Been Frigged yet?

[sudsmaster]

I just got Frigged today!

Yep, I picked up a 2001 Frigidaire Gallery front loader, affectionately known as a "Frigmore". I saw it on the local Craig's List. Seller wanted $100, bargained (a token, really) down to $90. The seller's wife (a real knock-out, too) never used chlorine bleach and washed only in cold water (no mold or odor in the machine, either), and we ran the machine through the spin cycle so I could confirm that the bearings aren't shot (yet!). I like that it's a front control model, which means that eventually, when I find the space, I can stick it under a counter somewhere. Maybe in the main kitchen, or in the master bath (which has an eight foot long vanity counter)

It's also backup for the Neptune. One really never knows when one of these things will go belly up! ;-)

 

[foraloysius]

Congratulations Rich! I always found these machines goodlooking. Is this a MOL model? $90.- is a bargain I think. Let us know what you think of this machine. BTW, no bleach, washing in cold water? I'd love to have a look at here whites!

 

[sudsmaster]

Louis,

She used oxygen bleach. Maybe she used warm water with that!

Not sure where this model place in the frigmore lineup. It's model FWT445GES2. It has the End of Cycle buzzer volume control, the extra rinse control, in addition to the temperature and cycle timer controls. The cycle timer has a pre-wash in addition to the regular, perm press, and delicates selections. Spin speed is set by the wash cycle selection - "Fast Spin" is only with the regular wash selection.

Would you like a closeup of the control panel?

 

[washboy2005]

oooh i love it....

i love that washer design is the wash drum small? , what is the spin speed? it looks very european i think.

its a nice looking washer at a bargain price
well done

 

[foraloysius]

Rich, ofcourse I would like to have a look at the control panel! How could you even ask that. LOL

 

[frigilux]

Looks very much like my first-issue Electrolux-made Frigidaire FL. I think mine was a '96. Is that right? I know I bugged my Frigidaire dealer til he was sick of me, because I wanted one as soon as I could get one. He sold me the pair he was supposed to use as an introduction floor demo. Glad to say they are still back at my old warehouse apartment, now washing loads for three units. And no bearing problems, either! The only thing I didn't care for was that the high spin speed, which I believe was about 850 rpm, only kicked in the last 60 seconds of the spin. Not enough to make a big difference, in my opinion.

At any rate, congrats on your new acquisition, sudsmaster!

 

[jasonl]

Sir Frigemore's cousin

Yep. That's what I had up until I moved out. Of course, mine was a 'more and not a Frig. Ate many pizzas, drank lots of Coke and listened to lots of Fifth Dimension, Dionne Warwick, Herb Alpert, The Beatles, and Sergio Mendez while washing on Friday night.

 

[sudsmaster]

The control panel

Louis,

I've since moved the washer to a cramped area, and can't get a good shot of the control panel (and tripped and dropped the camera anyway in the process!).

Here is a scan of the control panel from an insert in the owner's manual:

 

[retroguy]

you stuck that machine in a corner!? tsk tsk!!

 

[sudsmaster]

Frigilux,

Yes, I think it's more likely that it's a '96 or '97 than a 2001. The sellers said they got it before their son was born, an that he was three, so they estimated four years old. Maybe it was an old model in stock when then bought it. I suppose its top spin speed is 850... but that's probably more than enough anyway. When we did the test spin, it seemed to spin at a lower speed, maybe 600 rpm, for most of the spin, and then ramp up to the higher speed for the last bit.

Washboy,

The drum is 2.65 cubic feet, which translates into about a 7 kg washer, I think. My understanding is that these washers were based on a european design, and of course they had a very long run here, dating from '96 to just last year, when they were replaced by models with larger doors (tilted tubs, I think) but still no internal water heater.

Rigth now my only laundry hookup is occupied. I'm going to have to hook the Frigmore up to a garden hose for a wash session out in the courtyard on a sunny day....

 

[sudsmaster]

No, it's not in a corner, it's in a kind of hallway... I just had to move it out of the rain before I make room for it in a larger space.

 

[nurdlinger]

No tilted tubs for the newer Frigmore

Newer models are evolutionary not revolutionary. Tubs are 0.5 cft larger. Controls are computerized. (no timer dial) Most other design features are the same. AFAIK the older models are still offered by Kenmore, Frigidaire, and GE.

 

[rinso]

Rich, The Frigidaire I purchased in 1997 looked exactly like the one pictured here. (The matching dryer was a reversing tumble model) You will be surprised at how well it cleans. It also is not as stingy with water as other FL machines, and you'll see a goodly amount of splash with it.

My machine spun at only 650 RPMs for the last 50-60 seconds on the fast spin cycle, which was what was claimed in the literature. When I called customer service to complain about my less than spun dry clothes, the advised me of a simple wire change on the plug of the controller that would increase it to 850 RPM. I changed it and it worked, but it probably contributed to my bearing failure just 5 years after purchase, although Electrolux did replace the rear assembly without charge. I sold the machine to a friend and it is still working flawlessly.

 

[foraloysius]

Thanks Rich, IIRC this was indeed the first model.

 

[frigilux]

Come to think of it, sudsmaster, if you open the door and read the faceplate, the date of manufacture may be on it. That's how I knew which month/year mine was built. Let us know if yours has the date on it.

I agree with the others at this thread. Yours is a first generation Electrolux-made model. Especially if it ramps up to the highest spin speed in only the last 60 seconds of the final spin.

 

[frigilux]

Come to think of it, sudsmaster, if you open the door and read the faceplate, the date of manufacture may be on it. That's how I knew which month/year mine was built. Let us know if yours has the date on it.

I agree with the others at this thread. Yours is a first generation Electrolux-made model. Especially if it ramps up to the highest spin speed in only the last 60 seconds of the final spin.

 

[frigilux]

Now, how the heck did I do that? My trigger finger must be getting shaky, LOL.

 

[sudsmaster]

Rinso,

Do you recall what the wiring change was?

Frigilux,

The door label says it was made 2-98. So it may not be the first generation model. It *might* be very similar to the first gen, but with that wiring change to enable the 850 spin...? I figure the "S2" at the end of the model number may mean, "Series 2"...?

 

[sudsmaster]

Louis,

I think it's a pretty good price. I've seen other used Frigmores of similar vintage advertized on CL for about $250-$300.

Of course, a Miele would be even better, and I've also seen those on CL, but for more like $800.