Another Unimatic Found!

[Unimatic1140]

Just a few hours away from home I just found a 1949 Frigidaire Unimatic which was posted on Facebook Marketplace. Went up there to pick it up and was thrilled to see it has the original tub with the harmonizer balance ring mounted on springs below the tub. These harmonizer machines are extremely stable but I assume were more costly to build.

The machine was bought at an auction of an old Furniture/Appliance store nearly 30 years ago and has sat unused. The machine worked perfectly and the transmission is nearly silent. Couldn't be more thrilled. I had a '49 years ago but that tub and harmonizer was replaced the 1950s tub so it wasn't original like this. This machine is very similar to the '47 except this is the first year of the all solid tub without the perforated liner.

Picture 6 shows how the water fills the tub through the water exit holes, picture 7 is my 1947 model for comparison.

 

[washerlover]

Looks like it just rolled off the showroom floor! Awesome find -- congrats!

 

[repairguy]

Congrats Robert the machine looks great. There is no way a machine of that vintage found in southeast Texas would look anywhere near that nice. The humidity makes it just about impossible to have a collection in a non climate controlled space here.

 

[Ultramatic]

 

 

Wow! It's in stunning condition! Congratulations Robert!

 

[peteski50]

Frigidaire!

Congrats Robert this is a real awsome find
Best Of Luck
Peter

 

[reactor]

What a find!!

Congratulations, Robert on finding such a treasure. It's amazing what shape it's in! That tub looks as if it just came off the assembly line.

I hope you will post a video of it in operation. The next time you have the back off, it would be great if you could snap some photos, am very interested in seeing the balance ring mechanism.

Once again, Congratulations!

Barry

 

[maytagmike]

WOW

Congrats Robert, absolutely stunning !!!. In beautiful shape.

 

[Unimatic1140]

The next time you have the back off, it would be great if you could snap some photos, am very interested in seeing the balance ring mechanism.

You can't see the harmonizer from the back of the machine it is bolted underneath the tub. Thankfully the machine is in such good shape that I don't have to pull out the tub. Here is a picture of what it looks like from Greg's 49. The ring weights about 70lbs and it is mounted with heavy duty spiral springs. The ring tends to move towards the opposite side of where the unbalance is in the tub. The faster the tub spins the more it corrects the balance of the spinning tub.

 

[reactor]

thanks

That you, Robert! That's an impressive assembly.

 

[ea56]

Congratulations Robert on such a remarkable score!  There’s no more deserving person than you to have found this Unimatic!

 

Eddie

[this post was last edited: 8/12/2024-11:59]

 

[Unimatic1140]

I forgot to post a picture of the tag that was inside the washer. I assume that is was placed on the outside of the machine at the appliance store attached with magnets. It says 1948 but it's a 49 model, but the store was close with its estimation. From the back of the tag you can see it must have gone into this store about 1977-1978 or so. And yes I agree Nobody Washes Clothes Like a Frigidaire!

 

[luxflairguy]

Great find Robert! May I ask what the spin r.p.m. is? Greg

 

[appnut]

Congratulaitons Robert. It would have never occurred in my wildest imagination to see a Uunimatic fill like that.

 

[Unimatic1140]

Great find Robert! May I ask what the spin r.p.m. is? Greg

1140 rpm!

 

[luxflairguy]

Super fast! Thanks!! Greg

 

[qsd-dan]

A very nicely preserved Unimatic. I assume it was a display model removed from a residence where it saw little use and just sat there looking pretty.

You know it's coming...

WE NEED VIDEO!

 

[foraloysius]

You did it again Robert! Great find! Who knows what else is there out for you!

 

[Chetlaham]

Beautiful!

Well deserved, this washer definitely belongs with you.

 

Seeing Unimatic in mint condition increases my appreciation for them.

 

I've said it before but I'll say it again- I wish you could find something like this on sale at a home center or appliance store brand new in 2024.

 

[gizmo]

WOW!

Such a beautiful find. I am gobsmacked.

Well done Robert.

 

[launderess]

How does he do it?

Another fine score by our Fearless Leader. Just what hotline is he plugged into anyway? *LOL*

Congrats on yet another wonderful classic find. They seem to seek you out don't they?

L.

 

[gansky1]

 

 

This is such a good find - now we have sister washers lol.  Congrats on a great Frigidaire find!

 

I hadn't imagined the harmonizer could make much of a difference in the balancing and smooth spinning compared with later weighted tub designs of Frigidaire, but it really does.  

 

Here are a few pics of mine when i brought it home in 2015.

 

[chestermikeuk]

Frigidaire Unimatic

Another great find Robert, looks in Mint condition , the fascia has a look of Blackstone about it ,that harmonizer ring set up looks letal in the extreme.

Just noticed Greggs as well, looking Mint - Do the vertical ridges in the washtub help to keep clothing in that section for a more efficient rollover ?

 

[Unimatic1140]

Do the vertical ridges in the washtub help to keep clothing in that section for a more efficient rollover

Hi Mike! My guess is they were meant to help with balancing since without a clutch the Frigidaire Unimatic accelerates during spin very fast.

 

[pulltostart]

Robert

That's an amazing find!  And it shines just as new.  Congratulations on your newest toy.

 

One question about it; yours opens to the rear, in Greg's photos his opens to the left.  Are they not the same model/year?  Is it possible to change the hinge position by rotating the top (there appears to be a bolt in each corner of the top)?

 

lawrence

 

[Unimatic1140]

Hi Lawrence, on these very early machines the top can be installed in any position so you can have the lid open any direction you wish, but it was delivered with the top opening towards the rear.

 

[whirlykenmore78]

Outstanding Robert!

THe King of the Unimatic finds another one!
WK78

 

[waterdrama]

Heart, be still

Robert,
What a treasure to find. I am wondering about the drain hose. If my memory serves me correctly, I thought the early Unimatics had a metal tub hook. Chances are slim that the original drain hose is still on the machine, but I thought I would ask.

Neal in Royal Oak, Michigan.

 

[Unimatic1140]

Hi Neal, the original drain hose was long gone, but I've seen them and yes they do have that smaller diameter metal hook on them. Later ones has a suds-saver ball built into the end of the drain hose so you could save water in the outer tub and pump it back in for the next wash.

 

[sambootoo]

You always find the coolest toys--and you deserve them!! Very nice Unimatic you have there. Congrats

 

[combo52]

Another incredible find

I really love seeing the original design with the spring mounted counterweight under the tub, it’s amazing what engineers designed and the things they tried.

That’s really neat. The way that top could be put on the machine oriented different ways I never realized or thought about doing that before.

It just goes to show there’s some really cool things still out there, and it’s amazing over the years. How many of the early Unimatics have been found in many still in good running condition. As newer fancier automatics came out I think a lot of people who bought this expensive machine originally went ahead and bought a newer automatic with more features, and many times the old machine was not hauled away, so these machines would show up.

John