A VIDEO: Dorothy Street Christmas Washers--Whirlpool Convertible and Kenmore Visimatic

[mickeyd]

You're gonnna love this, Geoff

Since filming a few weeks ago, I found a vintage retro rubber disc that was made to slip over a kitchen sink faucet, an item so old, it doeesn't even aerate. It has a little elephant trunk-like protruberance that slips oven any faucet. On the side of the disc is a small steel lever that allows you to select stream or spray. It is now attached to the hose inside the Visi, and it's so cool. I'll snap some pix.

Still learning names and members. Is Don a technician? I'm dying to get hold of a contol dial . With the little stick, mine is on perpetual hold--no auto shut-off. Do you know who might have one? Been searching for two months. John Pinto was so kind in sending me a proper scrubber cap for the roto-swirl.

To Maytag's credit, it wrings faster than the Visimatic. A standard bath towel takes 11 seconds in the Visi, but only 9 in the Maytag.

Think about showing how quickly you can wring out a load of towels, how you need not wait for one to finish, how you can load three at a time, and have the load wrung in half a minute, long before an automatic has even though of finishing the drain much less the spin, except of course for the blazing unimatic.

 

[golittlesport]

Hi Mike
My last name is Maher. I'm from a big Irish Catholic family...my dad was one of 9 kids. My grandfather was a fireman in Buffalo. I have about 35 cousins on that side of the family. The majority of them still live in the Buffalo area...Kenmore, Fredonia, etc.
Keep on making the great videos!
Rich

 

[geoffdelp]

I will try to get my act together this year and make some videos of my Maytag stuff; I just haven't had the time (poor excuse, I know).

I think I know what you're talking about with the sink; we can still buy those new here. I used to have them on my sink until the City improved the water pressure in my area. I wouldn't get enough pressure from the aerator on the end of my kitchen faucet to make suds when washing dishes! I would flip the little lever on this device and get a "spray" which would generate suds for me (gotta have those suds!).

To fill my wringers, I have a fill hose from the Maytag Porta-washer. It is a little short, but it works well and you just slip it over the end of the faucet. I used to have a "snap" set-up that you can buy at Home Depot (or the like). It lets you connect outdoor hoses together. I then bought a 6' length of industrial hose and put ends on it. Worked great but I like the fill hose from the Porta-washer better.

The Maytag does wring fast! They always said you could easily do 40 pounds of laundry in a hour. Not for me! I take my good old sweet time; that's half the fun!!

 

[mickeyd]

Thanks, Rich

I went to grammar school with Linda, and Paul teaches French at East Senior, the other high school in my district. Small world, knew there's be a connection. Maher's are everywhere here in the Buffalo area, just like the Meegan's: my mon is the youngest of 10.

You keep liking them and I'll keep making them. Let gentelemen abound!

 

[lesto]

Enjoyed the videos and if I can swing a trip to Tuscon for the wash-in I hope to meet you. But keep your hot oil enemas to yourself :O

 

[swestoyz]

Mike - the video was great. I had never seen a Visi-Matic in opperation, so it was nice to get a chance to see some live action. Keep up the good work ~

Ben

 

[geoffdelp]

Oh; I forgot to tell you that Don is "Jetaction" on the website. Did you see his post in "Super" about "Quiet on the Maytag Set"? No. 10533.

Like Ben, he has some great machines in his collection!!

Ben is in the "heart" of Maytag country; Iowa!

I wonder if Sears may still have some parts for your machine; or other parts websites. Have you tried those yet?

Your Visi-matic is so close to being "mint"; I hope you can find some parts to keep it running and running and running ...

 

[mickeyd]

Thank You Studlies

Lesto, that hot oil enema flew out of my head in exasperation--never heard of one, but I guess you have--ha ha ; D Love to meet you too.

Ben, I can't wait to show you the powerful pump, after I replace the squished, crippled faucet. The water's gonna fly.

Geoff, yes I wished him luck; it will be amazing and spectacular when he becomes the next Maytag Man. Just imagine!!. I think it's already in the stars.

Sears National doesn't even stock roto-swirls, much less a control dial. I have exhausted all telephone avenues, but I'll take your suggestion and start cyber searching.

Ben is awesome, so decent, and generous and friendly to everyone. Indeed, there are so many decent glowing healthy truly upstanding people in this club that it just blows my mind.

 

[abcomatic]

Mike, Great video and for all of us wringer washer guys, a great view of the Visa Matic;I sure wish I could find one. I should do a video on one of my ABC wringer machines? Thanks, Gary

 

[rinso]

No, my Kenmore convertible that attached to the sink, had the old Whirlpool/Kenmore belt drive mechanism that used small solenoids actuating the cam bars to change cycles.

 

[mickeyd]

Rinso, i got it, Man. I've heard the 4 "dogs" that fascilitate the corkscrew referred to as wig-wags.

Gary, do any of the ABC wringers use that wild wobbler of the ABC-O- matic?
I'm sure a video would be great. Who doesn't like washer flix? Those Visimatics were so well made that they do turn up from time to time. The warehouse swears that had a pink one somewhere, but no one seem to know where it went. They also talk about a "gigantic" Whirlpool Wringer. Ah-- these urban washer myths!

 

[magic clean]

Mike, if you have a minute, please email me.

Leslie

 

[abcomatic]

Mike, "How you doin?" lol I love the accent. I have a friend from Buffalo and I heard that a lot. No, the ABC wringer machines adgitate in the usual back and forth movement.
Take care and thanks. Gary

 

[rinso]

Mike, hope I didn't sound insulting. I'm never really sure if I'm very clear with stuff. Totally loved the video and the accent. But then, my relatives are all Italians from New Joisey.

 

[mickeyd]

John, not at all

In fact, I was afraid I may have sounded insulting to you. What a class act ! Thank You. Good will is contagious. Some day we shoud attempt an audio thread of everybody's accents. What a riot that would be!

 

[mickeyd]

Ahm doin' jus' fine, Gary

Leslie, I'm at work, but I'll check my email when I get home--haven't learned how to do it from my classroom.

 

[bpetersxx]

does this have a similar washing action

more video on youtube

 

[powerfin64]

BRAVO!!

awesome vids Mike! your whirlpool convertable is outstanding!!
love that surgilator!

Rich

 

[tolivac]

I used to have a compact washer with the agitator like was shown in the video clip.was in my Townhouse in Manassas,Va.those washers were common there.

 

[mickeyd]

Thanks so much, Rich

Never appreciated Surgilators until lately--they're the perfect agitator!

Thanks, Peter. This system won't allow me to view your link. I'll watch it as soon as I get home.

Hi Tilovac !

 

[powerfin64]

perfect agitator

Yes they sure are! I'd love to have a machine from the 60's, with the old bakelite surgilator in one. that would be awesome!

Rich

 

[mickeyd]

Hi Rich

so nice to see happy bright people like you aboard--makes my heart sing and dance in delight. I love and live for positive gyrations, wishing I could stay in that state always the way Kelly does who seems to be on his way to becoming a holy man.

I've seen gleaming black surgilators on this site and one cool member taught me how to make an Easy Spiralator nice and shiney, although I haven't done it yet.

Are the lighter colored Surgers the same size and design as the infamous Darth Vadar as one member (Dick?/Rick ? ) christened it? The black ones just look so insane, bigger and more powerful than the white and green ones. The illusion and the deception of color!

Happy Friday everyone. Hope you had an excellent Happy Hour, full of spirits.

Love,
Mike

 

[pturo]

Mikey, I have a neighbor who has a Kenmore Visimatic in his basement, not been used for about 15 years, in excellent shape. He probably would sell the thing, you could decide which was better yours or his, but have parts to harvest back and forth. I will try to look at the front to see the dial. Let me know if you are interested. Phil

 

[mickeyd]

Phil, this is somewhat unbelievable

But today I received a paper so horrific that I had to ask for a local esteemed detective's help. So out of sorts that I made a u-turn, was speeding, seat-belt unfastened, racing back to school to get the paper and take it to police headquarters when I was pulled over. The cool cop said "I'm gonna cut you some slack"

Later, I went to happy hour where I had a ball, but so much adrenaline was coursing through my system that 4 stiff drinks had no effect. After fish fries and a really good time with my colleagues, I got home, went on line, and way later went out to the mail box to find that THE WONDERFUL AND GENEROUS JOHN PINTO had indeed sent me the long sought cap for the roto swirl , brand new and oh so beautiful and now YOU AMAZING PHILP are offering me a control dial .

As Cat Stevens once sung "I might die tonight" A day that fell into Hannibal hell ended in Kenmore heaven.

Ran down and installed the cap and started up the Lady K. immediately--so so sweet. John is God!

 

[pturo]

I think that sometimes in life all we have to do is ask for help,and sometimes it works, and sometimes we get overwhelmed by those that want to help. I am glad for the dial for you,it is the centerpeice of the machine. I think I may ask my neighbor to lend me the machine for testing, he knows or cares little about washing machines other than they are a pain in the ass when they break,and he has a Maytag top loader anyway. His thing is vintage trucks and fishing rods and reels. To each his own. I want to try the thing out, but never in my life have used a wringer washer.

 

[powerfin64]

I can't agree with you more on the possitive gyrations of the surgilator.
I really think, that the Darth vader Surgilators from the 60's are the same size as the other that later came out, but the bottom fins give it a look of being MUCH bigger, but also generate more water drama and current for even wash action, which I really love watchin and intruged by. Its so soothin to listen and watch them in action, dont you agree? the one whirlpool washer Im really after is a 67ish Imperial Mark XII. thats my dream machine with the Darth vader surguilator.

Rich

 

[chestermikeuk]

Power Washers

Hi Mike

really enjoyed the vids & commentary, those oldies are certainly the best, was that the orignal agi that came with the portable??

The Canadian version of this machine was badged by Servis UK in the late 70`s, it didnt last long because of servicing issues and because it was always raining here, people needed a faster spin.......

and now I know just how a Roto Swirls...LOl, fancy a two speed wringer, love that..., Cheers, Mike

 

[mickeyd]

thanks guys,

Yes, Mike, original, but Wild Westy is tempting me to install the full-size Surgilator to see if the machine will dance.

The good gents who emailed me: You're so kind!! I'm fine .The paper was about a young woman tortured and abused by a step father who had just returned to the area. The matter is now in the hands of the police. I will tell the story when I can. You should know that I love my students and am loved by them. Haven't been threatened in the 30 years I've been there. If I ever am I'll just laugh, or call Exploder's Sumo wrestling buddy, that tattoed behemoth, in the picture thread.

 

[mickeyd]

So Rich if I spray paint mine black and seal it

I will then have a genuine DARTH VADAR. I'm gonna go look up the Dude who told me how to get black agitators so nice and shiney and the other guy who christened the Surger Vadar. Thank You. I so so remember lusting after the Mark XII--just the name itself was insane, but my Frigidaire-or-die mother insisted on a Rollermatic after our Twin Tower bit the dust.

 

[mickeyd]

Hey Mikey

Just saw your last line. Yeah, the two-speed is great, esp., since you can wring at low speed which is excellent for a blanket or other bulkie in that you can gather the garment to help it through without rushing the way you must in the usual one-speed wringer like a Norge or a Maytag.

But what I REALLY want to know is-- our ACCENTS-- do we all sound they same to you or can you discern our various accents. We all have then, but most of us are in playful denial about them. What do you hear?