1963 Maytag Model N2LP

[geoffdelp]

Hi again, everyone ...

Thought I would share my 1963 Maytag with you all. I don't use it too often; it's a great machine but I want to do a little restorative work to it. It was "barely" used when I got it and had been in storage for almost 40 years. I bought it in 2003 and to be honest, I think it might have had just one wash through it! Absolutely pristine.

I also thought I would redeem myself to the homemakers who went before us after washing just one load of jeans last Thursday ... wasteful, wasteful!! Here is a wash of my white clothes. I power-rinsed my towels and bathmat and then used the rinse water for my colored loads. Very efficient use of water and detergent.

I did not have to add any additional detergent for these 3 loads; it sure saves money in that respect. Tide is very sudsy and has a "lasting" quality to it. I bleached the final load which consisted of white socks, underwear, and white cleaning towels I use downstairs. I like to disenfect those loads. I'm not afraid to use Clorox; after all ... "your mother, your grandmother, her mother all did laundry" (quote from Clorox ad).

These photos are better (not perfect, some are dark). My laundry room was flooded with sunlight Saturday morning and my sheets, pillowcases, t-shirts went outside on the line and of course, the rain came around 1:00 in the afternoon. I ran outside and brought it all back in to be dried in the dryer. I really got a workout on Saturday and that's good!!

http://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/00ShowCollectionGETD.cgi?photoshow=52@1963%20Model%20N2LP%20...%20ready%20to%[email protected]&dir=/COLLECTIONS/GEOFFDELP/

 

[frontaloadotmy]

Your pictures are great

My curiosity is piqued. On the square tub to the right in the
first pic, is that grid/guard attached to the body between the legs? Is it a "Cat Tail" guard? When I was but a sprout,
I remember hearing about how our neighbor's cat got its tail caught in the wringer washers belt. I distinctly remember watching the neighbor "whittle" bar soap into her wringer
washer. Thanks for the wonderful pictures.

 

[mixfinder]

Master

The silver leg inserts on the Master made the Maytag's height, adjustable, for the shorter or taller user.

I had never paid any attention, until my mom bought a used one for parts, in the 60's and it was way shorter than ours.

(Proof positive, how tall or short the machine is, has little to do with it's effectiveness in washing.)

The look of the round Maytag wringer, with the white tub more closely resembled an automatic, which I desperately wanted as a kid.

Kelly

 

[bobbyderegis]

Frontloadatmy,
It is so funny you say a "cat tail protector". My baby cat is so fascinated with my wringer I am terrified his tail is going to go into the pulley. Geoff, you say your cat has the same fascination? The wringer is an absolute beauty. You have the patience of Job to do sheets and towels in it. It looks like it's in mint condition.
Bobby in Boston

 

[geoffdelp]

Well ... the cat I had when living in Washington state loved hanging out with me when I did laundry with the wringer. I had to shoo him out of the room and shut the door because he would be right between my feet and run that tail under the machine. I don't know if it is the sound of the machine or what that they like!! I was so afraid he'd turn into a "tailess" cat because of that. I no longer have any pets and for right now, that's good.

Darrel ... there is a frame underneath that holds the transmission, pump, motor ... but it isn't visible from that angle. When there was a gasoline motor installed on these machines, you could see that frame of that; is that what you are thinking of?

Kelly is right, too ... those legs are adjustable. Interestingly enough, my Model N's and J are the same height as the E with the extensions fully up. I know that Maytag made some of these machines (N and J) with shorter legs and you could buy a 3" extension kit for the casters on the Model N. I've never seen that, but it would be fun to get a set. I'm 6'1" and don't struggle too much with the height of these machines. I struggle more with the rinse tubs; you have to bend over them to do an effective job of rinsing.

Bobby ... not so much patience as persistence!! Rinsing in rinse tubs takes quite a bit of effort and that's why our mother's and grandmother's had strong arms!! Towels are horrible to rinse; I can never get the water clear unless I use the Maytag to rinse in. They just hold on to soap; I guess it's their nature!

Using these machines requires a lot of effort on the operator's part. It's something I enjoy, however; I'm not usually disturbed on Saturday mornings while I do this and if I'm organized, I'm usually done in a couple of hours. I do things different than my mother or grandmother did. My Mom says, however, that I get just as wet as her mother did!! The front of me, even though I wear an apron (why bother) is soaked when I get done washing. That's OK too ... all a part of the experience.

I have loved sharing this with you all. And yes, I will be working on my 101P this summer and MIGHT have to replace those double tubs with a single to get my automatic to sit next to my LAT.

I'll probably be all upset about that ...

Geoff

 

[mixfinder]

Nervous as a Cat

Goodness, I am as a nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rockers!

Lordy, when I heard that song, it sounded just a cat, caught in a fan belt!

Kelly

 

[wiskybill]

Curious,,,,

Geoff, what do you use to get the clothes out of really hot water?

Back in the 50's and 60's when Mom had a wringer, she used a wooden drum stick to retrieve the clothes from the hot wash water. No idea where it came from.

Just curious, Bill

 

[Unimatic1140]

Wow Geoff, that machine is in pristin condition, love the black bakelite agitator. But again with that plastic measuring cup in such a beautiful machine...tap...tap...tap.

 

[geoffdelp]

Kelly ... oh, I know! My cat made me SO nervous! I just knew I was going to turn my back and then ... yikes; I don't even want to think about it!!

Bill ... Rubber gloves are my favorite; I do have a round stick but using it is sort of awkward for me.

Robert ... I know, I know ... what can I say????

Geoff

 

[chestermikeuk]

Wringers Ahoy...

Hi Geoff

Really enjoying the wringer pics, having used many on this side of the pond its a delight to see yours in action...

Spookey but I have a maytag wringer as well, it looks similar, I bought it from a US serviceman last year, the story is it was his grans and three generations, his grandparents, his mum and dad and he, all moved over here shipping family stuff as well....

I have it on a 110v builders transformer, it has the pleasure of sharing it with the Lux xxx that Uni presented to me at my first convention 2001...The ratchet on the wringer positions is sooo precise, ours usually have just 3 positions, love the click as it moves across.

Its a great washer, I need a "Maytag Decal" for the front was damaged if anyone has one spare??? Can you still get those Swan Necked hoses??, also the serial number is NQ A371020T, any chance of a date??

The funny thing was, when we came to Gregs convention last year I picked up a pile of Maytag merchandise including this wringer manual and a wringer maintainance book from the famous antiques town, (help me out with name my minds going), and then on coming home I find the machine!!!

Also have the equivalent of your Maytag Model E, its under the Hotpoint UK Model A, must have been a good working alliance at the time, similar to Speed Queen and Servis UK for the twinnies....

Happy wringing, Mike

 

[frontaloadotmy]

Oops

Upon glimpsing more astutely, I realize that I am seeing
a 20" (?) box fan between the tide and the Maytag. It was
early, I wasn't that awake. Sorry about the Maytag "Grilled"
Skirt gaff!!!! I was thinking, why have I never seen a Maytag
like that? Care to have me do your "detail" work?!!!

 

[mixfinder]

Take Credit

Hey Fronto,

I saw that it was a fan and thought you were being funny, like I try to be, by calling it a "cat guard."

Lordy, don't get serious!

Kelly

 

[frontaloadotmy]

Take Credit to our Credit Manager

Helen Waite!
Hey Mr. Facehair,
I only ever get serious about being silly!
xoo
Smithereens

 

[geoffdelp]

Mike ... love the story of your Maytag Model N! I get that your Maytag was made in October 1954. I'm not sure what the "NQ" is. Does that mean it was set-up for UK? I wonder if the data of the serial numbers is different.

According to the data I have, Maytag switched from a red agitator to a black one in 1956; I bet the family that owned it before you had to replace the agitator.

Now ... is your Maytag a pump model? If so, you have the wrong hose on it. The "gooseneck" was for the pump hose so it can hang over the edge of the sink. Alas, they are no longer available. :-(

If you need a decal, I know the guy in Newton who is still making them (his family has been doing it for decades). I can certainly help get you one if you give me your address. Just send me an e-mail. I've never mailed anything overseas before. Something new!

Darrel and Kelly ... maybe that WOULD make a great cat guard!! You know how cats hate having anything blown in their face; this could work!!

Geoff

 

[scott55405]

Another wonderful demonstration Geoff! How do you set the wringer in that storage position with the rolls apart? I've never seen that. A lot of people stuck clothespins in the sides to hold the two rolls apart, and that's how Roger's is in Arizona. He doesn't use it much except when I'm there (LOL).

Mike, I've got to get over there. I can't even imagine at this point all the things you've gathered that I've not yet sen!

 

[swestoyz]

Geoff,

I am always blown away by how much fun it seems you have on Sundays! I hope to someday include either a model J or E in the collection, preferably pre 1966, as I like the look of the square tubs with red accents. So much to learn from you! BTW - are you using a fill tube/hose from your A50 with your wringers? I ordered a NOS fill hose for mine, and received (special order, of course, from Dey's) a hose very similar to yours.

Ben

 

[drmitch]

Geoff and Mike, those machines look absolutely mint! So much fun to watch them in action!

 

[geoffdelp]

Scott ... really easy to set rollers apart in between washdays. First, lift the upper roller 1"-2" and secondly, turn the reset lever like you were going to set the pressure (one quarter turn CLOCKWISE).

When ready to drop roller down for next washday, first press and hold the release bar and secondly, turn the reset lever COUNTER-CLOCKWISE). Wringer cap will drop down ... watch your fingers!! After the cap drops, turn the reset lever CLOCKWISE to set the rollers.

Ben ... YES that's the fill hose from my A50 Porta-Washer! I was wondering when someone was going to ask about that! I think Maytag should have given those out when you bought a wringer but made them a tad longer for the Model E; its sort of hard to rinse the tub in the Model E with it.

I hope you find a nice pre-1966 J or E to play with. I like the big square tubs but these Model N's are terrific too!! I like all three models and I need to get my 1968 J complete and downstairs; then I'll have all three ... E, J, N. I'm going to move my 1963 N into the garage when I get the J done and give the N some TLC and wrap it up and store it for now.

I really do enjoy doing my laundry in these machines; I love the suds and water ... must be something from my childhood, I suppose. All my aunts had these machines and my mother always had an automatic Maytag.

Donald ... thanks! I am constantly wiping my machines down and need to get a good coat of wax on them now that summer is almost here!

Geoff

 

[tomturbomatic]

Q: What did Maytag have in common with the Communist party?
A: Hundreds of thousands of red agitators.

Geoff, that shot in picture 40 almost looks like an aerial shot of a hurricane. Toward the end, I see you pouring bleach in the wash water. How could you wash the colors after that? When using the wringer, my relatives bleached in the first rinse water, then changed it for colors. As much work as rinsing is in the set tubs, imagine what it must have been like when clothes had to be scrubbed on a board in deep sinks as well as rinsed.

One Earth Day in the 80s, John and I used a machine like yours to do a couple of weeks' worth of his household's laundry. Once I had put a load through the wringer, I took it to the WO-65-2 for a spin, deep rinse and final spin. Even with that help, we were worn out after that work. We had to change the wash water once, but we used phosphated detergent and drained it on the lawn. I think we did something like 12 or 14 loads. The timing between the washing and the Frigidaire's rinsing was just about even. With just two dryers, we did back up a bit on drying, but not a whole lot since things were extracted so well and I tried to keep to the washing advice from the mid 50s for washer-dryer pairs that instructed: do the lighter weight things first so that they would be in and out of the dryer quickly to make way for the next load. One of John's neighbors back in the 60s had a WO-65-2 and a 37,000 BTU Kenmore dryer with the perforated drum back. Sheets took exactly 7 minutes in the dryer. I can do something almost as good. I wash two loads of four 3 ft X 6 ft bath sheets and spin them at 1600 rpm. I put all 8 in my souped up KA dryer with the 37,000 BTU modulating burner and take them out dry in 40 minutes.

Saturday we stopped by a yard sale in the neighbornood mainly because there was an ancient SQ wringer in the driveway. It had been used as a planter. It was sorta rusty on the outside, but the stainless steel tub still looked good. There was lots more interesting stuff there, including her youngest son(of 7 children) who was around 20 and in a wheelchair with some condition. He and his mom were very nice. The husband and father had died 3 years ago and most of the tools were his. I bought a pair of crutches (as spastic as I am, it's only a matter of time before they will come in handy) and a neat little yellow AM/FM radio about 1 inch square and 5 inches long that the son used to listen to when he was outside. He had big, heavy boots on and his mother told him to sit in the sun to get some vitamin D. It did not look like it was just a recent injury.

There is always a lot to be grateful for.