ABC-O-Matic finally has a new home!
- Thread starter perc-o-prince
- Start date
Help Support :
toploader55
Well-known member
Hey... WOW !!!
Incredible Find.
I would have never expected to find an ABC anymore these days, but you found one. Congrats and Look forward to seeing more of the restoration. Eddie
Incredible Find.
I would have never expected to find an ABC anymore these days, but you found one. Congrats and Look forward to seeing more of the restoration. Eddie
Original brochure
I have the original brochure - just a flier. E-mail me and I'll get you a color copy. Can' t scan it right now.
It is no mystery why it fared so well...
The cabinet is "Gleaming white, heat-applied enamel which adds to the beauty of the rustproof steel cabinet. It's chip-proof, crack-proof, easy to keep clean and always remains snowy white and beautiful. Cabinet top and lid are porcelain enamel."
Maybe you should name your baby "Snow White" !!
I have the original brochure - just a flier. E-mail me and I'll get you a color copy. Can' t scan it right now.
It is no mystery why it fared so well...
The cabinet is "Gleaming white, heat-applied enamel which adds to the beauty of the rustproof steel cabinet. It's chip-proof, crack-proof, easy to keep clean and always remains snowy white and beautiful. Cabinet top and lid are porcelain enamel."
Maybe you should name your baby "Snow White" !!
HI Perc
HI Perc, What a great find! I have always wanted an ABC-O-Matic,hence my name here. You would think that I would be able to find one seeing that I live 35 miles from where they were made. Oh well. Happy washing. ABC-O-Matic. Gary
HI Perc, What a great find! I have always wanted an ABC-O-Matic,hence my name here. You would think that I would be able to find one seeing that I live 35 miles from where they were made. Oh well. Happy washing. ABC-O-Matic. Gary
mickeyd
Well-known member
A real treasure hunt success, Congrats, Rich!
I think it's truly amazing that after being dormant for 50 years, you plugged her in and she fired right up without any fuss. Testament to the tanks they made back in the day.
Some day, Gary, some day.
I think it's truly amazing that after being dormant for 50 years, you plugged her in and she fired right up without any fuss. Testament to the tanks they made back in the day.
Some day, Gary, some day.
Congratulations Chuck & Rich!
Super find there! Yes that gap at the back is correct the fill water shoots into the tub across there. You may need to put some Vaseline on the clutch shoes at the bottom of the motor pulley before you try her with a full tub of water. She needs her clutch to slip going into spin otherwise she'll blow a fuse on you.
Can't wait to see it in person!
jon
Super find there! Yes that gap at the back is correct the fill water shoots into the tub across there. You may need to put some Vaseline on the clutch shoes at the bottom of the motor pulley before you try her with a full tub of water. She needs her clutch to slip going into spin otherwise she'll blow a fuse on you.
Can't wait to see it in person!
jon
WoW
What a great find. So amazing that she fired right up without any smoke on the first try. Congratulations on this great machine. You are going to have a lot of fun.
Patrick
What a great find. So amazing that she fired right up without any smoke on the first try. Congratulations on this great machine. You are going to have a lot of fun.
Patrick
perc-o-prince
Well-known member
Thanks all for the kind words!
I sadly don't have a lot of time to play with it over the next few days BUT..there's always the weekend
Jon, This is good info to have since I know very little about working on these machines. I am learning though! I would love for you to take a look at it. Just name the time.
" I'm assuming water temp is soley controlled by faucet(s)."... I don't know the answer. It looks like there is a solenoid/s where the water comes into the machine.
" You would think that I would be able to find one seeing that I live 35 miles from where they were made." Gary, If I can find one you will certainly will Just keep casting your hook in the water. Soon enough you'll catch a fish!
I think it was the fact that it was kept in the middle of a barn that it stayed in such good repair. The cabinet does have pitting rust. I haven't decided what I'll do. I tend to be a conservationinst rather than a restorer BUT I could change my thoughts Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated and considered.
Chcuk and I will let you all know of the progress.
Again, Thanks!!
Rich
I sadly don't have a lot of time to play with it over the next few days BUT..there's always the weekend
Jon, This is good info to have since I know very little about working on these machines. I am learning though! I would love for you to take a look at it. Just name the time.
" I'm assuming water temp is soley controlled by faucet(s)."... I don't know the answer. It looks like there is a solenoid/s where the water comes into the machine.
" You would think that I would be able to find one seeing that I live 35 miles from where they were made." Gary, If I can find one you will certainly will
Just keep casting your hook in the water. Soon enough you'll catch a fish! I think it was the fact that it was kept in the middle of a barn that it stayed in such good repair. The cabinet does have pitting rust. I haven't decided what I'll do. I tend to be a conservationinst rather than a restorer BUT I could change my thoughts
Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated and considered.Chcuk and I will let you all know of the progress.
Again, Thanks!!
Rich
Congratulations Rich and Chuck, that is a marvelous find!!!! I didn't realize they made a black speckled wash tub for some models.
This machine might still have the early clutch which resides on the spin pulley as opposed to the later clutch that is on the motor. The illustration below shows the later clutch on motor shaft. I wouldn't use any lubricant on the early clutch unless absolutely necessary.
This machine might still have the early clutch which resides on the spin pulley as opposed to the later clutch that is on the motor. The illustration below shows the later clutch on motor shaft. I wouldn't use any lubricant on the early clutch unless absolutely necessary.
HI Rich
Rich, Thanks for the kind words and wishes. I hope that I do find one. I have the gas dryer that matches too. Gary
Rich, Thanks for the kind words and wishes. I hope that I do find one. I have the gas dryer that matches too. Gary
easyspindry
Well-known member
Great find!!!!
And the fact that it still works is amazing!!!
I found it interesting that the timer dial is almost exactly like the timer dial for the Maytag AMP that I grew up with. Did anybody else notice the similarity?
Jerry Gay
And the fact that it still works is amazing!!!
I found it interesting that the timer dial is almost exactly like the timer dial for the Maytag AMP that I grew up with. Did anybody else notice the similarity?
Jerry Gay
ABC O MATIC
WOW great find, it would be interesting to know why someone put this machine out in the barn so long ago when automatic washers were still expensive and in great demand.
My parents first AW washer was a 1955 Kelvinator, and I used to love to stand next to the washer and watch the stream of water shooting through the fill air-gap on the back of the machine as it filled. I remember that my mother used an old green Booton-Ware coffee cup to measure the Co-op Breakwater detergent that we always used. And one day I decided to see what would happen if I pushed the cup in the washer when it was running. So I reached up and opened the lid and pushed it in, when the cycle was finished and my mother when to unload the washer she found the cup which had been broken in several pieces. Powerful agitation for sure as those old Bootonware dishes were about impossible to break.
Probably one of the reasons that I like repairing appliances today is that I very well remember at least a half dozen different repairs that our Kelvinator suffered in its short 5 year life. Motor had to be sent out for rebuilding [ new centrifugal switch ], a new inlet valve, timer replacement, hose that went from outer-tub to the pump started leaking and had to be replaced, the boot under the agitator also had to be changed and the drain hose also filled with sand and clogged over time as the pump was fairly weak and couldn't keep itself clear. Finally the main bearings got so stiff that the machine just wouldn't spin well anymore and the machine was replaced with a new Franklin built Co-op washer in 1960 which lasted till 1966 with only a few problems.
And today people think that new appliances are troublesome, if they only knew. There were probably several times as many repair men back in the 1950s-1960s as there are now, Sears alone had 10s of thousands of repair men that mainly worked on washers and dryers, with the average washer or dryer needing some sort of attention every couple of years. Yet few automatic washers with all the good care people used to give thier expensive new appliances lasted even ten years before they were often deemed not worth repairing.
WOW great find, it would be interesting to know why someone put this machine out in the barn so long ago when automatic washers were still expensive and in great demand.
My parents first AW washer was a 1955 Kelvinator, and I used to love to stand next to the washer and watch the stream of water shooting through the fill air-gap on the back of the machine as it filled. I remember that my mother used an old green Booton-Ware coffee cup to measure the Co-op Breakwater detergent that we always used. And one day I decided to see what would happen if I pushed the cup in the washer when it was running. So I reached up and opened the lid and pushed it in, when the cycle was finished and my mother when to unload the washer she found the cup which had been broken in several pieces. Powerful agitation for sure as those old Bootonware dishes were about impossible to break.
Probably one of the reasons that I like repairing appliances today is that I very well remember at least a half dozen different repairs that our Kelvinator suffered in its short 5 year life. Motor had to be sent out for rebuilding [ new centrifugal switch ], a new inlet valve, timer replacement, hose that went from outer-tub to the pump started leaking and had to be replaced, the boot under the agitator also had to be changed and the drain hose also filled with sand and clogged over time as the pump was fairly weak and couldn't keep itself clear. Finally the main bearings got so stiff that the machine just wouldn't spin well anymore and the machine was replaced with a new Franklin built Co-op washer in 1960 which lasted till 1966 with only a few problems.
And today people think that new appliances are troublesome, if they only knew. There were probably several times as many repair men back in the 1950s-1960s as there are now, Sears alone had 10s of thousands of repair men that mainly worked on washers and dryers, with the average washer or dryer needing some sort of attention every couple of years. Yet few automatic washers with all the good care people used to give thier expensive new appliances lasted even ten years before they were often deemed not worth repairing.
Great find! Congrats guys. Hopefully she won't need too much to get up to washing. Love the AMP-like timer dial.
The accordion-like hose could be reproduced with some items from the hardware store, or at least I put some thought into it when restoring the '59. The tough part is the rubber flange inside the tub. A sink strainer is what I was going to attempt to use if needed.
Looks to have a replacement agitator, say from a late 50's to early 60's Kelvinator? How's the upper boot?
Ben
The accordion-like hose could be reproduced with some items from the hardware store, or at least I put some thought into it when restoring the '59. The tough part is the rubber flange inside the tub. A sink strainer is what I was going to attempt to use if needed.
Looks to have a replacement agitator, say from a late 50's to early 60's Kelvinator? How's the upper boot?
Ben
WOW!
Hey Chuck & Rich, what an ABC-O-Matically awesome find! CONGRATS! And it still works!
So totally fantastic! I'm jealous!
I look forward to future reports!
Kevin
Hey Chuck & Rich, what an ABC-O-Matically awesome find! CONGRATS! And it still works!
So totally fantastic! I'm jealous!
I look forward to future reports!
Kevin
a washer that shatters a Booton cup into peices--aren't these the washers that can wash a paper napkin without tearing it?You do have to figure older machines-when they needed fixing-were DESIGNED to be easily serviced-such as the motor-today you would be forced to replace the motor-the new ones are rivited or welded together.
perc-o-prince
Well-known member
"This machine might still have the early clutch"...
Robert, Ours looks just like the diagram that you posted. It's sort of a black rubber wheel?
" it would be interesting to know why someone put this machine out in the barn so long ago when automatic washers were still expensive and in great demand."... John, sadly the ladies that we bought it from said that it was there when they purchased the property. They realy had no history for us :-( It must have come up in conversation that the machine had been sitting there for the past 50 years as this is what they told huck and I. You have to remember that this is New Hampshire. They didn't allways embrace new fangled technology with open arms. Our Thor Automagic came from a home in New Hampshire where the daughter of the first owner told us that her father bought the Thor for her mother. The mother used it two or three times and hated it. She never used the Thor again and continued to wash everything BY HAND!! The copper boil tub was still sitting on the Griswald cast iron gas burners when we first went to see the Thor!
"The accordion-like hose could be reproduced with some items from the hardware store"...Hi Ben. The tube seemed to have a few rips in it so what I have done is to coat the entire tube with Ulra-blue silicone calking then wrapped it with very strong gauze then painted over that with more silicone. I'm going to let it dry for a few days before I try it out. I hope that it works I'm not sure which upper boot you are talking about. There is a rubber boot when I take the agitator off. This is still in good shape and pretty soft.
All in all it looks like a pretty simple machine.
We'll keep you all posted
Robert, Ours looks just like the diagram that you posted. It's sort of a black rubber wheel?
" it would be interesting to know why someone put this machine out in the barn so long ago when automatic washers were still expensive and in great demand."... John, sadly the ladies that we bought it from said that it was there when they purchased the property. They realy had no history for us :-( It must have come up in conversation that the machine had been sitting there for the past 50 years as this is what they told huck and I. You have to remember that this is New Hampshire. They didn't allways embrace new fangled technology with open arms. Our Thor Automagic came from a home in New Hampshire where the daughter of the first owner told us that her father bought the Thor for her mother. The mother used it two or three times and hated it. She never used the Thor again and continued to wash everything BY HAND!! The copper boil tub was still sitting on the Griswald cast iron gas burners when we first went to see the Thor!
"The accordion-like hose could be reproduced with some items from the hardware store"...Hi Ben. The tube seemed to have a few rips in it so what I have done is to coat the entire tube with Ulra-blue silicone calking then wrapped it with very strong gauze then painted over that with more silicone. I'm going to let it dry for a few days before I try it out. I hope that it works
I'm not sure which upper boot you are talking about. There is a rubber boot when I take the agitator off. This is still in good shape and pretty soft. All in all it looks like a pretty simple machine.
We'll keep you all posted
Yes Rich & Chuck
that clutch at the bottom of the machine will need Vaseline before you attempt a fully loaded tub.
Can't wait to see it!
jon
that clutch at the bottom of the machine will need Vaseline before you attempt a fully loaded tub.
Can't wait to see it!
jon
Nice work on the tub hose. Hopefully your fix works out and you lucked out on the upper agitator boot!
To Jon's quote: "clutch at the bottom of the machine will need Vaseline...". I took the clutch completely apart in my Kelvinator and cleaned the inner drum to a shine and re-lubricated the clutch shaft and have not had any problems with the clutch, sans-Vaseline. It slips just fine without the added motivation of petroleum jelly.
Ben
To Jon's quote: "clutch at the bottom of the machine will need Vaseline...". I took the clutch completely apart in my Kelvinator and cleaned the inner drum to a shine and re-lubricated the clutch shaft and have not had any problems with the clutch, sans-Vaseline. It slips just fine without the added motivation of petroleum jelly.
Ben
Yup up hea in cow hampshire we now have color tv, cement ponds and radio stations. Still haven't gotton onto how those dang washing machines work but me thinks its the devil. lol . thats why they got stashed in the barn and covered up. its the devil i tell ya. sorry could not let that comment go by.can't wait to see that new fangled washing machine you got.
Jon
Jon
Similar threads
