An AMP comes back to life!

[combo52]

An orignal AMP

This was the first washer my brothers and I rebuilt, we did this in 1966. We completely dissembled the machine down to the last gear replacing any bad or worn parts. We then used this machine for a little over a year as our families only washer for all 7 of us. After about a year it was pretty clear to my Mother that this washer did not do nearly as good a job cleaning and did an especially poor job rinsing the laundry as compared to my parents 1955 Kelvinator or the 1960 Franklin built CO-OP washers did. So I replaced it with a 1959 LKM that a Friend of Moms gave me, this was the first WP built washer my brothers and I rebuilt, It was light years better in performance in all respects to the AMP.

 

I also have a 1951 AMP thanks to Bob of Hollywood and I have like Ben the matching water condensing dryer. Thanks for your wonderful post about this machine, maybe it will encourage me to check out the matching dryer.

 

Philco in the early 1960s also had a perforated liner in a solid basket washer.

 

[kenmore71]

John, thanks for letting me know about the 1960s Philcos. I did not know that.

I desperately want to work on that water film dryer with Ben but he seems reticent. How did those dryers perform compared to a 1952 Filtrator?

 

[mixguy]

Economy model?

Did there exist a machine styled like this one? Having a timed fill and an agitator having no center post. Also having a decal emblem instead of the lighted "on" indicator.

 

[kenmore71]

The 121P had a timed fill and a decal emblem instead of a lighted escutcheon, but according to the pictures I have it had a standard center-post gyratator similar to what the wringer machines had (it was not interchangeable with a wringer agitator, though, because of the location of the spline in the two agitators differed.) Are you referring to a center post-less agitator aka a "Blue Bell" (pictured below)?

To my knowledge an AMP with this agitator was never marketed, but then, you just never know with Maytag...

 

[tomturbomatic]

I don't think even Maytag would try to cheapen an automatic down to a no post Gyrator. They tangled the load too badly for it to spin with a balanced load. That would be very important for the Model A4MP, the timed fill model you are thinking about because it did not have an unbalance switch. That was in the lid of the AM series and this machine has no lid switches. It had a non-lighted escutcheon on the front.

 

[mixguy]

Agitator of the Maytag Automatic

That is exactly the agitator I remembered. I saw this washer around 1961 and I was 5 yrs old at the time, it was replaced by a 3 cycle 2 speed Whirlpool around 1970. The old Maytag machine was moved to a storage shed and remained there for years. I have no idea if the machine is still there

 

[mixguy]

Awesome Restoration

You have that Maytag AMP washer looking great! Great that you shared your labor of love project for us all to see.

 

[swestoyz]

Now from the left side of the machine.

Kieffer - I'm glad you didn't mention my arm in the shot.

John - I understand your appreciation for all appliances and brands-alike, but within this thread itself, I'd like to think that for a moment we don't need to be reminded of the differences between Maytag and their competitors - regardless if it is within the same model year or decade - and rather for a few minutes enjoy the fact that those who made the historic purchasing decisions did so, allowing us to enjoy the past, today.

Ben

 

[Ultramatic]

What a beautiful machine!

<span style="font-size: medium;">Thanks for sharing!</span>

 

[pdub]

Mark and Ben...

Excellent resto work there! Love the demo switches you added. This is a beautiful machine and you guys did a great job. It's fun when you have another washer enthusiast to help and looks like you guys had a great weekend working on machines. Thanks for the photos and video as well.

Cheers! - Patrick

 

[mixfinder]

So Much to See

It is fascinating to finally see under the lid and watch the AMP.  The dreading gravitating during the wash cycle is loud in the recording.  If I used it daily I'd find a way to squirt some liquid soap over the tub to soothe the pump.  I asked Andy why the AMPs only filled half full and his take on it compensates for no tub guard at the top for overflow of clothing into the outer tub.  The agitation is markedly more gently than the later Maytags but as we have discussed here the rate of roll over isn't always a judge of how clean the laundry is.  I am impressed with machines that go straight from agitating to spinning without a pause.  It seems more dramatic or border line violent.  I was interested to see how quickly the brake stopped the machine from a full spin and that the agitator was still spinning after the tub stopped which does not happen with helical Maytags.  The over flow rinse was cool indeed and it seemed that the higher water level didn't have much impact on clothes looking like they would go over the top of the tub.  Was the clicking during agitation a worn spline on the agitator or dry gears in the transmission?  This was so much fun to watch and after waiting 61 years I got to see what goes on under the covers.  In looking at the service manual it doesn't appear any changes were made in the mechanicals for the AMP for its entire run up to the Helical transmission of the Highlander.  The timed fill machines used a "wringer" type gyrator because the float wasn't used to activate the fill solenoid.  Thanks a million for sharing it all with us.

 

[peteski50]

maytag!

I didnt realize it was possible to overide the fill and wash action with the lid open. Also I never thought it could do a overflow rinse.
Peter

 

[kenmore71]

Anything is possible when armed with basic electrical knowledge and a good electrical schematic diagram. Theoretically, ANY solid tub machine in which the pump runs continuously during agitation CAN do an overflow wash/rinse if the timer (or some sort of manual override) will allow for it.

 

[jetcone]

I want an AMP!

or better a 101!!

 

[northwesty]

Thanks for the video - beautiful machine

I also watched the video of the 1958 Maytag, and it's rollover seemed fine. Internally the machines looked pretty similar so I am wondering what difference if any there would be.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Jon, Why? You saw Robert's back in 2001 and did not want one them. Why now?

 

[kenmore71]

Perhaps his newfound lust has something to do with how the agitator looks during the illicit and slightly lewd "overflow rinse"? [this post was last edited: 5/20/2012-16:52]

 

[tomturbomatic]

I'm sure it's not the first time he has seen something wet, half extended. and listing off center, performing in a mediocre manner. Maybe he was dazzled by seeing a float with complete chrome plating and no little brass-colored "O" on top.

 

[kenmore71]

We better be careful before the webmaster scolds us.

 

[autowasherfreak]

Great job on the AMP. I the bell when it goes into the spin cycle. Interesting timer with the minutes in between the main times. Great videos too