1970's GM-Frigidaire washers(1/18's and Jet Action 16's)

[westytoploader]

LOVE the Rollermatic videos! Great turnover in the rinse, but I was surprised that the tub didn't take off like the Unimatic when the spin started. Would I like to find one of these; WOW! <br
Robert, how long ago did you have this machine, and was it a Rapidry model?

 

[48bencix]

1-18

So, I have a dumb question. Are the 1-18's rollermatic's and if not what was the mechanism in these washers?

 

[jmirawm]

The command module agitator ??

The agitator in the rollermatic looks very similar to the Command module of the Apollo spacecraft. Those missions ran from 1962 to 1973. What a glorious time it was to be growing up.

 

[westytoploader]

"The filter flow is much less than I expected, kind of a dribble, really. The drain pump flow rate is also slow, takes it a long time to get up to full spin speed.&quot <br
A GE Filter-Flo from the 1980's has the strongest recirculation flow I've seen; is the 1-18 weak compared to that? And yes, I watched the Rollermatic videos and it seemed 5 times slower than the Unimatic to reach full spin, which really surprised me. I wonder if GM Frigidaires just don't have strong pumps?

 

[gansky1]

Frigidaire Pumps

The 1-18 is a variation of the Rollermatic mechanism used in the 60's solid tub machines. Probably to make more room for the larger, perforated tub, the motor was mounted differently and a belt used to transfer power to the shaft that drives the rollers & pump <br
Typically the Frigidaires have "average" pumping capability for draining, the unimatic pumps were a little weaker than later models but since the pump was operating anytime the motor was running at full speed, there was plenty of time to pump away the water in the outer tub. The additional weight of the water at the beginning of the spin cycles in solid tub machines also provided some ballast in the critical balancing stages of spin. It doesn't take too many RPM's to throw the water from a solid tub, the Frigidaires were usually fairly quick to get the water into the outer tub. Other solid tub washers, like the Maytag AMP were comparatively very slow. <br
The 1-18's have a strong drain pump in them, in part because the two speed models started the spin-drain in low speed and then switched to high speed after a couple of minutes. The 1-18 recirculation was a lower flow rate, the lint filters were meager at best anyway, quickly clogged with even a moderately linty load. My Westinghouse top-loader is the same way, filter pan is constantly clogged, but sometimes it's only about the beauty, style and drama rather than actual function ;-)

 

[petebldg9]

Jet Cone Agitator

My grandparents had the machine shown in Robert's 9/13 post. Only the tub and agitator were visible in the post, so I don't know if it is the exact model. They had it in the '70s. I think this specific agitator was called a "Jet Cone". To say it ran at jackhammer speed is a bit too fast. I do remember the lint filter dribbling with water - it was definitely not a fast flow <br
What was interesting is the dispenser under the cap. It was a removable plastic unit of about 10 inches, which fit in the center of the agitator. The top portion consisted of a funnel which emptied into the bottom cup. A spring was attached to the bottom. My grandmother never used it because she said it didn't work well. However, she let me pour her Dash into it a few times. Some bubbles formed very gradually in the wash water. Looking back, I'm not sure this was meant for detergent. It would have had to rely on the bouncing action to dispense the powder into the water - which, because of its design, didn't seem very easy (especially with the intense steam in the machine) <br
Robert, or anyone else with one of these machines, what was the intended use of the dispenser <br
Pete

 

[jetcone]

Bahhh-leach

Pete
That dispenser cup inside the jetcone agitator was for Liquid bleach only, if you read the manuals
IF you bought the additional rinse dispenser you threw out your agitator cap and put that on top of the bleach dispenser
So when loading you first unscrewed and removed the rinse dispenser , the bleach cup , then you poured your liquid or powder detergent down the center post for maximum instant dispersion at agitate, then you filled your bleach cup to the markings in the side and carefully put that back in the center post, then you locked the rinse dispenser ontop, flicked the lid off of that and added your diluted rinse softener and locked the lid back down. It was sort of like loading a "big washer bomb" that would attack the clothes at the right moment thru the entire wash & rinse cycles <br
Very dramatic and very effective. I love the 1-18's they were amazing machines all the way around. They had the BEST snubbing ever invented in the industry hands down! Too bad their inventor was such a snit and refused to tell his story of development of that machine but that is his problem not ours <br
jetcone who does not proo <br <br <br <br <br

 

[tcox6912]

jet cone agitator ... detergent dispenser

The detergent cup is one of my favorite parts of the Frigidaire machines ... the up and down action quickly forces water to mix into the cup of detergent and then it is distributed through the tub. This is what really kicks up the suds!!! Somewhere along the line, the cup to my mom's got lost ... she would just pour her powdered detergent down the middle of the agitator anyway ... not quite as fun.

 

[pturo]

MY 1-18

I have a poppy red 1-18 that does drain on two speeds, as mentioned above. I would agree that the lint filter gets clogged rather easily, but if it were perfectly clear, it would not be doing it's job, would it? The lint filter is a bitch to clean, so I purchased another for when I have to do several loads, and take the other one up to the kitchen to clean with a toothpick. All said, I love the machine!! Big, noisy,classy, sexy, and plenty of muscle, how many things can you say that about?

 

[partycycle]

1970, I-18 single speed (more on that later). My late Mom was “challenged” with regard to clothes washing. I came home and saw I-18 running. Cautiously lifted the lid. To my surprise there was a loaf of “Wonder” bread bouncing up/down a top the full load! Proceeded with caution as I inquired to my Mom as to why she was machine washing this? Weeks passed as I tried to figure this out. Also, was this a cycle that I was not aware of. Turns out that she had just returned from the grocery. Rushing, struggling with arm full of bags closed the lid and started I-18 enroot to the kitchen. That is when the loaf of “Wonder” bread must have fallen in.

Back to single speed. That machine had variable water level. However, with just one speed agitation. It was impossible to use level lower than “normal”. The I-18 would walk out of the mud room into the backyard. Next year my family moved. New 1971, I-18 had 2 speeds. Much better. Now it was possible to use smaller load setting and gentle agitation successfully. I-18 stopped walking about and performed like non other. Those were terrific washers.

Learned a secret when washing men’s dress shirts. Button the shirt up completely and then button the cuffs of each sleeve to the front of the shirt. Otherwise the shirts and other items came out in an enormous knot.

Also learned another trick due to washer / dryer immense capacity. When washing fitted bed sheets. Before placing in tumble dryer. Fold fitted sheet in half; 2 corners into one another then clip with clothes pin. Place 2 more clothes pins between the 2 clipped corners. Numerous fitted sheets and other small items dried successfully. No annoying surprises of t-shirts/socks not dried that had gotten into corners of fitted sheets.