A 1/18 on 1/18/11

[steved]

brochure dated 8/78

 

[steved]

Another shot -

some of the details - Happy 1/18!

 

[appnut]

The Holy Grail of 1/18s and Frigidaires.  Thank you Steve.  It's good to see ya post.  and a HAPPY 1/18 to you too.  I wonder if they came out with an Elite line for all their product lines?

 

[laundromat]

I had these when I was in FT. Lauderdale, FL.One of the interesting features was the agitation would stay at delicate if the water level was between mini and medium.Once it went higher than that,it would go to a faster agitation. I guess they did that to keep the spills of water at a minimum.Great washer! Three speed agitation.

 

[laundromat]

The end of an era.

 

[peterh770]

Such at stunning pair!   Even just the dryer is handsome!  Interesting how the WIA of the prior year became the WCI this year.

 

[peteski50]

Frigidaire!

Thanks for posting these wonderful pictures!
Peter

 

[mickeyd]

WOW

Have never seen this machine before; it's breath-taking, and with 24 buttons--total mayhem and decadence--it has to be a record.

 

Has anyone besides Laundromat experienced the Elite?

 

Steve, this is a great treat. Thank you.

<span style="font-size: small; color: #000080;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span>

 

[jetaction]

3 speed motor

Seeing these reminds me I need a 3 speed motor for my 1-18. If anyone has one for sale let me know!

 

[toploader55]

Have never seen this machine before

I as well. Mike

Would these fall into the "Space Age Design" ?

They're Beautiful.

 

[a440]

Awesome Awesome Awesome

 

[a440]

Curious

<span style="font-family: book antiqua,palatino; font-size: large;">Were the controls back lit?  </span>

<span style="font-family: book antiqua,palatino; font-size: large;">That would look awesome if they were.</span>

<span style="font-family: book antiqua,palatino; font-size: large;">Wish someone had a pair!  Wonder if any are still in service?</span>

<span style="font-family: book antiqua,palatino; font-size: large;">Peter don't you have a washer control head?  I remember someone</span>

<span style="font-family: book antiqua,palatino; font-size: large;">did.</span>

<span style="font-family: book antiqua,palatino; font-size: large;">Brent</span>

 

[combo52]

THE LAST FRIGIDARE CUSTOM IMPERIAL WASHER

I saw only one of these washers at a Frigidare dealer in Ohio, it was in bad condition as it had been sitting outside for years, so we left it there. I think they brought this out to compete with the WP & KM push button electronic washers & dryers that that came out in 1977. I don't think there was any type of back lit control panel on this washer nor do I believe it had a three speed motor but I could be wrong and I should just go look in my service manuals. How sad that this was the last beautiful Frigidare W&D at the end of the decade. Just when MT was about to lose thier identity with thier awful 1980 restyling and start their downward trek that would also spell the end of MT.

 

[peterh770]

Nope, not me.  I have the prior year's WCI that is a 3 speed and a WIA that was my daily driver for a few years.

 

I don't believe the Elite is 3 speed.  There is no handwash button.  The Special button was slow agitation/fast spin.  They probably dropped the 3 speed to save a bit of cost.

 

They are backlit, but I don't think the design allowed for much illumination out of the panel.  There is a push on/push off button under the signal volume (?) knob.

 

[peteski50]

Elite!

I have a closeup from a photo someone submitted awhile ago.
Peter

 

[gansky1]

Very nice - thanks Steve!

 

Pete's last picture was of a friend's washer (and matching dryer-not pictured) in Tulsa. 

There was a dial light- there's a switch for it on the panel - that lit the indicator dial from behind.  Very cool machines.

 

[mickeyd]

 

 

 

Pete thanks for the pic. Now I can count better. There are 25 buttons, excluding the now visible dial light, and how cool that the dial lights up like the Rollermatics do.

 

Greg is this machine still "operational" as Lily Tomlin might ask, all nasally Ernestine? --was that her telephone operator name?

 

"Is this the person to whom I am speaking? (snort, snort)?"

 

[philr]

I'd really like to have a set of 1-18 Elite like these (I'd be happy with older/cheaper ones too!).

When I read the title of this thread, it made me notice that I was born on 1-18 when they were still producing 1-18 washers!

 

[pdub]

the Dryer

I found the picture of the dryer that matches the washer.  As you can see the dial and surround are lit as well as there is a drum interior light.  How cool.  This set would be worth some serious money to the right collector.  If I remember correctly, Greg has first dibs should they ever become available.

 

[jetcone]

OOH Gawd

I looked for that set for years and never found them. I thought they were never made! But here is the photographic evidence!

 

What a cool Frigidaire!

 

[jetcone]

I thnk Peter is right

I don't see a hand wash function! The three speed machine was the TOPS in Frigidaire! Its the only machine I do hand knits in!

 

[autowasherfreak]

Are we doing laundry with these or programming a computer?  Lots of button = Lots of fun!  Who would want a set of of these.

 

[supremewhirlpol]

Oh Yes, they exist. In fact I posted the gas dryer on here of one of these sets that was on CL. Was only ~2 hours from me, but it's not a commercial machine, I'm not really a 1-18 fan. Come to think of it, I don't think anyone from here even went to get it. Most likely went to scrap.