DING - SCORE

[Unimatic1140]

Peter, yes the 1960 Coin-op Frigidaire is a Unimatic, all Frigidaire commercial washers were Unimatics until 1964.

And yes, Apex did in fact make a coin operated washer.

Now that I have the machine apart I will do an update on the Mechanicals of the Easy later on tonight.

WELL I'VE NEVER!
I found my Easy rated in the 1962 CU Washer Report (someone at CU is going to get smacked). Hmmmm lots of suds, I bet that agitation is just wicked!...

 

[JerseyMike]

What did Consumer Reports know!?!

They didn't like Philco or Kelvinator either!!!

The fact that a Time Line type of timer was available as late as 1962 is simply amazing.

I hope that the restoration process is Easy (pun intended) and I hope to see it in action (in videos) in the very near future.

Mike

 

[frigilux]

Sudsing: Doesn't surprise me; look at the width of those curvacious fins! You'd better wear rain gear if you operate it with a half-full tub of water, LOL. I didn't think it would be possible to create more of a water-ruckus than a Kelvinator.

Water inlet deflector problem: if you get the chance, can you get a photo of it? Either I'm not understanding what they're talking about or it's not visible in the tub photo, above.

What an interesting machine! The control panel with the Operator's Ring is too cool. Talk about standing out from the pack...

 

[lavamat_jon]

OOOOOOOOOOhhhhhh that Easy is a real beauty! I just love the programme selector lever - as someone mentioned earlier it's very Jetsons!

Can't wait to see more pics! Congratulations!

Jon

 

[Designgeek]

Thanks for the explanation of the control ring. Now, what does one do if one accidentally pulls it out too far and gets into the wrong cycle? Is there a way to reset it before it turns on? For example, pull it out *all* the way to reset?

All in all, the whole 1950s era was a time of much interesting diversity in a whole range of technologies. Things hadn't converged to the present stage of uniformity. The control ring design you have there is almost an extreme case. But if you assume that people vary in the abilities & needs that go into the human side of the human interface design question, the 1950s era machines were more accommodating than today's: people could choose from a much wider range of different user interfaces than those available today.

(I for one have still not gotten used to, and probably won't get used to, flat-screen touch keys with digital readouts for anything except a microwave, but even that took a while. A microwave with rotary knob for power level select, and another rotary knob for a timer, would be quite sufficient.)

 

[gregm]

congrads

WOW Robert, congrads on the EASY, that is so rare, I can't believe you found one of those, I am blown away. The frig coin-op is cool too. Knowing you, I bet you will have that EASY up and running in no time ..........

 

[agiflow]

Congrats on these two classics !! Would love to see that Easy whip up a suds cake.

 

[sambootoo]

WHAT A FIND!!!! That Easy is AWESOME!!! In all my 48 years, I can remember seeing only 1 Easy automatic washer, and that was definitely nothing like yours!! What I'd give to find something like that. Congrats..

 

[jetcone]

OMG Robert

That is the machine I have in my Secret Storage Supply area!! You go boy! It has 8 EIGHT spray rinses in SPIN!!!!

 

[jmirawm]

Does this mean.........

Hmmm, With Jon's EASY in secret storage, does this mean that Robert is dethroned as queen of all washer queens, OR will it not count until Jon gets his EASY out of the closet?

 

[mickeyd]

I love Easies

Re:Crown for Jon or Robert--looks like it's a wash ! R's super uni has 7 sprays, and now they both have an 8-spraying Easy.

Jon Jetcone, did you know that the first easies--the SPINDRIERS-- used spray rinsing exclusively, accomplished by needle sprays, hundreds of them, jetted out of a long cone that ran the length of the spinner.

In the mid-nineties, Whirlpool made a model that had a conservation cycle using only spray rinses. Did anyone buy it or see it in operation?

The spinner in the Easy is narrow, so the needle sprays are effective, giving you clear water in 5 to 7 minutes.

 

[westyslantfront]

hi jerseymike....yes, i can share childhood memories of
coin op apexes in laundry room...it was a fun machine to watch....and with round glass in the lids....ross

 

[jetcone]

Mikeyd hey, big welcome to a fellow upstater!!

I did not know Easy's had that spray feature, the only Easy machine I have ever played with is GregM's and you have to aim the nozzle down the hole, just like the twin tub Hoovers in Mikes' Garage.

I may have a lead on a very early easy I had the 1918 Copper Model but it did not have that feature , how early was it??

jon

 

[mickeyd]

thanks !we finally got winter today

jon, that was the economy model. GregM hasn't lived . You've got to see this thing. Does greg's not even have the faucets,?

I'm talking about the Easies of the 50's 60's 70's. I don't know when they stopped making them. The regular models had two chrome faucets, one long one for draining and suds-return and a shorter one for filling and rinsing, all settings engraved in the chrome plate that held the sviveling faucets. It was --IS-- a beautiful thing. I'm hoping to be able to post pictures by next Friday

 

[jetcone]

Yeah I think Greg's has the faucets

Oohhh Greg are you listening tonight??

 

[mickeyd]

Greg lives

I just checked his profile and among his millions are three--yes?-- Easies. I bet one must have the jet cone. Again they were standard; only the economy model had the short ceramic fist at the bottom of the spinner. I have one, never used it.
I have en extra spinner with the jetcone. Maybe greg would like to have it.

 

[mickeyd]

GOOD GOD BLESS US AND SAVE US!!!!!

You have FORTY FIVE washing machines.
You are the king and the queen.
Oh My God.

Mikey

 

[stainfighter]

Lucky '7' Frig Coin-Op find

Brings back childhood memories of 1971 when the whole family went to Beach Haven, NJ (aka the Jersey Shore). It rained almost the whole week. Mom didn't want to tote home a bunch of smelly towels and swim trunks so off to the coin-op...all Frigidaires like this one. 3 or 4 that folks didn't load properly so their little unbalance lights aglow. The window action is so cool! Like the saying goes...good things come to those that wait! Congratulations Uni!!!

 

[westyslantfront]

hi jon charles......yes, some of the easy machines had "jetcone" in spinner tub......i had one but gave machine to roger....when spraying water into jetcone tube, if cover is off spin dryer, it sprays all over the place.....but yes, we have one here in tucson......

 

[veg-o-matic]

That Easy timer ring: It's overly complicated, strange, unnecessary, and getting parts for it was probably a chore even when it was new.

And that, my friends, is what's missing from modern appliances.

Look down the rows of washers at any dealer:
SmallknobSmallknobSmallknobBigknob. Reverse it for dryers.

Let's go back to the days when manufacturers made things different just for the sheer hell of it!

veg