57 Frogeye Kenmore washer, and matches set 59 Wirlpool Imperial
- Thread starter akronman
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Dryer
Old motor, still runs, I will take it apart and for cleaning and lubing
Old motor, still runs, I will take it apart and for cleaning and lubing
Wow - those '59 Whirlpool panels are to die for! Very, very stunning. Congrats!
ovrphil
Well-known member
My late congratulations(show up late as usual for the shows). I really love that Whirlpool gas dryer, the panel especially speaks of more innocent times, eh? I love the Whirlpool. That's my twin chiming in. 
I
Shag rugs, snowsuits, Dacron, Orlon, and Acrilon - I remember when these were NEW fabrics.
Good luck with your new clan - keep us posted.
Phil
I Shag rugs, snowsuits, Dacron, Orlon, and Acrilon - I remember when these were NEW fabrics.
Good luck with your new clan - keep us posted.
Phil
ovrphil
Well-known member
Fabric magic!
LOL! "new MIRACLE fabrics" - you brought up an oldie I forgot.))
LOL! "new MIRACLE fabrics" - you brought up an oldie I forgot.
))
thoughts
the 1959 Whirlpool Imperial washer----it's GREAT!!! Things to note---Imperial with lighted console, but no dispensers at all, sort of strange. GENTLE cycle does not do a spray rinse after the deep rinse, while REGULAR does. SUDS runs long enough to actually get all the water back in the machine, and it's on normal speed sucking, then goes right into a 10 minute normal wash. If you have the water level on high, it pauses momentarily for the last inch of water to fill.
Definitely a shorter time for neutral drain than my 1960 or 1974, there's usually an inch of water in the bottom when spinning starts, but the pump works fine to get that out quickly.
I'm starting to like the warm rinses because on spray rinse, it's lots more water than just cold, it seems to be enough to compensate for the Kenmore/Whirlpool 4 short sprays instead of Maytag/GE/1-18 long constant sprays, clothes are well sprayed/spun out for the deep rinse.
It has the classic black Surgilator with great turnover, but I have a leftover early 50's straight vane I will sub, we'll see how that performs.
Suds saving lasts into about a minute of the spin, you really get ALL the suds saved, then you hear the solenoid snap and the drain hose operate for the spray spin. Damn fine manner for doing suds saving. And when returning suds, the water level switch is on, you can choose your new water level and the sucking stops.
The matching dryer has a drum lamp and ozone lamp, this washer does not have any tub lamp, oh well.
This is a "standard" 1959 tub, likely 9 pounds? And the agitator comes off easily. Can anyone suggest what Dual Action Agitator I should buy, for fun?
the 1959 Whirlpool Imperial washer----it's GREAT!!! Things to note---Imperial with lighted console, but no dispensers at all, sort of strange. GENTLE cycle does not do a spray rinse after the deep rinse, while REGULAR does. SUDS runs long enough to actually get all the water back in the machine, and it's on normal speed sucking, then goes right into a 10 minute normal wash. If you have the water level on high, it pauses momentarily for the last inch of water to fill.
Definitely a shorter time for neutral drain than my 1960 or 1974, there's usually an inch of water in the bottom when spinning starts, but the pump works fine to get that out quickly.
I'm starting to like the warm rinses because on spray rinse, it's lots more water than just cold, it seems to be enough to compensate for the Kenmore/Whirlpool 4 short sprays instead of Maytag/GE/1-18 long constant sprays, clothes are well sprayed/spun out for the deep rinse.
It has the classic black Surgilator with great turnover, but I have a leftover early 50's straight vane I will sub, we'll see how that performs.
Suds saving lasts into about a minute of the spin, you really get ALL the suds saved, then you hear the solenoid snap and the drain hose operate for the spray spin. Damn fine manner for doing suds saving. And when returning suds, the water level switch is on, you can choose your new water level and the sucking stops.
The matching dryer has a drum lamp and ozone lamp, this washer does not have any tub lamp, oh well.
This is a "standard" 1959 tub, likely 9 pounds? And the agitator comes off easily. Can anyone suggest what Dual Action Agitator I should buy, for fun?
1959 Whirlpool Imperial!
Mark that 59 is such a awsome machine! One thing that does puzzle me is the shorter wash time - I never saw a belt drive WP with under a 14 minute wash! Can those 2 increments above the 10 on the timer indicate 4 more minutes of washing?? I did once hear or thought I heard on WP / KM belt drive their was a way to get extended wash time. I also remember very old friends having a 58 WP Imperial (timeline) - and what a beauty that washer was with the lighted panel and push button door. On the timer it had numbers 12 8 4 for wash time! They explained you can get 14 minutes if you started before the 12! That was one awsome washer and I remember it had shorter drain periods at only 2 minutes each! as the machine got older the pump had problems draining the water and constantly needed to be reset. They used to have to open the door with a butter knife because the button didnt operate any more. They replaced it with a 1967 kenmore 600 also nice!
Is it possible for you to take a closeup of the frog eye console!
Thanks Peter
Mark that 59 is such a awsome machine! One thing that does puzzle me is the shorter wash time - I never saw a belt drive WP with under a 14 minute wash! Can those 2 increments above the 10 on the timer indicate 4 more minutes of washing?? I did once hear or thought I heard on WP / KM belt drive their was a way to get extended wash time. I also remember very old friends having a 58 WP Imperial (timeline) - and what a beauty that washer was with the lighted panel and push button door. On the timer it had numbers 12 8 4 for wash time! They explained you can get 14 minutes if you started before the 12! That was one awsome washer and I remember it had shorter drain periods at only 2 minutes each! as the machine got older the pump had problems draining the water and constantly needed to be reset. They used to have to open the door with a butter knife because the button didnt operate any more. They replaced it with a 1967 kenmore 600 also nice!
Is it possible for you to take a closeup of the frog eye console!
Thanks Peter
Hey Pete
Here's pics of the 1957 Frogeye, still out in the garage. Crappy lighting and crappy pics means crappy photographer
Here's pics of the 1957 Frogeye, still out in the garage. Crappy lighting and crappy pics means crappy photographer
Akronman, thanks for the additional photo's of the "frogeye". I really like their styling. RE: reply #27 "the suds runs long enough to get all the water back...". I think you want the return hose positioned so you do not get the last 2 inches of water where the soils settle, in actual use. You are probably still testing? Thanks again for the pics. Arthur
Frog Eye!
Mark thank you for posting the console!
Peter
Mark thank you for posting the console!
Peter
ovrphil
Well-known member
Just for fun -
Here's a link to the matching dryer one of the members offered back in 2008, Dec.1.
The washer frog-eye dial is very cool - love the details.
Phil
Here's a link to the matching dryer one of the members offered back in 2008, Dec.1.
The washer frog-eye dial is very cool - love the details.
Phil
14 minute wash
Hey Peteski-----you are correct, the dial has 10-8-6-4-2 printed, but it's got notches and detents for the 12 and 14 for sure. Personally, I don't think ANYTHING needs more than 10 minutes. If it needs more, stop it after 5 and soak for a half hour, then turn it back on.
This thing just cycles perfectly! My 1960 WP and 1974 Kenmore do the neutral drain far too long, this one kicks in the spin within about 15 seconds of hearing the pump suck air, just great. And somehow, while I've never been entirley impressed with the WP/Kenmore 4 sprays instead of GE/Tag/Norge/1-18 having those 1.5 or 2 minute plentiful spray rinses, this one gets more suds out than either the 60 or 74 models, who knows? No need for extra rinse or extra spray. Maybe it's because it's pre-set on many temp choices here to give a warm rinse, so both solenoids are open and more water than the 74 model. Then when spray is done, I switch to a cold rinse choice for the fill.
My 1960 Whirlpool Imperial Mark VII is impressive but the 10 pushbuttons means there's no dial to watch so you know exactly where in each cycle you are. And the 1960 timer has given me intermittent trouble as far as powering the 3rd solenoid on the inlet valve, often that mix valve doesn't work and MEDIUM means HOT, warm rinse means cold, etc, then it's fine for two months. Frankly, if you push the timer knob to the left, it works correctly but I've had it apart too many delicate times to try fixing it for a livable error. But this 1959 3 solenoid, with the clear choices on the temp switch as opposed to the "pre-chosen" pushbutton one, and the exact ability to start/stop anywhere on the dial, it's just perfect operation.
I like the 1960's visible Magic Mix filter where you can add the soap and watch the water, but the lint filter here seem to get more lint, so it's pretty darn cool too. I agree it's almost entirely unnecesary in modern machines and modern tumble-dried laundry, but lint filters are fun as hell. I have never complained that it's an ugly job to clean them.
I installed a 1950 3 vane, 3 stub agitator for about 5 loads, couldn't tell any difference from the Surgilator. But the Surgilator has a shiny chrome top, so I went back to it. It sparkles, you understand.
Hey Peteski-----you are correct, the dial has 10-8-6-4-2 printed, but it's got notches and detents for the 12 and 14 for sure. Personally, I don't think ANYTHING needs more than 10 minutes. If it needs more, stop it after 5 and soak for a half hour, then turn it back on.
This thing just cycles perfectly! My 1960 WP and 1974 Kenmore do the neutral drain far too long, this one kicks in the spin within about 15 seconds of hearing the pump suck air, just great. And somehow, while I've never been entirley impressed with the WP/Kenmore 4 sprays instead of GE/Tag/Norge/1-18 having those 1.5 or 2 minute plentiful spray rinses, this one gets more suds out than either the 60 or 74 models, who knows? No need for extra rinse or extra spray. Maybe it's because it's pre-set on many temp choices here to give a warm rinse, so both solenoids are open and more water than the 74 model. Then when spray is done, I switch to a cold rinse choice for the fill.
My 1960 Whirlpool Imperial Mark VII is impressive but the 10 pushbuttons means there's no dial to watch so you know exactly where in each cycle you are. And the 1960 timer has given me intermittent trouble as far as powering the 3rd solenoid on the inlet valve, often that mix valve doesn't work and MEDIUM means HOT, warm rinse means cold, etc, then it's fine for two months. Frankly, if you push the timer knob to the left, it works correctly but I've had it apart too many delicate times to try fixing it for a livable error. But this 1959 3 solenoid, with the clear choices on the temp switch as opposed to the "pre-chosen" pushbutton one, and the exact ability to start/stop anywhere on the dial, it's just perfect operation.
I like the 1960's visible Magic Mix filter where you can add the soap and watch the water, but the lint filter here seem to get more lint, so it's pretty darn cool too. I agree it's almost entirely unnecesary in modern machines and modern tumble-dried laundry, but lint filters are fun as hell. I have never complained that it's an ugly job to clean them.
I installed a 1950 3 vane, 3 stub agitator for about 5 loads, couldn't tell any difference from the Surgilator. But the Surgilator has a shiny chrome top, so I went back to it. It sparkles, you understand.
1959 Whirlpool Imperial!
Mark - thank you for the reply. even though I never owned a belt drive WP or KM I used quit a few in friends and extended family homes. As I always remember most of the time 14 was selected for wash time, but I myself did use 10 at least 1/2 the time and it would do a great job. I thought almost all the smaller capacity machines has 2 minute drain periods and the larger ones were the only ones with the 4 minute drains! I always liked the clear top magic mix filter and loved to watch the water flow through it. I was dissappointed when the came up with the solid white magic mix and you could no longer watch the water flow.
I am also impressed with that 1960 Imperial Mark VII - it looks so interesting - can you set the wash time on that? or is it selected by the fabric selector? I assume that did up to a 14 min wash also?
As for the spray rinses I always felt these machines did a good job in rinsing, but to me the 1/18 long spray was the best!
Mark - thank you for the reply. even though I never owned a belt drive WP or KM I used quit a few in friends and extended family homes. As I always remember most of the time 14 was selected for wash time, but I myself did use 10 at least 1/2 the time and it would do a great job. I thought almost all the smaller capacity machines has 2 minute drain periods and the larger ones were the only ones with the 4 minute drains! I always liked the clear top magic mix filter and loved to watch the water flow through it. I was dissappointed when the came up with the solid white magic mix and you could no longer watch the water flow.
I am also impressed with that 1960 Imperial Mark VII - it looks so interesting - can you set the wash time on that? or is it selected by the fabric selector? I assume that did up to a 14 min wash also?
As for the spray rinses I always felt these machines did a good job in rinsing, but to me the 1/18 long spray was the best!
My mom (and dad, when he washed) always set 6 mins wash time on the 1962 Whirlpool.
Tide was the go-to detergent and it suds-locked like crazy unless a minimal dose was used. The first spin would sometimes drag-down by the 3rd spray rinse even if it started at full-speed.
Dual Action Agitator
Left is a WP Surgilator, same exact as in the machine it sits on. Right is a Kenmore agitator from 1957, they are interchangeable. Standard size WP-Kenmore machines for years in this era.
Is there a dual action later agitator I can install? does anyone know the part number, or have one to sell?
Or, with this being a 59 model, a few years before they beefed up the tranny and added 3 braces for it, should I not attempt a dual action one?
Thanks
Mark
Left is a WP Surgilator, same exact as in the machine it sits on. Right is a Kenmore agitator from 1957, they are interchangeable. Standard size WP-Kenmore machines for years in this era.
Is there a dual action later agitator I can install? does anyone know the part number, or have one to sell?
Or, with this being a 59 model, a few years before they beefed up the tranny and added 3 braces for it, should I not attempt a dual action one?
Thanks
Mark
Dual-action later agitator
Mark,
In a few 1976-1981 standard capacity models, and a couple 1981-1984 24-inch Kenmore models was a standard capacity Dual-action agitator. None of these were high volume models, so finding a leftover is very rare today.
I will get you a part number but last time I checked they were NLA.
If your machine or machines use their original agitator shaft with the metal drive block that installs on the shaft via a single keyway, you won't be able to use the DA which needs a splined agitator shaft. If you have the 1963 beefed-up gearcase, the splines should be there under the plastic drive block.
The important part about the standard capacity dual-action is the shorter auger. They use the same base agitator as the very common large cap DA, but the auger is a number of inches shorter. The lid won't shut properly over a large capacity DA with its standard auger.
I will dig up the part number for the standard capacity kit DA and get back to you.
Cool machines you have there!!!
Gordon
Mark,
In a few 1976-1981 standard capacity models, and a couple 1981-1984 24-inch Kenmore models was a standard capacity Dual-action agitator. None of these were high volume models, so finding a leftover is very rare today.
I will get you a part number but last time I checked they were NLA.
If your machine or machines use their original agitator shaft with the metal drive block that installs on the shaft via a single keyway, you won't be able to use the DA which needs a splined agitator shaft. If you have the 1963 beefed-up gearcase, the splines should be there under the plastic drive block.
The important part about the standard capacity dual-action is the shorter auger. They use the same base agitator as the very common large cap DA, but the auger is a number of inches shorter. The lid won't shut properly over a large capacity DA with its standard auger.
I will dig up the part number for the standard capacity kit DA and get back to you.
Cool machines you have there!!!
Gordon
Hi Gordon-----
IT's nice to hear from you and thanks for the info. Yes I'd like the PN for the fun of searching for a rare agitator, but I bet all my KM/WP's have their original tranny's and shafts. Darn, it would be fun if it was an easy swap. And my extra-capacity 1974 suds model would easily take the larger DA agitator, but it's currently got a screw instead of bolt holding on the PENTA SWIRL, and I have never gotten that damn screw off!
I'll steal your name and become KenmoreGuyII I think, 'cause by pure luck and the great KM/WP sales of the 50's to 70's, I have ended up with 5 washers and 4 dryers of the era! Very glad this most recent dryer is gas, cheaper to run. One of my winter projects is extra plumbing and a new laundry sink along one wall of the basement, all for my 50's machines. I measured the wall and the machines, in order from left to right: Hamilton 1951 dryer, 1957 Frogeye suds washer, tub with standpipe, 1959 Whirlpool Imperial suds washer, finally its matching gas dryer.
Thanks for all your KM help and knowledge--
Mark
IT's nice to hear from you and thanks for the info. Yes I'd like the PN for the fun of searching for a rare agitator, but I bet all my KM/WP's have their original tranny's and shafts. Darn, it would be fun if it was an easy swap. And my extra-capacity 1974 suds model would easily take the larger DA agitator, but it's currently got a screw instead of bolt holding on the PENTA SWIRL, and I have never gotten that damn screw off!
I'll steal your name and become KenmoreGuyII I think, 'cause by pure luck and the great KM/WP sales of the 50's to 70's, I have ended up with 5 washers and 4 dryers of the era! Very glad this most recent dryer is gas, cheaper to run. One of my winter projects is extra plumbing and a new laundry sink along one wall of the basement, all for my 50's machines. I measured the wall and the machines, in order from left to right: Hamilton 1951 dryer, 1957 Frogeye suds washer, tub with standpipe, 1959 Whirlpool Imperial suds washer, finally its matching gas dryer.
Thanks for all your KM help and knowledge--
Mark
