llmaytag
Well-known member
Looking at today's pic of the day, the Maytag ad boasts "Automatic water level." Did the machine actually select a water level?
Curious - Maytag 1956 - Automatic Water Level
- Thread starter llmaytag
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Yes, various AMP Maytag washers had an "Automatic Water Level" control either built into the handle (A2MP/A3MP) or a knob under the lid - pictured below.
The control varries the tension required for the agitator float to engage the mercury switches built into the lid.
Ben
The control varries the tension required for the agitator float to engage the mercury switches built into the lid.
Ben
llmaytag
Well-known member
Water Level
So by automatic it doesn't mean that it adjusts to the load?
So by automatic it doesn't mean that it adjusts to the load?
adjusts to the load
Besides the mythical 1961 Lady Kenmore, I'm not aware of any vintage automatic washer automatically adjusts the water level to the clothes load.
Human intervention (thankfully) is needed with water level metering on these early Maytags.
Ben
Besides the mythical 1961 Lady Kenmore, I'm not aware of any vintage automatic washer automatically adjusts the water level to the clothes load.
Human intervention (thankfully) is needed with water level metering on these early Maytags.
Ben
AUTOMATIC WATER LEVEL CONTROL
Yes it was deceptively labeled it should have been labeled WATER LEVEL CONTROL. Maytag and many other companies used to stretch the truth, Kind of like MTs so called TIMED BLEACH DISPENSER on thier TL and combo washer-dryers. Now a days you have to stay up late at night to watch the deceptive informercials if you want this type of fun LOL.
Yes it was deceptively labeled it should have been labeled WATER LEVEL CONTROL. Maytag and many other companies used to stretch the truth, Kind of like MTs so called TIMED BLEACH DISPENSER on thier TL and combo washer-dryers. Now a days you have to stay up late at night to watch the deceptive informercials if you want this type of fun LOL.
I guess in the early days of automatics for Maytag automatic meant that it fills automaticcaly to the desired level instead of having to fill a wringer washer with a hose by hand.
In a brochure I have for the GE combo, it cites as a feature an automatic water level control. It says something like after assuring a minimum safe fill, the machine will fill with enough water to accommodate the load. What that means to me is that it fills to a certain level no matter how much or how little water the load absorbs. I wonder what would happen if one was loaded with those little compressed sponges that really absorb water.
Any machine that terminates the fill by itself could be said to have an automatic water level control. "Adjustable" is another term entirely. The early AM models were singularly inflexible in not having an adjustable water level. Once Maytag came out with the adjustability feature, they offered a kit to bring the feature to older AM models. Kenmores and WPs had a portion of the wash cycle bracketed with the term "FILL" and if you wanted less than a full fill, you pulled out the timer dial, turned it past the 10 minute mark and pushed it back in so it would agitate at less than a full fill level. Timed fill machines could be set to a shorter fill period, but the Maytag was a full tub fill washer, unless you taped the lid button when it had filled enough and stayed near to undo it for the rinse fill, but I don't remember Maytag offering that suggestion. Of course, CU stated that the AMP had the smallest usable capacity of any of the top loaders tested in the report (5 pounds of dry laundry) so maybe a partial fill provision was not needed. Something tells me that somehow they must have been able to see the wash action or inaction to make that determination.
Any machine that terminates the fill by itself could be said to have an automatic water level control. "Adjustable" is another term entirely. The early AM models were singularly inflexible in not having an adjustable water level. Once Maytag came out with the adjustability feature, they offered a kit to bring the feature to older AM models. Kenmores and WPs had a portion of the wash cycle bracketed with the term "FILL" and if you wanted less than a full fill, you pulled out the timer dial, turned it past the 10 minute mark and pushed it back in so it would agitate at less than a full fill level. Timed fill machines could be set to a shorter fill period, but the Maytag was a full tub fill washer, unless you taped the lid button when it had filled enough and stayed near to undo it for the rinse fill, but I don't remember Maytag offering that suggestion. Of course, CU stated that the AMP had the smallest usable capacity of any of the top loaders tested in the report (5 pounds of dry laundry) so maybe a partial fill provision was not needed. Something tells me that somehow they must have been able to see the wash action or inaction to make that determination.
