America's Favorite Laundry Twins - SAVED!

[gansky1]

A 115 dryer! Can you imagine taking clothes that finished a blistering 475 rpm spin and putting them in there? Don't throw out your wringer washer!

Does the washer drum have three mini-baffles around the opening? I wonder if a machine shop could bend and weld some new metal for the tub-band? As long as it's held tightly together, there should be a solution not too far out of reach.

Every appliance transfer is a learning lesson, I burned a bridge with a friend with my 55 Kelvinator and most horribly, smashed a hollow-core door moving a Speed Queen out of a house for sale. Oops. Oh, and Robert dropped a Maytag washer out of my van once. (he's gonna slap me for that!)

Congrats on the new twins, they are a lot of fun.

 

[appnut]

Ben absolutely beautiful. congratulations and a great save. And thank you for the boot shot, the modern ones just don't compare. Bob

 

[chestermikeuk]

Laundramats

well done Ben and helpers, another set saved for posterity!!!I thanks the stars we dont have basements over here like you do, I know you do find stuff thats kept there but...heck....all adds to the fun of collecting!!

What year where the first slant front models made??

Enjoy, Mike

 

[christfr]

ah congrats.. love em.. that is the same set i have here and i know youll love em.

 

[goatfarmer]

Way to go, Ben! Nice save!

Don't you love those rescues from down in the basement? The last roundtop GE 'fridge I picked up was down a flight of stairs, with a turn in the middle, and a low ceiling. It was me on the top, pulling on the handtruck, and trying to guide it, owner on the bottom pushing and lifting, and his BIL standing by, with "encouraging words" (BIL "You're hitting the ceiling....Me "NO SH#T"!)

 

[goatfarmer]

BTW, why couldn't you save the Hi-Fi?

 

[fredfred9633]

?
do you know what year they are...o_0

god
what i would do for a pair like that
congrats!!!!

 

[jetaction]

Great set Ben!

I hope all of the trouble spots are already found!

 

[swestoyz]

Update photos -

Hey Gang, took a moment this evening while doing some wash to clean up and inspect the Laundromat some more.

The cast iron weights have a casted date of 9-50, so I'm going to take a stab that the washer was built in late 1950.

You can barely make out the water injection system on the top of the outer tub. It is in pretty poor shape, but I think I have some ideas stewing about in my head that involve copper pipe. We'll see what happens when I retore the machine. That won't be anytime soon though.

 

[swestoyz]

I also took a look at the dryer this evening as well. Not in the greatest of mechanical shape. I'm not sure I a plan to save it or not, so in the mean time I 'borrowed' the top panel and the bottom inspection panel to make the washer esthetically pleasing until the Laundromat is stripped and painted.

 

[swestoyz]

Post clean-up picture.

 

[swestoyz]

Timer detail. The timer motor doesn't seem to work. Not sure at the moment if it is not getting 110v, or if it really is dead. I'll investigate at a later time.

Such a pretty timer dial!

 

[swestoyz]

Door close-up. Not quite desktop image material, but close.

Mechanically the machine seems to be in very good shape. The speed changer is working flawlessly (and is spinning the tub in this picture), which I am grateful for. It will need the usual's - hoses, pump, door seal; which are to be expected on any 58 year old Westinghouse. It appears that the tub band is a two piece job, with one side pretty rusted through. I might be able to repair it since it is just painted stamped steel.

Kenny - if the Tahoe was 1 inch wider in the wheel wells, I would have been able to arrange the set such that the radio would have sat by the back doors. The radio is up for grabs in the western Chicago area if someone is interested. Neighbors said it would be there for a few more weeks.

I have two other machines in front of this one to restore this winter - the 1953 Maytag 101P, and the 350 Blackstone. Once those are done I can shift efforts to the L-5.

Thanks for the kind comments guys - you all are the best!

Ben

 

[tlee618]

Ben you really worked to get this set!! I am sure that you were more than ready for a beer when you got those out of that basement!! Amazing how much better they look after a little clean-up! Sounds like you have a busy winter ahead! Terry

 

[rickr]

WOW!! That house looks like a mess! Great score Ben! Congrats!

 

[polkanut]

So Ben, did the owner pass away or move to assisted living/nursing home?

 

[alr2903]

312580 post

Ben, looks like the slant fronts had all the suspension in the top, with that large rear spring holding the mechanism, as well as the "leaf spring arrangement at the top. Roberts spacemates he recently posted. seemed to have car type shock absorbers at the bottom of the cabinet. my question did all the slant fronts have your suspension? and the flat front designs have a kind of "ground up suspension" thanks for the photo's Ben. alr2903

 

[jetcone]

Ben

Nice pictures!!

We've all been there with difficult move outs! I have had a few in my desire to save a new treasure.

Isn't it fun though; the exhaustion/exhilaration when you finally see that machine sitting on your truck and its pointed home?

That looks like a good project machine for sure, if it has a good boot you're in business.

That tub clamp looks like the rust was generated from a leak around the door. Is there a hole in the outer tub? If not I'd leave it alone and clean the rust up and find the leak around the door. If the fill flume was leaking that would cause that rust pattern.

Note: Those machines had Cork gaskets that dried out without use and if you start using them again they will leak like a sieve for a month as they rehydrate and then they will seal up really good again work beautifully.

Otherwise a little and polish and you're there with Westinghouse clean!!

Enjoy! Jon