A Maytag Lead

[danemodsandy]

Congratulations, Gary!

You'll love having Maytags- I've been very happy with mine. I have an LA108 washer and a DE608 dryer. I'm especially impressed with how simple the engineering is on these machines, and how many features the washer has, in spite of its being a lower-end model. It dispenses bleach and softener, has a delicate cycle, and has three temp selections, as well as three water levels. The delicate cycle is Fabric-Matic, that stops agitation and restarts it; this is a one-speed machine.

I really like the softener dispenser and lint filter assembly; they both get the job done with a minimum of fuss, very easy to clean. I had a Whirlpool pair previously, and there was no easy way to clean its softener dispenser, which built up excess softener after a time. And the self-cleaning lint filter flushed its lint into my pipes, which isn't my idea of convenience- sooner or later, there will be a need for drain cleaning.

Question: Did your machines come with their instruction manuals? I'm still searching for manuals, and I'd be very happy with Xeroxes or scans. If you have them, I'd love to talk with you about paying you for copies!

 

[gadgetgary]

Thanks for all the kind words on the Maytags

Today I noticed a slight leak in the left hand corner of the washer. It seemed to be happening only during the 'fill' portion of the cycle. Upon further investigation(Thanks Steve for showing me how to open up the machine), I found that the water was coming from the tube near the top of the machine(Thanks also to Bobby Deregis for explaining what the problem could be).
I tightened the screw, but the leak persisted. I then moved the black tubing a bit and then tightened the screw again and Viola....No Leak...YAY!

 

[gadgetgary]

Now Filling

And leak free!

 

[gadgetgary]

Sandy

Unfortunately, mine did not come with the manuals. I asked the seller if the manuals could be laying around somewhere in the condo where they came from. I am waiting to hear back from the seller. It seems that these machines came from a home where the owners passed away. I don't know how long they sat without use, but, in any event they work perfectly.
I am so glad that Steve and I went to get them on Saturday.

Thanks for the well wishes.

P.S. Which ones did you get again? Can you post pics again if possible?

 

[toggleswitch]

How DOES that siphon break (between the two clamps) work?

 

[gadgetgary]

Gary

-When Maytag was changing the look of their machines, the dealer told me that 1980 was the last year for the center dial machines.

What was the next generation? Was it the machines with the brown backsplash and the main dial to the right?

 

[scott55405]

You would be correct, Gary. So, is yours a 308 or a 108? I'm thinking 108, given standard capacity. 208 would have had 2 speeds and a standard tub, I think.

I did not know there were center dial dryers with buzzers, I thought they all had the chimes, which I thought was really cool, not that anything's wrong with a buzzer.

 

[gadgetgary]

Gary. So, is yours a 308 or a 108?

Scott,

A108 and standard capacity

And the dryer DE309 with buzzer.

 

[scott55405]

Thanks Gary! I guess if I hadn't missed the link to your picture thread earlier, I would have known that! LOL Great pictures.

 

[danemodsandy]

Gary: Manuals

Thanks for responding! If the manuals ever surface, great. If they don't, well, the search continues.

Manuals seem to be the hardest part of collecting vintage stuff. I have two Electrolux vacuums (a 1205 and a Diamond Jubilee) and I've been looking for their manuals for TWO YEARS. Feh.

I have promised myself- if I ever find these elusive goodies, they get posted here or at Vacuumland, as appropriate. I can't be the only person on Earth looking for them.

 

[jimmyb]

Great Set

Well Boys I am excited to see that you have aquired a Maytag set - Congratulations! Great job on cleaning them up they look great!!!!!

 

[toggleswitch]

Thanks!

.....and I didnt even break a nail.

Gary was kind enough to wax the set, which made lifting and moving it (down a flight of stairs) FUN FUN FUN!

They did end up looking great!

(ducks and runs)

 

[gadgetgary]

Waxed is not always good????

Steve,

I had to make it clean, clean, clean!

That set shines, and to think it is over 30 yrs. old.

Here is a link to the polish that I used.....it is easily applied and works wonderfully on appliances, as well as fiberglass tubs and of course, automobiles.

http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx?...es^y,from^se,cm_scid^srch,cm_ssi^Item: V20716

 

[toggleswitch]

oh hell, you shine too and you are 30+ y.o.!

 

[gansky1]

Manuals for these? Why? Are you confused by all the buttons and dials? Then you need a 906 Maytag to banish all that washday confusion forever! One button washdays, what could be easier?
;-)

Did you try calling Maytag? It's a long shot, but sometimes they still have them on file and will at least copy them for you.

 

[toggleswitch]

Perhaps we couldl have tarred and feathered him.

~Did you try calling Maytag?

I would have thought that Whirlpool would have had a fabulous bon-fire by now, with Maytag manuals and instructions as thier kindling and fuel.

Goes ta show ya...
Be careful when you hire a former Whirlpool man as a top-level guy. Apparently he slashed and burned and got himself back in to the good graces of Whirlpool. Love those golden parachutes.

I was trying to substantiate the above thought with an article, but no can find. The below linkie will have to do.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maytag

 

[toggleswitch]

Duh, and there it is.

~The board of Directors of Maytag and CEO(a former Whirlpool executive), all received five years severance pay.

My guess is the CEO got another job back at Whirlpool. DIRTY DAWG!

 

[westytoploader]

So now can we see a picture of them all shined up and installed in their permanent home? ;-)

 

[toggleswitch]

Oh Badata, I'm not smart; I just have a big mouth! Actually I have a great love for "applied" sciences, I was taught Greek before English, and my first word was "BRIZA" OUTLET!( power-point) Honey if it plugs in, I'm interested!

Austin, as soon as a permanent home is established we will post. Promise.

Well, we bought the set with the dryer intended for me and the washer for GadgetGary. But someone *AHAM* likes the set AS a set. So we're back to finding me any-old electric dryer, which I will convert to 110v.

Do most electric dryers have a 5,000w heater with a 600w motor as was the the one of this set?

I think the mechanical (time-temp) auto-dry will be just fine on 110v; Gansky thinks it won't stay on long enough and Dadoes says it will never shut off..... we shall see.

 

[toggleswitch]

Manuals for these? Why?

If the boy wants manuals, we'll give him manuals.

 

[danemodsandy]

Greg:

I get your point- my centre-dials couldn't be easier to figure out and operate. But having the ephemera to go along with the machines is very interesting to me, the difference between having nice old machines and having the beginnings of a proper collection. After all, how did you get to know so much about old washers? ;-)

So, I'll keep looking- they'll turn up. Some damn day...

 

[toggleswitch]

Wasn't the "manual" provided with Maytags nothing more than a an 8.5 x 11" (A4)a two-sided oaktag (thick paper) page?

 

[whirlcool]

I think it would be interesting to see how Whirlpool handles the documentation from the former Maytag company files.

I would think that since we are talking about consumer products, they would have to keep some documentation on file for several years. When a company buys out another company, do they also acquire the product liability of the former company? There lies the answer. Maybe one of our more legally well versed members could answer this.

 

[gadgetgary]

Doing it the 'Maytag' way.....

Today's washload:

4 pr. Dickies workpants
1 pr. jeans
7 pr. socks
7 napkins
7 pr. underwear
4 aprons

Turnover was fantastic and everything came out clean and fresh!

 

[gadgetgary]

And of course...

On the line to dry FRESH....

 

[hoover1060]

Holy Smokes!

Thats a very full washload Gary! I've never washed more than 5 pairs of jeans at one time in my Maytag! I am too much of a wuss about over loading it!
You are correct though, it will turn those clothes over, and everything comes out clean and rinsed well.
I am so happy you found those machines!

 

[gadgetgary]

Jeff,

Thanks for the input. I have to get used to my new Vintage Maytag and what constitues a 'proper' load.......

 

[mixfinder]

Full Load

Dear Gadgetwitches,
There is a knurled knob on the load size selector that will allow you to adjust the fill level upward, bringing the water level to the top of the agitator. This provides more water for freer movement of the clothing during wash and better rinsing.
Kelly

 

[mixfinder]

Quite a Load

I have never washed my dickie in a Maytag.
I agree with Jeff. Drop the soiled clothing in the wash tub and don't pack. When it's filled to the top its time to start the washer. If I have to push or pack it in, then its too many items. We want this machine to be aound for your estate sale, don't we?
Kelly

 

[westytoploader]

A BobLoad® if I ever saw one

Especially for a standard-capacity Maytag, that poor dear must have been loaded to the hilt, although equally impressive is the fact that everything came out well. Looks more like a 1-18 load to me...I can see that the Frigidaire Fever is setting in already! ;-)