Wringer Washers - Best and Worst

[launderess]

Reading through late 1940's and early 1950's old issues of Consumer Reports it seems the only wringer washer they really liked was the Maytag square tubs. They considered the Norge and a few others such as the Maytag round tub "acceptable" but found much fault with the rest of the offerings. Everything from laundry being damaged by drain coverings to wringers that lacked enough safety features.

Have seen so many wringers on fleaPay and CL but a bulk seem to be from the three major camps; Maytag, Speed Queen and Whirlpool/Kenmore. Where these the best of what was out there?

 

[wayupnorth]

Grammy's Maytag wringer finally locked up and I am not messing with it. I would love to have a wringer washer that I could have in my shed to do any wash that can use cold so that I dont have to send 40 gallons into my septic every load. I would take any of those brands Laundress, as long as they worked. I dont believe any of the brands really had any different agitation, but a different agitator? Who knows. Those wringers that had the exposed drain in the tub, instead of under the agitator, did catch clothes when something caught on them like a zipper and ripped something on the next load.

 

[stan]

Dear

It's hard to say..Maytag seems to be the dominate force, possibly there where more made, and I know for a longer period of time.. (why there's still parts for them) Think they manufactured them as late as 1983?
Don't understand why Maytag square tub would be better Maytag round? Same motor, gearbox, wringer mechanism. The square holds hot water a little longer, and holds a couple of gallons more, but the aluminum tub is prone to darkening and spotting with use of chlorine bleach, oxygen bleach, powdered detergents. The round porcelain isn't.
Without ever using a Speed queen wringer, I'd imagine it was a really good washer, with stainless steel tub, but don't see as many out there, like you do Maytags.

 

[launderess]

Not exactly in Maine

But if you are willing to think out of the box:

http://boston.craigslist.org/sob/atq/5298161713.html

http://hartford.craigslist.org/app/5297460621.html

http://providence.craigslist.org/atq/5280532710.html

http://worcester.craigslist.org/atq/5291976171.html

http://maine.craigslist.org/atd/5273488115.html

http://maine.craigslist.org/app/5254332081.html

http://maine.craigslist.org/atq/5262656724.html

http://nh.craigslist.org/ppd/5270326949.html

 

[launderess]

Maytag Round vs. Square

Cannot figure out why the round is deemed less worthy but some things one has read says it was the "lower priced" machine of the two. So perhaps Maytag did some scrimping?

Yes, prefer porcelain over aluminum tubed washer any day of the week. After nearly ruining my minty Hoover TT by using some Cheer powdered detergent won't be doing that again. Took all the nice luster and shine away.

 

[ea56]

I believe that the only difference between the round tub and square tub Maytag wringer was the capacity. The round tub model N is smaller. And in my opinion the model J porcelain square tub is slightly larger in capacity than the square tub model E with the aluminum tub. The advantage of the model E is that the tub is insulated, thereby keeping the water hot longer. My family had a model E and I had a model J, so I've had experience with both. In my opinion they both washed beautifully, but the model J held just a little more. These Maytag wringers are really wonderful machines. It is a Zen like experience doing laundry with a Maytag wringer.

 

[stan]

Just checked

Only the model E was produced until Nov 1983. So lots of E models out there, and parts.
I believe the model E and J held the same amount of water.. 18 gallons. The J may have looked like it held more, but it's because the J had no lip around the tub. (Optical illusion) the round tub held 16 gallons.
The model E was the top of the line, only because of the hinged lid, but all machines had the same mechanicals.. No scrimping from one to the other. Even the ones with gravity drain, had pre drilled holes on the cross bars for a pumps to be added if needed later.
Here's a pic of Geoffs Maytag line up. All three are pump models.

 

[stan]

The Square tub in Maine

Looks good. It's a pump model, porcelain tub, holds 18 gallons, and it's only $50.00.
Too bad it's so far from you.

 

[tomturbomatic]

But in the 30s, before Maytag redesigned their machine, CU did a test where they filled the machines, dissolved washing soda in the water and let them sit for 8 hours or over night. The aluminum high drive post of the Maytag was really eaten up by the alkalinity and the machine was downgraded for that. After they went to the low post drive, Maytag could do no wrong.

No wringer washer got more than a B intermediate rating because of the danger of the wringer, but many got lower for various reasons. Some spinner-type machines got A Recommended ratings because they were safer, but some were down graded because they moved around too much when the spinner was in action. HELP ME! HELP ME! I've got a runaway washer.

 

[norgeway]

Square Tub

If Maytag could have made a automatic that washed like the square tubs did, no one else would have had a chance..LOL Something about the square tub makes it wash better, I don't know why...

 

[abcomatic]

I have several wringer machines and they all work well. Maytag, ABC, Dexter, GE and Speed Queen. I like my Easy spinner too.
Have fun finding the one that you want. Happy washing. Gary

 

[tomturbomatic]

Hans, I think it was the width of the tub that made the Gyrator work so well. The water currents set up by those 4 big high fins resulted in a nice rollover action. When they put the same size agitators in the narrow tubs of the automatics, there was not enough room for the clothes to move as they did in the wringer washer tubs, but did that stop Maytag? Hell No. They just put a lid switch on the machine so that no one could see what wasn't happening.

 

[launderess]

Was the Kenmore "Visimatic"

Only wringer washer with a two speed motor? Even then they seemed to have come late in the game. Why didn't more machines have the option for either "fast" or "slow" speeds? Some of those agitators look like they meant business on "high", wouldn't want to risk my lace curtains or dainty things....

 

[repair-man]

My Great Aunt used nothing but a wringer washer. When her 60's era Lady K Visimatic was replaced in the early 80's with a brand new Maytag she had my Uncle put the two speed motor in the Maytag.

 

[abcomatic]

I think I may have read in the Consumer Reports from the last 30's that Thor was down rated because of the use of fiber gears in the transmission that didn't hold up for very long. Apex was down rated because of some leakage of electric current that found it's way into the wash water.
I believe that ABC was the 2nd. or 3rd. largest make of washing machines in the 30's and 40's.
Drain covering were better if they were under the agitator. My ABC and Dexter are out along the bottom of the machines with a metal screen sort of thing that covers the drain hole. I have never had any snagged or torn cloth from that.

 

[golittlesport]

Two speed wringer washers

...were pretty rare, but I think one of the first was Universal, who had a two speed model back in the 50's. I believe later model Easy spindriers also had two speed option.

 

[stan]

Maytag

Wringers only had one speed.
Someone here's got a Vitamatic 2 speed..mickeyd has one I think. You might contact him, and he may have shot, or will shot a video of it in action on slow speed.

 

[e2l-arry]

Just goes to show

All wringers are similar but NOT the same. Maytag was the clear market leader. Well known for their quality, workmanship and reliability. The Cadillac of washers in that day. Even though they made the "value" J (Buick) and N (Chevrolet) models, they were still a bit more expensive than the competition. So alas, if you had $100 itch and 2 bucks to scratch it with, you went with the other brands.

Speed Queens were popular. My Mom's 1st washer. From what she told me, after WW II as factories ramp back up to pre-war manufacturing, there was still a lag in availability. My Mom said she had a Speed Queen because there was a wait list and that was the first washer that became available at the appliance store in Kenmore NY. I remember using it as a kid. It didn't have a stainless steel tub but it did have an aluminum 3 vane agitator and wringer apron. Maytag had the 4 vane and I always wondered if that made the agitation 25% better? The only 4 vane agitator washers I've ever seen was on Maytags and Bendix Economats.

I agree with ea56. Washing in a Maytag wringer is a Zen experience. I've been using mine almost exclusively for 3 years now and I love it! I could wash with it ALL day. And I'd still like to try an Easy Spindrier, but those are so rare compared to the more common wringer. Cost had to be a factor there. They had to have cost more.

 

[launderess]

Easy SpinDriers

Seem to me an obvious attempt to give Madame what she wanted; the large capacity and water saving ability offered by wringer washers, but without the danger of a mangle (wringer).

Personally my idea of heaven would be a good wringer washer and one of those Monex extractors. Sort of like the set-up Martha Stewart has at her estate in Maine: http://www.themarthablog.com/2013/12/

Would chose an extractor over wringer if given the choice to save buttons/fasteners. Many of my linens for instance have buttons (shams, duvet covers, etc...) and am not willing to risk them going through the mangle.