1971 Maytag Porta-Washer M0D. A50

[paul54]

I love ,mine too!

Just wondering where you ordered the diverter valve from Ultra matic? Thanks. I got my machine from a collector in PA. He was going thru my town a few months later and kindly dropped it off. I foolishly sold my original but kept the dryer. I still have and use it! Wish it had a low heat setting. Anyway, I just want to know about the valve. I heard they are hard to find. Thanks. PS Got all my belts made real cheap from McMAster Carr. Life savers!

 

[Ultramatic]

 

 

Hey Martin I did your experiment...right after the final spin on the Kenmore, I put in a few towels in the spinner of the Maytag. Got almost half a quart of water. Those 2000 RPMS really make a difference! Of course that translates to less drying time in the DE806.

 

[Ultramatic]

 

 

Eddie, I LOVE this machine. This will definitely be in service for small loads. I figured out how I can make a semi-permanent hook-up. I still will roll it away when done, but being so compact, it easily goes into a closet. And it's built like a '68 Fleetwood. No wonder it's so damn heavy.

 

[Ultramatic]

 

 

Hi Paul, I ordered it here according to the part number:

https://www.pwslaundry.com/i-23849013-maytag-wp204313-washer-body-valve.html

 

[ea56]

Louie, I knew you were gonna love this A50! Anyone that has an appreciation of well built and well thought out appliances has to love the sturdy simplicity of the A50. I wish that I had kept mine.

When I bought a new Maytag Fabricmatic in ‘81 I gave the A50 to my sister Mary who had a newborn and lived in a little apt. over a garage. David and I loaded the A50 into the trunk of my ‘67 Buick Skylark 2 dr HT and lashed the trunk lid down with an old belt. My sister never appreciated the A50 like I did. She sold it to a friend and since she needed the money I didn’t get mad at her, but wish she’d have told me to come pick it up instead. It was still like brand new in ‘81when I gave it to her.

Coincidentally, my brother Joe lived with me for a while when I had the A50 and he loved doing the laundry in it, was simply fascinated by it. I’d come home from work and he’d have the A50 rolled up to the kitchen sink doin the laundry. It was nice the have the help.

Eddie

 

[Ultramatic]

 

 

Well Eddie a least your brother appreciated it. They still pop-up every now and then. So who knows, maybe you can get one. I think you see more Hoover Twin Tubs than Maytags. If I'd had more room I'd have a Hoover and a Speed Queen. Those Speed Queens are rarer than a hens tooth. Never seen one out in the wild.

 

As I had mentioned earlier the top of the A50 has yellowed with age. It has a few cracks but they are small, hardly noticeable. I think I am going to go the hydrogen peroxide with UV light route. I only get 9 hours of direct sunlight in my terrace and I don't think that would be enough, so a UV light is preferable. 

 

We should make a census on how many members have a A50 Porta Washer.

 

[repairguy]

I’ve always wanted one but have never seen one in southeast Texas. Glad you’re enjoying yours.

 

[Ultramatic]

 

 

Thanks Melvin! This one is a keeper.

 

[countryguy]

I've also wanted an A50 but I've never seen any here in Ontario. When I was in my teens, an elderly woman friend of my family that lived year round across the lake from our cottage, had an A50 and ever since then I have wanted one. The neighbours next to her had a Hoover twintub and my grandmother had a Simplicity twintub. Of the 3, I liked the A50 the best.

Gary

 

[Ultramatic]

The spinner belt has arrived.

 

 

While the old belt seems to be fine, never hurts having a spare.

 

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[Ultramatic]

 

 

Gary, the border between Canada and the US is opening up next month for those who are fully vaccinated. You can always be on the lookout for an A50 over here.

 

Never seen a Simplicity. Was in made in Canada or imported from the UK?

 

[countryguy]

The Simplicity was made in Canada. Here's a youtube video explaining its use.

Gary

 

[Ultramatic]

 

 

Remember the diverter valve I ordered? Well out of the blue I got refund. I guess the part was no longer available.

 

[Ultramatic]

 

 

Hi Gary. Sorta looks like the elusive Speed Queen twin tun. Thanks for the video link!

 

[paul54]

no wonder!

I could not find it on that site!

 

[Ultramatic]

Back to the A50

 

 

Took the lid off in preparation for whitening the plastic with <span class="style-scope yt-formatted-string" dir="auto">hydrogen peroxide. Very clean inside. No mold here! </span>

 

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[ea56]

Your A50 is pristine Louie! The previous owners must have taken good care or it. I hope you’re enjoying using it once in a while.

Eddie

 

[Ultramatic]

 

 

Thanks Eddie. Either it was used sparingly or very well looked after. After the horror of the Speed Queen, it was a pleasant surprise to see such a clean machine, particularly one that is 50+ years old.

 

[Ultramatic]

 

 

After the hydrogen peroxide. It's much lighter. I still have the backside and under the lids to do. I'm going to give it another treatment because today was only party sunny. 

 

Shadows are from the chandelier.



 

You can really see the difference here before and after.



 



 

This is going to take a bit longer. A lot of rain in the forecast. I need direct sunlight for the treatment. In hindsight I should had bought a UV light. Would had been done already.

 

[Ultramatic]

 

 

Finally finished with the hydrogen peroxide. I ended up purchasing some UV bulbs to quicken the process.

 



 

 

[ea56]

Wow, beautiful job Louie! Just like brand new.

Eddie

 

[Ultramatic]

 

 

Thanks Eddie. Maiden wash coming up!

 

[hippiedoll]

WOWZERS...

The top looks GREAT!

Can't wait to see the video of the maiden wash!

 

[Ultramatic]

 

 

Thanks Christina!

 

OCD strikes again...



 

All buttoned up...

 

[fb]

Here is another set, Maytag A50 + D50

This is a set in avocado from around 1970-71, they were used for a time in an apartment, then they moved. Now they're in an estate sale in Chicago and they haven't sold this because most people don't really know how to use or repair them. And, they're not in perfect condition, although they're clean and were safely stored. I tried plugging in and turning on the dryer, and na-da. I don't know why it won't turn on, maybe it's something simple. but.... I really don't want to see them go to trash!

http://www.ampersandestatesales.com

 

[repairguy]

That’s a nice example of a surviving set. The dryer was built in September 1969.

 

[gizmo]

Peroxide bleaching plastics

Hi Louis (Ultramatic)

I'm really impressed with your job whitening those plastics.

Can you give us details of what you did?

Our fridge had white plastic parts on the front and they have yellowed, which I don't like.

I thought it was UV that caused the yellowing, now you are using it to reverse the yellowing??

Do tell!

 

Thanks, Chris.

 

[brisnat81]

Hi Chris

Google retrobrite or retrobriting. It essentially uses hydrogen peroxide and UV to whiten.

We’ve done a fair bit with Apple IIe cases.

Cheers

Nathan

 

[gizmo]

thanks Nathan.

 

[Ultramatic]

Because of a remodel, the SQ has been sidelined.

 

 

So I decided to press the A50 into service, and low and behold, the diverter valve is busted. The flapper rod just corroded away.

 

Part numbers WP204313, WP201168 or WP200806. And of course these parts are no longer available. I'm going to have to use the laundry room machines downstairs until the SQ is reconnected.

 

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