1966-80 Maytag Center-Dials: do they look more 60s or 70s?

[woodjack99]

I've always thought they look 70s, hence why they were introduced later in the 60s and phased out at the beginning of the 80s. But it seems that many people advertising them for sale who don't know the exact date they were built advertise them as 60s, and some people who I've showed them to thought 60s before 70s. To me, they look 70s, but maybe late 60s? Which is consistent with when they were introduced. Maybe it was sort of a modern (at that time) take of the previous center-dials discontinued in 1965.

 

[woodjack99]

Once, I showed my aunt pictures of my grandparents' old A107 (1975) and my A506 (1985). She estimated their ages to have been 80s and 90s, respectively, rather than 70s and 80s. To me, the center-dial style doesn't look 80s at all (maybe early, since they were phased out in 1980). I can see how maybe the 506 could pass for being early 90s, but that seems like a bit of a stretch to me as well. To me, each style fits the decade they were made in perfectly.

 

[maytag85]

Tell tale signs of what year a Maytag center dial is, is the options they have. The Maytag A806 in 1966 didn’t have as many options as the ones from about 1968 or 1969 and on since they only had 3 water levels, cycle selectors instead of separate cycles on the timer, but had the same temperature selections as the later A806s though. Any Maytag A806 from 1968 or 1969 all had the same options and features on the control panel until they were discontinued in 1980. The Maytag A606 in 1966 was nothing more that a large tub A206 since it had the large tub with 3 water levels, 3 temperatures, and 2 speed selections but only had one cycle on the timer. The Maytag A106/A206/A606 all had the same timer but the A106 was only a 1 speed machine, the A206 and A606 in 1966 were essentially the same exact machines but with different capacity tubs. Another tell tale sign of what year a Maytag center dial washer is from is what color the trim on the control panel is, all Maytags from 1966 to 1974 all had the sapphire trim on them, in 1975 they went to the gold trim which was used from 1975 to 1980.

 

[rickr]

I have always thought that all 1966 on up center dial Maytags looked much older than what they really were. To me they even have a 1950's look to them. I have always said that if someone wanted a 1950's look in their laundry room but could not restore a 1950's machine for whatever reason, to search for a center dial Maytag set. They are still around out there, are well designed, and parts and parts donors are still out there as well.

 

[woodjack99]

@rickr

Interesting. Some people I’ve shown the pictures to thought they were from the 50s too. Maybe it’s the center dial that carried over from the previous generation, which are far fewer in number these days.

 

[cadman]

I think it depends on how they're trimmed out. The sun-glow panel, aluminum dial and acylic knob definitely have a 70's vibe, and of course the earth tones you typically see them in really sell it.

On the other hand, a HoH dryer can look 10 years older in the right color and with the early knob. The small door looks almost foreign to contemporary eyes. Just one more reason I happen to like them.

 

[thatwasherguy]

It depends...

If they had the blue trim and/or the old style metal knob, I would say they look more 60’s. However, if they have the gold trim and/or the crystal knob, they look more 70’s. I’ve had the same thing where people think my 1978 set is older than it is, but I think that’s due in part to the turquoise paint I used on the trim where the gold had worn off.
Thatwasherguy.

 

[woodjack99]

@thatwasherguy

That's exactly my thoughts. The first iteration with the metal knob look 60s, the second with the crystal knob and still the blue trim could be either, and the gold trim with crystal knob and chrome dial look 70s.

 

[robbinsandmyers]

Metal knob, plastic knob, white dial, metal dial, blue trim, gold trim, Kingston timer, Mallory timer, who cares as long as its got that Pitman job in it, put the pedal to the metal! LOL

 

[woodjack99]

@robbinsandmyers

Well said. My 85 A506 may not be a center-dial machine, but it still has the Pitman in it, so you know it's a real, quality 'Tag.

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

Quite surprised at how in 1978, the Maytag washer and dryer that my mom bought did look at but older than the Grant's Bradford set, but hardly acknowledged that, the washer, a clearly basic BOL A-106, had blue inlays, the dryer, a more upgraded model, all timed, boasting two heats and air fluff, had gold...

-- Dave