Desirable Frigidaire Laundry Pair

[twintubdexter]

<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;">These just popped up on the Rancho Mirage/Palm Springs Craigslist. Because I saw so very many of these come in for service I was never that impressed with them. They were new customer machines which I was not allowed to work on. I know I'm in the minority since so many members like them. They did seem to do an awfully good job and hold a large load. $300 for the pair. They certainly look well-cared for. </span>

[this post was last edited: 11/1/2019-22:49]

https://palmsprings.craigslist.org/app/d/rancho-mirage-vintage-frigidaire-washer/7011759013.html

 

[goatfarmer]

I'm in the same boat with you! I hated those things when they were new. Nothing but problems, there were at least 2 in the shop at any time. Don't care for them now.

 

[firedome]

the dryers...

seemed to be overly problematic I've heard, but I believe some experienced folks have said that 1:18 washers themselves were actually pretty robust? Nice looking pair in any event.

 

[goatfarmer]

Saw way more washers than dryers. People would leave a screw, in a pocket, and the wash action more often than not would drive it into the bellows seal. Wipe out the bearings in the transmission.

 

[rp2813]

I remember a neighborhood family having one of these washers that was probably a 1965 or so.  It made a pronounced thumping sound during agitation -- no surprise there -- but theirs was also a large family and the machine was likely overworked and overloaded a lot of the time with kids having to do their own laundry.  Still, I wasn't impressed.

 

Fast forward about 45 years, when I was visiting Nate in Tucson.  He had an early '60s machine going and allowed me to watch what was happening underneath.  I was really impressed with the design and how quietly it operated.  My opinion did a complete 180, but I still am not sure about reliability and the potential for user-created problems like Kenny mentioned above.

 

For $300, that's a nice set for a fan of these machines.  It seems that greater Palm Springs is producing a lot of nice low-use stuff with boomer parents' vacation homes changing hands.

 

 

 

[rberryiii3]

Frigidaire washer and dryer

Frigidaire washer and dryer

Best washer I’ve ever had no problems at all but then it was in a cabin for 50 years with no use

 

[rickr]

I have two of the Frigidaire in my collection, however I am not fond of them either.
They tangle clothes terribly, and set wrinkles in with the excessive spin speed. They do not clean that well, either. Certainly not in the same way an old WP/KM performs. I only use mine for towels, and with the fast spin speed, it works out well. Towels do not take too long to dry, when using the "Rapidry".

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

Well, I could go for a "thumper" like that washer, myself...

-- Dave

 

[firedome]

they can wash extremely well...

awesome turnover, but water level is very important, overfill and wash-ability is greatly compromised, many are not aware of this. JohnL, your experience with repairs? The machines shown are mid '70s, not '60s, quite different... here's ours, a similar model it looks like:

 

[combo52]

FD 1-18 Washers & Dryers

These were very good washers overall, yes they were a little unusual and techs not trained on them often did not like them. 

 

Overall I would contend that the 1-18 was the most reliable FD automatic washer of their 5 different AW designs, the other reliable one was the 62-3 pulse-a-matic machines.

 

The 1-18 dryers were top performing dryer when everything was in excellent condition, but durability was not great, in the majority of cases the 1-18 washer outlasted the 1-18 dryers unless the customer hung much of the laundry out to dry, LOL.

 

Overall FD did not build highly durable dryers, their best dryers from a durability standpoint were the early Filteraters, their worst dryers were the mid to late 50s vented dryers, after that every thing they built was average to worse than average.

 

John L.

 

[twintubdexter]

<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;">It's too bad those aren't Custom Imperials with lighted consoles. With the wood trim they were very attractive machines.</span>

 

[floyde]

Hi guys: I'm going to look at these this afternoon. Literally around the corner. If the issue is a thermostat are they still available for the dryer?

Many thanks!

 

[twintubdexter]

<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;">I'm not the "parts guru" but I suppose a thermostat would not be all that difficult to find. You might be able to locate a junked dryer and rob Peter to Pay Paul. At any rate, it's a beautiful day here today. I'd try bargaining with them since these have been listed for a few days and they live or have a second home in upscale Rancho Mirage.</span>

 

[twintubdexter]

floyde...

<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;">...did you buy them? I had emailed the seller telling them I had placed a post on this site with a link to their listing and a photo. They emailed me back to tell me they were sold and to say thanks.</span>

 

[rp2813]

Yay!

Joe, here's your answer:

Please help need Part number

Does anyone have the part number for a 1979 GM Frigidaire electric dryer thermostat model DEC-5? Are they still available and or have a link to the part? Many thanks!

www.automaticwasher.org

 

[floyde]

So I'm the one that purchased the washer. I didn't take the dryer because nothing exciting about it and didn't want to deal with a repair. I have the exact same model of the 1 to 18 but this one was in pristine condition.

I ran a cycle at the owner's home and it purred like a kitten.. So I will switch it out with the other 1 to 18 which has considerable more wear.