1975 Wilkins Servis / MaytagTop loader

[mayfan69]

Hi guys,

Ive only recently joined and have been enjoying everything about this site. I wanted to show my recent purchase for $20.00 AU (approx $10 US). It's a 30 year old Wilkins Servis top loader. If the mechanicals and bowl seem familiar, then its because it's an aussie version of Maytags of that era, built under licence by Wilkins Servis until about 1977 when the company went bust. The machine still works although needs a little TLC...mainly a new timer and hoses and a re-spray of the lid and front cover. It was bought new by the seller and regularly serviced yearly, which explains the grease around the base of the brake assembly.

Not sure if many of you guys have seen these before, si just wanted to share.

Cheers
Leon

 

[mayfan69]

Pic No.2

Pic of Interior:

 

[gyrafoam]

Very interesting--------and how different to see a Maytag product with a side opening lid!

 

[mayfan69]

Pic No: 3

Pic of gearbox

 

[westytoploader]

'75 Wilkins Servis

Great find, congratulations! I love the styling of the control panel and top...the lid resembles that of a 70's Norge, IMO, but open it up and there's the Power-Fin! The mechanism, motor, and snubber look like they're in good shape; knowing the reliability of the Maytag design, this machine definitely has a LOT of life left.

 

[mayfan69]

Re: Lid on Wilkins

Hi Steve / Gyrafoam,

Yes...not often you would see a Maytag with a side opening lid,but the Wilkins lid is nowhere near as heavy as a Maytag lid as its not porcelain coated.

P.S: envious of your collection....you guys in the states get the pick of vintage machines!

Cheers
Leon

 

[mayfan69]

Thanks Westy!

Thanks! Yes...i think ive done ok! There are not many of these left here in oz anymore...which is a pity. Well...the previous owner definitely did take care of it, even if it was sitting in a shed for the past 3 years, he still put it through a cycle once in a while. Had to clean the inner bowl out as i found a dead mouse in it! It's not going to cost me much to replace the timer and i wouldn'thave a issue replacing m,any of the parts considering it IS a Maytag after all.

Might try and add a couple more pics.

Cheers
Leon

 

[toggleswitch]

WOW

What a nice machine. VERY familiar, yes.
May I request a close-up shot of the control panel?

Is the ground(earth) conductor in AU normally green or yellow?

Also, please what color conductors are normally seen:
1) In the main electrical service into a home.
2) In branch circuits.

USA Red, black and sometimes blue (for 3-phase)=> HOT. White=> Neutral.
Where color-to-color is 220v, color to wht is 110v.

EUR Brown and blue. IIRC Blue is hot, brown is neutral.

MNEMMONIC DEVICE (for us in the US) BL-ack is BL-ue.

TYVM.

 

[zzzzz]

In the UK:
Brown is Live
[color=#649SED]Blue[/color] is Neutral
Green with Yellow stripe is Earth ("Ground" in the US).

 

[goatfarmer]

Nice machine!Welcome from Northern Indiana!

kennyGF

 

[vivalalavatrice]

In Italy too!

Wonderful machine...

In Italy the colors are like you zzzzz said too. I think they are so in the whole Europe.

 

[swestoyz]

Hey - nice machine! I like the control panel. Love the early Power Fin agitator - the 8 vane. Don't lose that agitator! =)

Ben

 

[mayfan69]

Re: Pic of Control Panel

For Toggleswitch: Ive attached a pic of the main control knob.

I pretty much agree with ZZZZZ too....Oz pretty much follows the same colours as the UK.

Thanks Kenny and Viva. I will certainly try and keep the agitator Ben as its pretty unique, made differently to the actual Maytag Power Fin.

Leon

 

[frigilux]

Congratulations on your cool vintage machine! I love that eye-popping blue tub. Thanks for posting pictures, too.

 

[toggleswitch]

MNEMONIC DEVICE BL-ack is BL-ue. In the UK! LOL (neutral)

TYVM for the insight.

 

[mayfan69]

RE: Thanks Frigilux

Hi Frigilux,

Thanks and ur welcome, actually, the inner bowl is Black...must be the way it photographed with the flash on.

Cheers
Leon

 

[drmitch]

Very interesting machine Mayfan!

 

[wilkinsservis]

interesting machine and corporate history

Nice work Leon. Could you show a pic of the wash/spin speed buttons?

 

[mayfan69]

Pic of wash/spin speed buttons

Hi Wilkins/Peter,

Attached is a closer pic of the control panel showing the wash/spin speeds as requested. I can take a closer pic of them if you'd like...just let me know. I also emailed you about this machine to your bigpond address.It would seem we are both looking for the same vintage Simpson too....i'm actually going to have a look at one tomorrow...a 1964 model. Will keep you informed.

Cheers
Leon