Maytag end-of-cycle bell/chime - Dryers only?

[lowefficiency]

Quick question:
The bell or chime that is heard at the end of a cycle on older Maytags - was that feature only on the dryers?
(Did any model of washing machine ever make a sound when it was done?)

Thanks

 

[revvinkevin]

 

 

Yup, just the dryer only.  (pretty sure anyway)

 

[tomturbomatic]

"Did any model of Washing Machine..."

If you watch the Picture of the Day, you will see an ad for Whirlpool washers in the early 50s that mentions a chime that sounds in the last minute to let you know the cycle is about finished to save the user fruitless trips to check on the laundry, although if time was that important, why not set a minute timer>

 

[appnut]

And the Kenmore version of those Whirlpools did the same thing. But no Maytag washers from that era ever had a signal or chime.

 

[lowefficiency]

>> although if time was that important, why not set a minute timer?

I actually only thought of this feature omission when testing my new A408, which currently has a severely limited water flow rate until my parts arrive to repair the leaking injector/air-gap assembly. Since the fill is based on a level sensor instead of being time based, having restricted water flow greatly lengthens the wash time, especially for large or extra large loads.

It also occurred to me that in all of our moves and rentals, this will be the first machine we've used which *doesn't* have a buzzer or chime for when the washer finishes.

I wonder how much work it would be to retrofit one... hmmm....

 

[turquoisedude]

I think you'd have to modify the timer... My 56 Whirlpool, I think, has an extra switch or cam in the timer that sounds the buzzer and starts the cool-down cycle. One day, when I get my courage up, I need to take that timer apart 'cause it shuts down at the cool-down instead of sounding the buzzer and running for 5 minutes with no heat. The matching 56 Whirlpool washer sounds a buzzer twice during the final spin to let you know that you should start making your way to the basement 'cause your laundry's done... LOL

 

[henene4]

Dryer only buzzer

Main idea probably was that a) laundry could sit in the washer with verry little effect on creasing or such, b) that sensor dryers had verry varying cylce times depending on load, so setting a minute timer wasn't really an option compared to a a timer operated washer that basicly always takes the same amount of time for the same cycle and c) that the dryer would be the thing setting the pase.

Most people wouldn't stockpile laundry from the washer in wet state to be processed one after the other by the probably somewhat slower dryer.
So there was no use in adding complexity if most people wouldn't empty their washer until the dryer was ready anyways.

 

[wayupnorth]

My 1984 Maytag 511 washer has no signal, just shuts off. My 410 dryer does buzz on any cycle set when its done.

 

[tomturbomatic]

The minute timer would just be something like a LUX timer that you could put in your pocket or set in the kitchen if you were doing something in there or in your bedroom or office and it would go off at the end of the set period.

 

Our waterfall front Kenmore did not have a end of cycle signal and it had the RotoSwirl agitator and sudssaver so I think for 1952, it was the most deluxe that you could buy.

 

[DADoES]

 
Regards to newer non-Maytag machines ... Mom's 1994 KitchenAid washer & dryer both have/had (dryer is in-use, washer is gone) buzzers.  Neither has an on/off switch, they always buzz.

The 1999 KM 90 series washer does not.

I have a 2003 WP Gold washer with an EOC buzzer (selectable on/off integrated into the Extra Rinse switch).

 

[potatochips]

Im not a fan of buzzers, too harsh. The bell chime in Maytag dryers is fantastic, nice warm sound. 

 

[lowefficiency]

Thanks guys, good information here.

I don't have all of my books handy, but I did find a section about it in my "big load" dryer service manual. It looks like a clever design, as the buzzer parallels the timer, but is in series with the motor start switch, so it's basically the spin-down of the motor (via the centrifugal switch) that times the buzzer's buzzing duration. Likewise, the repeated chiming of the bell on the electronic control dryers in the permanent press setting is basically a clever usage of a side effect of the capacitor charging/discharging when the load is dry.

The book also has a chart, which answers part of my original question:
* DE91 and DE/DG 106, 107, and 308 do not have an end-of-cycle signal.
* DE/DG 309, 408, and 409 have an end-of-cycle buzzer.
* DE/DG 608 and 808 have an end-of-cycle chime (the bell).

 

[lordkenmore]

I've never personally encountered a washer with end of cycle buzzer, chime, or bell. It could be an interesting feature from the appliance enthusiast's view. Although, on a practical level, it's pretty easy to tell when the washer is done. At least it is for me. The BOL WP DD washer I'm using isn't exactly quiet, and it's pretty obvious when the final spin stops.

I hate buzzers on dryers. A bell would be much nicer. I have the buzzer on the WP BOL dryer switched off.

 

[tomturbomatic]

On my indoor KA dryer, we removed the buzzer from its mounting on the control panel and now it is a soft buzzing sound, not the wake the dead call of a Dies Irae. On the outdoor gas one, we just removed and taped the wires to silence it.