Curbside Finds - Whirlpool time!

Automatic Washer - The world's coolest Washing Machines, Dryers and Dishwashers

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swestoyz

Well-known member
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Sep 27, 2004
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6,599
Location
Cedar Falls, IA
This weekend, while out of town, my wife texts me this photo and asks - do you know what these are?

Why yes, yes I do. 
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Whirlpool Mark XII 1968 Washer and Dryer

She mentioned that the pair was sitting curbside about three blocks from our house.  I didn't want to ask her to try to haul them home, so the waiting game kicked in to see if they were still there when I got back to town this morning.

 

Why yes, yes they were. 
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[this post was last edited: 4/8/2018-21:21]

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I have no back story to this set other than they were in a rental house.  Water was frozen in the tub (yes, it is snowing here on 4/08/2018), and someone attempted a timer repair on the dryer.  It's missing the timer dial and the guts to the timer and they sadly didn't have the foresight to throw the parts in the dryer drum.

 

The rare blue agitator was still in tact, as well as the tabs on the dual dispenser!  While not in as great of shape as say Kevin's set, this is a feature PACKED machine.  So versatile compared to the '61 daily driver Whirlpool that I finished restoring last fall. 

[this post was last edited: 4/8/2018-20:34]


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I sadly threw away a dryer panel that would have had a good timer for this dryer during my move in November/December, so at this point I brought the dryer home because of what it is.  It's way too cold out right now to diagnosis why water was standing in the tub, but once it warms up I'll give the belt a tug to see what is going on.  Until then they are safe and sound from any ill scrappers.

 

I'll post updates here once I have more info about this really cool pair.  The two way dryer door is really awesome!

 

I know beggars can't be choosers, but why couldn't the dryer have been GAS, and the washer have been WHITE?!?

 

Ben

[this post was last edited: 4/8/2018-20:31]
 
Two things on a Whirlpool washer that you'll never get back: The Magic Clean Light (going on when filtering the lint, I would guess) and the individual speed selectors, unless the post-'90's D-D machines are supposed to count...

Also neat how there's even a hand-wash selector on the water-level--an answer to General Electric's Handwash setting on its Filter-Flo, but without the Mini-Basket...!

I think both the washer & dryer are neat finds & I would be willing to overlook the difference in colors, too--you scored a great find, and FOR FREE!

Restore them both to optimal ability, & use them always, in the best of health...

-- Dave
 
Two questions

Very cool find - congratulations!

 

How does one start the dryer?

 

Both of these have fluorescent panel lamps, right?  Do they only illuminate while the cycle runs or can they be controlled manually?

 

OK, so technically that's three....

 

lawrence
 
Wow Ben, that was a stroke of luck for sure!  You'll have them both humming again in no time, I'm sure!  Is that a three-speed washer?  

 

I know the look may be considered dated, but that wood panel idea always appealed to me whether on station wagons or washers... LOL 
 
Happy 50th Anniversary!

I vaguely remember running into 3-speed washers like this; and I do not recall 2-speed dryers. What a great find, and just sitting on the sidewalk near your house.

Just a FEW parts missing from that timer.
 
Thanks for the kind comments, everyone! The idea of a 50th Anniversary had not even cross my mind, but it most certainly is!

Pete posted the brochure for this washer several years ago (thank you!), which has answered quite a few questions for me about the washer. It looks like the wood panel was standard on the Avocado and Coppertone versions, but the white cabinet had the wood panel omitted. Who would have guessed? Sadly of all the late 60's and 70's colors, Avocado is my least favorite but the oddity and the complete over-the-top flamboyance of the washer leaves me impressed with how agile Whirlpool was to the trends of the day. I do love a good station wagon with some wood paneling....

The panel/dial lights are on when the timer is turned from an off position to ON, and I can assume that the dyer is the same, with the addition of the door opening switch activating the lights. I'll need to confirm once I have power to the dryer.

Speaking of the dryer, a local friend knows of a 1968/1969 Supreme 80 dryer that I might be able to rob the timer from. I'm hoping to take the guts from that timer and insert them into this one, but we shall see. The dryer is a push to start from the 5 button selector to the right which might complicate things.

I'm also really curious to visually see what the hand-washable cycle is like. I love how Whirlpool is throwing shade at GE, "No special attachments, no gadgets, no gimmicks"! LOL

The washer does have a 3 speed motor, and the two speed selector feels in tact on the dryer. I've seen how the shifting is done on the earlier non-bulkhead dryers, so I'm curious to see how Whirlpool did it on this platform. I'd love to convert this dryer to gas - I do have a 30,000 BTU modulating burner on hand... muahahaha.

Ben


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