9-Millionth Maytag Washer - 16mm Film

[cadman]

For the Maytag fans, I've just finished digitizing and uploading a short 16mm film that was shot by a local news station to commemorate the 9,000,000 MT Washer back in 1955.

It's a bit grainy, but I didn't want to get carried away over-correcting things. Anyway, neat stuff!

 

[qsd-dan]

Thanks for your effort digitizing this clip. Perfect music selection, too.

 

[DADoES]

 
9 million by 1955 ... does that refer to only automatics or does it include wringer machines?

I don't imagine the consumer public has a realization of the numbers of appliances that are produced over a range of time.

 

[repairguy]

Great job! What a great piece of appliance history.

 

[cadman]

I believe that was strictly automatics. What amazes me is that they hit 10M just one year later!

 

[swestoyz]

Wow, this clip turned out fantastic! Thank you for taking the time to discovering a way to take film and convert it to a digital format.

As for Maytag's claim of 9th millionth washer, this refers to their 9th millionth Newton-made washing machine, which includes everything starting from the Pastime, onward. Things got a bit muddy when they started making dryers - I'm not sure if the 9th million claim included dryers in 1955, but eventually the did include dryers in this tally.

Ben

 

[mrstickball]

Dang that's awesome. Would I be allowed to use a clip or two from that for an upcoming project I'm working on regarding the history of Maytag? Awesome work.

 

[combo52]

9 million Maytag washing machine built

Very cool Corey I love stuff like this, I always think the sad part about watching videos like this as you realize everybody in the videos is long gone wonder where the nine millionth Maytag is today did that end up in the museum in Newton?

I had a friend in Baltimore who passed away who collected anything related to whirlpool or KitchenAid and I’ve been having a ball going through a lot of old literature. I found about the history of the 1900 corporation.

Apparently the 1900 corporation now whirlpool started making washing machines and simultaneously sears started buying washing machines from them so the two companies grew together, which is why they grew as big the biggest washer maker quickly in the United States and in the world for a long time, fascinating stuff.

I’ll get together with Robert and share a lot of the cool brochures and all that he can add to the picture of the day.

Thanks, Cory,

 

[user 12105]

According to Whirlpool they began as Upton machine company in 1911 and then later merged with 1900 corp.

 

[cadman]

Hey thanks guys!

Ben, appreciate the correction. IIRC, 10M was still washers, but 12M included dryers. That's another film I've scanned, but will require quite a bit of processing before release.

Benny, on use of the clip, I'll shoot you an email at your profile address. -C

 

[qsd-dan]

"I always think the sad part about watching videos like this as you realize everybody in the videos is long gone"

I was thinking the exact same thing while viewing. I bet some of those older people have been dead for 60+ years and didn't even live long enough to see the '06 generation of washers and dryers released.

 

[Unimatic1140]

I bet some of those older people have been dead for 60+ years and didn't even live long enough to see the '06 generation of washers and dryers released.

That's very true however they more than likely all got to see their grandmothers use a Maytag Pastime Washer and would be nostalgic about those.

I absolutely love what you're doing Cory!

 

[launderess]

""I always think the sad part about watching videos like this as you realize everybody in the videos is long gone"

And they along with Frederick Louis Maytag I likely are spinning in their graves over Maytag being gobbled up my Whirlpool.

 

[gansky1]

 

Terrific job, Cory.   That would have been a fun day to be present for, wasn't this factory building fairly new in 1955?  What a time to live in Newton.

 

 

[qsd-dan]

"That's very true however they more than likely all got to see their grandmothers use a Maytag Pastime Washer and would be nostalgic about those."

No grandparents required. Folks in their 60's and 70's in this clip were 10-20 years old when the Pastime debuted in 1905

 

[maytag85]

It’s interesting to know those people were born in the 1880’s and 1890’s, literally saw the US go from a farm based economy to a industrial behemoth by the 1920’s and 1930’s, to the beginning of the space race in the 1950’s, the moon landing in 1969. Even witnessed inventions like the automobile (though wasn’t invented by a single person or entity), the light bulb and electrify, many other innovations over the years.

Those people are probably Gen X’s grandparents (could be the Baby Boomers grandparents as well), Gen Z’s great grandparents.

 

[qsd-dan]

I enjoyed hearing my great grandmothers stories about the ice man, outhouses, first automobile they saw, kerosene street lamps, and their first experience with electricity. My great grandmother on the other side of my family was in an extremely rural area and didn't get electricity and indoor plumbing until the early 1980's then ended up in a nursing home a year later. Probably used a gas wringer washer her entire life.

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

I'm surprised at a millionth in the '50's myself, which meant Maytag surely had little to no competition...

 

The sign of Maytag being a one and original, until the other brands like Whirlpool, GE and the Whirlpool-made Sears came along, not to mention Westinghouses' front-loaders...

 

I also liked the music, too...

 

 

 

-- Dave

 

[launderess]

Maytag struck pay dirt with it's first gas engine powered washer. Their money and reputation was made with first "GyraFoam" washer that was an immediate hit.

Far as pre-WWII years when wringer washers dominated American domestic laundry market there was Maytag and everyone else. WP built Sears/Kenmore WWs had advantage of Sears catalog and nationwide retail locations which helped put them over.

https://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREADM.cgi?94257

https://www.gasenginemagazine.com/farm-life/a-brief-history-of-maytag/

 

[combo52]

Maytag had lots of competition

More than a half dozen companies beat them out with the automatic, including of course Bendix, Blackstone, whirlpool, General Electric, Westinghouse, and there’s probably a few others.

By 1955 whirlpool was probably building five or 10 times as many automatic washers per year as Maytag and that continued throughout history, Maytag never got close to catching up. They were not a hi volumecompany. They were selling a high priced quality product.

Maytag washers and dryers hovered around the 10 to 15% of the market range just about where Speed Queen is getting to today.

John L

 

[wayupnorth]

I gave my old red trim, round Maytag wringer to a nice Amish man, who wanted to pay me but I said No, I know it will be going to a good home. His neighbor that transports him and does his social media ( I saw the ad on Craigslist looking for Maytag wringer washers). The neighbor did call me recently to say the washer was turned into a gas model and gifted to a young couple with a newborn. I just could not understand that Amish can use gasoline but not electricity, like the Mennonites can use all the modern conveniences.

 

[user 12105]

That is what was great about this largely conservative company. They didn't change for the sake of change.

There is something to be said for familiarity,steadiness and reliability.

They never had to stamp "HEAVY DUTY" on their consoles before the '80s because you KNEW what you were getting with a Maytag.

I personally never owned one but would love to grab a refurbed one.

My only experience with the pitman drives was from laundromats and I just loved their wash action and their sound.

Even if you didn't own a Maytag, you knew their reputation for longevity and rock solid reliability.

Chet I concur with you. It really is a shame that we don't have ANYTHING like this today that we can buy new.

Unfortunately Speed Queen is the only maker that comes somewhat close and Whirlpool has lost the plot.

Real shame that we continue to put up with the disposable toys made today.

 

[qsd-dan]

"They never had to stamp "HEAVY DUTY" on their consoles before the '80s because you KNEW what you were getting with a Maytag."

Around the late 70's, Maytag printed stickers for dealers to put on non TOL consoles that stated "Heavy Duty" which was kind of an obvious tacky afterthought. I occasionally see them on machines from that time period on Craigslist/Facebook Marketplace.

 

[wayupnorth]

My 1984 511 washer and 410 dryer had those tacky stickers which I promptly tore off. Yes, you knew if you bought a Heavy Duty Maytag it would last and you didnt need to brag with a stupid sticker. Mine still do about 1 load a week and have only had only a $28 part in all those 41 years. Too bad they dont do those magazine ads of someone that had a great Maytag.

 

[user 12105]

Oh wow never knew that. Unfortunately Maytag followed the herd and failed. Yet they had Maytag stoves in the 50s ? That's a shame though that they weren't really able to compete with GE and Whirlpool for a full appliance line.

Unfortunately, missteps and greed get the best of people.

 

[maytag85]

Maytag didn’t sell nearly as many machines as Whirlpool/Sears, but would run and run for many years, still see them out there from time to time. If a company like Maytag only had 10% to 15% market share back in the day while Whirlpool had the largest market share but yet you still Maytags everywhere, just shows how much Maytag perfected the design and quality.

Maytags are like cockroaches, impossible to kill. They literally just keep on running and running forever. Literally the only repair my Maytag A606 needed was a new inlet valve, that was literally it after 50 years. Think that’s the first repair ever made to that particular machine in all of its existence so far. A Whirlpool or Kenmore on the other hand from that era would have had every component replaced at least once by this point.

 

[user 12105]

Was that Maytag A606 in continuous use for 50 years Sean? I would like to know what the output was between Whirlpool and Maytag washer production.

Considering Maytag only had to build for themselves while Whirlpool supplied every Sears store in the nation not to mention their own models.

Whirlpool certainly didn't do bad for such a mass produced design.

 

[maytag85]

Reply #26

The Maytag A606 appeared to have been sitting for a good 20 to 30 years since the timer was stiff. Was used on and off for about 4 years until the inlet valve gave up the ghost, got set off to the side until I could get the new inlet valve installed.

Don’t really know what the story was with my Maytag A606’s, but the guy I bought it from got it from a friend since he knew he was into older stuff from that era. Probably came from a storage unit by my guess, or came out of a garage. More than likely the original owners bought them new in 1973, used them for a number of years, moved into a townhouse or duplex that already came with a washer dryer set, got set off to the side.

 

[launderess]

IIRC Sears via their Kenmore brands moved more Whirlpool laundry appliances than company could itself.

Maytag was late to dishwasher game, not introducing first model until 1966 IIRC.

 

[cadman]

There's a neat article out there (Business Week?) where Fred II explains the Maytag philosophy on how they avoid 'change for the sake of change', and that they only introduce new features when it's truly warranted and thoroughly evaluated.

Now I do love those late 50's annual styling changes from the other guys...great for short term sales, but long term the MT approach made more sense. Reduced inventory and tooling, a consistent brand image, reduced warranty risk of 'gimmicks' that didn't work. And a reasonable assurance your appliances would match if you had to replace one...or were holding out to add a dryer.

In the 70's, MT capitalized on this in dealer training to 'mix-and-match' their offerings since BOL was similar in style to near TOL, so you could tailor a pair to the customer's needs. Whereas the competition went to serious lengths to distinguish their model tiers.