1960’s zenith wringer washer - need help deciding if it’s worth buying

[vintagewasher]

Hi, I’ve read posts here for years but have never posted myself. I’ve wanted to buy a wringer washer for a long time but I either haven’t found one in good shape (I’m not that handy) or we’ve been getting ready to move and not wanting to buy more stuff (military). I found this 1960’s zenith that looks like it’s in good shape. It’s not the Maytag I’ve been hoping for but if I haven’t found one in good condition in four years I’m not sure I’m going to.

The people selling say it was in use as the washer for on older couple from when they bought it new until a couple years ago when they bought an automatic washer. I think it’s awesome that someone was still using this in 2019 or whenever after buying it new. They’re willing to take $350 Canadian which is about $280 US dollars. I’m not familiar with this brand so I’m not sure if that’s a reasonable price.

I need some experienced eyes to look at these pictures and help me decide if this is a good purchase or not. I have seen videos dated a couple days ago of it running and all parts working. We have young kids and don’t really have time to learn about how to fix something up, as fun as that would be.

Thank you in advance for your advice!

 

[mickeyd]

Hello and Welcome ~

It looks like a Zenith branded later version of the Beatty, a well known Canadian brand. The wringer, hose, agitator, control panel are so similar. Another player involved could be the Mc Clary Easy. I have one of each and a video about Beatty, the one so similar to your Zenith. These Canadaian machines are very well made; the Beatty Brothers manufactured farm equipment and pumps before morphing to washing machines. That's a later version of the well-known and much favored Easy Spiralator agitator in a very clean tub. These machines work very well and I would recommend purchase, but would negotiate the price. Good luck. Pic in a sec.

 

[mickeyd]

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[jamiel]

And Zenith was a brand/manufacturer out of Duluth, MN which would make sense that they might be connected with GSW (if only the brand name/distributors). This was clearly one of the last 3 manufacturers here in North America...along with Maytag and Speed Queen...probably mid '70s.