. The main area of application of the WA61 was the wash acceptance center in the complex acceptance points operated by the VEB service combine throughout the GDR.
Working principle of the WA61
The WA61 is a fully automatic washing machine based on the drum principle with floor mounting in a front loader design. The WA61 integrates all the operations required for washing laundry - pre-wash, rinsing, rinsing and spinning - in one device. With the WA61, it is no longer necessary to repack the laundry for dewatering in a separate spin dryer. The individual work steps run fully automatically and without interruption according to a selected washing program (manual addition of detergent may be necessary for the main wash cycle).
In the spin cycle, the horizontally lying drum is driven at approx. 350 min −1 . driven. If the laundry is distributed asymmetrically in the drum, this can lead to imbalance forces that are sometimes considerable . To dissipate these forces, the WA61 must be fastened to the floor with stone screws in order to prevent the device from wandering or tipping over. The WA61 does not yet have an integrated vibration system, as is common in modern, free-standing washing machines. Spin speeds over 350 min −1 are therefore not possible with this device.
The WA61 works according to the two-lye process . A separate wash liquor is used for the pre-wash and main wash.
Components of the WA61
The complete container assembly with washing drum (2), washing container (3) and preheating container (4) is attached to a frame (1). The laundry opening is closed with a porthole (5). The storage (6) for the washing drum is fixed in the preheating container. The drum is driven by a V-belt drive (7) with a pole-changing motor (8). The drain pump (9) is coupled to the shaft of the motor. When washing, the drain pump has no delivery capacity due to the low washing speed (50 min −1 ). Only when the spin speed is significantly higher (350 min −1 ) does the drain pump deliver the liquor out of the container. There is a 2 kW electric heater (10) in the preheating tank (approx. 20 liters). It supplies hot water for the first rinse. An electric heater (11) with 4 kW is provided to heat the washing liquor in the washing container. The washing programs are controlled by means of an electromechanical program drive and thermostat . The switchgear box (12) houses the other electrical components, such as contactors for the heaters and reversing relays for changing the direction of rotation of the drive.
Wash with the WA61
- Program selection by the user using the two adjustment heads. With the left one the program sequence is started and with the right one the temperature for the respective type of laundry is selected. The program drive is only designed for one program. However, by assigning the temperatures, three different types of laundry can be washed (delicates, coloreds, whites).
- Release of the fresh water supply to the preheating tank (4). If this is filled, the detergent is rinsed from the detergent container (13) into the washing container (3) as the water supply continues. A level controller and the solenoid valve limit the amount of water in the washing tank.
- Pre-wash for approx. 15 min
- Intermediate spin and pumping out of the pre-wash liquor (approx. 2 min)
- Manual addition of detergent by the user into the detergent container for the main wash (indicated by an acoustic signal)
- Water inlet for the main wash (at 90 ° C approx. 40 min)
- Intermediate spin and pumping out of the main wash liquor (approx. 2 min)
- Water inlet for hot rinsing. The cold water from the water pipe pushes the hot water from the preheating container into the washing container. The preheating container is then filled with cold water again.
- Hot rinsing (approx. 5 min)
- Intermediate spin and pumping out of the hot washing solution (approx. 2 min)
- Water inlet for overflow rinsing. Water is constantly fed to the washing container or drum (2) and flows from the drain pipe (14) into the sewer system (approx. 6 minutes).
- Final spin with pumping out (approx. 7 min).
Technical specifications
| Capacity | 4 kg dry laundry, filling ratio 1:13 |
| Fleet for clear washing | 25 liters, liquor ratio 1: 6 |
| Washing drum speed | 50 min −1 (washing), 350 min −1 (spinning) |
| Power connection | Power current, switchable 380/220 V, connected load 6.1 kW |
| Water connection | Inflow via flexible hose line, outflow via fixed connection, diameter 50 mm |
| heater | electric, 6 kW |
| Dimensions (H × W × D in cm) | 95 × 65 × 60 |
| total weight | 140 kg |
| Power consumption | 5.5 kWh for hot laundry |
| Water consumption | 110 l for whites |
| price | approx. 2000 marks (GDR) |
history
The first front-loading fully automatic washing machine was designed by Bendix technicians in the USA in 1937. It already had a horizontal drum with an outer container (double drum principle). The opening for the laundry was closed with a porthole. The process up to the final spin of the laundry took place automatically. This construction still forms the basic principle of all front-loading fully automatic washing machines today.
In 1950, the mechanical engineer Peter Pfenningsberg developed the first fully automatic washing machine with the type designation "Constructa" in Germany. It was also based on the principle described above. To divert the imbalance forces, a floor mounting was necessary for this device. But it could already be used in the household with restrictions. In 1954 3900 pieces were produced. The selling price was DM 2,280.
In 1961, households in the GDR were equipped with washing machines built after 1945 at around 5%. Mostly, there were simple washing machines based on the wave gear or drum principle. With the WA61, the first fully automatic guard was introduced in the GDR. Because of the high price, the weight and the necessary resilient floor mounting, laundromats were initially the main buyers of the device. In large cities in particular, it was a great relief to be able to automatically wash bed or table linen with the WA61 in laundromats.
Individual evidence
- ^ Report on the development of washing machines from 1945 to 2000, Museum Schloss Schwarzenberg
- ↑ Operating instructions WA61, VEB washing device factory Schwarzenberg , 1963
- ↑ Philco International advertising leaflet, 1968
- ↑ "Die Quecke" Ratinger and Angerländer Heimatblätter No. 68 (1998) pp. 168–191