1965 Ward's Signature Automatic Washer - Full Cycle Video

[Unimatic1140]

Betty and Gladys are back along with Washerman and special guest star Uncle Arthur for a complete demonstration and full regular cycle video of my '65 Plus-Capacity Wards washer.

Bob/Appnut I thought of you when making this one

 

[appnut]

I will be posting comments about this soon as we had the Norge 15 version of this words signature washer from 1964

 

[maytag85]

Now, that’s a full cycle video!

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

Enough to make me wonder why more Mont. Ward washers and dryers like that weren't sold...

Or perhaps capable of lasting all those decades, working as good as new, today...

I surely would have bought mine like that, maybe also in copper tone...

 

[Chetlaham]

Thank you for this! I love the control panel and programmed cycles.

Question- does the motor drop back onto its start winding when the tub initially engages into spin? What appears to pulse the tub during the spray rinse so it does not come to a complete stop?

Excellent video, I feel this washer was ahead of its time.

 

[Unimatic1140]

Question- does the motor drop back onto its start winding when the tub initially engages into spin? What appears to pulse the tub during the spray rinse so it does not come to a complete stop?

Yes it sure does drop back into the start winding, just like a Unimatic does. There is no clutch in the first two years of production of the Plus-Capacity designs that is why there is such a careful Extract cycle sequence to prevent any chance of suds-locking.

Those aren't pulses, it's just caused by sympathetic momentum from the motor turning the drive pulley.

 

[Chetlaham]

Yes it sure does drop back into the start winding, just like a Unimatic does. There is no clutch in the first two years of production of the Plus-Capacity designs that is why there is such a careful Extract cycle sequence to prevent any chance of suds-locking.

Those aren't pulses, it's just caused by sympathetic momentum from the motor turning the drive pulley.

Neat. Does the motor protector tripping out just turn off the motor or does it also in addition to the motor break the circuit to the timer motor and water valves?

My Speed Queen has a slipping belt and the motor has never tripped out on overload however if it did it would remove power from all the internal components until the Klixon reset. I sometimes wonder by a chance if this might have been a hold over from the old days.


I remember one of the first modern full size non inverter top load washers to not have a spin clutch were the General Electric model T washers from ~2003 onward. This was when they changed over to a permanent split capacitor drive motor and would manage suds lock (and of course a slow/no drain) by not letting the machine go into spin unless the pressure switch had reset to empty. This did not work out perfectly as there were still instances of a mild to moderate suds lock causing the tub to drag without the pressure switch engaging back to full causing the motor to trip out on overload. There is even a thread on AW.org where this happened.

It sounds like Wards developed an even better strategy by not letting the suds lock happen in the first place instead of trying to detect it as it was happening.

Fascinating washer and I can't thank you enough for making a video of it.

 

[Unimatic1140]

Neat. Does the motor protector tripping out just turn off the motor or does it also in addition to the motor break the circuit to the timer motor and water valves?

I have no idea because it's never once suds-locked, even with suds completely covering the entire agitator. Glad you enjoyed the video!

 

[Chetlaham]

I have no idea because it's never once suds-locked, even with suds completely covering the entire agitator. Glad you enjoyed the video!

As with most vintage washers, they knew what they were doing!

 

[washerlover]

An absolutely breathtaking video! We were a Wards family so growing up with these types of machines was a lot of fun!

Thank you for posting another awesome video!