Big Window Hamilton Dryer in St. Louis
- Thread starter Unimatic1140
- Start date
Steve, what a catch! This machine looks primo mint - and you can't go wrong with that window! What a guy - Chris you rock! It is so nice to see how much of a family we are.
After seeing the Farm pictures, I figured we'd be at a loss and not see one of these again...
Ben
After seeing the Farm pictures, I figured we'd be at a loss and not see one of these again...
Ben
Hi Steve, Congratulation on the great Hamilton dryer. It sure is neat looking. I just wonder if it has any light on the console. I am betting for sure there is a drum light. My aunt had a Hamilton dryer like the one in Ken's picture. She had that dryer forever!! I believe it was one of the quietest dryers I have ever hear running. Have fun!! Terry
It appears there probably is some sort of console lighting.
Peter, from what I can tell from the bit of doctrine and advertising I have from this period, Hamilton appears to have ceased production of "orginal" products around 1970'ish, I have an ad somewhere from 71 that has both washer and dryer pictured Franklin designs (no more windowed dryers for Hamilton) and the all too familiar WCI logo appears in it's advertising.
Why I'm parting with it
There were several inquiries as to why I'm getting rid of the Hamilton. Here's why: as much as I'd like to keep it and collect other vintage appliances, I just don't have the room. I recently bought a new Neptune washer, and it holds more than the dryer can handle, i.e. comforters, etc. It also takes an inordinately long time to dry the clothes. It's not the btu's-I think it's 20,000, or so. (The Neptune I bought to replace it is 22,000). The new dryers have more powerful blowers, so they move more air and do the job faster. I hate to part with it-I've had it for about 14 years-but so it goes. I couldn't let it go to the junkyard, though. That's why I contacted Robert about it, and found a good home for it! By the way-what a great site! Glad I joined-perhaps in the future I'll be able to do a little collecting, over and above the '48 Ironrite I still use. Meantime, I'm a pretty experienced mechanic and have done a lot of motor work, so I'm happy to share any knowledge I have.
There were several inquiries as to why I'm getting rid of the Hamilton. Here's why: as much as I'd like to keep it and collect other vintage appliances, I just don't have the room. I recently bought a new Neptune washer, and it holds more than the dryer can handle, i.e. comforters, etc. It also takes an inordinately long time to dry the clothes. It's not the btu's-I think it's 20,000, or so. (The Neptune I bought to replace it is 22,000). The new dryers have more powerful blowers, so they move more air and do the job faster. I hate to part with it-I've had it for about 14 years-but so it goes. I couldn't let it go to the junkyard, though. That's why I contacted Robert about it, and found a good home for it! By the way-what a great site! Glad I joined-perhaps in the future I'll be able to do a little collecting, over and above the '48 Ironrite I still use. Meantime, I'm a pretty experienced mechanic and have done a lot of motor work, so I'm happy to share any knowledge I have.
gyrafoam
Well-known member
I wonder if the "Sun-E-Day" lamp stays on as long as the dryer is running----or if it can be turned on and off independently. Would be kool to see that blue light on inside.
Both my '66 Whirly and '62 Philco-Bendix(Duomatic) Gas dryers have windows but no interior lights. However the lighting in my kitchen is such it lights things up pretty good----no problem seeing right into the back of the tub to see all the tumbling action!
Can you imagine comming across the matching washer!!!!! OY, another thing to look for!
Its a sickness Blanche, a sickness.
Both my '66 Whirly and '62 Philco-Bendix(Duomatic) Gas dryers have windows but no interior lights. However the lighting in my kitchen is such it lights things up pretty good----no problem seeing right into the back of the tub to see all the tumbling action!
Can you imagine comming across the matching washer!!!!! OY, another thing to look for!
Its a sickness Blanche, a sickness.
toggleswitch
Well-known member
Its a sickness Blanche, a sickness.
But what a FUN one..........
But what a FUN one..........
The Holiday dryer I remember seeing did have the lights on during the cycle - just like watching TV!
jasonl
New member
Ring around the collar!
If the dryer suddenly opens and starts singing "Ring around the collar! Ring around the collar!", you need to start using Wisk.
Congrats! An angel recieves her wings.
If the dryer suddenly opens and starts singing "Ring around the collar! Ring around the collar!", you need to start using Wisk.
Congrats! An angel recieves her wings.
scott55405
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 26, 2004
- Messages
- 1,831
Tumbler, best of luck with your new washer and dryer, and thanks for having the presence of thought to offer your Hamilton to collectors. 
seeitrun06
Member
- Joined
- May 25, 2006
- Messages
- 20
Hamilton Gas dryer
My family purchased a Hamilton Gas clothes dryer in 1968. It's the same dryer from the control console down as the one in the picture. My dad purchased it from the propane gas company where he worked. My Mom dryed clothes for 7 people in it for about 8 years. The dryer however was prone to problems. Mainly the ignitor used to ignite the flame on the burner. Glow bar technology was not out at the time. The sparker was constanly breaking. Our's had the Sun-E-Day light in it also. My mom use to tell me I would go blind looking at it because all I would do was sit and watch the clothes tumble in the window. My parents didn't understand my fascination with appliances. She later replaced it with a Maytag gas dryer in 1976 which she used for 26 years. Sadly there went my BIG window dryer as Maytag's does not have a window.
My family purchased a Hamilton Gas clothes dryer in 1968. It's the same dryer from the control console down as the one in the picture. My dad purchased it from the propane gas company where he worked. My Mom dryed clothes for 7 people in it for about 8 years. The dryer however was prone to problems. Mainly the ignitor used to ignite the flame on the burner. Glow bar technology was not out at the time. The sparker was constanly breaking. Our's had the Sun-E-Day light in it also. My mom use to tell me I would go blind looking at it because all I would do was sit and watch the clothes tumble in the window. My parents didn't understand my fascination with appliances. She later replaced it with a Maytag gas dryer in 1976 which she used for 26 years. Sadly there went my BIG window dryer as Maytag's does not have a window.
christfr
Well-known member
oh steve
ha ha ... youll like it.. just got it into the garage and cleand it up a bit then just had to plug it in..super quiet and to fun to watch.. the door glass is even tinted to protect you from all those mean nasty old ultra-violet rays.. i threw in a bunch of white towels so i could watch it run..its cool the drum lights up from the back with a white light and the cloths tumble under the glow of a really cool purple light from the front of the drum.. its really fun to watch.
ha ha ... youll like it.. just got it into the garage and cleand it up a bit then just had to plug it in..super quiet and to fun to watch.. the door glass is even tinted to protect you from all those mean nasty old ultra-violet rays.. i threw in a bunch of white towels so i could watch it run..its cool the drum lights up from the back with a white light and the cloths tumble under the glow of a really cool purple light from the front of the drum.. its really fun to watch.
Chris - what, no picture of tumbling towels?? ;-)
gyrafoam
Well-known member
Chris------
Oh wow! How "Timothy Leary"----- a dryer with purple lights! Can't wait to put it into service now. Thank you sooo much for being so nice going to get her and cleaning her up for me. You are such a kind person.
Oh wow! How "Timothy Leary"----- a dryer with purple lights! Can't wait to put it into service now. Thank you sooo much for being so nice going to get her and cleaning her up for me. You are such a kind person.
lightedcontrols
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 7, 2004
- Messages
- 1,549
Chris!
You are a shinning example of why I love this club! Mark
You are a shinning example of why I love this club! Mark
christfr
Well-known member
well
thats what its all about..helping each other with finds..and finding that dream machine..so greg and terry dont forget about dinner come june
thats what its all about..helping each other with finds..and finding that dream machine..so greg and terry dont forget about dinner come june
Some Hamilton features
My old Hamilton-the one Steve's picking up-has a drum light and the Sun-E-Day light (the 40-watt drum light serves as the ballast coil for the Sun-e-Day, which is actually a small, 4-watt mercury vapor lamp). The lights are on during the entire cycle, no provision for disabling them. However, anyone with enough electrical knowledge to restore old appliances can install a simple switch in the circuit. The lights also come on when the door is opened. This model has NO console light. The motor is made by Emerson, and is what I call an "old style" motor in that it looks like a real motor-not the skeleton-frame rubbish they began using in the 70's, which use non-replaceable steel bearings and are epoxied or tack-welded together. These old motors can be opened up, the wool-yarn packing around the bearings re-saturated with oil, or if necessary the bronze bearings can be pressed out of the end frames and replaced (just be sure to ream them before reassembling the motor). The motor in this dryer should be good for considerable more service if one takes the trouble to re-oil the packing. Note-don't overdo it, or oil will get into the starting switch contacts and cause all kinds of grief. A teaspoon or so per bearing should be plenty. Then put a drop of oil on each shaft bearing when you reassemble it.
My old Hamilton-the one Steve's picking up-has a drum light and the Sun-E-Day light (the 40-watt drum light serves as the ballast coil for the Sun-e-Day, which is actually a small, 4-watt mercury vapor lamp). The lights are on during the entire cycle, no provision for disabling them. However, anyone with enough electrical knowledge to restore old appliances can install a simple switch in the circuit. The lights also come on when the door is opened. This model has NO console light. The motor is made by Emerson, and is what I call an "old style" motor in that it looks like a real motor-not the skeleton-frame rubbish they began using in the 70's, which use non-replaceable steel bearings and are epoxied or tack-welded together. These old motors can be opened up, the wool-yarn packing around the bearings re-saturated with oil, or if necessary the bronze bearings can be pressed out of the end frames and replaced (just be sure to ream them before reassembling the motor). The motor in this dryer should be good for considerable more service if one takes the trouble to re-oil the packing. Note-don't overdo it, or oil will get into the starting switch contacts and cause all kinds of grief. A teaspoon or so per bearing should be plenty. Then put a drop of oil on each shaft bearing when you reassemble it.
More on Sun-E-Day
Steve: Note that the drum light and Sun-e-Day light are connected in series; if one burns out, neither will light. Both were working as of when the drier was turned over to Chris. I think I have an extra Sun-E-Day bulb (they haven't been made for years-they're probably known to the Peoples Republic of California to cause cancer of the fingernails or something). When I get back to St. Louis, I'll look around my shop for it. If I find it, it's yours!
Steve: Note that the drum light and Sun-e-Day light are connected in series; if one burns out, neither will light. Both were working as of when the drier was turned over to Chris. I think I have an extra Sun-E-Day bulb (they haven't been made for years-they're probably known to the Peoples Republic of California to cause cancer of the fingernails or something). When I get back to St. Louis, I'll look around my shop for it. If I find it, it's yours!
I house-sat 20 years ago for someone with a small-door Hamilton dryer which probably was from about this vintage--gas, with the standing pilot accessed from a lid on the top. Weird lint filter along the floor--I remember pulling it out too far and having a devil of a time getting it back in the tracks. Lint filter was also strange material (perforated sheet metal rather than screening)
JL
JL
standing pilot
Jamiel: the Hamilton you are referring to is much older than the one Steve got from me; mine (Steve's now) uses a "buzzer-type" electric ignitor which produces sparks from vibrating electric contacts and sounds a bit like an old alarm clock. Steve: the one time I had a problem with the dryer was a failure to light; the screws holding the ignitor assembly together got loose. I removed the ignitor and tightened the screws and re-installed it: problem solved. It probably won't give you any trouble.
Jamiel: the Hamilton you are referring to is much older than the one Steve got from me; mine (Steve's now) uses a "buzzer-type" electric ignitor which produces sparks from vibrating electric contacts and sounds a bit like an old alarm clock. Steve: the one time I had a problem with the dryer was a failure to light; the screws holding the ignitor assembly together got loose. I removed the ignitor and tightened the screws and re-installed it: problem solved. It probably won't give you any trouble.
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