1972 Maytag Wringer Washer

[angele]

Hi
I have my parent's 1972 Maytag wringer washer. The serial number is 11587QW. It still worked the last time used, but that was many years ago. It has been kept inside and is in very good condition. Wondering if anyone can tell me more about it and how much it would be worth if selling? Thanks

 

[bradross]

"Worth" is very subjective...

to what your local market will bear, depending upon availability and condition. To give you an example - I bought mine a few years ago for $100, an E2LP model, in almost pristine condition (much better than yours, at least from the appearance in your pics), plus it has a pump, which yours does not.

Then again, I've seen them listed on ebay for between $200 and $500, but whether they sell is another story.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Have you checked online sellers, second hand and thrift stores in your area to see if they have wringer washers for sale and at what price? Do many homes have wells that might make using a wringer washer an attractive water-saving option for a family? If you decide to market your parents' machine, spruce it up to make it look its best. It has been taken care of so that is in your favor. The way the lid was left ajar speaks of good care. You could try putting Maytag washer E2LP in eBay or even in Craigslist or Facebook, if you are a member, to see what kind of hits you get. You will want to take new photos after you clean up your machine if you post online. Best of luck.

 

[angele]

E2LP?

Thank you for the advice, Tomturbomatic. So do you think it is an E2LP?

 

[launderess]

Washer is worth what someone (usually locally) is willing to pay.

 

[ea56]

Look on ebay for completed/sold listings for the same Maytag wringer washer to determine what a fair and realistic asking price would be.

Then get it all cleaned up so its sparkling. Be sure to remove the agitator, it may be stuck on post if your grandparents didn’t keep the agitator post lubed with vaseline. But judging from how they were careful to store it with the lid ajar they probably kept the post lubed too.

Try asking what ebay sales of similar machines in nice condition went for. If your not in a hurry and the machine works well you will eventually get a fair price. But don’t overprice it to begin with.

If it does work well and nothing is missing or broken and it cleans up nicely you may find someone willing to pay way more than $100.00. Maybe even $400-450, but I would say at least $250. These are very nice machines and they aren’t making them anymore. There’s bound to be someone looking for just what you have.

Eddie

 

[ea56]

Oh and BTW, the safety foot pedal for the wringer, that’s the gray tubing that is looped over the arm of the wringer, is probably rotted and the wringer won’t work if its not air tight. But you can easily bypass this by removing the tube from the leg that its attached to and plug the hole with a bolt of the same size. This is what the Maytag dealer did to my Mom’s new ‘69 Maytag E2LSP when it was delivered. Most users didn’t like this safety feature at all and did just this so the wringer would operate without having to step on that stupid safety pedal.

 

The “S” in the model number designates that it was a “safety” model, hence the safety pedal for the wringer, the “P” would designate that the machine had a pump for draining, no “P” means no pump.

 

Eddie

[this post was last edited: 12/8/2020-17:46]

 

[tomturbomatic]

Angele, That is the model number that wringer washer expert bradross quoted and you will find it on the lower part of the outer skirt of the machine.

 

[bradross]

E2LS

Angele, your model would be an E2LS. "P" on the end indicates it has a pump, but it appears yours is not a pump model.

 

[angele]

Thank you

Thanks to everyone who offered all the helpful information. My parents would have wanted this machine to go to a good home. I'll clean it up and make sure it works like it should.

 

[launderall]

Once....The dependability people...Maytag

The finest, most quiet of any, a quality AAW Union manufactured wash day work horse your family purchased in 1972. This machine was created before the loss of the power of American manufacturing and the oil crisis and skyrocketing interest rates. Once Newton IA was the washing machine capitol of the world with over nine washing machine manufactures with Maytag and Automatic Washer CO, Woman's Friend, One Minute Mfg Co to name a few.

Interesting to see many woman would not trust the cleaning ability of the automatic washer, old habits die out long over due. Bendix introduced the first automatic washer just before WWII. you wonder why we won the war? Automatic washing machine gave us the man power to fight, not doing the laundry! Most white goods manufactures produced wringers & automatics by 1950, demand lessened as the "baby boomers" were arriving! In 1972, your family could have purchased a Maytag automatic A606 for the same price they paid for the Maytag Master conventional machine. By the 1970 most of the wringer washer names were gone, only "Speed Queen"/Montgomery Ward's, "Whirlpool"/Sears Kenmore were left besides Maytag. The model ELJPS Master they purchased was the longest produced washing machine without major design change of any manufacture produced. Last one rolled off the line November 22, 1983.

Your Maytag washing machine was used & taken care of by someone who knew what the value was of strength, time and money was. Nice to see in photos no chlorine bleach was used, the aluminum tub is showroom new after many years of laundry. Especially if diapers were soaked, and bleached.

As the other members advised for resale, research your 4 state area to see what people are asking, how many are available that are in the condition you are offering. To sell this at top price to a buyer, like a used car it must "a shine in every detail, like diamonds you are buying retail".

BTW...did you know.... there are fingers for wrapping the cord under the skirt by the wringer post. The only model to offer this additional feature, ease of moving. Remember to always move the machine standing up to avoid oil spillage. the wringer head removes for easy handling of the machine.

Good luck to both you and the lucky buyer of this American classic home appliance.