The Story of the Thor Automagic 

In this episode of the Product Graveyard, I'm taking a look at the Thor Automagic, a hybrid dishwasher and washing machine that was dubbed a “domestic miracle” but ultimately disappeared in the 1950s.
0:00: Introduction
0:39: Thor's origins
1:04: The Automagic
2:25: Top Secret Project
3:03: Early Marketing
3:24: The Appliance of the Future
4:04: The Strange End of the Thor Corporation
5:45: New Management
6:10: Getting Out of the Appliance Industry
7:30: Final Thoughts & Sources
Sources:
“New Combination Washer-Mixer to be Unveiled Soon,” Advertising Age, Jun 18, 1945
“Housewives’ Dream is to Become a Reality,” News-Record, Aug 6, 1945
“Clothes, Dish Washing Done in Same Unit,” Chicago Tribune, Aug 7, 1945
“Thor Sets Budget of $1,500,000 for ‘Automagic,’” Advertising Age, Aug 13, 1945
“Along the Street,” Berwyn Life, Aug 26, 1945
“Separate Drives Launched by Thor for 3 Appliances,” Advertising Age, Mar 1, 1948
“Thor Co. Sales Record Seen,” The San Francisco Examiner, Aug 24, 1948
“Thor Profit Dips; Sales Set Record,” Chicago Tribune, Apr 18, 1949
“Thor Earnings Declines Strike Veils Outlook,” Chicago Tribune, Oct 18, 1949
“Thor Corporation Shows Long List of Famous First,” The Honolulu Advertiser, Mar 26, 1950
“Hurley Quits Thor; Buckingham Named Top Officer,” Chicago Tribune, Apr 22, 1954
“4 Seek Seats On Thor Board,” Chicago Tribune, Feb 4, 1955
“Maremont New Chairman of Thor’s Board,” Chicago Tribune, Feb 9, 1955
“Judgement Day for Appliances,” Business Week, Jun 23, 1956
“Casualties are Mounting Each Week in Appliance Industry,” Sylvia Porter, The Daily Sentinel, Jul 3, 1956
“Arnold Maremont, Former St. Louisan,” William Ferris, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Aug 26, 1956
“He Runs the Business Gamut From Stage Shows to Ranches,” The Kansas City Star, Sep 9, 1956
“Thor to Change Name; Its Paper Maker Now,” The Journal Herald, Oct 1, 1956
“Thor Corporation Becomes Allied Paper,” The Courier-Journal, Oct 9, 1956
Strategic Management, Fred R. David, 1995
“Bring Back the Thor Automagic, the 1940s Hybrid Clothes/Dishwasher,” Nick Greene, Mental Floss, Jul 31, 2015