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akronman

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Folks----Tag Sale Find of the Year!

RCA Whirplool Washer, model #W6004801, serial, S-6120. I don't know the age, the motor works but nothing else so far. Here's pics, tell me anything you know, for now it's inside the front door, that's all.

akronman++4-2-2011-14-03-30.jpg
 
Hey Mark--what a find!

Looks like the prototype for the Mark XII.

 

I would love to know what the two top buttons in the middle are for.

 

Thanks and Congrats.

 

Mike
 
Oh my!!  Would love more readable shots of the panel as well as the under lid instructions.  This is indeed a very rare find. 
 
That is a one beautiful machine like to see it lit up !

Bullet Agitator caps are the best.

Good luck on your new find.

 

 

 

 

 

Darren k.
 
get out the Spray9 and a Brillo pad.Just don't use it on the pasted on lettering because it eats the letters up.Spray it on,let it set for 10 minutes,then wipe it off.The inside of the lid and the tub frame will need some elbow grease but should sparkle once cleaned with Spray9.I'd immediately replace the belt and flush the pump out. I would also remove the entire inner and outer tub,replace the tub seal,scrub out and reinforce the inner tub with a rust resistant finish then put all of it back together.Great find. I'd say it's a 1960 model. I had a neighbor where I grew up that had this Supreme model.I always like its lint filter see through brush. a bitch to clean but neat to watch the whirlpool swirl as it washes and rinses.You may use it to dispense your detergent.The only downside on these BDs is they don't spin real fast.
 
Thats, a very nice Whirlpool.  Newspaper ads in black /white had the filter gushing water in the 60's and 70's.  Whirly ads from the RCA TV shops always had nice graphics.  Great find. alr2903
 
Rca Whirlpool

I couldn't even type right earlier, it's of course RCA Whirlpool, not CA, oh well. It will be a slow restoration, who knows, I've never before had a Whirlpool. Unless I find different proof, I'm just gonna claim it's 1959, like me.

It is an Imperial Mark VII, says so on the console. The bulb is burned out, I haven't had time to do a thing to any part of this machine yet.

The 2 buttons in the center , left one says PRE-Wash Rinse, right one is blank, and doesn't push in, I think it's the space holder for the Suds, but this ain't a suds machine. The lid has instructions to push SUDS button on models so equipped.

I'll get better pics tomorrow, all around.

The motor turns, but not the belt! so I unplugged in 3 seconds, that's all I know so far.

It was sitting in a hidden corner at a routine Akron tag sale, $50. There was plenty of literature for other wash machines, an early 80's Kenmore and a Frigidaire front loader, must be the two successive machines they owned, the Frigidaire is still in use. No literature on this, of course. so I am starting from scratch on all info.

Totally pushbutton automatic, the main dial does not have any markings at all, all time and water temp and speeds is pre-programmed, 10 cycles to choose. So not exactly adaptable, but HOPEFULLY fun as hell. And heavier than hell.
 
Mark, it's more adaptable than you think, especially once you get to know the machine.  That pre-wash, rinse button is intended for either  a prewash (when detergent is added) or as a 2nd/extra rinse. I'll probably be able to give you more insight once I see more pictures of the panel/buttons and lid instructions. 
 
1960 WP IMPERAL MARK 12 WASHER

Congratulations on finding a very rare washer Mark. This would be a 1960 model and may have been made in 1961 I would need the full serial # to confirm the date of manufacture. I have a WP combo that is the same style control panel as your machine that was made in 1961. It is easy to activate the suds button above the timer which will enable you to make the machine dry agitate or you can even suck water back through the drain hose.
 
Hey combo----

Model W6004801, Serial S-6120, then it also sales SALES #Ga910w00.
I'd love to turn it into a suds saver like I've done on all my other machines, but i think I just gotta get it running first!
Frankly, while I'd love to know exact date of manufacture, I was manufactured in 1959, so I"m probably gonna lie to friends and locals, they won't know anyhows! I have always wanted ANY 1959 washer, this may be close enough to count.

I don't even know where to start yet, it hasn't even made it's way down the skinny old basement steps, but I'll keep posting and clicking the camera as I begin.

The motor runs but the belt doesn't move, so I unplugged it in 3 seconds. So first is belt removal and hand turn the pump and tranny, see what's binding. I'm only on step 1.
 
How exciting

 

 

If you're anxious to see what's up before you tear into it, try the old trick where you brace your arms and hands against the inside of the tub,

 

then twist/rotate your arms to loosen the tub. It worked for me on my stuck WP.
 
1960 WP IMPERAL MARK 12 WASHER

It is easy to add a Suds-Miser to this washer as all you really need is the two-way valve and a different hose that goes from the water pump to the valve. WP used the same two-way valve from 1947- aprox 2005 and it is still available from WP. But like you said the machine will likely need some work, and even if the machine is a 1960-or 61 you may be younger than you think just change your age LOL.
 
PS

 

 

 

Hey Pete, thanks for the great scan. She's a beaut.

 

Mark, intrigued by your converting all your machines to suds-savers. I'm just crazy for those things. When you get a chance, do tell the details. Thank you.
 
Earliest work done

While still sitting in the living room, without a single new part, I had to play a bit. I took off the motor and removed the belt, pretty darn stiff in place after sitting 20 or more years. The transmission pulley turned with some initial effort, the center?? agitator?? pulley the same, the pump seems pretty well seized up. But I put back on the belt and dumped about 3 gallons of hot water inside, waited about 15 minutes, and plugged her in. I have to turn the timer VERY slowly past the fill portion since there's no running water, but soon I got it to agitate pretty slowly and I got back behind to watch the belt. The pump is still frozen, but the belt gets everything else moving. For one thing , a minor leak from the exterior tub hose port on the left as seen from behind, water level sensor airtube, should be an easy fix.

The pump is 4 port, for constant filtering and for pumping, and has various sliding arm actuators since it's single direction and has to switch from filtering during agitate to drain out during spin. And of course it's 2 chambers, right? Might this be an easy rebuild, I'm pretty good at such, or is this a common Whirlpool and Kenmore pump, ought to be easily bought new?

Needless to say, with no real running water, and having to turn past the fil portions, it's hard to say exactly what is occuring, but sometimes the agitation is down to almost nothing, almost same as when I open the lid and something stops activating the agitator. But the spin always seems to work, and eventually I figured I could remove the mercury switch from its holder and let it dangle down inside the cabinet, then it still would be a poor agitation, something doesn't always want to kick in. I only played about 15 minutes, it does leak on the living room carpet and the pump doesn't work, so I should just shut up typing until it's downstairs installed and truly tested. Other times the agitation was full speed, full power, so maybe I should wait and get water/leak/pump working before I guess too much about that.

Picture is of the pump still in the machine, it says S718 in ink, it seems very clear on Ebay that it is item #350367, 4 port Whirlpool/Kenmore pump. Anyone know for sure? Or is it very often a simple 3 squirts of oil once I get closer inside, for now I should not buy a new one, wait a few days until I get inside further?

akronman++4-4-2011-00-25-20.jpg
 
tub cover on RCA Whirlpool

Mesy dirty, to be expected, and the fill hose is broken near the fill valve, but that will be easy to find new. But this airgap plastic chamber pictured, isn't it supposed to have some back on it, closing it? Seems like this would leak horribly.

(That grill metal piece in the pic is just dirty dishes, not any part of washer)

akronman++4-4-2011-00-34-34.jpg
 
Model/Serial #

Clear as a bell, the metal label reads MODEL # W6004801, SERIAL #S-6120, SALES #GA910W00.

I can't find any recognition of this model/serial anywhere, on any site I find old Maytag, filter Flo, Hotpoint, etc, nothing comes up at all. HELP???

Or does someone know a semi-comparable Model # for a Kenmore from 1960 or so, might have the same tranny and wig-wag and pump, etc, even if the controls differ greatly? I also tried looking it up as Whirpool instead of RCA Whirlpool, still no luck.
Thanks in advance to anyone who knows---
Mark
 
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