The tub with that FABULOUS winged Surgilator! I still MUCH prefer this agitator over the regular Super Surgilators!
Childhood washers
- Thread starter electron800
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Me standing in front of the machine at age 8, a year after I started doing my own laundry!
This is pretty much how I spent my early childhood, on that stool watching that agitator move back and fourth while the whole tub assembly swayed side to side!
Washinsheen
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- Aug 18, 2005
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I don't have any cool pics to show. But our first washer was the exact same machine that bajaespuma showed us....the 1958 Frigidaire. My dad bought it from his boss in 1964. Apparently, the boss's wife wanted a new pair of 1964 Whirpools. And after a while, she deeply regretted parting with her Frigidaire (but I'm certainly glad that she did!) We had this one in white, and an aunt had it in "sunny yellow."
In 1972, our Frigidaire became ill, and the appliance man recommended that we replace it. So we got a harvest gold 1-18. I can remember that inside the new washer was the obligatory free box of Tide, an ironing sprinkler that was a little plastic replica of the agitator, and a coloring book about the new 1-18 that a family was getting, and the little kids' reaction to the big event.
Now Grandma had a Frigidaire from the mid to late '60s, and I wish I knew more about it. But I loved it! I loved the sound it made as the agitator jumped up-and-down, causing the wood floors to vibrate throughout the old farm house. I can still hear it all in my mind.....
In 1972, our Frigidaire became ill, and the appliance man recommended that we replace it. So we got a harvest gold 1-18. I can remember that inside the new washer was the obligatory free box of Tide, an ironing sprinkler that was a little plastic replica of the agitator, and a coloring book about the new 1-18 that a family was getting, and the little kids' reaction to the big event.
Now Grandma had a Frigidaire from the mid to late '60s, and I wish I knew more about it. But I loved it! I loved the sound it made as the agitator jumped up-and-down, causing the wood floors to vibrate throughout the old farm house. I can still hear it all in my mind.....
angus
Well-known member
Our family washer history was rather boring. The parents originally had a Thor Automagic which was replaced with the pink 1959 Lady Kenmore with the ticker tape timer. Actually my paternal grandparents bought that for her and though she wanted a Frigidaire, she wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth. I remember that I absolutely hated that over sensitive out of balance buzzer. It seemed to go off on every cycle of every load. That machine lasted (with many repairs along the way) until 1969, three years after we moved to Connecticut. Finally, my father decided enough was enough with the repairs, so off they went to the Sears scratch and dent outlet in West Haven and got the Kenmore 600 and an electric 1967-68 Lady Kenmore Dryer, our first dryer. That was a big deal as money was tight so the dryer was considered a big splurge. But we still didnt have a dishwasher and wouldn't until 1974.
That Kenmore ran pretty flawlessly until 1981 when the transmission went. Dad died in 1976 so I took over the appliance purchasing - no mo Kenmore. Though my mother favored the Kenmores because "they were easy to service and your father could fix them", I had to point out to her that I had no mechanical aptitude and Dad wasn't around. Also, over the years, we flooded the basement laundry way too many times because of the self cleaning fliter clogging the "t-bar"across the sink drain - what a nightmare to clean up. '
There was no more real Frigidaire, so we went to a middle range GE Filter Flo, but with no mini basket (stupid way to save $30). That machine ran constantly without repair or incident until 1995 when we moved the laundry to the main level and decided to replace it with the last remaining Filter Flo available - the GE Profile. Unfortunately that proved to be a bad decision. That machine was a repair nightmare beginning with the transmission failure after 13 months. After two years of entertaining the GE repariman almost monthly, GE replaced that with their new improved "plastic GE" that lasted a whopping 18 months (wont go into that nightmare). Finally GE bought it back from us in early 2000.
BTW, the Lady Kenmore Dryer was replaced in 1995 (no repairs whatsoever) with the GE Profile Dryer
Those units was replaced with the "Goodman built" Amana TOL set. Mother died in 2001 and the washer died in 2003 after the dreaded main tub seal failure. The appliance store graciously replaced it with a middle of the line Maytag LAT. A year later the porcelain tub had rust around many of the drain holes. Four failed repair attempts later (each replacement tub was either scratched, dented or chipped), Maytag bought that washer back from me and I got the near TOL Whirlpool. Three years later when the Speed Queens were offered again for the home, I just replaced the Whirlpool which now reposes in the garage. Nothing wrong with it, just wanted something more "classic".
Interestingly, the Amana dryer is still going with only one minor repair along the way
I never knew my grandparents but I understand that my mother's mother had three washers: my mother, Aunt Jennie and Aunt Gilda. Yes, they were responsible for the laundry for 10 kids using a washboard, the bathtub and a copper boiler.
My father being an only child had a rather unusual situation for the times. His parents while not wealthy by any means had the luxury of "sending out" their laundry so Nana never had a washer. She kept a washboard and every day did underwear, sox and "delicates". Everything else went out.
My salvation during those childhood years was dear Aunt Jennie with her 1957 Norge timeline. My other aunts were at least one bus ride away so seeing their machines was not a regular occurrence - everyone had various Kenmores except Aunt Josie (the in law) who had a Maytag from somewhere in the 50's replaced by a Norge 14 in 1964.
That Kenmore ran pretty flawlessly until 1981 when the transmission went. Dad died in 1976 so I took over the appliance purchasing - no mo Kenmore. Though my mother favored the Kenmores because "they were easy to service and your father could fix them", I had to point out to her that I had no mechanical aptitude and Dad wasn't around. Also, over the years, we flooded the basement laundry way too many times because of the self cleaning fliter clogging the "t-bar"across the sink drain - what a nightmare to clean up. '
There was no more real Frigidaire, so we went to a middle range GE Filter Flo, but with no mini basket (stupid way to save $30). That machine ran constantly without repair or incident until 1995 when we moved the laundry to the main level and decided to replace it with the last remaining Filter Flo available - the GE Profile. Unfortunately that proved to be a bad decision. That machine was a repair nightmare beginning with the transmission failure after 13 months. After two years of entertaining the GE repariman almost monthly, GE replaced that with their new improved "plastic GE" that lasted a whopping 18 months (wont go into that nightmare). Finally GE bought it back from us in early 2000.
BTW, the Lady Kenmore Dryer was replaced in 1995 (no repairs whatsoever) with the GE Profile Dryer
Those units was replaced with the "Goodman built" Amana TOL set. Mother died in 2001 and the washer died in 2003 after the dreaded main tub seal failure. The appliance store graciously replaced it with a middle of the line Maytag LAT. A year later the porcelain tub had rust around many of the drain holes. Four failed repair attempts later (each replacement tub was either scratched, dented or chipped), Maytag bought that washer back from me and I got the near TOL Whirlpool. Three years later when the Speed Queens were offered again for the home, I just replaced the Whirlpool which now reposes in the garage. Nothing wrong with it, just wanted something more "classic".
Interestingly, the Amana dryer is still going with only one minor repair along the way
I never knew my grandparents but I understand that my mother's mother had three washers: my mother, Aunt Jennie and Aunt Gilda. Yes, they were responsible for the laundry for 10 kids using a washboard, the bathtub and a copper boiler.
My father being an only child had a rather unusual situation for the times. His parents while not wealthy by any means had the luxury of "sending out" their laundry so Nana never had a washer. She kept a washboard and every day did underwear, sox and "delicates". Everything else went out.
My salvation during those childhood years was dear Aunt Jennie with her 1957 Norge timeline. My other aunts were at least one bus ride away so seeing their machines was not a regular occurrence - everyone had various Kenmores except Aunt Josie (the in law) who had a Maytag from somewhere in the 50's replaced by a Norge 14 in 1964.
my childhood washer memory
Mine was the GE filter-flo. I would sit there for endless hours listening to what's going on, putting my ear to the indentation where you open it so I could hear what's going on, and I would also put my nose up to the indentation so I could smell the dirty clothes, laundry detergent and fabric softener. I still do to this day.
Mine was the GE filter-flo. I would sit there for endless hours listening to what's going on, putting my ear to the indentation where you open it so I could hear what's going on, and I would also put my nose up to the indentation so I could smell the dirty clothes, laundry detergent and fabric softener. I still do to this day.
in addition...
My GE filter-flo transmission took a dump of oil all over the floor in either 2000 or 2001. I now have a matching post filter-flo set which is still running. Still, I will forever miss the filter-flo set. At least I still have a matching GE set so I'm not gonna complain. When my dad first installed my current GE set that I have when it was brand new, he did his first load of dark colors. The washer would shake, squeak and twist the cabinet during agitation. I expected it to happen during spin. I thought it was gonna break down, but here it is 16 years later with no problems. You would think it could've been worse with GE.
My GE filter-flo transmission took a dump of oil all over the floor in either 2000 or 2001. I now have a matching post filter-flo set which is still running. Still, I will forever miss the filter-flo set. At least I still have a matching GE set so I'm not gonna complain. When my dad first installed my current GE set that I have when it was brand new, he did his first load of dark colors. The washer would shake, squeak and twist the cabinet during agitation. I expected it to happen during spin. I thought it was gonna break down, but here it is 16 years later with no problems. You would think it could've been worse with GE.
norgeway
Well-known member
We had
A 55 Frigidaire Pulsamatic which was replaced in 69 when I was 4 by a new WCDAN Custom Deluxe Frigidaire, My Aunt Jean had a 606 Maytag set bought new in 67,But Aunt Mable had a 63 Frigidaire Custom Imperial that I LOVED to watch, our neighbors had a 63 Lady Kenmore that I thought was wonderful.
A 55 Frigidaire Pulsamatic which was replaced in 69 when I was 4 by a new WCDAN Custom Deluxe Frigidaire, My Aunt Jean had a 606 Maytag set bought new in 67,But Aunt Mable had a 63 Frigidaire Custom Imperial that I LOVED to watch, our neighbors had a 63 Lady Kenmore that I thought was wonderful.
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